Explaination

Hello all! It's been an interesting few months.

First off, I'd like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has helped my return after the holidays be successful. I feel like I have the best customers ever. So kind, patient and understanding.

Second, the reason for my long break. Over Thanksgiving, my husband and I found out I am expecting again. Due to my history (that is available on my Etsy Profile) I have been followed closely by doctors and on medications to help support the pregnancy. I had experienced some severe morning sickness and bleeding which made me unable to return to work.

And finally, an announcement. If you've been to the Facebook page, you've seen it, but after Fathers Day the shop will be closing. Due to the fact I'm high risk for preterm labor and my studio is downstairs, I will begin my "maternity leave" early.

The items made for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will remain up and available, but all other items will be down.

As far as new items go, I've been trying to get good pictures, but without my previous soft box, it's darn near impossible! I promise there are items coming. And one of them is collar stays. I aim to have the new items posted over the next week.

We'll see!

Wow I certainly am back!

I got my first sale an hour after putting the listings back up. And it hasn't stopped.

I'm officially out of guitar picks thanks to the Christmas rush! They'll be back soon though.

In the mean time, I'll be finishing up on a large order and getting out the holiday items as I can. Then I can show off the new items and hopefully find my light box! Pictures just aren't the same without that box.

New shapes to be shown off:

Heart washers in brass and nickel and copper
Hearts in copper and nickel
Mini guitar picks
Wings
Banners

Now I need to find some things to put on the blanks so I can show them off. Sigh, never ending around here!

I'm happy to be back though!

I have returned!

We're now back in business and getting into the swing of things. Orders are going out and the "studio" is being set up.

I'm also super excited because my neighbor gave me a convection oven for my aluminum! I also have a whole bunch of new blanks/designs that need to be shown off!

Today I'll work on getting some pictures taken of the office area and some of the new designs. Unfortunately, there is a package of blanks headed to our old address before they come here....sigh...moving stinks.

All ready to go!

The last order went out this morning and the shop has been packed!

I can't wait to get there and unpack and take countless pictures of the studio! I've already laid claim to our basement and told A I'd fight him for it. Haha. I also get some storage and my own laundry room! (After being stuck in apartments and a tiny townhouse, this is a HUGE step up!)

I know, I'm horrible

I promised I'd keep writing about all the fun things, but really I have good reason. Lol

We've found a house! It's actually a townhouse (no we're not buying, just renting) and it's perfect. There's enough room, and a basement, that I'll have my own studio area to spread out and work. If you ever looked back at the very beginning, you'll see my "office" is actually the corner of my dining room with little to no working room. My dining table is the stamping, coloring/polishing, and packaging table. That meant I had to get everything out, put it all away and do it all over again for each phase of creating. Very aggravating.

So now, I'll get things done quicker, make packaging look prettier and get to stamp when Noah sleeps, balancing out my time with him and work.

I'm SO happy and scared and excited and freaking out. Haha.

I can't wait to show off some photos of the new area in about two weeks!

What's new?

Certainly not my inability to not stamp. haha

I've been keeping a secret from you all. For the last several months, I've been working with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to come up with some absolutely awesome items for them! Right now, there are some adorable key chains sitting in a gift shop out there. Hopefully I can go see them one day. Lol.

There are two discs that are different sized. They can be either a key chain or necklace and are absolutely adorable!

They're all available for purchase and have a donation going straight to the center to help rehabilitate and release injured turtles that have been brought in. If you don't want to make a purchase you can always make a donation straight to the center. Either way, your help is greatly appreciated!

I've also worked on a couple special pieces for October that I need to put in the shop. Along with being Breast Cancer Awareness Month it is also Pregnancy And Infant Loss Awareness Month

FOOD!!!

To follow my previous post, I'm going to start getting more into food. I don't want the blog to just sit here over the next month while I'm make some yummy food on a stamping break, so why not make some yummy food along the way?

My first goal is to conquer mini donuts

I'm always on a mission to find new, healthy, ways for Noah to have snacks. He's always open to eating his fruits and veggies, but I worry they bore him. That's why I'm finding fun ways that he can help out too!

First off, I need to get a pan. I thought of getting the electric version.

Second, I need to find a good recipe.....or five.

Here are some I've located so far:

Healthy Baked Donuts
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Baked Banana Doughnuts
Mini Cake Donuts
Vegan Cake Donuts
Deceptively Delicious Donuts
Strawberry and Glazed Doughnuts

I'll take photos and note how each turned out for those who'd like to give these a try too. My absolute favorite thing about fall is the Apple Cider Donuts that come out at our Farmers Market. They're fried though, and $4 for 6 of them makes me want to find a new way so I can save that $4 a week and put it to a healthy option!

Check back for some yummy looking photos.