Flower Child Muses

And that is me today. I found out this afternoon that someone who was once a very good friend, roommate, lovely soul, passed away on Wednesday. It has been 5 years since I talked to her last. I don't know what happened that made her go down the path that led to her death, but I wish she had asked for help. What I do know...I do know she was a mother. A mother who loved her children. A caring person and friend, who always had your back if you needed her. She was strong...so strong in the face of shit circumstances. She was funny, totally goofy and you could never forget her voice. Even if you were far away from her, you knew that she always counted you as a friend. She never hesitated to reach out, even if it was just through the internet. When I found out, on Facebook of course, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Now it's sinking in, and I'm sad and the anger is starting to set in. I expected this, having gone through this before 4 years ago. This one ...

So I finally took a "stay-cation" last week...my first time having more than 4 days off in a row from work in over 2 years. Eek. While it was wonderful to cat-nap and laze around all day (and I was, extremely lazy...it's almost embarassing), I had all these wonderful plans to work on the shop and be creative and also lay out in our hammock in our gorgeous backyard reading Anne Rice. As it turns out, it was hot for most of the week, and I didn't want to do anything during the day time (side note...our master bedroom and my studio don't have AC or heat vented in to them, because they were added on to our house and people were lazy/cheap. In the winter, I have a space heater that works great in the studio, but in the summer...during the day...the sun beats right down through my 6 lovely windows and no amount of fan action can make it bearable for longer than 10 minutes at a time). We spent Wednesday together as a family for one last fun summer hurrah before Dono ...

I swear, promise, pinky-promise I'm going to be better about keeping this updated. Since our last little update, I've moved locations with my job, and while it's been great in so so so many ways, it is opening my eyes and my heart to some truths about myself. I don't know what's going to happen (I don't know what I want to be when I grow up!), but when I figure it out, I'll pass it on to everyone else. Because of my new position with work, I haven't had nearly as much time for the shop as I would like. It's still going though, and I won't give it up. I've got a little home vacation coming up, and I'm hoping to spend at least 3 days knocking out as many projects as possible and getting them listed in the shop. No quotes today, because I'm half-watching "Tusk" with the husband and it's finally getting a bit weird/interesting, so I guess I'll start paying attention now. :D

Although it's been a bit, here goes nothing...I kept meaning to update this over the course of the past year, but life always seemed to get in the way... I started a new job in April of this year, and I think, at this point, it may have been the best career move I've ever made. I recently got promoted into a supervisory position, and although it's been intense and hectic and sometimes chaotic, I've relished every second of it. I hope to continue to improve and learn and grow and make this company my long time home. In June we FINALLY bought our first home! It's...overall, amazing. Plenty of space, cute, with almost an acre out back. When we bought it, no one had lived in the home for over a year, and the previous owner hadn't lived in it for 3 years. The backyard was a jungle, and we've had some minor hiccups along the way, but we're finally settling in. There will be many many home improvement DIY projects over the next several years, but overall it...

Today was the day! I had my first ever craft fair! And it was fun, enlightening, and wore me out- I can't believe how tired I am tonight, but I had to get a post in on this most awesome of days! So, on this gorgeous Saturday here in Kansas City (unseasonably warm for the middle of November, but hey, it's Missouri!), I participated in a first annual craft fair for a local school district's food service team. I have spent the last 2 weeks sewing and knitting til my eyes burned and my hands ached, and at this point I feel like it was well worth it in order to have this experience. I didn't make a killing, but I *did* make a profit, and for that I'm thankful! More than anything, this was a huuuuuge learning experience- I took pictures, and it will be obvious that I have so much potential to grow! Doing this first show really brought it into perspective for me though, and helped focus me on what dream I have in my head for how I want Flower Child to be branded and ...

I finished it!! I finally finished it! My very first knit baby blanket!! And possibly my last. Holy beZeus that was an intense couple of months of completion! It was, however, a labor of love. I used Bernat's Baby Blanket yarn...while soft and snuggly, an absolute nightmare to do seed stitch with. I couldn't read my knitting! *IF* (and that's a big if there) I ever decide to make another baby blanket, I will for sure just use regular old baby sport weight! So while it is wonky, is is soft and warm and there was so much love put into it that it hurts! I love you, miss Roaree!!

Today was a lovely day. Spring was in the air and I'm tickled pink...so tickled, in fact, that I changed the blog up AGAIN! One of these days I'll put my Dad to work and stop using Google templates and have something uber unique, but this will work for now! And yes, I will probably keep playing around with it. I'm like that. The very most important thing on my list of things to do today was to go get a few more pots and some potting soil. I had things to plant and it needed doing, like, NOW. I discovered in Wichita that I actually like gardening. I like growing my own food, I like getting my hands in the dirt and I love to smell green things grow. It soothes me...it's almost like I can feel my stress and anxiety transfer from my hands into the earth. And you may be rolling your eyes and muttering "crazy tree-hugging hippie", but just humor me for a second. When it warms up, go plant something, and care for it, and watch it grow. And see if it doesn't mak...