October 18, 2009 at 4:57 pm (Feelings, Life, Me, Work)
Tags: Joy, Knitting, relationships, Self-respect
I apologize for my lapse in blogging, but my world has taken off and I figured what a better day to catch up than this.
I’ve done a lot of work on myself after realizing the lack of control we have of others, and I’ve finally made this astonishing transition from the part of my life where I live up to other standards and what they think I should do, to living up to my standards and that of my family. The change has been amazingly joyous as I finally have the self-respect to cut drama out of my life. There for a while my ego was doing everything it could to suck me in and cause pain, and I’ve finally said, “Enough!” It seems to have changed everything in my life for the better. I now respect myself and my family enough to put up boundaries in relationships where there’s a need. I live by “what you see is what you get” and I expect the same from others. In realizing this, I found some relationships in my life where words said one thing and the actions were another. I’m better than this. I deserve better than this.
Apparently I must be doing something right as I’m so much less stressed & conflicted (unless it comes to our calender and deadlines at the moment), new/old relationships with past friends have arisen and are wonderful, my husband and I argue less and when we do argue, it’s solved with an “I’m sorry” and an understanding that both of us had a bad moment.–There’s no re-hashing who-said-what-to-hurt-who etc. Our luck too has drastically turned around, and I honestly couldn’t ask for more right now.
Kidlet is thriving too. I will not deny her any relationships with anyone granted those relationships are honest and loving, and I’m happy to say she has that in her life right now.–Abundantly! I know I’m biased but she’s the best thing since sliced bread and I am honored to be her mother.
I wake up right now literally feeling joy everyday. This is the first time in my life I can say that. There is so much to be said for newfound self-respect.
In new Business/Knitting news: I’m on the home stretch of my knitting orders. I have 10 ornaments left and the base of one hat and flowers for 3 hats to do and then my hands can rest for a bit. I can’t believe how this has taken off! My new business “Launch” of-sorts will be Nov. 21st-22nd when my ornaments hit the sales floor of the shop I work in. Granted-I don’t have a website yet to back this up, but I need inventory for that, so I’m setting a tentative goal of Feb. 1st to sell on-line and launch the website.
I do have new pics to share of product:
- 24 Sweater Ornaments
- 24 Hat ornaments
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August 26, 2009 at 7:58 pm (Life, Me)
Tags: Bloom, Business, Cattleya, Christmas Ornaments, Family, Kidlet, Knitting, Orchids, Passion Flower
I know it’s been forever since I’ve written, but everyday I’m striving to meet so many deadlines that fall in November. But, here are the updates in my life:
Knitting: I’M FINISHED WITH SWEATERS AND HATS (Ornaments)!!! I’ve started the Mitten Ornaments and just have Scarves left after that. In English; I have 46 Ornaments left to knit before November.
Miniature Hat Ornaments
As for the children’s hats, I still have 6 of those left to knit before November as well. No pressure…. He he. 
I still can’t believe that this business (Kate’s Grace) that kind of created itself is doing so well with no pre-exisiting inventory. I’m so blessed.
Orchids: They are doing amazing despite my lack of attention to them lately. Pics to prove:
Lc. Llory Ann 'Paradise'
Blc. Lawless Zauberflote 'Rainbow'
And my Passion Flower in bloom:
Passion Flower
Family:
We’ve had a very busy summer. Because of my husband’s job we don’t get to take the tradition summer vacations, but I’ve made quite an effort to go and do something as a family every weekend just around our area. In doing that we’ve attended a Hot Air Balloon Rally, we went to the zoo, we went Jet Skiing, we went Camping with friends, and have attended various festivals. So, our summer has felt full and I’m happy for that. Kidlet has loved everything that we’ve done.
Hot Air Balloon Glow
Kidlet enjoying the festivities
Well, I guess that’s all from here for now. I’m off to do some business e-mails and place some orders…and so it goes
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July 9, 2009 at 3:15 pm (Life, Me)
Whoa. I’m in a moment of feeling overwhelmed. For anyone that knows me, you know that knitting is a serious passion of mine. I just never expected it to explode like this. As I’ve mentioned before I first had an order for 10 children’s hats. I’ve finished 6 of those. Since then, I’ve gotten an order for 2 more. On top of those orders, my boss has put in an order for 24 sweater ornaments, 24 mitten ornaments, 24 scarf ornaments and 24 hat ornaments. Did I mention that all of these orders need to be done by at least early November???
I’m more than happy to do the work, but I sit here frustrated because as much time as I throw at it, it is all so slow-going. I know it’s only July but I sit here worried that I will run out of time. Somehow I need to lose this anxiety and get back to enjoying.
In the meantime, here are some pics of what I’ve completed:
Completed sweater ornaments
Close Up
- Sets of Stitch Markers I completed
I guess it’s back to the grind for the moment. I think I’ll feel better as soon as I have a big chunk of these finished. I just wish they didn’t take so long!
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June 28, 2009 at 7:29 pm (Life)
First, in knitting news, I have finally started knitting my wholesale order for 100 ornaments of various sweaters, hats, mittens and scarves. Here is #1:
Only 99 pieces left......
I also have snuck in making a 2nd set of Stitch Makers:
The 2nd set of Stitch Markers I've made. These, I'm Keeping...
In bigger news, we have an addition to the family. No, I’m not pregnant…. We got a 2nd dog from the Animal Shelter on Sat. June, 27th. He’s a 6 year old Choclate Lab named “Browning.” The transition has been seamless. He’s laid back, obedient, amazing with kidlet and the two dogs get along wonderfully. It’s truly a match made in heaven.
Our New Dog, Browning
Kidlet, Rowdy and Browning
2 Amigos-- Browning & Rowdy
Smile!
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June 25, 2009 at 9:07 pm (Life)
Tags: Garden, Kidlet, Rowdy, stitch markers
Just thought I would write and catch up on all the goings on around here. Of course, this is on the eve of the day where we have lost both Farrah and Michael Jackson. Quite a day.
The news around here is far less earth-shattering but is good. June 13th, we hit a craft sale and had a good day as a family. June 20th, we took kidlet swimming only to find out that she wasn’t all that interested in the water. However, we ended up meeting my sister-in-law and her kids at the same lake where they had their jet-skis and we had a blast. Kidlet got to go out on a raft and splash around with the family. It was the best day we’ve had in awhile.
Despite the cold temperatures we had this spring our garden is doing well. This is the first year we’ve planted in the raised beds after having built them in the fall:
Our veggie garden 2009
Kidlet too, is doing well:
Smiley!
Rowdy and his beloved ball
Also, I’ve started making stitch markers:
1st Set of Stitch Markers I've Made
I guess that’s all from here at the moment. There is knitting to be done!
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June 19, 2009 at 11:23 am (Me)
Tags: knit, Knitting, purl, tattoos, wrists
After a lot of nerves yesterday, I’m glad I did it….the tattoos that is. These are my first marks not easily hidden and I really had reservations, but in the end I couldn’t be happier. Here are the long awaited pics!
The 2 together
My Left Wrist
My Right Wrist
Getting them didn’t hurt nearly as much as I expected. The shoulder and my lower back still take the cake are far as the most painful tattoos. Today, they just feel like bad sunburns, and so I’m busy “gooping” 6 times a day for 4 days. Small price to pay.
Otherwise, not too much new here. Camp opens Sunday but we’re taking kidlet to the lake swimming tomorrow so that should be fun. I still have A LOT of knitting to do. At least now I have the ink to keep me motivated.
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June 16, 2009 at 8:48 pm (Me)
Tags: diy, Knitting, stitch markers
I’ve been needing stitch markers for awhile now and have been searching high and low for a set that was “distinctively me” and even after the incredible section on www.Etsy.com, I couldn’t bring myself to buy. So, while searching yet again yesterday, I came across this blog post and got inspired: http://www.wormspit.com/stitchmarkers.htm.
So, my new mission is looking for various charms, etc. so I can make my own. I thought it would be a nice addition to the business…especially seeing I bought a lot of jewelry making supplies last year and still have yet to use them… I’ll let you know how they turn out.
That’s all I have for the moment. I’m really under the weather today and just need to hope that tomorrow will be better.
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June 14, 2009 at 12:29 pm (Life, Me)
As of late, I’ve been restless. Ink restless. And there’s been a few tattoos I’ve been wanting for awhile, and having been living knitting lately, I thought it was time I committed to my love. I spent nights searching and searching knitting tattoos and nothing took my breath away until I came across this gem: It was love at first site:
(Minus the flowers) This will be the new addition of ink.
Upside down, obviously it reads "Purl"
I’m taking the plunge this time because I will be getting these (small!) on my wrists in brown. One arm will read “Purl” and the other “Knit.” I say taking the plunge, because my other 6 tattoos are all strategically placed so that they can be easily covered. These will be my first marks away from that, and after hard consideration, I’m okay with that. Nothing that brings me true joy in life involves me sitting in an office (unless one day it’s my own) and I hardly consider these marks “offensive,” so, here we go!
Otherwise, there hasn’t been much news here. Still long hours for Hubby but hopefully that will improve next week with the start of camp. As for the floral shop, we’re still waiting for the true “Gardening Rush” as the cold weather has post-poned that. I’m thinking this week (being our first of warm weather and non frosty nights) will be it.
Oh, and also we have bears. Not that that’s big news living in 1100 acres of woods, but when we saw this cubby up a tree by our yard, we got the point. At least he was cute!
Cubby!
Luckily, no signs of Momma!
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June 9, 2009 at 9:11 pm (Life)
Tags: Coffee Shop, Kate's Grace, Kidlet, Knitting, Me, Orchids, weight
I apologize greatly about the unexpected hiatus I ended up taking from my blog. Nothing devastating or tragic has happened to cause it, but I have found that in the phases of parenting, the months of ”I can get away with multi-tasking” all too quickly turned into “What are you doing?” “What are you into?” ”Get that out of your mouth!” and even a lingering stare in the direction of my laptop during kidlet’s waking hours leads to her asking “Up?” (meaning sitting on my lap) and that’s completely unproductive.
Thus the days of RL have completely taken over, and honestly by the time I get some time at night to think about getting on-line, I’m too tired. Yes, that is an admission that I’m getting old. Don’t tell anyone. Thank God Blackberry has entered my life! At least that way I can still keep on-top of e-mails and try to keep up with Twitter, so I’m not completely gone.
What has happened since I’ve been gone? Well let’s see….I completed the local “Biggest Loser” program at the YMCA and to date have lost (and kept off) 24 lbs. I’m still working on more, but getting the gym seems harder. Lol.
My husband and I also looked into buying an existing Coffee Shop in our downtown, but it took us 2 weeks of homework to discover the owner lied to us and only made $7,000 last year being open 6 days a week year-round. Yeah, no thanks. Luckily we found out all of that before ever spending a dime.
In the meantime, my knitting has exploded. I knitted a hat for kidlet in Feb. and when the girls at the shop saw it, they put in a combined order for 10 of them. Not only that, but I also have a wholesale order through the floral shop I work at for 200 hand knit ornaments by Oct. Thus, this has all turned into a small business I’ve named “Kate’s Grace.” I”ve gotten clothing labels, hang tags and business cards to tie it all together. I’ve also gotten as far as establishing a business e-mail but no on-line shop (yet). I have to fill these orders before I can knit inventory for the on-line market. My biggest fear is that I won’t complete the wholesale order in time, even though I know I will. There’s a lot to do!
These are the last 3 hats I knit for my order of 10. Only 4 more to go!
The Hang Tags I Have for My Knitted Pieces With my Logo and Info on the Back
So, the nights after kidlet goes to bed, going on-line also takes 2nd place to the knitting needles. I already have a feeling that when these orders are done, I’m going off the deep end creatively knitting to change things up. This should be considered a warning to my friends and family come Christmas. If I knit you something, just smile and nod no matter what it is. Deal?
On the Orchid front: They are doing WONDERFULLY! I have a mini Catt in bloom, another in bud and 2 full size Catts in sheath. I’ll make sure to post pics as soon as they bloom!
And kidlet: Oh, kidlet…she’s doing amazing! She’s starting with full sentences, she calls our bluffs, and relevantly chimes in on conversations between hubby and I in the car. We took to the zoo last weekend and out of all the exotic animals she saw, the big, black ugly pig was her favorite. That’s our girl! Here are some pics:
Kidlet's Favorite Animal at the Zoo...Go Figure
Us Girls at the Zoo
It Was a Good Day at the Zoo.....
So, I guess that wraps up life here at the moment. Both Hubby’s and my jobs are crazy right now, but that’s the same story every year. Spring means prepping camp to open and Gardening Season at the shop. Hopefully, we’ll be back to normal soon. Wait….us normal? Nevermind!
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March 21, 2009 at 11:30 am (Life, Me)
Tags: Me, Smooth Away
Okay, I’ve never been big on infomercials. Call me a skeptic. So, when I saw a commerical for something called “Smooth Away”–where you buff away your hair, I dismissed it and mentally made fun of the suckers who would order. It wasn’t until my sister-in-law actually got and said it worked that I got thinking. Now that I’m at the gym 5 days a week, I do the majority of my bathing there and as anyone (okay-girl) knows, shaving in a locker room bathroom isn’t exactly comfortable. So, I bit–Thinking that this would be a great way to maintain my girly-ness during the week.
The package arrived here Weds. night. In a lull between kidlet being happy and supper getting underway, I took it into the bathroom to give it a test run. Having recently shaved, I didn’t really have much to work with so I thought I would do my upper lip.
*Rub, rub, rub* “Hmmm..seems to be working a little, but I should press harder. ”
*Rub, rub, rub* “That’s the ticket. Feels okay so far…..lemme finish up here….and done. Oh wait, missed a spot….” *Rubbing harder* “Okay, really done. I should lotion.”
*Applying cream…pausing…starting to feel pain as a pink mark spreads across my lip…pain turning to burning….pink getting red. Wanting to scream but kidlet is just down the hall. More lotion should help–another wave of pain and burning. More lotion still. More pain and burning still.
“Well, I guess I just figured out what it’s like to take a power sander to my face.” With nothing left to do, I went out to see my husband with a tell tale red mustache of doom. The look on my face told him not to mess to me, and my mark told him I had been through enough, so he was kind–not even laughing in front of me.
I applied 5 more coats of lotion that night, praying for the best the next day.
The best didn’t exactly come. As I wandered into the gym, my “red mustache of doom” had tamed to pink, but all in all, I still looked like I just blew the Koolaid Guy. “Ohhhhh, yeah.”
LUCKILY, by Friday (and work) it was tame enough to cover with make-up. Praise the Lord.
In the meantime, you’d think that all of this would be enough for me to pitch them. Maybe it’s because of the recession or more realistically, because I’m slow, I’m gave them another whirl last night. This time on my legs. Surprisingly, it was this time that they actually worked like a charm, so I guess it’s not a complete waste.
Life Lesson #156 Taking ANY kind of sand paper to your face is a BAD IDEA. Hope this helps someone.
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