Tech and Spanish

Seems there's no limit to the integration of technology in education. It amazes me every day. My kids no longer lugging textbooks in backpacks heavier than they, emailing term papers to avoid the penalty of missing a deadline, the ability to contact a teacher at anytime, from anywhere. the world is such a global place and so much smaller for them than my generation. I find it fascinating. Sometimes a little sad, but still it amazes me.

The mystery of far off lands, the wonder of other cultures, the dream of someday experiencing a whole other way of life is minimized to some degree. They see it, interact with it and almost touch it daily. It has fostered tolerance and understanding, broadened horizons and contributed to a generation a little more concerned about the fate of the world outside their neighborhood. All in all, a good thing. Perhaps their new frontier will take them beyond the earth's atmosphere.

What prompted this little comparison of generations and look a the affects that phone, laptop or ipod has had on life. Well,this for one. The daughter of a friend, looking for blog followers, all in the name of a good grade in Spanish class. Sharing the ways of the Spanish language, as if I had a command of the English grammar that I should. I Do however, look forward to a brush up on my rusty Spanish and the art of verb conjugation.

So stop by and read up on occasion. Maybe even follow a new, young face on the blogging frontier. Who knows, you just might learn something at learnspanishandspeakit.blogspot.com

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

3 Years!

Yes, Yes, yes, I am remiss on my blog posts of late. I admit it. Often I have great ideas and no time to type. It's been a nutty year and until they perfect cloning, you will have to put up with me, faults and all.
So, in keeping with my harried and chaotic life, comes a last minute, seat of my pants, no time to plan but glad I caught it in time sale.

Today is my 3 year etsyversary. Yep, 3 glorious years as a member of the etsy community. I have made friends, gained customers, learned more than I could have imagined and found a place that just feels like home. So, here ya go. I may not have a show schedule or an Open House ready to go as we head into February next week, but this one I caught just in time.

Black Friday

Oh, the shame of almost 2 months without a blog entry. As I hang my head in shame, I remind myself not to wonder why I have no followers. I give them nothing to read. No need to do the math there. absolute zero is absolute zero. ha!

So, as I sit here, coffee in hand, tummy still full from the fabulous feast, I gaze out at the rising sun and think, why? why, oh why am I awake? If I had planned to mingle amongst the crazies at Best Buy or walmart or some other soul sucking retailer, I wouldn't have been able to drag my tryptophaned ass to the shower much less out the door. As it is, I have nowhere to go and a goal of creating jewelry and some Christmas spirit from the comfort of my slippers and robe and yes, I am awake at 5am!

I am rationalizing this insane phenomena as a subconscious need to please my customers by promoting my Black Friday sale. I have painstakingly adjusted all 190+ shop items to reflect free shipping. Yep, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyous Ramadan, Solstice Greetings, whatever it is you choose to celebrate, I honor you with merriment and free stuff. Free shipping, free gifts on orders over $100 and discounts on qualifying orders. Woot for you.
So, GO....now. Run.... grab those slippers, pour a cup of coffee and grab the mouse. Stake your claim in the virtual line of shoppers hunting for the great deals. Just do it from the comfort of your couch.


and remember............BUY HANDMADE.................always

Recovery Time

Seems to be my motto lately. As I sit here like a sloth, recovering form a wedding that went to late in the night last night. I have to say, it was one of the most fun weddings I have attended in some time. The bride was gorgeous (aren't they all) and the crowd a real treat. Dinner was not only delicious but entertaining. Watching 80% of the guests try to figure out what that huge head of roasted garlic on their plates was, it was even better to watch them figure out just what to do with it. I do have to say, watching that much perfectly delicious sweetness go to waste on cleared plates was a sin. Foodies everywhere sighed a universal cringe at such shameful waste of what I like to call, liquid gold.
That Hussyfest was something else. Took me a good week to recover from all the laughter and good times. I'm not sure my boys (all 3 of them) will ever recover from such an unprecedented level of estrogen in this house. There is definitely great truth to the laughter is the best medicine mantra though. My lack of stress for more than a week afterwards was savored every second. I do believe doctors should prescribe a hussyfest for every woman once a year.
My life is slowly returning to normal. More and more days working every week, bitch work piling up, fighting for time to do the things I love, being a mom and a wife 24/7, and looking long into the not so distant future and preparing to find a less stressful way to approach the holidays. The weather is cooling, the pool has closed, the garden is bare, the flowers are saying and I know n my core it's a handful of days before a frost hits.

I'm NOT ready. Not sure i ever will be.

The Hussies are Coming, The Hussies are Coming!

I am beside myself with excitement. It seems they are too. What started out as a friend coming in town for a craft fair has blosomed into a full frontal Hussyfest.
Let me give you the 411.
Somewhere back in spring of '07, the forums were a dark and nasty place (somethings never change). There was bullying and snarkiness and trainwrecks by the dozens (see, I told you). The fallout was really starting to get to some. A quck-witted and saucy gal by the name of Karmarox decided to send a message. That message rang hard and fast to many and the "hussy" threads have been ringing the bell ever since.
Many a friendship has been born of the threads. Discussion of etsy, family, politics, food, drinks, sex and life's stresses has become a safe haven from the outside dangers of the forums and a common thread to all that stop in. There is even the occasional Cabana Boy sighting, hence the *tittering*
As time passed, Hussies traveled. Some more than others. Some to more exotic locations than others but it was always a topic of discussion which of course led to Hussy Hook-ups (out of the gutter now, I'm old. It doesn't mean THAT!) and eventually what could only be deemed as Hussyfest (04/08), that which legends are made of.
So, when Abitabite asked was there room at the inn, I jumped at the opportunity to help her out for Renegade and crossed my fingers she would be accepted. I mean, let's face it, you get to meet an Aussie with a southern drawl with a trunk full of prickcushions, you don't waste time thinking it over. The news leaked slowly and before you knew it, Hussyfest Part Deux: The Renegade Hussies formed.
In less than 10 days, my house, beds, floors, and couches will be maxed out. The liquor will flow, the laughing will be constant and friends will bond.

This is your National *titter* alert system, bringing you a severe *Titter* warning for the Chicagoland area for September 10th thorugh the 15th. Be prepared for numerous aftershocks, possibly strong, for weeks afterward.


If you have the gumption, you can experience a Hussy live and in person at the Renegade Fair or walking the streets of Chicago. Trust me, you'll know her when you see her and you'll never be the same.

*titter*

Trust Me, I've Been There

It seems I count my years in summers. Being an eternal kid at heart, life is all about the freedom of summer. Screw that pile of laundry and toilet scum that is the envy of every Shell station west of the Mississippi, dammit, the pool water is 85°! Trips to the beach, vacations, swimming, sun and just plain fun are where it's at. Okay, it used to about where the boys were, now it's just where the dishes aren't.

Lathering up the sunscreen, hitting the pool and realxing seems to come with a tad more guilt year after year but I am still able to push my way through and be a total sloth now and again. Having that back yard pool helps a little, despite being the coldest summer on record for Chicago, I managed a few good days.

We may still get a handful of hot, sunny, sweltering days, yet it feels as summer is over. Today, my baby started high school. Summer school and soccer practice served to ease me in as much as him, but today it was official and I am OLD! OMG! High School! When did that happen? I ask myself, did I prepare him? Will he handle it? In a last ditch attempt, I sent him off with a few tricks and some sage advice for the first week of school:

yes dear, that 8x11 canary yellow schedule in your hand = a stamp on your forhead that says "Freshman" to every bully this side of the tracks

No, there is no elevator in the school, please don't spend your lunch $$ on a pass

yes, that upperclassman sending you to the pool on the 4th floor is a bone. There IS NO 4th floor

trust me, learn the school fight song. It's only a matter of time

you will not get from 2nd fl bio to 3rd fl locker to locker room and then PE class, dressed and ready in 5 minutes. it's just not physically possible. come up with a better plan

have fun, explore your curiosities and be your own person (even when the entire school is wearing the same Hollister hoodie.

Most of all, remember and believe me when I say, I did this once. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Be a risk taker and believe what I say once in a while that I am not a total idiot.

I love you, my son. Go, enjoy your life as a "big kid"