GoatNotes

2015-02-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hello My GoatNotes Followers, Readers, Supporters!

I have been quiet in this space for many months now, but I see you all have not been! I love the e-mails and comments I have received through this blog lately. Thank you!

I want to invite you all to partake in my new adventure over on my new blog and website: www.cutoutsstudio.com

In the last several years I have gained the courage needed to launch my very own- full-fledged art business and I am excited to share it with all of you. I will keep GoatNotes Up and running so you may still have access to the DIY and other favorite posts here on this space.

But I would love for you to hop over to www.cutoutsstudio.com to see what I am up to these days.

This year in 2015 I am embarking on an ambitious project where I make a new paper cut work of art every day for 365 days. Each day the paper cut is based on a daily intention that I set through journal writing that I do every morning. I encourage you to check out the new site, my new work, and my new way of sharing creativity with the world.

Hope to see you over there!

New in the Shop & A Fall Gift for YOU

2014-09-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

The fall equinox is around the corner. Have you started to plant your fall garden? To celebrate the change in season I have updated the shop with a few new items including these sweet cards based on my original papercuts. All were inspired by my wanderings in the wild hills around my house, or by the memories of sitting in my Grandmother's garden in Maryland before heading back to California at the end of summer.

They warm my heart and I hope they will warm yours too. Right now if you go and like my Facebook page you can get access to a 10% off your entire order starting now through September 17th. I have some special Halloween inspired works that I will be sharing here soon too.

What are your favorite aspects of fall?

GIVEAWAY// Win a Back to School Book Pocket Mommy by Aila Malik

2014-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

We start back to school this week, and making that transition is often a difficult one for my son. Since he is home with me most of the time, it is challenging for him to be away from his mama and from his home for long periods of time without feeling anxious. He got some practice of being away from home this summer when he attended a 4 week day camp (he was gone every day from 8:00 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday for a month!). How I wish I had had Aila Malik's book Pocket Mommy earlier in the summer to help him through that transition, but I am so grateful to have received a copy recently to help us with our next transition of back to school.

In the book Pocket Mommy Zayan is preparing for his first day of kindergarten. He is anxious about the new experience and not sure what to expect. Most of all he feels sad that he is going to be away from his mom. Zayan is a lucky boy because his mom is one smart lady. She crafts a small paper doll of herself and gives it to Zayan to tuck into his pocket and take to school with him. Zayan is able to pull out his pocket mommy whenever he needs encouragements, to ease his anxiety, or to feel a little connection to his mom when he is feeling homesick.

My son loved the story. We are working on our own little pocket mommy for him to take with him on his first day of school. And, you know what dear readers? Aila Malik sent me a copy to give away to one of you! All you have to do is follow these simple steps:

To enter just use the entry form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will run through August 29 2014 and is open to GoatNotes readers and Fans of CutOut Studio worldwide. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced here shortly after.

Thanks again to Aila and Zayan for giving GoatNotes readers the chance to win this amazing book! Good luck!

You can purchase your own copy of Aila's book from Amazon. Just follow the link below. Please note I am an Amazon affiliate and will make a small commission off of your purchase.

My 4 Favorite Art Business Podcasts

2014-08-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's me (yes I am taking a selfie) with no make-up rock'n my headphones as I get podcast smart

I am not going to lie. I listen to a lot of podcasts. This is mostly because I do a lot of work on the computer and I work from home, so I get lonely. Is it weird that I kind of feel like I know some of these people? I like to pretend that they are my friends. Okay, I know they are not my friends but it would be really cool if they were!

In the last year I have been scouring the internet and iTunes for some of the best podcasts about art and business. This was no easy task. There are plenty of podcasts about being an entrepreneur or how to make a million bucks (Eventual Millionaire is pretty awesome even if she doesn't focus on art businesses).

For some reason there is this belief that artists and business don't go together. Artists are "too flighty" to carry out a solid and well run business, at least this is what I hear often, and often from the mouths of artists! I am here to say that this is not- and does not- have to be true. Here are my favorite podcasts that debunk the whole "starving artist" mentality.

Here are my 4 Favorite Art Business Podcasts:

1. Creative Insurgence- Cory Huff and Melissa Dinwiddi provide stellar interviews with successful artists and tackle that age old conundrum "starving artist" head on.

2. Jess Lively Show- Jess interviews some amazing entrepreneurs with a bent towards artful businesses. I especially loved the Whitney English episode. It is authentic and vulnerable and provides some true gems of wisdom.

3. The Fresh Rag Show- Dave is a straight talker and gets the dirt on what it means to be a working artist. His interviews are insightful and thought provoking.

4. After the Jump- Grace Bonney the creator of Design*Sponge hosts this well put-together podcast. Through insightful interviews with designers and artists Grace is able to pull out information and guidance for all those of us artists just getting started with ease.

Do you have a favorite art business podcast? Or business related podcast you just can't get enough of? Let me know in the comments. I will generate a whole list to share on the blog.

XOXO,

Julia

Inspiration Fridays

2014-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Once a week I keep an eye out for little gems of wisdom to keep my heart full and my head happy. I will share the ones that lingered with me longer and made me catch my breath for a second. You know when this happens to you. It's like Karma, or spirit, or the universe, or God, or whomever you choose- touching your shoulder and giving you a polite nudge to stay focused on the present. Get out of your head for a moment. and live.

This week, as I was sitting in a very cramped child's picnic table at the park, and somewhat lamenting that I wasn't getting to do what I wanted to do, I adjusted my coffee cup sleeve and Oprah gave me a big ol' slap of reality. Yeah, thanks Oprah. You are totally right. I stopped lamenting and started playing with my daughter- and really did begin to enjoy my wood chip cookies.

Happy Weekend everyone!

XOXO,

Julia

How to Prepare for Your First Art Festival Like a Rock Star Lesson 1

2014-08-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

The getting the making on

It's Tuesday. I have less than 4 days to get all of my art Sh#@!t in order before this weekend. This weekend I am participating in my first ever Art Festival. If you live in the Bay Area, come check out Art in the Park in Downtown Martinez. It is sure to be some great home grown art. That sounds awful. Scratch that. It is sure to be a fabulous way to spend a weekend. Plus I hear they will have food trucks... but I digress.

Some Art Making is Happening

So, you want to know how to prepare for your first art festival. Oh, boy. Have I got a TON to share with you, and I have not even made it to the festival yet. Hence, the "Lesson" as part of the title of this post.

Lesson #1. Don't FREAK OUT.

Seriously. That is my first lesson. If you freak out then you won't even do the work it takes to find an art fesitval to participate in, and then print out the vendor application, then print out pictures to send in to the jury, and, and, and....oh...I did say I have a lot to tell you right?

Again, don't freak out.

Me trying not to panic so I make pretty pictures instead

The first thing to do is to breathe. Take a look around. Do you have some art or crafts you make that you think you might like to sell? Have you sold any to anybody before? If the answer is no then I suggest you don't jump head first in to selling at any type of festival. Do a little market research first. Share some of your artwork with your friends on Facebook, pin some pics of your work on Pinterest. Ask some of your family members if they would like to buy some art from you.

The more pieces you sell on your own the more confident you will be when it comes time to locating the best festival to start with.

Okay, so you have sold some pieces of art to your family and friends. Great! And you are ready to find the "perfect" festival to sell your work. Before you begin your hunt take out a piece of paper and a pen. Number down the side of the paper 1-8. Now, fill in 8 pieces of criteria your first festival needs to have. Here is what mine looked like:

1. Located near or in my own hometown
2. Affordable (aka less than $100 to sign up to sell as a vendor)
3. At least 3 months away from the time I decide I am ready to sell
4. The festival has been around for at least one year
5. The festival provides either it's own media or the materials artists need to promote the event (both is even better!)
6. The festival is on a weekend
7. The festival is jurried (more on that later) .
8. The festival is open to having new and emerging artists participate.

Once I had these guidelines to work from it was easy to choose which festival I would start with. It made it clear that I am not ready for the Renegade Craft Fair, but I am beyond selling my wares out of my garage.

I am beyond excited to be part of my first art festival. It has been a long time coming. The next lesson in this series will be about Jurried art/craft festivals vs. non Jurried. Please share your experiences with selling at festivals in the comments. Your support and wisdom will be the light me and many others need!

XOXO,
Julia

Easy Iced Coffee Recipe Using a Keurig

2014-08-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

I love my Keurig. I use it every morning to make me a hot cup of (decaf) jo. Lately though, I have been wanting another cup in the afternoon. The problem is the weather has been so darn hot! And even though I live around the corner from Starbucks, seriously, I can walk there, it is nice to know I can get something similar to an iced coffee at home. And it takes no time at all. Perfect.

Now, before I go any further I want you all to know this is NOT a sponsored post. I am NOT an affiliate for Keurig (I wish I was- think of the samples!) and I am NOT an affiliate for Starbucks (although, I probably should be). Okay. That is settled. Moving on.

To make your sweet afternoon pick me up all you need is to grab an empty coffee cup add 2 tsp of sugar, or more if you like more into the cup. Now, add a handful of ice cubes. As much as you can fit into your cup. Place the coffee cup onto your Keurig.

Select your favorite K-cup coffee (regular or decaf) and place it into your Keurig. Select the smallest brewing cup option on the Keurig, this will make your coffee will have a stronger flavor.

Allow to brew.

Pour milk on top of the brewed coffee and ice and stir. You will need to add more ice before enjoying as the first batch will melt.

Grab your favorite type of pastry and enjoy.

XOXO,

Julia

My Authentic Self

2014-08-06T15:23:00.001-07:00

Deep down I am an artist. I always have been. It's what I thought I would be when I grew up when asked at age 5. I. am. an artist.

Over time, being an "artist" morphed into more specifics, such as "being an actress," or "being a ballerina." Later my thoughts on what I wanted to be when I grew up changed to more of what I should be. Because, let's face it, I didn't want to be a "starving artist" and neither did my parents (although they are two of the most supportive people in the world of my whims).

Around age 11 I decided I would be a marine biologist. I fell in love with sea otters and thought I could probably spend the rest of my life trying to save the mere thousands of sea otters that remained. I was 11 and in love with peace signs and a member of the World Wild Life Federation. I felt empowered to make a difference.

I later changed my mind and thought that being a 4th grade teacher would be the best option. I could empower young minds instead of fight the bureaucracy. The teaching life seemed more practical. Less deep water (I am afraid of deep water), and I could still have summers off to save those sea otters I so loved.

Years later I am none of these things I have listed above. The one element that comes close is I am still an artist. I still create on a daily basis. My creativity is part of the core of who I am. When there is time to do something for myself I am often found chest deep with my hands immersed in art supplies.

Lately I find that I am feeling more drawn to honoring my more authentic self. Even acknowledging that it exists, like here on this blog. So many times I have brushed off the comments I have received about my art, about what people like about it, how it has affected them. I ignore it or belittle it because I am too scared to acknowledge that it exists. Perhaps fearing, that through acknowledgment, this aspect of myself that I deeply adore will disappear.Or fearing that I don't posses the right qualities or accolades to be a true artist. Artists make BIG things with BIG impacts- right?

So I have taken on the challenge that Elanor Roosevelt presented a long time ago,

"You must do the things you think you cannot do."

And that is what I am doing. I am facing the life of uncertanty of being an artist and jumping head first into the world of creativity. I have reopend my Etsy shop with my real- true art- to share with the world. I plan to share more about my art and the journey I have been on these last few years rediscovering who I am. Expect more about my art and my process and where I go for inspiration to be gracing this blog space.

I hope you will share some of your thoughts on the things you think you cannot do in the comments. Together we can support each other in being our authentic and true selves.

Out for a Stroll

2014-08-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Out for a stroll just me and my girl. All dressed in neon green, bright yellow, and pink shoes. She is a peanut with long-long-long hair. I love this age. Ready for adventure but still wanting her mama by her side.

I haven't gone on a child led walk in a while. I had forgotten how much peace and wonder can be found in a simple foot stroll with a wee one by your side. My imagination was sparked and I loved the lighting of the early morning. Even my sweet girl looked like a ray of sunshine bursting from the shadows.

Happy moments.

Have you had any happy moments lately too?

Hello. Meet Me. Again.

2014-07-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

I have some songs running around in my mind today. "Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, Sunset..." from Fiddler on the Roof and then quickly followed by Matchbox 20's "Every New Beginning is Some Other Beginning's end..." Maybe this is kind of silly. But as I am working on shifting- is adult life nothing but shifting?- and watching my children grow it feels like I am in a constant state of beginning and ending. Circling around and around. Starting and stopping.

It can be frustrating.

I am often frustrated.

At times I am startled by this forceful voice that shouts from within "Move FORWARD! Get Moving!"

Let's be real, I often feel stagnate.

Stuck.

Perhaps that is one of the purposes of life. Learning to go with the quick succession of time and the absolute sluggish feeling of, well, time. I guess that is why that saying exists, "The days are long, but the years are short." Because, um, my days are soooooo long but yes, my years are too short. It can be disorienting and I often feel like I am viewing life through a glass window while swimming around in my head of "what ifs..." and "Oh I could/should do that..."

I have been having a lot of those feelings these last few years. Wanting to suck up all of the precious baby time of my kids, suck up all of their kid time, and be present.

I am finding that the more time I give myself to pull back and take a momen; look at what is happening and reevaluate where we are doing I begin to have a better sense of what my part of this whole thing called life is.

For me, life is a spiral not a straight line. I am constantly circling towards and away from the things that are important to me. Right now I am circling back to rediscovering who I am. Who I am as Adult Julia. As I meet myself in this form I am also greeted by so many pieces of my former self along the way. Reminders, or clues maybe, of who I have always been.

So, Hello. This is me. Julia.

I like to play.
I like to create.
I love to read and dream.
I pretend.
I imagine.

I am beginning...

Stepping Back In

2014-07-25T13:43:00.003-07:00

It's not fall. It's not raining here is CA. I just love this photo

Oh boy. It's been a while. Um...years? Yeah. That's right. Over a year since I touched this space, or even looked at the e-mails associated with this blog, or really even thought about this wee little blog.

What have I been up to? Well, really, I just want to know what you all have been up to. Send me an e-mail, write a comment or send me a pic of what has been happening in your lives.

Me? You want to know what I have been doing these last few cycles around the sun? Here is a very brief list that I hope catches us all up:

1. Had a baby (Baby #2- a sweet little girl!)
2. Moved (Bigger home to house that said baby)
3. Driving, walking, playing, creating with that little boy (Baby #1- who is no longer a baby- but a full blown child!)
4. Attended some weddings, said some good-byes (miss you Nanny!), met new friends and said bon voyage to some others.
5. Adopted a fish. I guess you have to start somewhere in the pet department.
6. Made it through several stints of single parenting as my husband globe trotted for work (That lucky man got to go to the UK and Australia).
7. Still plugging away as an at home copy editor (Side job- hello!)
8. Oh, and started another business, because... I am crazy- CutOuts Studio
9. Made Art...lot's of it
10. Spent too many hours on Facebook.

Yep, that's what I have been doing these past few years. Mostly it has included a lot of dirty diapers, temper tantrums, and me trying to practice the art of being a calm and loving parent and mother of two.

Oh, and I turned 30, but I still look 15, so it's all good.

Get in touch. Send me a shout out! Comment. Have a free for all extravaganza of excitement that I can still make a coherent sentence.

But, really. I just want to hear from all of you. What's up?

Thinking of You

2012-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends, I've been thinking about you. An awful lot. I've checked on this space off and on over the last few months. I've noted that the colors of the most recent pictures posted are still steeped in the heat and brightness of summer sunshine. A contrast to the wet blue hue nature is snuggled in these chilly days of November.

I have wondered what I am doing in this space these last several months. Maybe you already guessed that was the case. My silence is more due to hesitation and uncertainty, rather than a lack of things to say. I am still in that waiting place. That place of searching and finding. I often wish to say I will share my wanderings with you and take you along as I go, but I know for me it's more of a personal journey. My resolve is to slowly work back into this space and get to know it again. Get to know you again. Make this a space of creativity and inspiration once more.

I have a feeling you will find several changes happening to this space over the next few months. Bear with me as I move in a new direction. Looking forward to newness all around. Happy Holiday Season friends.

5x7 Folded Card

2012-09-18T11:35:00.001-07:00

Picture In Landscape 5x7 folded card

Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Stillness

2012-08-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

I have to remind myself more often than I would like that it's OK to be still. To not do anything. For 10 minutes, or even, 20 minutes.

Stillness is an art I am learning more about as I attempt to pull my thoughts, creative juices and dreams together. I never realized how much in a state of business I keep myself. Lately I have been in a realm of dizzying daydreaming about incomes, future careers, and what actions to take next. Some of these thoughts are relevant, as well as necessary. However, many are just distractions from what I need to be focusing on in the present moment.

To ease the sense of overwhelm, and honestly, the sense of not progressing which is what all that busy "thinking" creates I have surrendered to stillness.

For the last few days I have striven to give myself at least 10 minutes of quiet time. This time arrives at any point in the day. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon while my son naps, and more often it's when I should be brushing my teeth before bed. The only rule I have enforced is that during my quiet time I am allowed to not think about anything. In fact, I do my best to just breathe deeply and allow my body to relax.

My time for quiet and stillness has helped my ability to focus a lot. I find my actions are more directed and I achieve more worthwhile actions during the day. I welcome you to try giving yourself a little time for stillness. Perhaps, even at this very moment.

PS. My intentions are to return to this space more regularly, and I appreciate the e-mails and comments I have received in my absence. In the hopes of providing high quality content I always love to hear from you. Let me know what you would like to see more of on the pages of GoatNotes. Your feedback is always embraced lovingly. Thank you.

Shifting

2012-07-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

An itch for change has been whispering in my mind lately. It's time to shift and do something different. Recently we shifted my son out of his crib, out of diapers and removed all of those "baby toys" from his bedroom. He's morphed many times in his short life, but this time it was a bigger transition. He's no longer a baby, and it's apparent to everyone.

So too has this blog shifted over the past year and half that I have been its keeper. Starting out as a way to promote a long-gone Etsy shop to becoming more of a space for me to share my thoughts and life. This space will be quieter than usual over the next few weeks. I am working on a new project that requires most of my free creative time. It's an exciting prospect, and I hope it becomes something fruitful I can share on these pages in the weeks to come.

Enjoy the summer heat and sun. See you back here soon.

XOXO,
Julia

June Recap

2012-06-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and it's almost the last day of June. I can't believe it. This has been a month of crafty-craziness and sweet escapes for me. Since it was such a fun month, I kind of want to relive some of it. Here are some of my favorite posts from June:

1. Wilbur Hot Springs Getaway...need I say more?

2. My five favorite things right now. This was so much fun to write that I plan to share a post like this one every month. Stay tuned for Monday!

3. I can't wait to use chia seeds in other recipes in July like I did in the vegan chia seed and dried cherry scone recipe. Maybe a 4th of July chia seed milk shake?

4. I have been in the process of making more of those cute memory games for all the little children in my life with summer birthdays. It's so much fun to come up with more versions!

5. Plus there have been more and more button snakes creeping into people's birthday bags this season too.

How about you, what have been some of your favorite events and such from June?

Happenings

2012-06-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

Oh happenings of this busy life...

- Returning from vacation can be difficult...especially when there is a pile of laundry waiting for me
- Returning from vacation can be even more difficult when one realizes all of those "pre-scheduled" blog posts never posted...(sigh).
- Watching the first full-length movie with my son couldn't have been better (we watched Cars, and yes, I do realize that movie came out, in like, 2007. No big deal, right?).
-Dreaming and scheming on my next big idea.
-Keep thinking there should be more people in this house, after a week of the whole family together it's feeling a little lonely here.
-So thankful that potty training and bed training have been such a breeze... lately.
-Amazed at how tall that corn grew in seven days.
-Wishing the ocean was still part of my back yard.
-Thinking about all of outfits I could wear my new sandles with.
- Planning my next adventure into the woods.

How about you, what's happening in your life lately?

Beach Bound

2012-06-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year. We are packing our car and heading west. To the Ocean! Don't fret, as I am taking my lappy (that's laptop) along with me. I look forward to sharing posts with you as I soak in the sun and squish sand between my toes.

I also have some fabulous gusts posts to share with you in the upcoming week. Be prepared for some amazing stuff!

Happy Thursday everyone!

DIY Memory Game for Toddlers

2012-06-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for our summer vacations, which this year, include several long car rides and many stops in between. In order to maintain the sanity of mama (ahem) and of the toddler-man I have been dreaming up new ways to keep those little fingers entertained, all while sticking to my budget of a few dollars, and keeping in the mind minimal space (we drive a very small car...) we will be occupying.

My first new addition to my "Travel Fun Bag," or the "Bag of Magic," as I like to call it, I have added a mini-memory game. I painted some of my son's favorite insects, birds and mammals onto medium-sized wooden disks I bought at Michael's for around $3.

With two ways to play this game, either with all images facing up to match the pairs; or all images facing down you turn one over at a time trying to find the match, I have a feeling this will be gracing many a restaurant table this summer.

I had so much fun making the first set that I painted a second set as part of a birthday gift for a little friend who adores the ocean.

I have a feeling several other young children in our life will receive sets of this little game personalized to their taste in their Christmas stockings this year.

How do you entertain your kids on long car trips? Have you come up with any great frugal games for your kids recently?

Vegan Chia Seed and Dried Cherry Scones

2012-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

I don' like using eggs when I bake. I don't know why, and it's not like I never use eggs, it's just, I prefer the taste of baked goods without eggs. Believe me, eggs have their place around here. Just not in my scones.

I have spent the last several years trying different methods to create the best tasting egg-less scones. The funny thing about all that trial and error is I developed not only an egg-less scone, but a vegan one.

So far, it's been a hit with all of my vegan and non-vegan friends alike. Plus this recipe uses chia seeds- making you super healthy and trendy too.

What You'll Need:

1/4 cup prepped Chia seeds*

3 cups all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Sugar plus a dash for sprinkling the tops

Dash of salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1 1/2 cups Soy Milk

1 cup Dried Cherries

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Grease two cookie sheets with a little vegetable oil. In a small bowl or mason jar mix together the chia seeds and water* and let stand while you combine the other ingredients.

In a large bowl sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl mix the vegetable oil, soy milk and vinegar together lightly. Add the 1/4 cup of the set chia seeds to the liquid ingredients. Using your spoon create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into the bowl. As you stir the wet and the dry ingredients together, slowly add the dried cherries until they are well incorporated. Try not to over stir**. The dough should be clumpy, but not sticky. Not all of the flour will incorporate, and that's fine.

Drop 1/4 cups full of dough onto your prepared cookie sheets. Press the dough into shape and sprinkle with the remaining sugar. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Your are scones are done when the bottoms are slightly browns and they are firm on top.

* (take 1/4 cup of dried chia seeds and mix with 1/2 cup water. Let stand for a few minutes. The chia seed are ready to use when they have formed a jelly-like substance. Measure the neceesary quantity for the recipe from the prepped chia seeds. You will have some left over.)

** A trick I have learned when creating vegan desserts is to resist the urge to over-stir. Usually, if the ingredients are well combined, that's all the stirring that is necessary.

We Celebrated

2012-06-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Father's Day with an alfresco brunch in our backyard. Complete with breakfast pizzas inspired by Alice Currah's new cookbook the Savory Sweet Life, fresh squeezed orange juice mimosas, a bit of French pressed coffee and all the sunshine and fresh summer air we could soak in.

Celebrating in such a simple manner has a subtle way of reconnecting and reminding those we love, just how deep that love goes. This time in our family life is fleeting, and I am grateful for these stolen moments that allow all of us to be present in our joy.

Have you had any stolen moments of joy lately?

Work In Progress Friday

2012-06-15T15:42:00.001-07:00

Paper Mache Wand and Paper Mache Sail Boat (under construction).

It's Friday, and I haven't blogged in a while. Sorry about that. I have had a little too much going on lately. It might have something to with this personal challenge I have given myself. It's going to sound crazy (because it probably is crazy!), but I am going to attempt to make, with my own two hands, all the gifts for Christmas and Hanukkah of 2012. Crazy? Probably, but I have always enjoyed giving handmade gifts, and this would just give me the jump start I need. Since it's almost July and I have a little time before the mad-dash to holidays I am going to spend the next eight weeks attempting to get all the gifts completed.

In addition to sharing some of the hand made gifts I create, I have some fabulous guest posts of tutorials and ideas of gifts you too can hand make ahead of the holiday season rush.

If you have a tutorial about hand made gifts for kids, women, or men, and would like to share it on GoatNotes please send it along! You can reach me on my contact page.

So, what have you been spending your free time creating lately? Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Button Snakes: Frugal Toddler Craft

2012-06-05T16:35:00.001-07:00

Happy toddler= Happy Mama

I have dubbed those hours between 4-6PM in my house the "howling hours". For some reason at the strike of 4 all our toys render themselves "boring", and the ample amount of fresh air out my backdoor is deemed "too windy." Thus, howling begins.

To minimize the howling, and to allow me that much needed time to keep an eye on those bubbling pots of my stove, I have created a "creativity box." The box is just a large plastic Sterlite Organizing bin with drawers, which I now keep several easy to assemble (and guaranteed to keep small hands occupied for at least 20 minutes) activities that my wee one can do on his own. Last week I shared our Modern Art Sculpture that we create using pipe cleaners and spice jars (you can see more detail on this post). This week the new favorite is the button snakes.

I can't take credit for these easy to assemble "snakes." I've seen them all over other blogs (see: this blog, this blog and this blog) and within the pages of my Montessori books. But great ideas are meant to be shared, and this one has been a lifesaver for me. The snakes are a great way for E to learn how to button and unbutton (as potty-training is in full swing), and he also just has fun sorting all of the felt shapes by color and size.

The howling still starts every day, but at least now I have a few more tactics that save my eardrums and my time in the process.

What are your clever ways to keep your children busy during the hours before dinner?

Weekend Retreat

2012-06-04T16:35:00.003-07:00

I have returned from my retreat into the wilderness at Wilbur Hot Springs refreshed and probably more relaxed than I ever have been in my life. Our stay was a brief weekend getaway (without the wee one- something we hardly ever do!) that I have to honestly say, had me a little skeptical at first.

I had never been to a hot spring resort, although there are tons of them throughout California, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. After my experience I can safely say all skepticism aside, I am definitely going back the first chance I get. Wilbur Hot Springs is near Clear Lake in Colousa County, California. It's off a non-paved 4-mile road that makes you feel like you are "in the know" as you drive out into (literally) the middle of nowhere.

I spent my 48 hours at Wilbur sleeping, cooking in the Victorian Hotel's gourmet kitchen, basking in the warm June sun, soaking in a variety of the mineral flumes (yes, flumes people. I know, like the stuff of lava beds and Magma!) and taking long walks in the beautiful nature preserve. I probably have already said this, but I can't wait to go back. There are very few places on Earth that can rejuvenate one's soul instantly. I think Wilbur Hot Springs might just be one of those places for me.

So, as I sit here still smelling faintly of sulfur with a bit of sleep behind my eyes, even though it's 4:30 PM, I am looking forward to jumping back into the flow of the stresses of a "regular" week's offerings. This time with a little more ease, and perhaps, just a bit more grace and patience than I had before.

How was your weekend? Do you know if any great hot springs near you?

5 of My Favorite Things Right Now

2012-06-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

1. Recycled Necktie Kindle Case by Unorthodox Crafts

Ok, before you hop yourself to to the comments section to shout loudly why reading books on real pages is the only way to read a book. Let's be real for a second. Trust me I love the printed word. But, I love my Kindle too. I love books. I love to read. As you can see that in addition to my kindle I am sharing TWO printed books that I think are just awesome.

As someone who is a voracious reader, my Kindle is truly one of my favorite all time devices ever created. Since my Kindle goes everywhere with me, it needed a fancy-schmancy case to keep it protected. Fortunately I have a very talented artist in my family who makes spectacular cases from recycled neckties.I can feel high-tech and cutting edge while saving the environment.

2. Joy the Baker Cookbook

The latest cookbook to make it into my collection is Joy Wilson's Joy the Baker Cookbook, which I am so very excited about! I have been a long time fan of Miss Wilson's blog and mad-cooking skills. It's going to be fun to try some of her tasty treats. So far, I am a big fan of the "Single Lady Melty Lava Cakes." Seriously, it's a lave cake recipe for one. Now I won't have to share!

3. Eva Hand Painted Cups

We have been on a slow crusade to rid our home of plastic drinking vessels and storage containers. The problem is with a toddler it is very difficult to live without plastic. Glass is not always the best option and wood just doesn't always cut it. After many months searching I finally found the perfect solution. A metal drinking cup from the greenheart Shop. Not only are they beautiful, but they are fair trade too!

4. Reusable Sandwich Bags

Last year I gave up using paper towels, which has been a huge success. We still only buy a three pack of paper towels every 6-8 months, because there are just certain things you have to use a paper towel for. Otherwise, we only use clean rags and towels. This year my goal has been to reduce our plastic bag use. Thanks to my amazingly talented friend Sarah (*Hi Sarah!) she has gotten me well on my way to ditching plastic snack bags forever. Does anyone know of a sewing pattern that would allow me to create more of these amazing bags?

5. The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids

You can read my deeper thoughts about this book and enter the GIVEAWAY that ends today (winners will be announced on Monday June 4th) on this POST. To just add to my enthusiasm for this book, it's gotten me motivated to schedule my first family camping trip, as well as a weekend getaway with my sweet husband. Can't wait to share the adventures from those trips with you all in this space soon! Look out summer, here I come!

So, what are your favorite things right now? Wishing you a wonderful weekend.