Preschool Jitters

     So the last couple of weeks have been taken up with interviews and visits to some of the local preschools. So that is why I have not written in a while along with other things we call life.

    Back to the preschool thing. You know you have to do it because being three is hard on all the family. They want independence and so do you. There is a lot of arguing and some times resentment on both sides. Yeah I know what that sounds like, but lets be honest here, you have all been there. We love our children and they love us but we are by nature independent and need to have our space. It helps us appreciate each other better and it helps us grow and see our own strengths. Then we come together and celebrate what we are to each other.

       If you have ever tried to find a preschool you know how hard it can be. Sending your child to others to watch can be the hardest thing you do, well at least until the next big moment. You want them to be in a nurturing place, and it has to work into your schedule right. These two things do not always come in one school. So the search can take some time and lots of hard thinking.

     It has been a long journey trying to find just the right fit. All the schools were good, but only one was perfect.  When you find the right one you will be so glad you didn't give up and just settle. We found our school yesterday and I must say I feel completely at ease with our choice.  That is to say I am sure Jake will love it and I will too.  The staff was very caring and made me and Jake feel at home. The other kids were also excited and told Jake they couldn't wait to see him next week. Awww so sweet.

      I am very excited for us both for many reasons. He will get some time with other kids and learn to work things out without my help. He will be able to choose his own friends. He will be in a place he can grow and become an even more wonderful little person. I will get some time to be and be with adults. I will have time to regenerate and be productive. I will get to grow and become a more wonderful person too. All in all it will be great for us both.

     I am also at odds with him going because of all the mom worries. He is my baby and I am proud and sad at the same time that he is growing up to fast for my liking. I am also of course having the concerns of all moms, you know "What if he falls and needs a kiss on his boo boo?" "What if someone is mean to him" "What if he doesn't need me any more"   So I am certain that on his first day I will be that mom in her car smiling because she is happy and crying because she is sad.

Any way another change in life to celebrate and remember is at hand. When your time comes to do the same just remember that it will be okay and you are not alone. Come on over and have coffee with me. We will laugh and cry together as our children play at preschool , knowing nothing of our jitters.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

       

Just for the Joy- A Dress for Jolie and baby Suzie

     This is the next set of dresses that I made for the cutie next door and her American Doll named baby Suzie. They are a very simple design called a pillow case dress. I had an awesome time making it.

     It took about a yard and a half of the main fabric plus about another half yard for the trim and bows. It has only one seam up the back. I lined the armhole with hand made bias tape. I also made each tie with a two inch hand made ribbon that is the full length of the fabric width (44 ").

     I would love to make this style again. It can be worn for many years. It can even used as a shirt. I can also see putting a ruffle on the bottom or even a small one on the top. You can also of course make a tie belt for a different look.

     I was requested to make this style by Jolie and her mom and I am so glad I was. I would not have thought such a simple design could have been so much fun. It was great because it took me so little time to prep - and I am all about instant gratification. Time to play is in short supply in my home - as it is with most people.

     One of the funnest parts was having a fitting with the doll. Jolie was so excited. I showed up with my bag of tools and a mock or muslin to do it and she was so helpful. I could see her getting so excited to see it done. I love my hobby; which is good because after the last dress was published online I got another request, lol. You know what they say, being busy keeps you out of trouble (mostly)

Hope you enjoy this little set for many years Jolie and Suzie! 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery 

Dawn

     

Just for the Joy-A dress for Isabella

     Well when I said I would never run out of little girls to dress, boy was I right. After I posted the Just for the Joy Blog, I got a slew of requests. Ten dresses to be exact,lol. I guess I did it to myself, but really I don't mind. Spring is the perfect time to sew these fun dresses.

    So this is the first one that I made and it is for a sweet little lady named Isabella. I hope that she loves it as much as I loved making it. This dress is also the first one that I attempted to make an elastic smocking fabric insert. I am happy to say that it came out terrific and was quite simple to do. I will be using it again because it will make fitting these ladies much easier since most of them are not available often for fittings. It will also make the dresses fit for much longer than a fitted one would.

     I will be making a set of three dresses next for sisters. I can't wait! I will post pictures when finished with each project.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

Argentium Silver First trials

  Well, I got a to finally do a project with my new silver I got a couple weeks ago. It has been a bit crazy at my house these last few weeks.

     Anyway it worked exactly like my sterling silver and I felt it was even better. Because it hardens a bit faster, I didn't have to manipulate it a lot to get the shape I wanted and I had fewer issues with marking. The few marks I had were easily buffed out and didn't hurt the shine at all.

     I also tried to use the oven to harden it. I put it in a pyrex small pot in a 400 degree oven for two hours and it worked quite well. The piece I made was dead soft and after hardening it was dead hard. It had no fire scale, just a bit of cloudiness to it. I used a little gentle metal polish and then buffed it and it shined like crazy. I hammered it slightly and it worked perfectly.

     I am loving this new medium and am looking forward to more trials as I have read it can be fused with just heat and of course can be soldered.

DIY website?

To DIY or not to DIY?

     While thinking about my next strategy for my business. And getting lots of new dress requests. I began to wonder if maybe I was going in the wrong direction all together. I love to make jewelry but I don't always enjoy the sales part of it because I am a bit shy when it comes to my own art. I also love to make clothing, and come up with ideas of how to make all sorts of stuff. I love to sing, take photos and write poetry and stories.
I draw and paint a little and I love to try new stuff when it comes to art.

     So I started to wonder if maybe my problem was that I like to do to many things and maybe that isn't a problem at all. Maybe I should start a DIY blog/website for my business. That way I can experiment and share the creative process, which is what I truly love, and continue to be able to do art in every form.  Maybe.  It is something I will definitely be looking into as a side business or as a compliment to what I am currently doing.

     Would love to hear what you think and what you would like to see in a DIY site. Keep in mind it would be mainly art/craft projects.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

Argentium Silver order

          I just got my order in and I am so excited to give it a try and see how it handles. I did notice right away that it feels quite soft in the dead soft I ordered. I am hoping that will give me a little more time for manipulating it and that it will hardened well. I will be trying it out this week and will give you an update on it's performance. I am especially excited to try double hardening it in my oven, eeek. It should be very cool and exciting to see how it works out.

Just for the Joy

      I do not have a little girl I have a wonderful little boy that I love with all my heart. However I love to make frilly and fun clothing for little ladies. So I in my spare time have made a few for some friends and their precious girls. I used to make them for my friends little since I can remember at christmas when they were small but most of them have all grown up. I even got to make a skating dress for one of my friends daughters and it has been handed down to another friend. I can not tell you how much joy I get out of knowing that they enjoyed it and that it was handed down.
 
    Now that I have a three year old son, I have an entire new set of friends that have little girls, yeah! I also have been lucky to make new friends and reconnect with old ones that also have little girls. And so I am finding myself suddenly very excited and somewhat afraid. I could go a bit crazy if they let me.

     I hear, you should sell these quite often but really I have come to the conclusion that even though that may be perfectly true, I need to have atl least one real hobby that I do simply for the joy of it. I have enough to do trying to make a business out of my other work and this is my fun thing. I love to get the fabric and add the little frills and flowers here and there. I love the terrific patterns available and have a hard time containing myself in the fabric store. I have more fun with kids clothes because you don't have to be as concerned with, did I put to much sparkle or frill on it. They love it and so do I. I am also certain I will never run out of little ones to make them for since the first group will be old enough to have little girls of their own (yikes!) if they wish, and when it happens I will be ready with my thread and sewing machine giddy as can be.

     It is good to have other creative outlets simply for the joy of it and it is sometimes hard to remember that when you are an artist. So go find a totaly un-profitable hobby that makes you happy, you will be much more inspired in your other ventures if you do.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn