Close Or Not To Close That Is The Question

In the last few months I have been so encompassed with trying to get my house ready for sale that I find I have not had time to give to my Etsy Shop.  It makes me feel sad because I enjoy all aspects of Etsy but its just been at the bottom of my list lately since I am so overwhelmed with home repairs, cleaning and purging.

In order to get ready I have had to put all my scrapbook paper, paint, glue, etc away since I really do make a mess when I am creating.  My daughter is telling me that I should just close up shop and in my announcement say that I am moving.   Not sure. but I know that my creative process for now has shifted from how to create new things with my paper and Mod Podge to what is on my list today to paint, repair or clean.

So I am still deciding on which way to go.  I guess at some point I will have to close for a bit but hate to close for too long.

Some of the things just waiting for a buyer in my shop.

This enhancer was made from layered specialty printed card stock Swarovski crystals , and some buttons.  Its then treated with Mod Podge so its very durable but extremely lightweight.

My purse key chains I make using the laminate samples that you get in your local Lowes or Home Depot.  I had I bunch of them in a box from a time when I was thinking of doing my countertops over. I knew there had to be something that I could make with them.  So I covered them with specialty printed card stock create a purse and added some Swarovski crystals. I finished it all off with some Mod Podge for durability,beads at the top and it makes a unique one of a kind key chain.

My quilt pictures are one of my favorite things that I create.  I cut out a very intricate patterns out of card stock and then using printed specialty paper I carefully cut pieces by hand to line the back of each section. of the pattern.  Creating a look of a quilt.

I love creating new and different things out of paper and cannot wait until I can get back to what I love to do, design and create.

Hoping for a quick home sale and still not sure whether to close or not.

Mary Ann

A to Z Blogger Challenge? I Must Be Nuts!!!!!!!

Last year around this time I signed up for the A to Z blogger challenge.  Its blogging everyday in the month of April using a different letter of the alphabet each day.   At the time I thought why not?  I can do that.  Tons of people that were also doing it picked a theme for the month like movie titles or wines which makes it much easier to pick your word or phase for the day.  I of course like to fly by the seat of my pants and picked no theme, just did my usually babbling each day.  After it was over I thought, I will never, ever do this again, but low and behold I just signed up again for another go.

So I am still asking myself, what am I nuts?  Hmmmm when I think about it, I signed up for it again because even though it got harder as the month went by, on the whole I did really enjoy it.  It challenged me to find a something to write about everyday  for each letter of the alphabet.  I also enjoyed visiting others and seeing what they were writing about.

In the end I will be trying to write everyday for the month of April.  I am racking my brain for a theme but have come up with nothing yet, but I still have time and maybe something will pop into my head and make it easier for me this year or maybe I will again do my usual babbling.

I guess time will tell.

Moving Forward, Way Harder Then I Ever Dreamed

Yes again its been over a month since I last blogged but I have a good reason, I have been continuing to work like a maniac to get my house ready for sale.  For anyone who has done this its just so overwhelming. You live with things, the way they are for years, often thinking to fix or change them but the projects just seem so daunting and you just ignore them.  Then a  Realtor enters your world and sees plenty that needs some fixing and the list seem endless.

Some of the things on the list I have had to hire a contractor for and others like painting I have tackled myself with some help from my son.  Its been weeks of messes in my house and I am really tired of living with such upheaval, but I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I am hoping in a few weeks I will be home free and it all will be done.

When we bought the house new over 30 years ago there was no family room so after awhile we decided to add one on.  At the time we added on the large 22 by 16 foot room but left the existing door and closed up the window that was over the sink replacing it with and octagon window that could open so I could be part of the room if we had company.  At the time I loved that idea.  Years later I decided I hated it. A few times I had gotten some estimates to remove the wall but I could not face the mess so I never did it.  When we decided to sell I knew one of the first things I had to do is open up that wall to give it more of an modern feel.

This is the wall before we opened it up.  You can see my horrible octagon window,  yikes clueless that I actually thought it was a good decorating decision.

Here is the after.  Way better.  Not sure why I waited to do this.  Now its done for someone else to enjoy when I could have been enjoying it for years.  Crazy!!!!!!!!


Well for my next blog, (hopefully not in a month) I will talk about my bathroom redo.

Mary Ann