Where has the time gone?

I knew I had been neglecting my business, but I didn't realize that it had been four months since I had posted anything.  I haven't been idle, I just haven't been online much as of late.  The holidays are always busy and my mother-in-law gave us a cruise for our anniversary.  Then after the holidays, I got sick and I am still not 100%.  I have left my Etsy shop shuttered since the second half of November.  I need to get busy, but I have been so exhausted between some personal family issues and being the mom taxi and not feeling well that I needed to take a break.

I have done some crocheting, but in the last week or two, I have even taken a break from that.  I have made too many scarves, tested out new stitches, made some boot socks, boot cuffs, fingerless gloves--I have made myself at least three matching sets (one even including a hat and I don't wear hats!) and several more random infinity scarves.  I had wanted to put some up on my Etsy shop, but probably by the time I get around to it, it will be spring and no one will need scarves!

In the fall, I took some family pictures for some friends and in the winter, some baby pictures for a friend of a friend.  I'll post some samples of my pictures and my crochet projects soon.

My mom was busy embroidering and sewing Christmas gifts for the kids, so I have lots of items to show off that she made for them.

Just checking in.  I'm still alive, just maybe not kicking...yet.

April A to Z Blogging Challenge Day 20...Today's Blog Brought to You by the Letter "T"

One of my mom's favorite embroidery projects is tote bags!  She has made a variety of bags in a rainbow of colors with a myriad of embroidery designs.  She has even fashioned pockets on the front of some of her bags.  We have some ready made and available for immediate shipping in our Etsy shop or you can check out her embroidery options on our website and message us for a personalized tote.

~ Robin ~

April A to Z Blogging Challenge Day 12...Today's Blog Brought to You by the Letter "L"

I changed my mind at the last minute and decided for my "L" post, I'd have some fun and post some limericks (some old, some new) that I've written.  L is also for "laugh" so have a good one!

There once was a man from Nantucket
Who carried corncobs in a bucket
They laughed him to scorn
For he didn't like corn
But he sure did like to shuck it!

April A to Z Blogging Challenge Day 5...Today's Blog Brought to You by the Letter "E"

Yay, break from blogging tomorrow, since it's Sunday.  Well, technically, I get a break today too because I have a guest blogger!  My mom, Linda, graciously agreed to write a little bit for me about embroidery since I know absolutely nothing about it.  If I were to write today's blog, it would be short and simple: "My mom does embroidery.  It's pretty.  See?"  She didn't really want to write it, but I persuaded her, as I often do.  So, give her some love in the comments!  Her work is viewable on our site and some is available in our Etsy shop and we will be adding personalized items in the future.  Please contact us if you need to commission any embroidery work and we will send you a quote and give you a custom listing.

April A to Z Blogging Challenge Day 2...Today's Blog Brought to You by the Letter "B"

My mom gets quite a few requests for baby gifts...mostly from me!  These are several of the gifts that she has made for me to give to friends for shower gifts.  She can do a shower gift blanket with just the baby's name on it or a gift for after baby arrives with baby's birth stats!  She can personalize burp cloths, which is great if baby is going to be in the church nursery or day care, so you go home with what you brought.  We also like to get creative with the bibs.  One of my best friends has quite the attitude so we came up with "My mommy doesn't want your advice" for one and "who wants to be a princess when you can be queen" because her name and her baby's were well-known queens.  Another friend was a fan of the Beatles and named her first son "Harrison", so we used that theme to come up with "He's got a ticket to cry."

We will be doing a listing on etsy for these personalized items in the near future, but in the meanwhile, you can check out her embroidery designs here and if you send us a message, we can give you a quote and set you up with a custom listing!

~ Robin ~

Embroidered Light-Blocking Curtains

My mom's recent time-consuming project was making curtains for my daughters' room.  They have been begging for some room-darkening curtains.  I don't understand this because the loudest pleading came from the child that is up at the crack of dawn (CANNOT sleep in) and the reason there was a problem anyway is because they tore up the blinds in their room.

What Does the Fox Say? Reveal

A few days ago, you may have seen a sneak peek post of some embroidery my mom was working on.  Now, it's time for the big reveal!!!

What Does the Fox Day?

A sneak peek of what mom is working on embroidering currently...

New Website is Here!

It's here!!!  I finally finished the website and made it live!  This is the official unveiling!

Embroidery on the Launchpad!

I have been working hard all week!  After the blogathon ended, I had so many things I wanted to do!  The big thing that I have been working on all week is totally revamping my website.  My husband created a website for me several years ago to showcase my mom's embroidery and other items she had made.  Then he added in my crochet items and finally linked the page to my photography website that I built.  He knows HTML and I don't, so I let him do it.  But, I knew the site needed updating now that we have an Etsy shop, new items, and I just wanted to put my own touches on it!  I appreciate the work he put into it, but, let's face it, he's a man.  I wanted the site to be pretty and creative!  So, I have been working all week on creating a hub page that will link to all our social media: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and this blog, as well as linking to my photography website, a site for embroidery and crochet, and to my book on Amazon.  The hub page didn't take long, but the website for embroidery and crochet has taken hours every day.  I will be unveiling it in the next couple of days!  For now, here's a sneak preview: