Thoughts Of Warmer Times of the Year

Today is the second day in a row school has been canceled not for snow but for cold. Part of me thinks "This is silly, we went to school in this weather!" or "Kids in Alaska and North Dakota and Montana would be playing outside for recess in this weather!" But then I remember that although I want to think all parents would make sure their children were properly dressed for these conditions and I would love to believe the kids would wear the gear, well who am I kidding!
Our furnace is running non-stop and our jeep won't turn over (at least it didn't earlier and I am waiting until the temp gets to our whopping high of 1 degree to try again). Matthew walked the mile and a half to work this morning when the windchill was -23. I am really glad he changed his mind a couple months back about taking his mighty beard down and secretly wishing I had one myself. My son is hanging on me like a gorilla baby on his mama literally saying "pay attention to me!" to which I said "I did that all day yesterday, now go play with your Legos!" Actually it is a bit of a miracle because he did!






I know there are a lot of parents going through this all over the country right now and this gives me a tad bit of solace.








So that is what I am up to so far. I will be needle-felting a custom order here as soon as I am done with this blog post but I have one more thing to share that I am quite excited about:

My amazing friend the oh so talented gardener Cheryl Conklin has recently launched both a website and blog to share some of the wisdom she is positively bursting with. I had the great honor of working with Cheryl for a spell last summer and I can tell you that she is magic not only with plants but also with words and that reading her blog will be a real treat. ~*~*~ Check out the section of her site that talks about winter beauty and form. She recently bought her own home with a blank slate of a yard and it is positively inspiring to watch her transform it bit by bit.

Featured

As if my week hasn't been a bolstering positive enough experience already, I have been featured on a really cool blog called Gin Factory. I honestly can't believe I haven't seen it before, but am adding it to my favorite blogs post haste. You too should go see :-) Happy February!

What A Week!

I have been a busy bee this last week knitting and needle-felting. I received a custom order from the most wonderful return buyer. I just wanted to share her kind words as a testimonial of sorts for what I do. The first part refers to an overcharge on shipping that I refunded her for.

Gretchen,
Thanks so much for the shipping refund. So kind. :o)
I received everything yesterday and am thrilled beyond words. I can't even pick a favorite.
I love every single one of these bowls. All are for gifts to loved ones, but I
have a strong feeling that I will be back for more. ( For ME!)
Thanks so much for sharing your time and your talent!

As if that wasn't enough to make me feel so proud of what I do, one of my bowls was in a treasury that was featured on the front page of Etsy on Saturday afternoon! I almost sold out of My Felted Valentine Bowls. Have no fear though, I have been getting my shop restocked and there will be more coming for the next week or so. If you are wanting a Valentine bowl and want a specific color combo please contact me so I can make one up for you!

Here are a couple I have listed today but please check in at Gretchen's Creations in the My Felted Valentine section to see what is new.

Give back the Key to My Heart

I love Uncle Tupelo! They have this fabulous song called Give Back The Key to My Heart and every time I needle-felt a heart key bowl I think of this song. I couldn't find that song on youtube however I did find this one:


I haven't heard Life Worth Livin' in awhile. Enjoy!

And where could I possibly be going with this? Why, I have a new Key to my Heart Bowl in my Etsy shop OBVIOUSLY.









Have a Happy Friday!

Here We Are Again

Can you believe it is already another year? I can't! 2011 arrived quietly here at my house. The AdAmAn club had to turn back from their ascent of Pikes Peak; the weather was just that bad. With no fireworks being launched from the summit of America's Mountain I officially gave myself permission to go to bed and read. I was up at midnight to enjoy the arsenal of fireworks half of my neighborhood invested in - I am just glad there was snow on the ground!
New Years has never been a big one for me. I believe that resolutions shouldn't be restricted to one day a year. I do have a list of things I would like to accomplish: I am on a mission this year to become more fit, more productive but most of all more peaceful. I am also excited to take a more artistic direction in my felting and needle-felting and have a gallery show at the Bridge Gallery in October. As a gardener in Colorado, the off-season is a strange time. You would think 2 months would be this amazing window of opportunity to make major strides in say home organization but days are chopped up by drop-offs and pick-ups and that self-imposed exercise regimen. I am getting there though! I promise!

So with all that aside I have 2 orders of business. First of all, Matthew and I have set new loftier goals for our hiking year please take a moment to visit our blog Ode to Ormes to see what Shenanigans we are going to be up to in 2011. Last year I took a very passive roll with the blog because I felt that Matthew was doing such an amazing job telling our story, but this year he has asked me to contribute more of my POV to it and I have therefore promised to be more active with postings on flora and fauna and hopefully an occasional gear review. If you get a chance drop by and share in our adventure! See where we have been and where we are headed.

My second order of business is of course Etsy. Valentines Day is drawing close and I have once again launched the My Felted Valentine line in my Etsy shop. Instead of a card or a box of chocolates give something that will last beyond one day a year! One of my felted bowls holding a precious memento or filled with delicious chocolates for instance! Here are a few items I have listed so far with more to come in the following days and weeks.

























Thanks for stopping by! I am really looking forward to a great year of fiber goodness and creativity and would be thrilled if you will join me.

Well...

My eyes might have been bigger than my time limits this week! Maybe my New Years Resolutions should include at the top: Only promise what you can deliver not what you would like to. This morning I spent 2 1/2 hours in my son's Kindergarten class for their Polar Express party. There is nothing like trying to help corral 45 5 &6 year olds hopped up on sugar cookies. Once again I truly admire teachers. Not only have I flailed on the Etsy listings on and off this week but I also completely forgot to get Seamus' teacher gifts ready and there for their last day before Christmas break. Oh well, if I get cards at all this season they will be for New Years anyway so Seamus' wonderful teachers who I highly admire and would give the world if I could, will be part of that tardy gift/card giving spree.
So there you have it: the true confessions of a spacey well-meaning mom and artist. I am off to clean my house and take stock of Christmas presents oh AND to pick my son up from school. Don't want to be THAT Mom. ~*~*~

12.16.10 The Only

I obviously missed a day. Yesterday was a full one with spending time with a good friend I hadn't seen in awhile and once I get to picking up my son from school the day has already gotten away from me. The weather was ridiculously nice too and since the weather heads were predicting snow today a handful of other parents and I thought it best to let the kids play for awhile on the playground. It is trying to snow now but the main issue is the cold. 60 degrees yesterday and now 30s today. It is no wonder the illnesses are going around! Our bodies don't know which season to adjust to.
So enough of the excuses! I have sold out of my fingerless gloves, but have no fear! I will be knitting some fabulous new ones here shortly since The coldest months of winter are just around the corner and I know I am not the only one who likes my hands warm. So this morning I offer up for your viewing (and buying if you so choose) pleasure 2 sweet bowls.