Notes from A Cottage Industry

Potluck Friday

There's a potluck today at the bank for one of the girls that's leaving to go study abroad. Guess what I'm taking in?

More baby love.

...so very lovely, made from love.
*sigh* You've simply got to indulge me, 'coz that song just says it all about this sweet little bundle of all things heaven sent.

Look. She's even perfect when she yawns.

Isn't she lovely..isn't she wonderful...

...we have been heaven blessed. (Oh, was Stevie Wonder ever right!) The newest member of the family has arrived, after much waiting and anticipation! Beautiful little Isabelle Marie made her debut last night a bit after 10:00, weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces, and is 19 inches long.

Truly the angel's best. (The picture is taken through the nursery glass, where her Daddy, my son, was getting her hearing and such tested.) I couldn't get a really good picture of her sweet face up close last night, but I will be taking many, many more pictures tonight, I am sure.

God is so good.

Jackie and John join the caketop collection

   

      The other Tracey went on an out of town trip and brought me back a charming new couple for my cake top collection. (How nice was that?!) They so remind me of John and Jacquelin Kennedy.(although I do think her dress is a little lower cut than Jackie might have chosen...) I love her sweet puffy skirt and veil.
     I guess wedding cake topper collections are kind of a bittersweet thing now that I think about it. I mean, I always wonder how the wedding topper ended up in a thrift shop or antique fair. Are the couple both long gone now, and their family didn't care to keep this treasure, or was it not happily ever after, after all?
    Regardless of how they got where they were when I ended up with them, I will cherish them always, and all that they stand for.

Monday morning HomeGoods post...

 
I know some of my kids read my blog, so...I guess they'll just have to act surprised when they see their Valentine's gifts this year. (There's more than just home decor at TJMaxx, you know).....check out my latest HomeGoods post here.

Words to live by - week 102

 

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

                                                                         Epicurius

Checking in....

It's been another busy week, but I'm not complaining. So many good things have happened this week, bliss wise! I just wanted to take a moment to share this cute website that helps you create words in soup, and other fun stuff. Check it out here.

These chicks are taking a leap of faith....

Yes! we are thrilled...overjoyed...ecstatic..and honored to share our big news. It's a real leap of faith...and it involves a road trip! Call it following our Bliss, going for the gold, taking a leap of faith, whatever you like.

The Tumbleweed Cotillion Gals ("the Tracey's" as we have become known around town!) have been accepted into the the Farm Chick's show coming up June 6 & 7 in Spokane, Washington.

Not only is the show itself a dream come true, but so many of my Blog friends will be there as both vendors and shoppers!!!! (I am not sure which I am more excited about, the show or my friends!) This has been a dream of mine for a while now, and I recently found out that the other Tracey had the same dream.

*sigh* Now, it's going to be a reality and we are both so excited we probably won't sleep until at least mid April.

Another sign?

     I know I've told you before that my good friend Deb got me hooked on these little motivational emails each day called "Tut..Notes from the Universe." So many times they seem to coincide with what I am going through in my life and they add inspiration. They make me smile- sort of like little friendly casual notes from God.

Anyway, here was today's note:

Tracey, it is easy. Just once a day, imagine the life you dream of. Believe that it can be yours in this world of magic and miracles. Choose to live as if you know of its inevitable manifestation. Don't compromise. Don't worry. Don't look for results. And as surely as spirit crafts one moment after another, so too will it fuse together the life you now lead with the life of your dreams as if they were two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, destined to become one.

This alone determines what's "meant to be."

Tallyho,
    The Universe

Pretty timely after yesterday's post, huh? Yup, I'm smilin' as I head off to the bank today.

Always looking for answers

   Over the course of these past two-plus years, I seem to spend at least half of my time trying to figure out if I am on the right track in my life or not. Always looking for answers. Always looking for a sign that I am moving in the right direction. For confirmation of some sort that I am indeed going forward and not taking another two steps back.
     My pastor  wrapped up a series last Sunday entitled Re-think; why resolutions don't work." In a real small nutshell, it was about how we need to pay attention, listen, and try our best to stay on course with what God's plans are for us, not just go along with what our plans are for us, and to live every day as closely as we can to the way He wants us to live and not our way.

Since then, I have been thinking a lot about his message, have re-read the scripture several times that we were studying, and, I get the part about doing my best to live in a Godly way and following God's plan for me, not my own. Still, the big looming question for me regarding the direction for my life is, "How can I know that I am working the right plan?" I am a very headstrong person, and even when I do think I am getting a sign, it most often seem to mostly be blurry, hidden messages and hints of things, and hardly ever do I get crystal clear signs. Sometimes I even think I decide something is a sign simply because I want it to be so.
    The other Tracey and I were discussing this at great length as we were out thrifting yesterday. We were talking about the path we are on for our booths and our businesses (Our passion! Our bliss!) and how it's just sometimes so hard to know if we should be dumping so much time into this. I mean, yes, it's just so much fun, and we both adore every aspect of it all- the thrifting, the re-inventing, the creating, the selling- but is it God's plan for us to make into something we can do full time? Or are we both so full of wishful thinking and so self absorbed that we are deciding on our own that it is the "right" thing? 

    We pondered this for a long moment. We both agreed. We needed a clear sign here.

Anyway.

    As we got out of the car, and we were both pretty much thinking that we don't have a clue if we're on His track or ours, my cell phone rang. It was Junkee's calling to find out if we'd take 10% off of a very pricey item in our booth. It was an item we had worked on together, so the money from it's sale would be split in half between us both. I confirmed with the other Tracey that it would be fine (Fine?! We'd be thrilled! We needed that thing sold!) told the person from Junkees to let the customer know, and I hung up the phone. We stared at each other in amazement.  The other Tracey then said, "I think we just got our sign."

I do beleive she's right.

Monday is HomeGoods blog day and a second Tumbleweed Cotillion booth in the works!

We've done a bit of restructuring within the bloggers for HomeGoods Openhouse blog and from now on, I'll be doing the posts over there each Monday instead of just randomly. Check me out over there....

Yes! The other Tracey and I have secured a second location to showcase our vintage treasures..with a bit of a twist! We'll be setting things up today across town in a charming florists shop (I'll share the address and details as soon as we are set up completely!) For now, let me tell you that we are doing a black and white theme in this booth for the month, and it's slanted towards weddings and romance...and a little bit French. Ooh la la!

Stay tuned for the details as they unfold this week!

Words to live by - week 101

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.
                     Saint Francis de Sales

Look what the mailman brought!

    I got a package today from Patti over at Delighted Heart blog! When I opened the shipping box this is what I pulled out. The wrap job was so danged cute that I couldn't bare to open it until I had shared it with a friend. The other Tracey was coming over to go to the booth at Junkee with me, so I waited to show it to her. (Patti had even covered the wired french ribbon bow with a cool whip container so it wouldn't be crushed. Now, that's clever!)

Don'tcha just love the shred all around the edges?! We ooh'd and aaaah'd over the beautifully wrapped box for a solid ten minutes before I finally opened it up. Patti's sweet note made it all the more special. Inside, I found not one, but two of the most darling (dare I say...delightful...!) glittered ornaments. A stork, with a precious baby boy, and another with a precious baby girl! Oh!!! We both squealed and marveled at the detail work.(click on the top picture to enlarge it to really see the details!)

They are truly the sweetest things! I'm going to find a very special spot in my workroom so that I can enjoy these little treasures each and every day.

Thank you so very much Patti!

A thrifted little gem of an organizer

      Aaaah, January. A fresh new year. I always feel renewed and inspired to get more organized as we hit this time of year. Do you?
Okay, so far, I don't have a long history of success in this area, but I attribute it to two things. First, there is the concept that I was born messy. You see, I have a theory that we are all either born messy or born neat. I see this in myself, and in my children. If you are born neat, organization comes quite naturally. Socks in one drawer, undies in another. If you're born messy, well, it's a completely foreign concept, and therefore, it's an uphill battle.
     The second excuse is that I like to think that I am a "creative type". (oh come on now, haven't you heard the saying that "creative minds are seldom tidy"?) I also am easily distracted when I get to working on a project and I throw all caution (and order) to the wind. I get on a roll and it looks like a tornado ripped through the room. I actually worry some times that if I were to die suddenly, and my kids had to get into my home, they would declare to one another, "Oh my gosh! Her home's been ransacked!" It's that bad sometimes. Really.(Ya, I'm that messy creative.)

      Putting my excuses aside, I am trying, once again, at the dawning of a fresh new year, to become more organized, or at least to become more able to find the important stuff when needed. With this being said, I was thrilled the day I found this little gem at one of the local thrift shops. I was even more thrilled to see the $10 price tag. I'll be changing out the red pull handle for a more appropriate one, and adding a sweet little tag in the file name holder bracket, and it will be just perfect. (and I'll share pictures once it's made over)

      Just look at this baby. A drawer for files. A lift up lid to house more files. It's a virtual filing mecca I swear. I'd tell you I won't ever be able to fill it, but we'd both know that's a lie. I bet I have this baby crammed full of ideas from magazines, recipes and oh-so-terribly-important papers by mid March. Oh, and did you notice the wheels? It's movable!

      Notice the fabulous matching folders I got on sale at the good ol' O-Depot. (ooh, I love the idea of it all softly colorized and looking so charming) This is the year I'm going to get myself organized...wish me luck.

Are you thinking about Valentine's Day yet?

     It's a very short post I know, but this week is busy, with long hours at the bank, my writers group, a bible study, Toastmasters and work for the antique booth. I managed to get to get a moment to snap a picture last night of some Valentine's flags I was making for the booth, and it occurred to me that Valentine's Day is one of those holidays people either are crazy about, or they don't care about it at all. As for me, I like the entire sentiment of it all. Love. 
What kinds of things are you doing for the sweetest holiday of the year?

A day for me

     Life has been busy of late. Okay, my life always seems to be busy, so maybe busy isn't exactly the right word. There have been many life changes in my little world the past couple of months. Some anticipated (new babies arriving!) and some not expected. (being laid off without a severance package)
      I didn't think I was stressed, but I haven't been sleeping great. I mean, I don't sleep a lot anyway, but I have been waking up at all hours and tossing and turning and not getting any real rest the past few weeks.
     While chatting with one of my good friends last week, she insisted it was most likely stress, and said I wasn't making time for myself. (Actually, she's been saying this for the past couple of months to me, but for some reason I heard her this past week.) She's all about down time and regrouping for the new week and such. (She's a teacher for gosh sakes. I should have listened to her much sooner.)
     "Oh pul-eeeease, I have plenty of time for myself," I told her. (I do have my nightly bubble baths after all. Had she forgotten that?)
     Anyway, early last week, the other Tracey suggested we head over the hill to Sacramento for the big antique fair under the freeway over pass, to scope things out and get booth ideas and maybe even some goodies. We'd leave early, early, early in the morning and be gone most of the day.
    I said it sounded fabulous, but secretly I fretted a whole lot bit about being gone all day long on a Sunday, and totally "missing" one of my two short days off. (I have stuff to catch up on you know, every minute of every day, and if I missed a day, well, God knows what might happen.)
     Sunday morning came, and at five a.m. I was at the other Tracey's door, ready to make the two hour drive to the fair. My favorite teacher friend was dialed in to let the pups out after church. The other Tracey's perfect husband, Mr. Tracey, decided to come along and played chauffeur for the day.
     We talked non stop all the way to the fair. Brainstorming about our booth, talking about our kids (does that ever stop? Will I still be talking about my kids when I'm 80?) laughing, and sharing our plans for the future of the Tumbleweed Cotillion and where we both see things going.
      We arrived at the fair at about 7:00 and it was fffffffffffrigidly cold. And foggy. Mr. Tracey left us, with our shopping carts and we hit the pavement running. And laughing. (Why hadn't we brought gloves? Or heavy coats?) Luckily the other Tracey's sister lived nearby. She came to our rescue with gloves and jackets. We felt warmer. We had hot dogs at 9:00 (We'd been up since 4:00, so technically it was sort of kind of like lunch time. Somewhere.)

    The shopping was fabulous. The vendors, even more fabulous. Oh, so much fun. The second booth we went to from the gate was Marilyn's. Oh my. This Oregon woman (I knew I liked her!) had such style. So many wonderful things. We chatted and chatted with her and I really could have stayed there all day, but there was so much more to see!
     In the end, we had plenty of treasures and ideas, and when the sun burned through the freezing cold fog, it warmed up and was beautiful.
     After lunch with family and a short pit stop to search out a thrift shop or two, (as well as an ice cream cone) we headed back over the hill, laughing and chatting all the way. We rehashed what we bought,(The trophy! The vintage bassinet with the chipp-ied robin's egg blue border!) what we decided not to buy (the three dollar seventies wedding cake topper with the groom that looked remarkably like Bobby Sherman) and what we would be doing with our treasures when we got them home.

     When I finally arrived home I was tired. It was that good kind of tired that can only come from a day spent well. The kind of day you always look back on and remember the sights and sounds and the warm feeling of friendship. I took my bubble bath, and worked on a few things for the booth. (I was inspired by all we saw!)Then, much earlier than usual, I went to bed and I slept. Like a log.
     I woke Monday morning to see that I had actually slept seven and a half hours. (for me, that is unheard of!) I was refreshed. Happy. No, not just happy, but...content. I had taken a day just for me (without really realizing it) and life was okay. I could take time for myself and life would still be there, waiting. It was just what my teacher friend had recommended. I called her to share and she, ever so  kindly told me, "I told you so."

Thanks so much Anne. You were so right.

Words to live by - week 100

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.                               Franklin D. Roosevelt

...and especially in sharing that thrill of creative effort with a true kindred spirit. The other Tracey and I are having the time of our lives working on little Valentine treasures!

Sweetheart of a bed

     I found this charming bed on Craigslist late, late last Saturday night. The people wanted it gone by Sunday evening or they were going to send it off to Goodwill. I called after church on Sunday and the good news was that it was still available. The bad news was that I realized it wouldn't fit in my car.
After talking with the guy, I offered to give him gas money and he and his wife took a nice Sunday evening drive and dropped it off!

     Oh, just look at the details! It's in mint condition, including the shaped wooden side boards and it even has the original bed slats. It's still in the "before " state in my photos, but I'm working on it and I will share pictures tomorrow of it in it's finished, charming new makeover state.

Still working on Valentine's projects...

 
I spent last night working away on projects for Junkee, and planning a few Valentine gifts for friends and family as well. Little covered gift boxes with old sheet music and sweet pink glittered hearts, and framed vintage Valentine pictures.

  A giant glittered puff heart with a weathered tag hanging in a glittered frame is one of my favorite creations. (They'll all be going down to the booth Saturday afternoon when I get off from work.)

   Valentine's day will be here before we know it!

What a difference a couple of plates make...

 
Check out my latest HomeGoods blog post. I found some charming little dessert plates to add to my ever growing collection of dishes, and I love what they did for my table!

Progress! (and a whole lotta fun!)

Oh, yesterday was such a Bliss filled day!The other Tracey arrived at my cottage a bit after 7:00 a.m. and we had a nice little breakfast and then jumped right in to working on our booth items. By noon we were on our way to Junkee, in two vehicles filled up with furniture and little bits of our Valentine's treasures.

We had people looking at our new merchandise as we were unpacking (that always makes me feel so good!) and I before I knew it, I had sold a couple of sets of my hugs and kisses. We have a lot more Valentine's day goodies in the works, and plan to have it all in the booth by this Saturday.

We worked in the booth for a couple of hours and then hit some thrift shops. We shopped. We laughed. We people watched. (More on this later...)  And, oh! The treasures we discovered! (you'll be seeing them soon...very soon.)

Then, back to Junkee to work a little bit more on our booth spaces. Once we were through there, we headed to the cottage again and wrapped up a little bit of painting. Twelve hours after we began we decided we had done enough for today and we both felt incredibly satisfied with what we had accomplished.

After the other Tracey headed for home, I put on some Norah Jones and slipped into a bubble bath to wind down and reflect on the wonderful day I had. These are the kinds of days that remind me just how blessed I am.

Oodles and toodles of projects....

I told you I was trying to keep busy.

The other Tracey and I are working on some darling Valentine's Day items for our booth at Junkee. I spent yesterday evening printing and cutting and cropping way into the night. I have a day off from the bank today, so we're meeting at my cottage for an early, early breakfast and some brainstorming, followed by finishing up some things to take down to our booth and changing the look for Valentine's Day.

Now, this might sound odd to some of you, but this is my idea of a dream day. (oh, to spend the day working on my Bliss with a kindred spirit!) I'll be sharing the finished projects and my latest thrifted treasures and a fabulous craigslist find later!

Words to live by - Week 99

A child fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.                                                                                                   Author Unknown

*sigh* So true. My heart overflows just looking at his picture.

Home again.

  

     Thank you all so much for all of the nice notes and well wishes on Mr. Carter O'Reilly Roberts!There is something so miraculous, so wondrous, about watching your own child become a parent. To see that bigger than life love all over their face, each time they gaze at thier new baby. It's a feeling that is simply too big to describe in words. I am now back home in the biggest little city after five days of lovin' up that precious little guy all I could. It was so hard to leave, and I cried all the way to the airport. Big sad crocodile tears.
     I knew it was going to be difficult to say good-bye to them, (and I always have cried a little at the good bye part) but it was much more heartbreaking than I anticipated this time. It was harder than when my own last babe started first grade and I realized I was past the preschool mommy stage. (Oh, how I cried and cried!) Harder than when that same last babe graduated high school and I knew I was about to become a legitimate empty nester. My gosh, it was even harder than when I dropped my first born off at college out of state, and believe me, I was pitiful then. (Just ask my poor daughter, who had to endure multiple daily calls from home...for months!) Isn't love the most powerful, incredible thing? It can feel like pure heaven one minute, and become the most nearly unbearable pain the next.
    In anticipation of the gigantic uncontrollable, pathetic crying jag I most likely was going to experience on the flight home, (and for who knows how long after I arrived back in Reno) I brought a little notebook for making my plans and resolutions for 2009. Before the plane even took off I had it out on my lap and forced myself to begin making lists and time lines.
     Have I ever mentioned that I am a list maker? Well, I am. Not that I always follow the lists. Gosh no. Half the time I lose them, but that's okay. It's the idea of putting things down on paper that helps me. It inspires me and centers me. I think that's why blogging was so therapeutic for me when I became suddenly single. Writing things down, whether it be about my plans, some kind of nesting around my cottage, or even sharing  an occasional pity party, helps me sort though my thoughts and it renews me somehow. Making plans and lists, especially at the beginning of a new year just makes me feel so optimistic and hopeful, when anything and everything seems possible.

Anyway.

    So, where was I going with this? Oh yes, lists. I scrawled out pages and pages and pages of ideas for three upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillions this year, monthly booth theme ideas for Junkee, (the first of which will be vintage Valentine Bliss!) projects to create for my cottage and personal goals for the year ahead.
     By the time we landed I was feeling surprisingly better, knowing that I will be going back up for a visit in February (Oh!That feels so far away!) and thanking God for that web cam.(although I still couldn't bring myself to look at any of the 164 photos I took of that little angel on my digital camera until nearly midnight last night, for fear that I would end up in a sad little puddle on my office floor.)  I felt even better after picking my pups up from the Pet hotel they had been vacationing at while I was up in Stars Hollow Camas.
     I will be keeping myself as busy as I know how for the next few days. If I don't, I know I will fall into a pitiful and very sad just-exactly-how-much-is-that-baby-gonna-change-before-I-see-him-again-and-oh-my-gosh-he-won't-even-know-me depression. Also, time feels a bit like it is moving so slowly that it might be going in reverse, as we are all officially on baby watch around here in the biggest little city. Yes, the second grandbaby is due within the next couple of weeks or so, and there will be more excitement and love to spread around very soon!

Happy, happy new year, everyone. I hope 2009 brings you all great blessings and wondeful memories.