Hobby Lobby

You know you go to Hobby Lobby too often, when the check out clerk sees your baby and says, "Oh look, its baby Fletcher!"

So Many Pendants!

I thought I would post a collection of some of the pendants I have made recently.

I have been noticing lately, all the stuff I have made that I can't use myself--I just have too much. But somehow, I can't stop making it. How many pendants does one woman need? How many earrings, bracelets, journals, bookmarks, scarves, fabric, etc? I have more than I could wear/use in a lifetime, and yet, I still make more. It is more about the artistic process, getting into the zone when I am creating, than about the end product, I think, although I usually like what I make too. Am I rambling???

I have also had to make some changes to my artistic habits since the arrival of the new baby. Namely, I don't have as much free time, and second, I have to be able to drop what I am doing at a moment's notice if he wakes up and needs me. He isn't in enough of a napping routine that I can count on when or how long he will nap. He also likes to be held, and notices when you put him down in his crib and wakes up.

So, I am listing more of my creations on my Etsy site. Killing two birds with one stone. First, I can let go of some of my creations and pass them on to good homes with people who will use and enjoy them, and second, I can take photos and list items on Etsy while I have Fletcher in the front "Snugli" carrier. He's happy, I'm happy. So, that's what I've been up to lately.

Spring is in the Air!

Catching up on some posts here. Fletcher is 5 weeks old now--where has the time gone? He is doing great--loves to eat--and is growing nicely. My 7 year old dd loves loves loves him, and my 4 year old son is pretty enchanted with him, though he won't admit it!--and will tell you that he is allergic to babies! But he is a pretty proud big bro.

I am anxious to get back into some art making. Harder to do these days, but I am trying to fit small bits in here and there. I just get cranky when I don't have time to be creative, so it is an important part of my life that I need to make time for.

Anyway, here are a couple of swaps that I did in April, right before I had the baby, but didn't have time to post yet. The charms were for a Springtime Charm swap on Oh So Charming, and the papers were for a Springtime paper swap on Collage UnLeashed. The papers were painted and stamped, and the charms were made with shrink plasic, and the other set with polymer clay.

Welcome Baby Fletcher!

He's finally here!!! Fletcher Quinn was born April 14, 2010 at 1:46 am. He was 7 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long--the smallest of my three children believe it or not--but he was almost 2 weeks early--so he'd probably have been a 9 pounder at full term!

Labor and delivery went very well. Funny story--I was actually teaching a quilting class Tuesday night, having contractions the whole time, but I was determined to do the class--yes, I am that stubborn! Came home about 9 pm to find that the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, so I was at the hospital by 10 pm, and had little Fletcher less than 4 hours later. It went so fast, such a blur.

We are recovering well. Fletcher is a snuggle baby, loves to eat and be held. Not sleeping for very long periods of time yet--he tends to get a tummy ache 30-45 minutes after eating, and fusses for awhile, then I get him settled and its time to eat again! But I know that will pass, so I am just enjoying having him as such a tiny baby for this short time.

Knitting

Something about being pregant makes me want to knit--this happened with my son 4 years ago, and the result was many, many knitted scarves! This time, I am breaking free of my rectangle, and I have learned to knit a simple hat. This is the second one that I made, this one for my daughter. I am starting Baby's next!

Life Changes

Nope, haven't fallen off the face of the earth--just got pregnant! I am now 23 weeks along, and dispite being in the "honeymoon" second trimester, am still feeling extremely tired with ongoing nausea. So, needless to say, that is where my attentions have been these past few months, instead of making art.

Here is a picture of the little guy--yes, it is a boy! My 7 year old daughter is excited about the baby (though she was hoping for a girl), but my 4 year old son is not so excited--a little worried about the baby coming in and taking over his toys. But he seems to be slowly warming up to the idea as we are assuring him that he will get to keep his own room and his own stuff! He is starting to put aside some of his old toys for the baby--how sweet.

I have also been really busy the past couple of months with my longarm quilting business, because people have a lot of projects that they want completed for Christmas gifts or to enjoy themselves before the holidays. For the past couple of months, I have been barely keeping up with family, work, household duties and emergencies (like my washing machine overflowing and flooding our garage and my workspace), and trying to get enough rest, so my late-night art time has gone bye-bye.

I have really missed it though, and now that the busy season is over (even though I am still behind schedule), I need to add some of that art making time back into my schedule. This has been a light week, with company here and enjoying the holiday with the kids, I haven't been working in the garage in the evenings like usual. Instead, for the past couple of nights, after the kids have gone to bed, I have been able to bring out my hand dyed fabrics and begin two art quilts that I am hoping to enter into a quilt show next month. I feel out of practice and out of the groove, but it felt so good to cut, sew and press that fabric!

Hopefully, more art to come soon!