Happy Lazy Halloween

Photo courtesy of Follow My Bliss. Thanks Barb!

I have decided I will not do a show the day before Halloween again. There has been no time to get ready for Halloween... so... no pumpkins on my front steps... No decorations in my front yard.... No orange and purple lights strung in trees or front window.... No excited trick-or-treaters wanting to collect candy at my house... making me a little sad today... (sniff).

So, I'm sending out very big wishes that your Halloween is fun and exciting, and filled with witches, ghosts and goblins! We are going to head over to my moms house tonight and help her hand out candy. Until then, I am taking the day off, with maybe a little black cat nap. Yeeeoow! Have a wonderful day.

x, Val

felted wooly distractions

Patchwork Quillow from The Purl Bee

Wooly Love... it's a good distraction. Especially since I've been trying to put the post together describing my Big Perfection Helper, that I talked about here. I've needed distractions. This has been a tough week in the Hebert teen department. I'd like to be able to talk about it, but it's just too rough and raw for me right now... give me distractions. Oh, how I need them.

I do so love The Purl Bee, don't you? I'm so distracted right now, (rightfully so!) that I'm about to order up all the felted wool Mary Flanigan has to offer. Whatever I don't use to make my Patchwork Quillow will go towards Friendlys, yes, don't you know... (wink, do you see how I justify my wooly distractions over here?!)

So there, you Hebert teens, YOU. Take THAT, and don't question me in a few years time when there's no college savings account. I'm spending it all on WOOL!

Ok, deep breath... wooly goodness. yes...

x, (one distracted) Val

My new BFF

Sorry, girls... it's true. I have a new bff, and she's amazing... she's so attentive to me. I haven't been able to "play" with anyone else since she came into my life. Even my girlfriends I've introduced her to have been impressed. Do you want to meet her? Here she is...

Meet Ms. Siri!

Yes, she's a distraction, but a good one. Siri is a feature on the new iPhone 4s. She talks to me, and helps me manage my appointments, texts for me while I'm driving, finds out whatever it is I need to know. Siri is awesome! And, you know what the best thing is? She knows how to pronounce my last name correctly! I told my husband that, through Siri, people will finally learn the correct way to say "Hebert"(a bear)

Ok, off for a little more time with Siri :o)

x, Val

PS. Siri is Not the one I referred to in my last post, lol! You will have to keep tuned in to find out about that helper.

Ashamed? Heck no!

A recent family day at the Chula Vista Nature Center in front of the Shark Exhibit

Having teenagers is tough. I'm laying my cards on the table and I'm saying it right out loud. If we all knew what living through teen years would be like, then I'm convinced we'd have about 1/2 of babies born than the ones who actually are. See the photo above? The boys actually look like they are having fun, right? We had to practically drag Kyle into the Chula Vista Nature Center that day kicking and screaming, with attitude galore. (How is it that Drew is the one who normally gives us attitude, and on this day, he was the perfectly charming go-along kid?) Really. Heck. I can't keep it straight... How do families cope who have more than two kids? Maybe three is the perfect number. After #3, everyone has to just cope or keep up!

So, yesterday I was in a forced situation where I needed to wait for Kyle for 1/2 hour. There was a sweet young woman who is the wife of the business owner, who wanted to sit and chat. OK, I brought along my knitting (as I do), but she was one chatty-Cathy, and soon I found out she was curious about life with teenagers. Then, I found out that she and her husband are new parents of an 8 month old... Pretty soon, the baby woke up from her nap, and here came this sleepy baby, staring me down like no tomorrow. Oh my, I'm going to spill my guts now...

So, I used to be a baby gusher, a kootchie-coo-er, a "come on over and see me!"-er... all the way up until about May 11th, 2011, when my youngest, Kyle, turned 13. Now, I see that all that comes of those sweet little babies are big, grumpy, surely, smelly teens. (You can stop reading right now, and go on to the next pleasant blog... I'm warning you!) Once they turn 13, they somehow become possessed, OMG... "Where did my sweet kid go, and when the heck is he coming BACK??!" I have asked God this question every day for the past 5 months and 4 days. Really, God?? Please don't tell me this kid is my sweet Kyle, and he's a NEW Kyle... is my sweet baby boy never coming back to me...? I don't think I can take it. First Drew, and now Kyle... What's next? You guessed it; Teens Against Parents. I'm sure it's a club. Ok, I am fully ready to hide under the nearest rock for the next 6-7 years. Can a parent do that? Apparently, NOT the responsible ones.

Did I ever think I would need to be THIS responsible? This grown up? I know I thought about it, and apparently decided I could handle it. Did I take it seriously? Well, if not, I sure the heck have to now. Perhaps I was a willful young girl... (well, I was in my 20s), but I've always taken my responsibilities pretty seriously. Not too good with willful teens, I admit it: I am going to need some help over here. The help I need has to do with my desire to be

1. a good mom and partner (to my husband),

2. the best mom and partner,

3. a perfect mom and partner,

4. raising perfect kids,

5. with a perfect marriage.

And, the big one:

6. An Ecologically Responsible Mom Running Her Own Successful Eco-Business While Parenting Angelic Teens Who Do Well In School And Having A Clean - Oops Spotless - House And Makes Her Husband The Happiest Man In The World

Oh yes, and number 7. a baby gusher again...

Oh God, I do so need help.

Stay tuned, because I think I've found someone to give me a hand. (It's not just with the housework!)

Thanks for listening!

x, Val

Leveling Up

If you are around game-loving kids, you totally understand the concept of "leveling up". They focus so intently on getting to the next level that, if left to their own devices, you won't see them for days...

I'm getting ready to Level Up, and I'm so excited about it!

I've signed up for a new class called "Hello Soul Hello Business" which will be taught by Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls of Do What You Love. The class begins in mid January, which is perfect timing for me (just when I've come back to earth after the crazy holiday season). I can't wait to learn about bringing more soul into my life and business!

Maybe this is something you might be interested in too? If so, click over to the Hello Soul Hello Business website and take a look. I think it will be the experience of a lifetime, and I'd love it if you joined me!

x, Val

Smitten

**A fair note of warning... I think almost every creation is irresistible right after it's finished. It just so happens I'm really smitten with this one...

I know! It's a tad early for snowmen... but in this world of retail crafting, and being adequately prepared in time for the holidays, we crafters have to be one step ahead of the game. And, when the people ask for needle felting, and hint at snowmen (or not :o), it's best to just get in gear, and deliver an especially magical glittery one!

This sweet needle felted "Snowy Friends" creation will be an upcoming class at Paper Tales. We've set the date for December 11th, a Sunday, from 1:00-4:00. Details are soon to follow!

Sign me... "Gettin' in Gear" (for the holidays!)

Val (xx)

Steve

Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. You did such amazing things

here in this life. We will miss you so very much.

Wooly process + scrap bin magic

I love everything about working with old wool sweaters. Even the leftovers, which result in Scrap bin Friendlys... isn't he cute?!

Heck, lately, I even love the thrifting process (shocking, since I was never a thrift store shopper in the past. Nordstroms used to be my style!) No affording those luxuries these days, I even shop for myself and my family in that treasure galaxy of "thrift". Yesterday, I found an amazing pair of silk pants by Escada. In perfect condition, they were on sale, 1/2 price. I paid $7.48 for them. Who doesn't love that?!

I have started coming home with armloads of sweaters once again. Ladies fashions take lots more felted wool "fabric" than making children's clothing. The result is heaps of sweaters in the most delicious colors and textures. I put them through the wash, then down on the ground they go where I pair and sort the colors, patterns and moods...

Then I take some very deep breaths, and I get out my trusty scissors, and I begin to cut and snip those sweaters UP! I measure twice and cut once. Then I pin them to my "Esmeralda" (dress maker dummy :o), and I look it over, and change things up, and look again.... It's a long and delicate process, and I love it!

I spend gobs of time when I'm working out a design, sometimes days.... I sketch, and peruse fashion (pinterest...), gather inspiration, use what's worked in the past. I stitch and iron, and I hand stitch... Process, process, I love it!!

What results always amazes me. I am very detail oriented... I have been referred to as a perfectionist even (yikes), however, I'm secretly pleased to be talked about like that :o)

Once I finish sewing up the design, I embellish with it a beautiful needle felting, and finish the piece with embroidery. Then it's truly done, and it's a unique work of art... one you can wear. I don't believe art is something you should hang up on the wall at home. Oh no! Wear your art, and wear it proudly!!

And those leftover scraps? They get turned into the most irresistible cutie pies. I never tire of making these...

Have yourself a wooly day, and weekend. We are getting a bit of fall cold here in San Diego. How are things in your neck of the woods?

Happy Fall!

x, Val

I'm So Square

My booth at the Del Mar Taste and Art Show. I need to work on signage

around the top of my canopy... I can see now what needs to be done!

Yes, and I'm really happy about it! I love my new Square Up credit card processing system, and never dreamed using credit processing at my shows could be this easy! Have you heard of Square? Here's what it looks like. See? It just connects to the top of my phone. I downloaded a free app which I can use on my phone, or iPad, and it's DONE!

I don't pay any monthly charges, so I just use it when I need to. I pay 2.75% processing fees for swiped charges (and 3.5% if I have to manually enter the information). The money I collect is deposited into my linked bank account within 1-2 business days. Plus... I pretty much wowed every customer who paid using credit yesterday. I'm hooked on Square. If you are a craft show vendor, you might want to check into Square for your sales too. For such a little device, it will put you in business in a very big way.

I love you, Square :o)

x, Val

PS. Thanks to all of you who came out to the Del Mar Taste and Art Show yesterday. It was a gorgeous day, and I met lots of new people up in North County. Not too sure they really understood my "Land of Cutes" world, but they were certainly captivated by all of it. Again, my best seller of the day was ... clothing! Oh golly, got to get felting so I can create more!