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Start, stop. Start, stop. Start, stop…

{new chickadee clock in terra cotta}

This past Sunday, I took photos of all the new work I've done and started uploading the new photos to my website. I only got about halfway through because of a certain little puppy living here. Yesterday I attempted to create a new home page for the website, but every single time I sat down to work Lola got into something. And I'm not exaggerating. I would sit, she would run over to Malayna's dollhouse and steal something out of it. I sit, she steals shoes. I sit, she jumps on the coffee table. I sit, she barks at me. You get the picture.

{Huh? What? Me, bad? But I'm so cute!}

Looks like I'll have to wait until she collapses at night or when Jimmy's home and he can keep an eye on her. Also, I'll be calling the vet to schedule that puppy kindergarten class soon.

{By the way, if you click on any image on my home page, it'll take you to a page that doesn't exist. I'm hoping to have it working by Friday, so I can send a newsletter about all my new stuff! Wish me luck.}

Waldorf Craft Fair

Come see me today at the Waldorf Craft Fair from 10-5! (7500 Germantown Avenue in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia.)

Creative ADD

How can I get any work done with these two looking so darn cute? My first show is in nine days. NINE DAYS! I need to get my butt in gear and get makin'. One of the problems I have is that I don't know what I want to make! I have some clocks, lots of wall squares, checkbook covers, cards, pendants and magnets already made. Predictably, I've got new ideas brewing. This happens every single time I have a show coming up. Should I ignore the urge to make new stuff, build my inventory of products I've already introduced and work on the other ideas some other time? Or do I listen to the inspiration and make some new things?

Remember this? I have all the materials ready for this project. Is it one worth pursuing?

I have creative ADD.

Squeezing in studio time

{Before the mess}

I've been neglecting my studio lately. That doesn't mean I haven't been making things - it just means that my studio is a big ol' mess and I can't find a spot to work in there. It's not a big room at all, just a little spot with lots of desk space (that is now covered with lots of stuff). Yesterday I really wanted to be up there (hmmm, maybe to get away from the energetic puppy for a little while?), so I just moved the piles around so I could sit down and work. What a difference it makes to have a dedicated space to work. It's just not the same as working at the dining room table, surrounded by Malayna's toys.

I can't seem to get started cleaning up. There's just so much stuff in such a little room that there's no way it can all fit. Guess that means I have to get some trash bags and start purging. Ack! I think it's a creative thing to want to keep everything and not throw things away. What I mean is that a lot of times when I talk to other creative people they seem to have the same problem. Why is that? Anyone else out there feel the need to hold on to things?

I'm sleepy…

 

Lola's here! I picked her up from her foster parent's house yesterday. It was a long ride - about an hour or so. She howled and cried for the first five minutes in the car, but then calmed down and fell asleep for the rest of the ride. I borrowed a travel crate for the occasion and I'm so glad I did (thanks, Tonja!). I picked her up by myself, so it would've been nearly impossible to make that trip without a crate.

We came home to Malayna and mom-mom waiting for us. Malayna was so excited to see her. She's a little wary of her, since Lola has tons of energy and likes to gives lots of kisses. She nipped Malayna's toes a few times, and after that Malayna decided she wanted to color and take a break from Lola.

After Malayna went to bed and Jimmy went to play basketball, Lola and I snuggled on the couch. We wound up sleeping in the living room because I was afraid Lola's crying would wake Malayna. I put the crate beside the couch, and Lola woke me every two hours with a little whimper. I would take her out, praise her when she was done, bring her back inside and back into the crate. She did much better than I expected (no crying and whining during the night), but I'm tired! She woke me at 12, 2 and 4 am. Tonight we're going to put her in the bedroom with us (in her crate), and see how she does.

She's got the sweetest personality and is very affectionate. Malayna sat beside her crate this morning while she watched a video and seemed much more happy with Lola. We took her to the schoolyard with us so all her little friends could meet her. I'll be taking her with me when I pick her up, too.

Wish us luck tonight!

Meet Lola

See that sweet little face? That's Lola - our new puppy! She's not home with us yet, because she still has to visit the vet on Wednesday. We found her through Petfinder - she is from the South somewhere and a rescue organization in NJ is taking care of her right now. I'll be picking her up on Thursday afternoon! Malayna is so excited; it's all she talks about. It's been a long time since we've had a puppy around here (13 years), but I'm sure it'll all come rushing back when she gets here. I'm expecting some sleepless nights, some carpet cleaning and, of course, lots of puppy kisses.