That Time Again

Seems I don't get 'round these parts much lately.  It's that crazy busy life of mine, I tell ya.  It seems it's always something.  How I'll fit a job in the mix (a real live, hand me a paycheck, good work, pat onthe back, bonafide job) is beyond me, but I'm gonna try.  All I need is someone willing to hand me that paycheck every so often.  Too bad those people are hard to find these days.  Don't they know I have a college bound meanager to support?  Believe you, me, he NEEDS to go away to college  for both our sakes.

On to the good stuff......

It's that time of year again.  People are asking more and more each day if I'll be hosting my "Home Show" again this year.  The answer is YES!  Hip, hip, hoorah!  It's always a fun time.  I love showing my appreciation to my loyal customers.  Sharing a glass of wine and getting to know them just makes my day.  No hustle and bustle of crowded hallways and gyms.  No pressure searching for the perfect Christmas gift for Aunt Sally or feeling guilty about a personal purchase the week before Christmas.  This one is all for the fun of it.
I'll be cooking up some yummy snacks, chilling a bottle of wine (ha!  make that a case) and cleaning the house top to bottom in preparation for the big shin-dig.  All you have to do is stop on by, visit a bit, shop a little and share a laugh or two.  I'll take care of the rest.

One of those things keeping me plenty busy this year is my youngest son.  Graduating grade school and heading off to the High School is a big deal.  I am busy helping plan all the graduation activities and setting the stage for his success at the high school.  There's the end of the year dance with all it's regalia, a keepsake DVD of the past 9 years for all the kids and other assorted celebrations.  Truth is, this all costs money, and so, a portion of proceeds from this year's sale will benefit the fundraising efforts of the 8th grade parents.
Erik will be heading off to join his brother and the music program at Niles West High School in the fall.  I couldn't be happier.  The music programs and Fine Arts overall are top notch.  In addition to the graduation fund, I will be once again supporting the Niles West Music Parents also.  They do great things for the programs, the kids and the staff, be it band, orchestra or choir.  Scholarships, music lessons, trips, etc. are those out of the classroom experiences that make a program stand out.  So again, a portion of proceeds from the sale will again benefit the NWMPA.  Be sure to mention either of these great causes at the show.

Now let's get to it!

When:  Saturday, February 25th
             11am - 7pm
for more info, please contact me through comments or via email
and to whet your apetite, a little taste of what will be available for sale can be seen here.

I look forward to a great event.

The New Season

By the title, many of you may think I am referring to the mid season replacement shows on TV. If so, you don't know me very well. I am not much of a TV watcher. However, the Olympics do have me poaching the couch more than usual, and boy am I glad for the new laptop. Hoe did we watch tv and sports for so many years without the ability to tweet about them?



Well, enough of that. the New Season is, as usual, all about the creative. Once again, my "Studio Open House" is upon us. On Saturday, March 6th, I will be opening my home to all my customers, providing them with drinks and nosh, laughing, chatting and best of all, displaying my new treasures. It took several years and plenty of prodding from friends, but through the years has become a staple of my selling season. A chance for my loyal customers to get pampered and be the first to see my new creations before the show season begins. Though in my early years, this felt self serving, I was finally convinced to host this event and have come to love it. The ability to socialize and enjoy my customers in a relaxed setting where i can display my appreciation without the stress and chaos of a show is quite enjoyable.

So, if you're in the Chicago area, please stop by. I'll have a wine glass ready and trust me, the spinach dip can hold it's own. If that's not enough to entice you, there will be a great display of jewelry/trinket boxes (and a few other goodies) by my good friend Glassdiane and some great jewelry pouches, felted items and other handsewn goodies by my lovely and talented SIL, Ohsewhannah

TGIF, I Think

So busy lately. I tried posting a few days ago and was so unhappy with my rambling that I just deleted the entire thing. Of course I had every intention of getting back here and then my life just kept happening. I am glad to see Friday arrive yet, I need to slow down time. With an Open House in two weeks, I need every second I can get. Unfortunately, those seconds also need to be chocked full of inspiration and that just doesn't seem to be happening lately.
I had hoped for some inspiration from a trip to the beads store and an afternoon with my goof friend Diane ( always a day of laughter and fun to get the juices flowing). Of course, I then realized it was the week of the Bead Show in Tucson and the shop would be bare. I am going to Tucson one year, I swear. It's on that list of business trips that includes Italy (HA!) I also have ideas that require supplies I am out of and don't want to use the time I have running for them, so I try to make other things. Truth is I need to make everything I can. I need to just bite the bullet and go. Get it over with and work in peace.
As if these obstacles are not enough, I seem to be compelled to register for more and more days of teaching. Great. We need the money. The DC trip will be here before we know it and teaching is a guaranteed paycheck. That doesn't negate the need for productive time jewelry-wise. Throw in IEP's, 504"s, committee meetings, Board meetings and a "to do" list the length of my arm and the pressure builds exponentially. Suffice it to say, this blog of ramblings just keeps getting knocked of the list. So, this post has done wonders for my stress level.