Today is the last day Friday before school starts here. I’m so ready for a little more quiet in my day. Working from home with two kids is pretty crazy (especially when that job means being attached to a laptop all day). Some days are extremely stressful and draining.
The thing I love about working from home, besides the freedom to wear pjs and eat what I want (and money saved on gas and food), is getting to do small things during the day like cut out a pattern to sew later, or putting fabric in the washing machine, taking a little break to gather some materials, and even putting off all the work to do something fun like go on a family walk or stare at chickens.
If you missed the little update (and coupon code) I sent at the beginning of August, I opened up my little store called Cotton and Ochre. I’ve sold my art before online and at art fairs, but this feels different and better that those other times. It’s been so fun and encouraging for me so far (except figuring out taxes.) I’m really happy I get to have a little section of my life where I get to do exactly what I want (within space, time, and budget). I’ve always wanted a fabric/notion store, so I’m fakin it until I make it. It’s not a big operation, but it makes me so happy when people buy my stuff and then share with their friends. I’ve had to remind myself several times “Hey, you don’t need permission to do this” because sometimes I feel like I don’t have the expertise to take up space in certain places. I don’t like competing with other small businesses and artists. I have had to remind myself that I have 18 years experience in sewing and many more years than that as an artist. I have a lot of cool ideas that I want to do with Cotton and Ochre and I just keep reminding myself that I can do it. And, I’m really milking that graphic design degree I don’t really get to use at my day job anymore.
I just need to add that the heat index was 122F the other day. I don’t want to do much of anything when it’s this hot. I’ve lived in South Carolina my whole live and I have never liked the heat. Give me cold weather any day. I really need to work more linen into my wardrobe.
August means birthday dress/outfit planning szn for me. I really love making something special for myself. I bought this wavey ikat from Fab Rick’s Fabrics a couple months ago with the purpose to use for my birthday dress. When it showed up and I set it with my other fabric, I really loved how it looked with this rainbow plaid I got from Blackbird Fabrics a long time ago. Last month I picked up some olive green jumbo ric rac with no project in mind for it. The pattern I choose has this lace detail along the neckline so I thought it’d be cool to use the ric rac there. We’ll see how it goes! I got this pattern from an antique store a couple months ago. I love how the previous pattern owner wrote a little note to check the neckline before cutting out the fabric.
Chick update! Loretta (right) is way bigger than the other chicks and def in charge. Emmylou is shy. And Dolly and Dottie (left) are lil sweetie pies.
That’s it for this week! I’ve been so busy and hadn’t remembered to take photos of stuff going on. :)