makers gonna make ... a free print ♥

got to thinkin' about my post the other day.

and how a creative soul just needs to make things

it's at the heart of who we are.

and i love this saying so much

and i found a place to hang my bunting :)

so i had to make a print to go with it.

i made two and couldn't decide which i liked better

so it's up to you! click on the link to download one or the other

or both. yeah. i'd do both too.

download here

download here

enjoy!

and go make some stuff peeps.

♥

rainbow granny square bunting ... ♥

i've been thinking about how things have been so busy.

my shop has picked up (so thankful :)

and family life, managing the house has proved more challenging

so much so, that i rarely spend time doing anything 

that's not shop/blog/cleaning/cooking related

and that's no good for me.

i need to create.

i need to make things just cause

for my home. for gifts. just cause.

not because i have to or because a deadline is approaching

(even though i love what i do)

i need to have my just cause time

it's good for a makers soul

so i'm trying to change a few things.
call it a night after the girls are in bed
from then on i can craft/relax until bedtime
watch a movie... whatever.

oh i know sometimes i'll have to work late

and Christmas is right around the corner

(shhhhh)

(you didn't just hear me say that)

but for the most part, at that time of night

i hope to make stuff

just cause.

this rainbow bunting is the first fruits of this new little endeavor

i used the granny square pattern that i found here

once you make a ton in all the colors you love

chain 10 for a beginning tail

 then single crochet into one of the corners and keep single crocheting

all the way across one side of the square

chain 5 in between each square, keep attaching them until you're done

then chain 10 again on the other end.

that's it

:)

happy weekend

happy crafting

new old friends ♥

the weekend flew by.

i left thursday and came home sunday

and it was like i blinked.

i flew to Kansas to meet my sweet friend AmyJ.

it was almost three years in the making

since we first found each other on the web

Amy is exactly how i thought she would be

the same 

sweet & kind. i just love her

Becky is funny & full of spunk

a lot like me :)

after spending the first day with Amy 

(which was so sad. it went by way too fast. like it was nothing)

we headed to the craft house in Newton

i just took a few snapshots that will never do this house justice

to see the full tour click here

this was our room...

there is detail in every corner

inspiration on every wall

it made me smile to see my garland hanging in one of the bedrooms

:)

the work room is huge

and beautiful

i've gotten so much inspiration from here

for my own studio

this woman really has a gift

it kinda felt like i was home in that room.

we ate.

like a lot.

like a lot of good stuff.

probably the best stuff ever.

this woman can cook.

i got to meet Heather too. which was a major bonus that wasn't planned!

she's such a sweet soul. and kind. i wanted to hang out with her more.

also got to meet Jess.

so quiet, and full of wisdom.

i was listening to her talk here and there

really just someone i'd love to know more.

goodbye whatever craft weekend

i've been blessed to stay within your walls

meet your beloved hosts & helpers

and make your ruffled apron

lemme come back again someday mkay?

an exciting weekend & a baby gift ... ♥

i'm off to catch a plane in a few hours

headed to Kansas for the first time ever

to spend the weekend at the craft house

so excited!

i've been running down my list

trying to make sure i've thought of everything.

i also sent out a little bit of happy mail this week...

a sweet baby gift for a friend on Instagram

the shoes are printed on heavy cardstock and sewn onto some ribbon to make a garland

i added some pennants & letters to spell out her name

it's a really pretty

these darling little shoes were designed by my sweet friend AmyJ.

she's hoping to sell these as digital clip art in her shop soon

she is so talented... and has an eye for design ... we're very like-minded her and I.

and the coolest thing is that after being bloggy friends with her now for a few years

we get to meet tonight! in person! in Kansas :)

i'm so excited to just hug her neck ♥

the gold letters have a sticky back

i found them at Michaels

aaaand of course some pompoms :)

what would a garland be with out some poms...

can't wait to tell you all about craft weekend when i get back!

but i'll be posting pictures on Instagram during the trip

so keep up with me there!

much love

♥

insta-friday ... ♥

i really have no idea how it's friday.

i don't know what happened to monday through thursday?

it's a blur.

my shop anniversary celebration was so much fun!

thank you so much to all who ordered from my shop

i appreciate all your love & support ... i really am so blessed by you ♥

then my girls started school yesterday :(

bittersweet.

so i know i've been lacking in the creative/crafty post department

but for now here is my life in instagram pics.

i'm raisinguprubies if you want to follow me there :)
and linking up with jeannett here!

getting ready for last week's sale meant tons of hoop making ... 

these were all gone in 20 minutes!

my sunday night routine consists of movies, planners, coupons 

and usually some crazy snacks ... 

do you know there's such thing as marshmallow fruit loops?!

yum.

blogging late at night is hard. i always get super sleepy. even though i'm a night owl.

i have this friend. her name is Becky.

she has this awesome shop. and she sent me a huge box of happy!

aaaaaaand i cant wait to meet her face to face next week!

so very excited.

this is me. tired from staying up too late blogging. 

it was eeeeeearly in the morning... like 9:45

(that's like daybreak in my mind)

and i was already hustlin.

guys what are you doing?

shhhh. were on a bug expedition mom!!

more sunday night routine in action ... 

it's not much, but it's a lifesaver when it comes to planning meals and groceries 

if i stick to it really good :)

we went to the lake one last time

we stopped at the store for a bunch of snacks... 

it was summer's last hoorah

boo.

teacher gifts this year to my liking

simple and sweet ... the cute pencils were from the target dollar bins

and i had the jars ... so these two gifts cost just a little bit :)

the teacher questionnaire is a free printable from here

this ikea cart that i got in the spring has been my buddy lately

packing & shipping orders with everything all in one spot makes life waaaay easier

i {♥} ikea

good thing there isn't one around here

i've been struggling with summer being over

i feel like it flew by faster than it ever has in years past.

maybe it's because i noticed my girls are getting bigger

they're out of that little kid stage, and definitely do so much more for themselves

the days just started to vanish 

i kept trying to get ahead of them and not waste time

waste time.

doing things other than focusing on them.

really looking at them when they talk.

and not at a phone

praising and encouraging them

not scolding and reprimanding

taking time to play and include myself in with them 

even if it means not getting something done that seems really important

i don't want to regret. later.

i hate the regret.

it sneaks up on you late at night when they're all tucked in and quiet

and you realize you said no more than yes.

all this overwhelms me lately

i sense God picking me up and carrying me through what feels like unsure ground

the parenting fails

the disappointments

unmet expectations

gently telling me ... nothing is wasted 

nothing is wasted in My hands daughter

walk with Me everyday ... and nothing will be wasted

this is a free printable i posted a while ago ... find it here

next week i'm headed to whatever craft weekend

so so excited to put online names to faces and spend time together ... and craft!

i'll have to tell you all about it when i get back

happy weekend!