I shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to. step to. step to....
To make up for it, here are some photos of new work and just for kicks (ha!) one of Young Master.
OK. I just saw the coolest thing and I WANT it. Like For Real, FOR REAL!!!! It's a vinyl cutting machine and it MUST be mine!!!
I'm trying to win it here and you can try too:
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2010/08/over-300-giveaway-santa-has-arrived.html
What would you make with it if you won? There are sooooo many endless possibilities and you all know how I LOVE possibilities!!!!
Good Luck to you and me!
In jewelry news, I couldn't help myself. I got these AMAZING beads that I'm not quite sure what I'm doing with yet. Several have already been spoken for by family members that saw them Saturday at a birthday party. lol. My mother-in-law doesn't even want me to make anything with the one she bought. She said she felt a connection to it and had to have it. They are THAT HOT!
I also made a new initial piece I'm thinking of putting in the shop. More on that later.
So when Young Master was about 3 months old I bought this great book (for 50 cents!) at a library book sale called "Nurture by Nature." Basically it is a personality type assessment (utilizing Myers-Briggs) book that deals with children and puts forth the premise that one-size parenting does not fit all because all children are different. Too true as my sisters and I are not carbon copies of one another by any stretch and what worked for one, invariably did not work for another.
Anyway, the book is to help you figure out what personality best describes your child or children and offers some insight into how their minds work and how to best work with them. It also gives insight into your personality and how it affects your interactions with your child. Young Master has not really been old enough to assess on all points of the scale until this year and even then it's a bit of guesswork. But first let's talk about my personality and then relate it to his.
The books say that I am an ESFP. One aspect of that personality type that I OWN is that ESFPs love spontaneity and being impulsive. I don't like being tied down to a schedule and I start to feel caged in with too many appointments and dates on my calendar. Even if it's mostly fun things on the calendar! I got married at the justice of the peace in part because the thought of having to plan a wedding gave me anxiety attacks.
Turns out the boy is an ESTJ ie. he loves structure and a well laid out plan. Oops! As you can imagine, this can be a problem. He wakes up in the morning wanting to know the plan for the day and I really try to have one all laid out (OK. I don't really try to. It just so happens sometimes I have a plan). It's much easier for me during the school year because half the day is planned out anyway. If there is no plan laid out, he will try to make one. lol.
Well, I love my son more than I love spontaneity so I'm trying to work it out. The book suggested something he might enjoy as an ESTJ is cooking. I'd noticed in the past when we cooked, he'd enjoyed it but the book took it to another level. It was saying that ESTJ children enjoy it because when you have a recipe, you are following a plan and introducing structure! Well that I can get on board with no problem in the cooking realm.
Why is that you ask? A little history for you. My mom never taught us to cook because she didn't want us to end up being in her words "some man's cook!" I appreciate her sentiment but it didn't really hold me in good stead in college when I couldn't even make ramen noodles. All my life I grew up with the mentality of not being "some man's cook" so like any logical person would do, I made it one of my goals in life as a youngster to marry a chef so I'd never have to cook. That didn't quite work out. lol. So one of my goals now is to make sure my son knows how to cook so he won't be dependent on "some woman to do it for him!" <--- my words that he can quote when he's grown.
The other day I was at TJ Maxx and found the cutest little cooking set with kid-sized utensils, a small apron and a small laminated recipe book (to account for spills!). It's from the Playful Chef (http://playfulinc.com). So you know it was on! So far from the cookbook we've made:
You all may have noticed I'm even more absent than usual. It's summer vacay for Young Master Beads and someone didn't think to sign him up for camp (not even one week! I tend to be impulsive. More on that later - see next post.) So I have been mom and camp counselor in one. Guess who won't be making the same mistake next year. It is a bit draining to keep up with this very active four year old particularly when it's so hot outside. There have only been like 3 days under 90 degrees all summer. Mama Beads doesn't do heat.
Here are a few photos of what we've been up to:
Children's museum in Raleigh, NC
Using mommy's tools to make a sword as he rides his mount (ie. bopper)
Children's museum in Baltimore, MD
Fun with mustache crayons we got from Auntie Andrea
Drinking water to beat the heat
picture was received in a forward about the massive destruction to our area. ;DOhhh Emmm Geee!
Has it really been THAT long since I've written. Actually let me stop playing. I know it's been that long and I have definitely thought about my blog at least twice a week since April. Mostly feeling guilty that I haven't updated it. I'm sorry guys. Busy Busy Busy AND not much of a blog writer. I find the best blogs are written by those who have an actual passion for writing. I just kind of goof around with it but all my favorite reads are people who excel at the craft and love it. So I give what I have and it ain't much. lol. Thanks for sticking with me.
Since I've been gone so long I just wanted to show you a photo I took today that shows the importance of lighting. For my husband's friend's wedding I decided to make a little charm to hang from the bridal bouquet as a keepsake for the couple. And I wanted to try out gold-filled metal and this gave me the perfect excuse to purchase some as their wedding colors apparently involve warm colors.
The picture on the left was taken in front of a window without anything to diffuse the light and make it softer. The picture on the left utilizes diffused light. Big difference right?!??!?! I could explain what diffusing the light does but I think the picture does a waaaay better job than I could do typing it out.
Now you're wondering, Nina, how did you do that?!!? I wiggled my nose of course and *poof!* great shot! Just kidding. You can diffuse light in different ways. The way I used here was to just stick it in a professional light box.
Right photo courtesy of ezcube.com
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
Photo courtesy of JustBlinds.comHi peeps!
I finally, finally, finally got around to breaking out the sewing machine and whipping up my pillow covers, knocking another thing off the list. The first thing I had to do was build a table for my sewing machine. I used to sew at the dining room table but that's not really an option any longer. So first Young Master Beads and I made a trip to IKEA and made and assembled a couple of $20 tables. It was really fun having him help me put it together. I think I'll have to do something like that more often with him. Young Master also likes to help me cook and I find it really enjoyable too. :D
So here they are! I made five pillow covers in total using a fabulous tutorial I found here.
Hubby was a little sad to see his Georgetown Hoya pillow was covered up but he has somehow found the strength to carry on. Plus it's totally removable so he can take it off when he has a jones to see the doggy. ;P
I know you are all like Nina where did you get that sweet orange patterned fabric? Well from this fab seller who I've talked about before on the blog, Jenny of HomeSweet. I got the fabric last summer at Crafty Bastards in DC and have been holding onto it since then. :D
In this last picture is what I call my home decor book cover. That is if I ever were to write a book. lol!
Since I opened the shop back up I have been slowly filling it with new, ready to ship goodies. Once I stopped beating myself up for taking a vacation rather than a working vacation, I actually did some work...You can find these lovelies in the ready to ship section of the store.
Sorry you guys for being gone so long. I forget that some of you actually READ my blog. Shout out to Cape Town and Pittsburgh!!!! I have been feeling totally unmotivated recently. I closed the shop last week for some r&r and with the hopes that I would take the time to work on some new pieces that are in my head.
But no such thing has occurred. I'm a little disgusted with myself to be honest. Maybe I'll keep it closed this week and really get to work.
Though I am not feeling inspired, perhaps these pictures I took down in DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival, might inspire some of you!
xo,
Nina
*EDITED FOR UPDATE* I forgot that I did end up making another pair of "XOXO" cuff links (referencing past post here) that I forgot to show you guys. I used a different texture for the raised edge that I'm really happy about. If you click the photo, you can see it in the shop even though the shop is closed.
Oh and I also made a pair of rose gold studs that I haven't photographed yet, and I have sort of been working on a pet project involving metal, so maybe I should cut myself a little slack. *smooches*
