I Assure You We’re Open

I didn’t realize I had been away from my blog for so long. I knew it was awhile, but over a year? Oh my goodness! So what has happened that can be summed up in one post? A LOT. So I’m going to do my best to catch up over the next while. I hope. Things have just gotten a little more crazy for me this month, but I’m going to hold that under my hat for now. What I will say is that it was already intense because I have a spinning assignment due at the end of the month. And I have a HUGE spinning assignment due at the end of February.

So yes, I’m still plugging away at the OHS Spinning Certificate program. I am in Level III. I had questioned last summer as to whether or not I could pull it off. There is still some ongoing personal crap that just won’t seem to die (seriously anticipating the day I can let that rip – it would blow your mind and you would question whether or not my blog turned into a somebody’s horrible nightmare). I didn’t want that to be the reason I didn’t carry on. I will NOT give ANYONE the satisfaction of stopping me from achieving my dreams. I also got a fortune cookie that told me “Never Quit” on the day I contemplated it. The cookie doesn’t lead one astray. So I’m continuing to put my all into it. I will do my best to chronicle what is going on with that. I still don’t want to forget. Someday when I’m kicking back in the hot springs under the northern lights after spending a day with my sheep in Iceland, I want to remind myself just how determined I am.

My work life has taken a serious unexpected turn. I’m sure at one point or another, I may have mentioned my love of animals. I may have mentioned I did an internship with a service dog organization. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned I am a pet sitter. That was something that just sort of fell into my lap. I sat for a breeder. That breeder gave out my name to another breeder. And then word got out to other people. Then I was down to just one breeder. Then one day somebody asked a friend with a kennel if they knew anyone who looked after pets in their home. She gave them my name and BOOM! I’m pet sitting again. You know, timing is a funny thing. The pet sitting was quiet when Mom was so sick. There was no way I could have done it and helped her out at the same time. About six months after she was gone, that’s when things exploded. I don’t advertise. All of my clients are word of mouth. And that’s the way I love it. We have regular people that call us. It’s so wonderful. My Sweet Pea just loves this job. He’s got such a big heart and the animals know this. This is the perfect compliment to our lives. It allows me to carry on with my fibre work and I’m still available for my Sweet Pea. So yeah. That’s been keeping me busy.

I did a LOT of pattern testing for Crochet by Jennifer‘s new book, Crochet Style: Over 30 Trendy, Classic and Sporty Accessories for All Ages. It was released in November. I didn’t post any photos because we needed to keep quiet until it was released. Oh my goodness, that was one of the hardest things ever! She had us start testing in December of 2015. So now that it’s been released, I would like to post some of the finished product photos. I just need to get past my perfection paralysis when it comes to taking photos!

Speaking of perfection paralysis and the quest for the perfect photo, I finally launched an Etsy shop. Before you get too excited, I have to update it. I have a LOT of items I need to list, but I have to get the perfect photos. Or as close to perfect as I can.

Before I close this post out, I have one more thing to share. I got to cross something off of my bucket list last spring. I went to see Meat Loaf in concert. IT WAS AMAZING! The man didn’t stop! When I found out he was going to be playing in Kingston, ON, I jumped on the chance to go. It was the ONLY weekend I wasn’t booked for pet sitting. I did have a job come up, but I had to decline. I don’t know how much longer Meat Loaf is going to be touring (he actually collapsed during the show after the one I saw), so I wasn’t going to take any chances. I put it out to my friends on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to go with me. Nope, no (local) takers. So I said screw it, I’m going by myself! It took me over 4 hours to drive down there. Dad paid for a hotel room for me. I navigated Kingston transit alone on a Saturday night. And I had the time of my life. When I was 17, I made myself a promise that I would see him perform Paradise by the Dashboard Light live. So now I can say been there, done that. And yes, I did get the t-shirt! (It says Paradise by the Dashboard Light 2016!)

So that’s the last year+ in a nutshell. If you’ve made it this far, I thank you. I promise my next posts won’t be this long! I think I may start posting more photo posts. Because eye candy can be inspiring. And that the real reason I’m here in the first place.

And yes, that IS a quote from Clerks.

I’m still here!

Time is really starting to speed up! I can’t believe how long it has been since I’ve been here to update.

Today I went up to Fleming College for the open house. SOMEBODY’s child was not in the best of moods. Of course he’s not normally like that. Just when Mama wants to find out info about our future!

Last weekend I went to the One of a Kind show. All I have to say is OMG!!! I learned a LOT there. Every fibre artist I told about going to school was so supportive! It really is like a whole other world. I also observed things like labeling and pricing items and how the artists interacted with people (and one example of how NOT to). It was an amazing experience!

I’m getting things put together with applying for my student loan. I thought I was on a deadline. Nope! Starting to feel much better about that one 🙂

We did some silk screening the last 2 wks at SR. I’ll be posting that in a separate one. I’m quite proud of myself there.

I’ve been trying to work on that sweater repair, but it just isn’t working out for me yet. I’m still chugging… I really do adore the lady I’m doing it for and I’m not about to give up. I am going to take a break for the evening though because I’ve already tried at least 3 different times today. I think I may work on the sleeves tomorrow.

Oh Leafs, really… Just forfeit at this point. Save your pride! We’ll get ’em next yr… (couldn’t stop the hockey rant)

Whew!!!

This past week has been CRAZY!!!

I did work on the other stretchy rainbow sock. I got into the groove so much that I actually did two pattern sets (8 rows) more than I was supposed to! Lol

A friend of mine called me up. She works at a nursing home. They used to have a quilting program there for the residents (putting that thought on the back burner because I’d love to help start that up again someday). There was a couple of bags of fabric they found when they were cleaning and were going to throw it out. So she asked me if I wanted it. Uh, YEAH!!! When I opened it up, I found some pillows that just need some more stuffing and be closed. The big one is that there is a tie-down quilt that just needs binding. So I’m going to finish them up and donate them back 🙂

I also spent from Tuesday afternoon and the rest of the evening filling out a bursary application for funding for school. Yowza! I had to get some support letters to attest to my situation and why I need the money. It just blew my mind how willing people were to write these for me and the absolutely wonderful things they had to say about me. I am so grateful for the support that I have received, particularly in the past 2 yrs. I won’t go into great detail at this point (but may down the road), but can you believe that my baby boy and I were living woman’s shelter 2 yrs ago at this time?

My little man got sick on Friday. I was supposed to be taking off for a wknd of scrapbooking fun, but that didn’t happen. He is feeling better now, thank goodness. So much so that I’m feeling that the word “why” should in fact be considered a four letter word…

Today I plan on finishing up the toes on a few different socks. Then I have to finish up working on a sweater repair. I’m hoping to have it done for Thursday’s Sew Resourceful class. Another busy week ahead. I really do love the fact that all this “busy” is positive. Yep. Life is good 🙂