Life Getting in the Way

Have you ever felt that nothing you do works out as you had planned it? Does it seem like every time you turn around something or someone is taking up your precious time? How does one balance work, family, church and self?  I am struggling a bit with depression, and yet I know if I spent more time crafting I'd be happier.  How do I carve that time out without depriving my family or my employer?

Missed posting last week.  I've been so busy at work.  When you have one person out, and you end up doing 2 jobs at once. You are constantly behind.  We brought in a temp this week and I have started catching up.   Now if I can be a little less busy at home then maybe I'll get something done.

Killian's biopsy went well and I wove 3 1/2 bracelets while there.  I finished the 4th last week.  We were very relieved to find out it was an infection and nothing more serious.  Killian is now on large doses of antibiotics. 

I am currently working on a Kumihimo set, bracelet is woven and necklace is about 1/2 way done.  It is turning out really pretty.  The beads are a mix called maple syrup and butter from my favorite Etsy shop Spirit Bear Beads.  She has a new mix that I am going to have to get.  It's called red rum raisin, so pretty.  It would make up some beautiful holiday pieces.  I would encourage you all to visit either her etsy shop or her artfire shop.  Beautiful seed bead mixes.

This week I will be going to Elgin. IL for some training.  I am looking forward to it.  I will have to string up several bracelets to do on the way.  I have discovered that I can actually weave a bracelet in about an hour if it is already strung.  I will have to come home and make the matching necklaces though.  I am going to take some wire and do viking knit in my room if I have time.  Not sure yet just how much time I will have in the evenings.

I am looking forward to getting things back on track once everyone is back in school and we are all on a schedule.  The younger kids are in school but Tatianna's classes haven't started yet.  We are having trouble getting our schedules worked out and synchronized.  Once that happens, then maybe I can settle into a routine that has me actually finishing things.

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

So not much got done this week.  No quilts bound.  No Kumihimo finished off.  No resin experimentation.  I did do a couple of chain maille bracelets with beads locked in the center.  They turned out really cute.  I sold one to one of my techs for twice the cost of materials.

 I also got the school clothes purchased Thursday afternoon. School started on Friday. Why did they start on a Friday? I have no clue, must be the whole number of days in school thing.  I worked Friday as well.

So now I need to hem some pants. I will probably do that after church today. Buy school supplies.  I may get Killian's hair cut today as well.  Kim wants his trimmed too.  Probably no projects though.  I will try to string up a kumihimo tonight.

Killian needs to have a biopsy done on Tuesday and pre-admission on Monday morning,so I will probably take things with me to work on but that means a new project other than the ones I planned.  You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.  Well that is true for crafters as well.

Found out I will be going to Elgin, IL later in the month for some training.  I am looking forward to that trip.  More projects for the plane ride so I may actually get a lot of Kumihimo done and just need to do the finishing at home.  Probably just work on bracelets since I won't take my murdai along. Also planning on taking the viking knit tools to work on that as well.  But that will have to be for the Hotel room.  I don't think they will allow my wire cutters and stilletto on the plane. 

So much for finishing before starting something new.  At least the plan is to have parts of jewelry made and that I can finish off later.  Still haven't decided if I am going to do a booth at one of the festivals this fall.  I think I can make a profit but I don't have the equipment to set it up.  If I can find someone to borrow tables and a canopy from I can probably make the displays myself. Need to make a decision soon.

 The other idea is to go to the flea markets and sell there.  Don't know that I will be able to pull that together either.  I need to find away to make these hobbies pay for them selves.  These gas prices and college expenses are killing our budget.  Plus have you seen what they want high school kids to have these days. 

Pinching pennies is getting harder and harder to do.