Inspiration

With the recent graduation, impending future as a 'real adult', and the really poor economy putting a damper on my job hunt, many days I find myself needing a little bit of inspiration. Random quotes usually work quite well to remind that things will ultimately work out, and that just because I don't find a job right away, or find one that does not directly relate to my degree, does not make me unsuccessful. I chose an academic path that I was interested in, not just something that I knew would get me a job. And I still enjoy my life - I'm not making much, but I'm able to hang out with friends, spend time with the boyfriend, go to movies, go rollerblading, read a book in my front yard at 2 in the afternoon, and spend time doing other things that I enjoy. While I could be better off financially, I still consider the fact that I'm happy, (fairly) healthy, and doing things that I want, to be 'success'.


Here are some good quotes to think about, if you are in a similar situation, or just want to feel inspired in some way:

If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
St. Clement of Alexandra

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
Arthur C. Clarke

No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope and fear;
But grateful take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
John G. Whittier

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.
Albert Einstein

We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do.
Samuel Smiles

Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Doug Firebaugh

You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.
Charles Bruxton

Success does not consist in never making blunders, but in never making the same one a second time.
Josh Billings

Crafted Together - Saturday!

This Saturday I will be at the 'Crafted Together' show in White Bear Lake, MN. The show is at the Avalon Mall, located at 2179 4th st. Stop by between 9 and 3 for a some awesome shopping!

I will have plenty of new stuff at the show that hasn't been added to my shop yet!

Broken Promises

I feel like I neglect this blog more than almost everything else I say that I will do. I usually use the excuse that school/work/other social activities keep me too busy and occupied to write, but I think it's more a combination of me being too lazy, and me sort of forgetting about it. Also, I often struggle to think of something interesting and worthwhile to write about.
Here we are though, mid-way through the month of May. I no longer have school to use as an excuse, and I'm not working ALL that much, so... maybe? Some posts? More than one ever few months?

We'll see.... I don't want to make any promises, but I think I *might* be able to handle it!

Update

Life has been keeping me busy lately, and combined with a computer that is crapping out more and more quickly each day, updating my blog hasn't been a top priority.

BUT...

My new computer is in transit from California to here in Minnesota -- once it arrives, I believe that my blog, Etsy, and general internet presence will go up. Online tracking (which I simultaneously love and hate) says it will arrive at my house on Tuesday!

Finally, a sewing machine!

I've wanted a sewing machine for quite some time now, and I FINALLY managed to get my hands on one. I found it at the local Salvation Army for $30. I set myself up a little sewing area in my living room (my bedroom/craft room/office is already full, so it was the only spot left in the house --- in between the TV and the bookshelf). So far it has been working quite well for me, minus the fact that I'm a little... 'rusty' in the sewing department. However, I've been making tons of zipper pouches for myself and friends, and I'm finally getting myself back into the swing of things. I've spent quite a bit of money on some awesome fabrics, mostly stuff imported from
Japan, and lots of colorful zippers, snaps, buttons, etc. Once I start going, I will hopefully be making a lot, so be sure to start looking for zipper pouches in my shop! I also have a pile of clothes that have been waiting for me to get a sewing machine so they could be fixed but... well, fixing pants is just not nearly as fun as sewing zipper pouches!

I posted a picture of one of my pouches on my Flickr, feel free to judge my awesome skills! I'm making Dave a padded case for his Nintendo DS for Valentine's Day, so I will post pictures of that as soon as I get it done. I'm also going to start trying to come up with a pattern for some of those mini business card wallets that everyone seems to have, and of course I will be making some buttons with some of my scrap pieces of fabric.

I also have ambitious thoughts of making myself and awesome skirt, and a messenger-style sort of purse, but I think I need to stick with the slightly more simple stuff for now...

It's only just begun...

It's only the start of the third week of the semester, and I am already starting to feel overwhelmed... My original plan was to graduate in December with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Spanish. Well, plans changed, I was short 3 credits to have 'enough' to graduate, so I came back for spring semester. Since I needed to come back anyway, my adviser for Spanish told me that I might as well just take the Spanish major - I was only 3 classes (12 credits) short.



So here I am, 12 credits deep in Spanish, and one 3 credit anthro elective to keep some English in my final semester here. I'm a bit overwhelmed -- I haven't taken much Spanish over the past year and a half, and suddenly being in 300 and 400 level classes... well, lets just say that I feel a little bit behind. 10-15 page reading assignments take me two hours because I have to look up TONS of words. Ugh. I imagine it will get better as the semester goes on and I get back in 'Spanish mode', but right now it's just kicking my butt...

But on the bright side, this is my last semester. When this semester is over, I will enter the 'real world', and not have to worry about doing homework anymore (or until I start grad school... but we won't think about that right now).

The best thing for the winter chill...

a sale in an online shop!

With the temperatures here and all over the US being so darn cold, who wants to leave the house to go shopping when you can do it online?

Right now I'm having a "Dead of Winter" sale in my shop -- all pendants are buy 2, get 1 free; and all order of $25 or more will receive free shipping!

You know you want to look ----> Tangerine Sunshine <--- click here!