Tag Archive | niece

Crafting With a Purpose

So at the last minute Shandai and I did up a craft table for a day at the Priory in August. At the end of this week we are returning for a 2 day sale we had pre-planned attending. So come check us out at A Prior Affair HERE. Now onto the blog post I am warning you I wrote ages ago:IMG_20180825_231115_037

Shandai has been making and selling these adorable and functional baby/small dog bandanas. You can purchase some yourself at her Etsy page… ShandaiMade or Facebook HERE. She uses a large variety of fabric and lovely sturdy snaps. If you want something a little larger, she is branching out to large dog versions as well, that would also fit a child (or potentially an adult). My niece is the perfect model and uses them all the time. They keep drool and mess off clothes and sensitive baby skin.

Look at the awesome colour combos she has!

Look at the awesome colour combos she has!

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It was a last minute opportunity so I just threw together my random on hand pieces that were critters and ran with it. Surprisingly it was my Cthulhu’s and ice cream cones that were of interest… and the little desserts I had made up.20180705_175631

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It was a fun experience, though the crowd was not huge. The current plan is to come back to the bigger 2 day sale at the same location in the end of October and bring more items out. I hope to make some more key chains, maybe some Halloween themed pieces. With cooler weather maybe some scarves would be of interest.

Seriously though, check out ShandaiMade and spread the word. Handmade, functional AND fabulous. Oh and did I mention… reversible??? I wish I had had these back when my kids were tiny. Tying on bibs was a royal pain.

Bib in action

Bib in action

I am also going to work on updating my Facebook page It’s a Hoot. I really need to add more of my on hand pieces. I always have spare stuff sitting around. And commissions are always welcome. After all, crafting helps keep me sane!

Now enjoy the obligatory niece and kitty pics. Both are utterly adorable. 20180825_134635

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Choices Made, Changes Result

Well, June seems to have been my month of change. There will, of course, be a month overview post WHEN I finally catch up this darn blog, but I feel like I should just jump in and share my stuff.

Anyway, I finally caved and dealt with the hair that I totally fried dying it a year ago (remember the blue hair? Yah, not my best adventure). Sadly it was over bleached in places so there was no fixing it, I grew it as long as I could and then went into the salon. I chose a place referred to my by Renee, had a loose image of what I wanted and threw in a lot of trust. Snip snip and my curls are back, one product and some scrunching and my look is done. Simple enough that even I can do it, and my hair skills are… sad!!!IMG_20180616_110030_865

This coincided with a VERY busy weekend – our anniversary – number 17, and Father’s Day. This year our present was special and already introduced… Check out Momo HERE.20180616_161359

We went out to dinner the night before, Broadway Pizza and kept it low key. Choices had to be made… spendy night or kitten. No brainer right? My original plan was to head out to a hotel for a night, but Ken is in the middle of a massive project that also cancels our July 4th plans. Maybe in the fall we will sneak in a tiny get away? Any sitters offering???20180615_183356

20180615_191338Father’s Day was also a rather quiet day. There was a kitten to enjoy and Ken’s wanted quiet. He also made a cat post for Momo. Which OF COURSE had us to Home Depot for some small random things and Ken and the kids making Momo her own scratching post. We celebrated Dad by enjoying time together, quiet moments and working with our hands. OH and No Name steaks and brats for dinner. YUM!IMG_20180624_221509_950

My birthday was on the 24th! It fell on a Sunday so of course I ended up at the YMCA to workout with my usual R.I.P.P.E.D. class. In the morning Renee and Chris came over and spoiled us with birthday pancakes! And Renee got in some kitten snuggles.IMG_20180624_124123_869

20180624_114649I got in my own snuggles and nap.IMG_20180624_223436_333

And ended the day with poutine made fresh by Ken. It was an amazing day. 39 feels absolutely amazing.IMG_20180624_221214_795

Now for the final big change… I finally found the right image for myself and jumped in with both feet. My very first tattoo, and it is very meaningful to me. I chose to go with a semi colon (a symbol for depression) butterfly with maple leaf wings (Canada, of course). In honor of Ken’s and many of my friend’s struggle with mental image and of course my own roots which are deep in Canada.IMG_20180618_201838210

Even better – Shandai, who has been with me since high school, been involved in so many of my big changes and fun choices, was able to not only help design but take me and basically hold my hand while I had it done. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in crime.

This is the face of a kitty put out cuz I felt the need to play with my niece

This is the face of a kitty put out cuz I felt the need to play with my niece

And the face of my niece when I had the audacity to pet the cat! I couldn't win!

And the face of my niece when I had the audacity to pet the cat! I couldn’t win!

And the artist and staff at the tattoo parlor – Rose in No Man’s Land Tattoo and Piercing were amazing. I could not have been happier with Marx Berry. Amazing! And a lot less painful for the most part than I expected. No regrets here… except for 2-3 weeks of no shaving a portion of my leg in the middle of summer. Oh well, worth it!IMG_20180618_200050837_HDR

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So June has been my month of actually doing some things I have not only wanted but at times been a bit scared to do. And funny enough, my kids are super PROUD of me getting the tattoo and the day after told EVERYONE at the YMCA that Mom had a new tattoo… I joked with Shandai, good thing I didn’t get it in an intimate place!!! What a month!IMG_20180624_134932_352

This entry was posted on 08/07/2018, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment