words that aren't my own....

"i have always spent most of my time staring out the window, noting what is there, daydreaming, or brooding.
most of the so-called imaginative life is encompassed by these three activities...entire mornings can slip by, in a blissful daze of preoccupation."
- Joyce Carol Oates


i want to go to there.....

who could forget...

as promised, pictures of the Gypsy Bird booth at Deluxe!

pretty great show!  can't wait for next year!

my level of crazy....

so Christmas is over.  i hate to say it (but i will anyway)...thank goodness!  this year was just a new level of stressful.  all completely self-induced, i admit...but crazy all the same.  it's Monday now and i'm still whirling from all the gift-making, order-filling, wrapping, running, buying chaos.  i felt like i had the the anti-Midas touch this weekend, because one hundred little things went wrong, and it seemed everything i touched turned to crap.  which inevitably led to a mini-meltdown on Christmas day, and a subsequent Xanex-popping/wine-drinking/mind-numbing Christmas night.  eh, i blame it on the whole "eccentric artist" thing.  no worries though, things are fine now and i'm regaining my calm and whatever sanity i started out with! 

but, it can't last long...i must get back on the crazy-train because there is so much to do!  i absolutely have to get the Etsy thing figured out so i can get my store up and running; i must make more bags; push myself to create some new styles; try some totally different & new projects; and you know, live the normal life - work 8-5, clean house, do laundry, pay the bills, budget, etc. etc. etc.  never-ending cycle, but you know i love it! 

well, my brain is scattered and it's getting late already, so i'll just get to the point and share a few pics....

a bit late for this, but here are a few photos of my Christmas decor.  i couldn't deal with a tree this year, but i did do a bit of decorating with some lovely Christmas stockings and table coverings that i designed at my previous job working at a home furnishings company.

and here are my sweet kitties cuddled up on the couch with me on Christmas night while i watched Meet Joe Black (hey, i said it was a mind-numbing evening!  and who can resist a Brad Pitt movie after a meltdown?)

and finally, a snap of the Matryoshka dolls i painted for my precious niece...pretty cute, if i do say so myself!  i'm not sure they were the most exciting gift for her...but it's the thought that counts right?  hmm, do 2 year olds get that?  no matter...i enjoyed making them and hopefully she'll further develop her spatial reasoning and counting skills with them.  yea, i googled how matryoshka dolls can help with developmental abilities.  trying to do some good, along with making something pretty & cute!

all for now...i vow my next post will be about how my Etsy site is up and running!  well, my fingers are crossed for that anyway!

have yourself a merry little Christmas....

Merry Christmas!  in the midst of all the madness of preparing for this special day, i wanted to take the time to wish my readers a very happy Christmas!  i hope everyone has a blessed day with family and friends. 

other thoughts...Judy Garland's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is the most beautiful, hauntingly sad Christmas song ever.  it's my favorite this season.  "someday soon, we all will be together if the fates allow...until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow...."  gives me chills.  and makes my eyes well up.  i realize the words are the same whomever sings it, but the emotion and pain in her voice is almost palpable.  sounds depressing...and i guess it is, really.  but beautiful anyway.

hmm, in happier thoughts...i received an extremely nice anonymous gift this week.  6 bags of groceries on my porch, along with a Max Lucado book, some lotion, notepads, candle, etc.  so incredibly kind and amazing, and what a blessing!  i don't know who would buy me groceries and leave them secretly on my porch...i'm perplexed, but seriously grateful!  i'm sure there are people who really need a gift like that more than me, but saving me from a trip to WalMart increased my chances of staying sane.  so, if my secret friend is a blog-reader...thank you thank you!  and may God bless you this Christmas too!

well, i must be off to wrap presents, make sweet potato casserole, and get to Mom's house for family fun!
Happy Christmas!

a little inspiration....

so, a little tidbit about me...i'm slightly obsessed with quotes.  i've been collecting inspirational & impactful quotes that i've read for, probably, 10 years.  they're scattered throughout my notebooks, journals, & planners...stuck randomly on walls, in my wallet...saved in various documents on my trusty old laptop.  i love these brilliant (or sometimes incredibly simple) thoughts people have had that have been re-spoken, re-written, and passed on and on.  i often spend much too much time reading these things and thinking about how inspired i am...and then take no action.  but in the vain of being an active blogger again, and at the very least re-telling a fantastic thought - here's a little something i came across tonight:

“If you're going to be passionate about something, be passionate about learning. If you're going to fight something, fight for those in need. If you're going to question something, question authority. If you're going to lose something, lose your inhibitions. If you're going to gain something, gain respect and confidence. And if you're going to hate something, hate the false idea that you are not capable of your dreams.” - Daniel Golston

do you have chills?  inspired to be confident, take action, and make your life?

me too!

jingle bells...

yes, it's already Christmas time, and the last time i posted was at Thanksgiving.  shameful!  but rest assured i have been a busy busy Gypsy Bird!  the Deluxe show was fantastic!  i have pics of my booth that i will post later.  i sold some bags, got some great feedback, and then i crashed!  but it was truly a successful event!  i'm so so pleased and grateful for all of my fabulous customers and visitors at the show!  you were all fantastic, and i'm sorry i haven't been posting more or getting my etsy site prepared.  i need about 10 more hours in every day, you know.  i've been filling custom orders since the show, and attempting to prepare all of my own Christmas gifts.  it's quickly approaching and i have so much left to do!  ack! 
so, more later.  for now, i must cut more bags, sew more bags, make matryoshka dolls for my niece, and maybe get a couple hours of sleep?

i promise i will be a real, active, organized, caught-up business owner & blogger soon.  stay tuned!