woolies

Water Obstacles

2012-01-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

I've kept it up for a week now. I'm hoping that I don't have to confess, in a month or so, that I've stopped going.

Walking, that is. Or, more like, hiking. Lots of steep climbs.

This is the Sonoran Desert. It is dry here. Lots of dry washes and old riverbeds. I've read that the Ho-Ho'kam Native Americans that lived here, had access to more water here than we do.

So it is my joy to come across water. The other day I hiked the Canyon Loop Trail in Catalina State Park. I had to cross 4 water obstacles. They are too wide to jump, too deep to dry to step through. Other hikers, or the park rangers, have placed rocks. I use them to get across. It's slippery, and I try not to imagine slipping and breaking an ankle and having to be helicopter rescued.

The water is from the snow melt in the Catalina mountains. I'm sure it's good enough to drink.

I love it!!

(hmm, pictures are sort of 'washed out', no pun intended. It was a really sunny morning!)

Taking a Walk

2012-01-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

New Years Resolution: Exercise. Lose Weight.

But, this year, I have a different strategy. In the past, (like last year), with the same resolution, it fizzled after a while. Walking in my neighborhood isn't very exciting. It feels like work.

Walking - here - doesn't feel like work.

This is Catalina State Park. Those are the Santa Catalina mountains. This trail is really steep (as are many of them), and has me huffing and puffing.
Hopefully in a month or so, I won't be huffing so hard.

Come walk with me!

Gotta make Lists!

2012-01-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

Gotta get organized! My little home office, where I have worked for the past 5 years, was my little sanctuary. I prided myself on my organizational abilities.

What has happened??

I'm still in the middle of two worlds - my old one of media (note the standard broadcast calendar on my bulletin board - my old world ran by a different calendar).

My filing cabinets still have some old files in them. After 2 months of being laid off - do I ship them back or just toss 'em??

So - and I don't imagine this will all happen in one day - time to get ORGANIZED!!! But I'm still working on some Woolies custom orders, and I need to go to the grocery store, and I'm in the middle of laundry...........

ARGH!!!!!!!!

2012 - A Year of Possibility

2012-01-01T07:42:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012!

I cannot remember ever before being faced with a year as wide-open as this. Or should I say - welcomed.

A year of possibility.........

The old job is gone. Do I want to continue in that field?
Unemployment brings with it a clean slate. What do I want to do? What can I do? What do I want to be when I grow up? :)

One son is gone, mostly. Moving forward in his life.
One son is also moving forward, changing day by day.

It's time to make plans. Make lists. Organize.

I'm ready.

Best wishes for YOUR new year!

Remembering

2011-12-31T08:05:00.000-08:00

My Mom died on New Years Eve, 1982. She had just turned 56. She died of breast cancer.

My Mom taught me how to knit, sew, and be an independent woman. She taught me lots of other things too.

I still miss my Mom, 29 years later. I like to think that she would be proud of me, my children, my husband, our home, my little Woolies business.

I have lots of beautiful things my Mother made - here's one I wanted to share with you.

This ornament is always on our Christmas tree, so I can remember her hands making this.

Happy New Year!

The journey begins....

2011-12-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

I've been crazy busy.

I lost my job on November 3rd, one day before my birthday.

Then all HECK (not the word I'd like to use) broke loose!

I've been knitting 15 hours/day since then. Packaging tons and tons of typewriter key jewelry sales.

Two BIG craft fairs. Huge successes, both. Tons of work and tons of fun.

Had a sale on Belle Chic.

To be honest - I don't know how in the world I would have handled my websites, craft fairs, AND my corporate executive job - which also would have required me to travel to Cincinnati for a week the Monday after Thanksgiving.

So....maybe it was a good thing they laid me off? Time will tell....I am still very very stressed about it all. About the future. Long term financial stability...security....
I wake up at 430AM most days....heart pounding....
What will I do? I'll save those thoughts for another post...

Sometimes my customers have such great ideas. I had a request for a custom order - a college student (who just happens to be attending school in my hometown - and who is from not far where we live now...weird??) wanted a teddy bear for her boyfriend. She and her boyfriend are big Aladdin fans. She wanted the Teddy to look like Aladdin....

How did I do??

Woolies Featured

2011-11-14T16:37:00.000-08:00

on the Front Page of Etsy! What a thrill to open a global website and see one of your items there.

Branding Your Business

2011-11-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

Years ago, when I first opened Woolies, I had an idea of what I wanted my banner and avatar to look like. I wanted a little girl knitting. I had a wonderful designer create my banner. Here it is:

This has been my banner since 2007. I love the happy knitting girl!
Your banner is the first thing a potential customer sees when they visit your shop. It defines you, don't you think?

But are the bright colors conveying what my shop is all about? What is my shop all about? Old fashioned toys, all natural, heirloom quality. The bright colors convey happiness, but what about a vintage feel? What about Waldorf-inspired?

A friend on Etsy created this banner for me:

And I'm in the process of working with another designer - this is what she has come up with, so far:

We're tweaking the font, and think will switch the dark bunny for a lighter one.

What do you think??

How is this possible?

2011-11-09T19:46:00.000-08:00

I am unemployed. Isn't that crazy? This is the first time in 30 years that I have not had a job. They laid me off. In a blink of an eye, my great salary is gone. Security is gone. 9 years of working for one company - gone.

I could dwell on the negatives.

I'm not going to.

When one door closes, another opens.

Yes?

I have joined the ranks of the 9.whatever % of the unemployed in the US. Crazy. Should I go protest with Occupy Tucson?

A lot of changes in my life in the past few months; a lot of losses.

I'm fighting back, just to let you know.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. Even in Tucson Arizona, it's cooling off finally. I used to love to greet trick or treaters at the door; and take my kids around the whole neighborhood. Those days are gone; kids are older; we live off the beaten path, so no trick or treaters here.

Please enjoy these awesome Halloween items from my fellow Natural Kids Team members!

http://darialvovsky.etsy.com/

http://theenchantedcupboard.etsy.com/

http://muddyfeet.etsy.com/

http://heartfeltpassion.etsy.com/

And don't eat all the candy!!

I'm Moving!

2011-10-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

No, not moving to a new home. I keep writing these cryptic Titles!

I'm MOVING. As in - moving my body. Off the couch.

If you saw my previous post about losing weight, that's where this is coming from.

After tracking my food for a few weeks, it becomes apparent that it's not the food that is making me pudgy.

It is the fact that I'm not moving enough.

So I've started moving.

I joined Curves. My health insurance covers it! No money! Free! I was talking about it with a friend last Tuesday. And when I hung up the phone, I said - what am I waiting for?? I went and joined. I went 4 times last week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning.

No excuses.

Also this weekend, hubby and I did stuff. We went some places. We went to the farmers market together and walked around. I came home and planted lettuce. Today we went to a local festival (to check out the vendors), and walked around.

The key word: Walked. No, nothing strenous. But: not on the couch.

I knit - a lot. My little side business, Woolies, requires lots of knitting. And my day job requires me to be on the computer all day. Sitting. A Lot.

So I figure everytime I can get up and move is better than sitting.

I'm planning to get one of the old bikes hiding out in our garage into a functioning state.

And then there are my horses.......that is a long story involving a broken back and lost confidence. So we'll see....

The broken back is what got me into this current pudgy state.

But I'm moving.

And so is Myrtle, who still keeps trying to climb out of her habitat. :(

Loss of a Friend

2011-10-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

No, she didn't die. But she is no longer part of my life.

I won't regale you with all the stories.

But when someone has been a part of your life for almost half of your life, the loss is hard.

It got too hard. Too difficult. Too fraught with tension. I got really tired of tip-toe-ing around. I got tired of not saying what was on my mind. So I stopped.

I got tired of being 'friends' with someone, when it was all about her. My stuff didn't matter.

She's a difficult person; always has been. But that was ok for a long time. And then it just got to be not-OK anymore.

I'm not saying that I am perfect.

She got really vicious at the end. It showed me that she was filled with hate and malice. The emails were written to stab and hurt; and they did.

So I'm sad. But relieved at the same time.

But more sad. Than glad.

Long Ago Doll

2011-10-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

I must have been about six years old. I was given a doll, I'm sure it must have been at Christmas-time. I was such a tomboy, I didn't play a lot with dolls. I was too busy outside - climbing trees, and riding the ponies at the stable next door. Exploring the woods and fishing in the stream nearby.

But I did play with this particular doll. I loved her. She slept with me. I cut her hair, of course. She only had a couple sets of clothes, and they are long gone.

But I still have her.

Her name is Pitiful Pearl. Does anybody remember this doll?

She sits in my closet, with a few other old toys of mine. She likes it in there, she's told me.

About 15 years ago, Pearl got some new eyes at the doll hospital. She got cleaned up a little.

I thought of her today; I think she wanted to come out and play.

Say hello!

Help!

2011-10-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

I need to lose weight. 30-40 pounds.

Last winter I lost 15 pounds - a great start.

I gained most of it back this summer. Summer in Tucson = too hot to go outside, enjoy the pool, even. I do not do well in the heat.

OK, it's nice out now. I feel motivated.

But I know what will happen.

I'll start walking again. I'll do it for a month or so. Then I'll get sooo bored with it.

I can ride my horses. But I've sort of lost my joy of riding (following a really bad accident a few years ago involving a broken back...). So now it feels like work. I work a lot - full time day job, 2 etsy shops....I don't have time for more work.

Do I have to join a gym? I don't know that I can commit to it, timewise. It's expensive. But I think my health insurance might cover some of it. I hate the gym.

Should I invest in a treadmill-type device for home?

Why can't I do this?

My friend took diet pills and lost 40 pounds. She didn't sleep for months. I don't want to take diet pills.

Meanwhile, I promise you, I do not eat cookies and cake all day. I eat lots of fruit and veggies. Water. Milk, even. I don't know why I'm fat.

I need a magic potion.

Help.

Sorry, no pictures that I want to post to go along with this. (My sis-in-law took a family picture last weekend, she is a little person. I am standing next to her feeling like a beast).

Help.

Just had to share

2011-10-01T07:59:00.001-07:00

This is my kid, taken by a friend while out hiking in the foothills of the Tortolita mountains. Isn't this a great shot??

Sometimes the beauty of this land takes my breath away.

Look-alike?

2011-09-25T09:24:00.001-07:00

Woolies

knitted to look like

Richard Scarry's Nicholas the bunny from I am a Bunny

Did I do ok?

New friend needs a name!

2011-09-19T16:56:00.000-07:00

We live in Arizona. Land of lots of different wild animals, and one of my favorites - the Sonoran Desert Tortoise. There are adoption programs, and I've always wanted to adopt one. But you have to build them a habitat - there are specific guidelines online. My hubby was never motivated enough to do it with me. I was never motivated enough to do it alone.

And then Saturday came along. And hubby was driving down a busy road. And what was trying to cross the busy road?? If he had not stopped, the next car would have driven over the tortoise.

So, guess what hubby brought home to me??

We were worried that if we put him back where we found him, that he would be killed. We debated releasing him back into the wild - maybe a state park nearby. We're still debating. To be honest. It doesn't seem right to capture him. But can you relocate them? I couldn't find anything online that told me. If this guy goes back to the wild, then at least I will have a habitat ready for the official adoption process.

So.....

After an entire weekend of moving rocks, gravel, railroad ties, slate, more rocks...after an entire weekend of babysitting Mr or Mrs Tortoise who was very insistent that he could climb over said railroad ties and rocks and then time after time ended up flailing on his back...my muscles are sore. We're tired. And we seem to have adopted a desert tortoise.

He/she is very busy. He can move much faster than you might think! He lets me pet him. He likes to sniff me. He stops and looks at me when I talk to him. He goes to bed at night in the shelter we made for him. He ate some of his food today. He pooped this weekend, very exciting.

You're allowed one tortoise per household. They live 100+ years. My guess is that this guy is maybe about 5-10 years old. After I get over my exhaustion, I'll look it up online to figure out gender and age.

He-she needs a name! I need suggestions! Myrtle the Turtle was
suggested and declined.

Help!

His habitat is not quite finished. We need to plant the rest of the desert grasses we bought for him. His winter (hibernation) habitat is not finished yet.....next weekend!

So please leave your name suggestions! Thanks!!

Who is this guy???

2011-09-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

In my lemon tree? He's very cute!

{this moment}

2011-09-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

{this moment} a friday ritual...a single photo...no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple special extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

Snake Season

2011-08-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

My hubby caught a snake last night. And brought it inside to show us. It's snake season - September is when you have to be very careful.

I pulled in the driveway today, and saw a snake slither his way into the garage, not sure how he did that. I saw his tail - not a rattlesnake.

This guy is a king snake. We like them. They eat rats and rattlesnakes. This one was really little, and super angry that he was all of a sudden in a glass container. Don't worry, we put him back outside right away.

Kinda cool, Kinda creepy.

Which one do you think - cool or creepy???

Good Luck

2011-08-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

I need some Good Luck. I can't tell you about it, but it has to do with this bunny.

Is there a good luck saint? I need to pray to her, or him. Please let me know! I need more than just fingers and toes crossed. :)

Craft Fair Booth

2011-08-21T07:00:00.001-07:00

HELP. My craft fair booth is the worst ever. It doesn't feel organized, it doesn't have a 'flow' to it, I'm not utilizing all of my space.

My problem is I have two completely different products in my booth - jewelry and stuffed animals. (http://woolies.etsy.com/ and http://busterandboo.etsy.com/).

My problem is also that I am a terrible decorator? Or possibly just a moron.

One thing I'm about to do is order a banner for Buster and boo. It will say, in giant letters, TYPEWRITER KEY JEWELRY. It will hang across the back of the booth.

I have a display of a very vintage typewriter at the front of my booth - which does draw attention. But it's awkward. I wish I had a genuine vintage typewriter table. In fact, I'd really like to have more 'furniture' as a method of display. But I must stay within the confines of my booth.

I have a really cute Woolies pennant thingy (cannot think of the right name). I'm going to hang that at the entrance to my booth.

What do YOU use to utilize all of your space? To NOT have people looking DOWN all the time? Do you have everything tagged with prices? Or do you have a sign with prices? (I have both - Woolies are all priced individually, and there is a sign for Buster and boo items).

I think a proper display-booth would make a lot of difference.

I need HELP. I am not a great interior decorator. Let me know if you're available for hire. Sheesh. I am pathetic. I'm embarrassed to show you these pics. :(

Dental Problems

2011-08-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

I hate the dentist with a violent passion. I'd rather have major surgery than a dental procedure. So I wasn't thrilled when my recent appointment with the torturer indicated that I needed quite a few procedures.

I came home and promptly had the worst migraine headache ever. Complete with flashing lights. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had those flashing lights before.

Then I cancelled the necessary appointments.

Of course, my dental insurance doesn't cover most of this.

Anybody have a spare few thousand dollars? I don't.

Um, no, these are not my pearly whites.

:(

American Wild Horses

2011-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

I urge you to take notice of the plight of the wild horses of America. The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) is continually rounding up and removing wild horses from our lands.

Please visit http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/index.html and get involved. Thank you.

Photo credit to Wild Horse Preservation.org.

Leaving Home

2011-08-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

My oldest son is leaving today. We are taking him to college.

Part of me thinks, how can that be? Isn't he just 5 or 6 years old?

Part of me thinks, he is ready.

Part of me wonders, how will I cope without him here? Without seeing him everyday? Without hearing his footsteps as he comes in late at night? (He's got a very busy social life...)

Will I panic if I don't hear from him? I won't know where he is all the time. He won't just be at school, or at work, or at his friends house.

He could be anywhere.

He'll never really live here again. He'll come home to visit. He'll never really live here again?

He'll never really live here again. Just visits. Brief times together. It will never be the same.

I'm a terrible worrier. He's promised to call everyday, or at least text.

He is a young man.

He is an adult.

I thought I had taught him good judgement. Except, once, this summer, he proved me wrong there.

Will he use his good judgement? Please, use your good judgement.

He is a strong and independent person. He is ready to leave home.

Will he be ok?

Yes, I think he will.

But will I?

He is my child. I love him so.