Roller Derby= Sock Obsession

I know. It has been a while since I wrote. I've just been so busy with Breakthrough Dallas earlier this month. (That was awesome, by the way!) Then, immediately after Breakthrough was done, our church started rehearsals for the Easter play we've been doing. This is the 6th year of the play, and both my husband and I are in it. Plus, I'm still involved with Roller Derby once or twice a week. Those things plus normal work and church and my etsy shop just means no time!!!!

First off, I haven't shared with you in a while what is new in my Etsy Shop. Right now, my biggest sellers are my Baker's twine. I have it four colors!


Also, my ribbon has been very popular internationally. Check out some of what I have. To see my entire selection, come to Katiebird Studio on Etsy!



Now on to what I really wanted to write about:

ROLLER DERBY=SOCK OBSESSION

Yes, it is true. The more I participate in Roller Derby, the more obsessed I become with socks. Yes, that's right, I said socks! There are so many out there from regular, run of the mill socks you wear every day to fancy awesome socks. Right now, I'm obsessed with thigh-high socks. Unfortunately, the socks I've purchased lately that have said they were thigh-high are only knee socks on me. Yes, that's right. I have LARGE calves and large thighs. Therefore, any sock that says "thigh-high" or "Over the Knee" were obviously measured on someone who is stick thin. Um. . .I am NOT!! LOL! However, I've found tons of socks online that I've coveting! Oh yes! I don't have the money now to purchase them, but in time, I will get these socks! Take a peak! These come from Sock Dreams!

(The very last pair are from American Apparel. They have them in all kinds of colors!!) I've talked to other FMs about it, and they agree. Roller Derby definitely equals a sock obsession!!!! (FMs, by the way, means Fresh Meat. That is what Roller Derby 'rookies' are called.) All the FMs agree. . .socks, stockings, leggings, etc have become somewhat of an obsession if not a necessity of Roller Derby life!!!! Let me know if you have found any socks that you think I might like.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and creative day!

My, How time flies!!!!!!!

Wow, can you believe it is March 1st already? I can't! This year is going by like a whirlwind!





I wanted to bring this up to the few of you who follow my blog: Breakthrough Dallas 2011

This is my Pastor's dream- to bring the Fire of the Holy Spirit to Dallas through an incredible meeting of like-minded Christians. If you at all interested, you need to come to the Gospel Lighthouse Church for this incredible event! There will be some awesome speakers from the Argentine Revival. Click on the picture above to see what will be going on! Come and see how God can change your life!

Roller Derby update: yes, I'm actually participating in Roller Derby! I go to practice for the "Fresh Meat" on Tuesday nights. I'm learning to skate and do various Derby moves, etc. It is great fun and tremendious exercise! I love it. I'm skating with the Assassination City Roller Derby league. Even though I'm not on a team, I'm still part of the league. I LOVE IT!!! The league has a bout (game) on March 26. This will be our first game at our new location: Fair Park in Dallas. Yes, our bouts have gotten so big that we have to move! It will be truly awesome! Come see what Flat Track Roller Derby is all about. Don't forget to buy a ticket- our bouts sell our very quickly!!

My Etsy shop is doing well. Come visit by clicking on the sidebar!

Spring is coming. . .I hope to write again soon!

Goodbye 2010- Hello 2011

Hello everyone! Regrettably, I haven't much in the way of photos to post for you. With the holidays, I've been so busy working at Sublime and trying to get all the Christmas and my Husband's birthday shopping done that I don't have anything to show for it. OH well.

I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope you do, too, and I hope you got everything for Christmas you wanted! I was incredibly blessed!! My New Year wasn't too eventful. It was my Husband's birthday, so we had dinner and opened presents with my parents since his family doesn't do much with birthdays. Then, we came home and just watched a movie and some TV. Fun, huh? Yeah, I think we are getting old! ;)

Anyway, I finally have a day to myself. My husband was off for the weekend, and we did a lot together- playing Wii, hanging out, cooking, cleaning. . .you know. Today, I have a million things to do including taking down the Christmas decorations. This part always makes me sad. Christmas snuck up on me this year, and now, it is all over. Very sad as it is my favorite time of year. . .the music, the decorations, the happiness that is very contagious! Oh well. Time goes on. Along with taking down decorations, I have to find my art room again (it got buried under Christmas wrapping!), go to the bank, and send off some Etsy orders!

Speaking of Etsy, I have bittersweet reactions to my shop at the moment. Yes, I'm making sales, however, what is selling is NOT my cards or my paintings. It is. . .. (wait for it). . . . .Baker's twine. Yes! Can you believe it??? My baker's twine is selling the most. I originally bought the baker's twine for my Christmas presents. The cheapest I found the twine had so much on the roll, I decided to sell it to! CRAZINESS! It is selling like crazy! I love that, but it saddens me that people are in my shop- yet they aren't buying my cards! *sniff* I guess that just means I need to step up my card making! I'm way behind too! I need to get some Valentine's made, so I can move on to other upcoming holidays. (On a happier note, my cards are selling great at Sublime where they have allowed me to set up a small area for my cards! They made great add-ons to the boxes of Chocolate we sell!!! Woo-hoo!)

Ok, so the end of 2010 hasn't been so bad, but the rest of the year TOTALLY had its ups and downs. More downs, though, I'm afraid. It wasn't the best year of my life. Instead of dragging out the whole story (which will make me cry), let's just say I lost my job and too many friends this year because of a simple misunderstanding. I guess what is done is done. God has a better plan for my life. Maybe he was just weeding out the people in my life that weren't good for me, and I was just too blind to see it. It is a blow, though. Painful experiences that I would rather not EVER go through again. However, in the mist of those troubling times and experiences, I've learned a lot. I guess, in the end, that is all that matters! Hopefully, I will take these lessons and move on with life!

Yes, 2010 brought me some bad times that turned into learning experiences, but I also had good times. I now work at Sublime Chocolate in Allen! Which, by the way, I LOVE. I might even get to learn how to make the chocolates in addition to selling them! Woo-hoo! Total dream! I love sweets and baked goods as most of you know. To learn how to make these gourmet and absolutely delicious chocolates would be a dream come true!!

Also, this year, I got to go to Disney World with a great friend. Not only did that planning and trip expand our friendship, we had a fabulous time. One neither of us will forget! It was fantastic! Also, I met some other great people online through the DISboards where I was posting my planning report and my Trip Report. I can't complain on that front! What a fun experience!!!!

Ok, so I say "thanks, 2010," as I push it out the door. Hello 2011- where things will be different! May God bless you and your family this year! Remember that He is coming soon! Take inventory of your life. . .are you living for Him or the world??

God Bless you!

New items in my Etsy Shop

Hello! It is that crazy time of year! I'm trying to hold down two part-time jobs, Christmas shop, make dinner each night and run my Etsy shop! Busy, busy here!!!

I wanted to show you all the newest items that are or will be added to my store.How adorable is she?? She is a stamp from the Greeting Farm! I'm so addicted to their stamps! They are so much fun, and so stinkin' cute!!!!!

I made some gift tags for the holiday season! You get a set of 12 for $5.50! Not bad!!

Finally, this card was just fun from start to finish! The girl is a digi stamp from KennyK. His stamps are so much fun! He just put out some supper sexy racer girls! His Christmas stuff is cute and sexy at the same time, and they are even a little retro! I LOVE them!!! Stay tuned for some more!

Etsy Shop is Open!!!

I just opened my Etsy Shop! I also made my first sale today! I'm so excited! I'm off to make more cards to sell! Woot Woot!

Aren't these cute???? You can win them on Gossamer Creations' blog! Just leave a comment! She makes a ton of beautiful things! Check out here Etsy shop, too!

My first day at Sublime Chocolate was a lot of fun! I learned so much! I'm back this morning for espresso training! Should be interesting! I think this will be a great place to work- especially around Christmas time! :)

Part time job starts tomorrow!

Yes, you heard correctly. I start my new part time job tomorrow. I will be working at Sublime Chocolate here in Allen! I'm very excited! This will be a new experience for me- way out of my comfort zone. I've never worked in the food industry, but I can't think of a better place to start than in a chocolate shop. These chocolates are DIVINE! They melt in your mouth and have the most interesting hints of flavor! It will be hard not to eat them all the time. . .

Not much else here. Just getting ready to open my Etsy store and working on my 2 part time jobs. I have an interview at Starbucks on Monday. We'll see how that goes! This weekend, I'm going to a craft fair with my mom, and then, she is going to take me a skate shop and get my fitted for roller derby skates and gear!!! She said she will get it for me for my birthday! I can't wait. As soon as I get the gear, I get to start attending practices! It looks hard, but it will be so much fun! I can't wait! Here are the skates I want:
AWESOME! Can't wait!

Art, cards, and Rangers!

Good morning! I'm really trying to make my blog more active. I know I always say that, but I really am going to try!!

First, I've made some Christmas cards that will eventually make their way into Etsy shop once I get it open!! Here they are!
Obviously, I've been going for the non-traditional Christmas look. I love the retro color combination of pink, teal, and lime green. I just wanted to catch the eye of different crowds! (They aren't too bad, however, I think I may need to shot pictures of them instead of scanning them. They look a little flat and lifeless this way. If I shoot a picture of them, they might look more appealing. Hmm. . .)

Next, I've been taking a class by Tam, aka Willowing. It is called Art, Heart, and Healing. She is offering it free!! She is an amazing artist and person! Check out her website here!! I found her videos on YouTube a couple years ago, and I've been hooked every since!! You can join her Free class here on her ning site! She is incredible! You must try out her class. She will be offering a new class in January as well!

In Tam's class, we are healing through art. I'm nearly two weeks behind on my projects, but that doesn't matter. Week 1's assignment was to create an art journal entry. We wrote our 'inner critic' feelings on the journal page, gessoed over it, and then painted a portrait that was represent us even if it didn't look just like us! Then, we had to reverse all the negative things we say to ourselves daily, and put that sentence on the page facing the portrait! Great stuff, Tam! Here is mine:

One final note! The Rangers play game 3 of the World Series tonight. They had some trouble in San Fransisco, so I just want to say:

GO RANGERS!

NaNoWriMo, etc

Ok, a little over two days until NaNoWriMo, and I still have NO plot! Well, that's not entirely true. I have a whiff of an idea, but I haven't fleshed it out yet. I picked it up in the Adoption Society on the NaNoWriMo forums. I don't want to tell you all yet. I want to see what little interesting tid bits I can add to my idea before the fateful day of Monday. . .dun-dun-DUN. . .November 1 rolls around! I really would like to give this a good shot this year. I just don't feel completey ready. Oh well-perhaps it is like having a baby. . .you never are completely ready!

Speaking of Baby. . .yeah. . .no! Nothing on that front yet!

I'm still looking for a job. I applied at Sublime Chocolate here in Allen yesterday! Still keeping my fingers crossed they will call. What fun would that be? I think working there would be so incredibly enjoyable! And so up my alley! We'll see. (Of course, this afternoon, I had to watch Chocolat! If you haven't seen that movie, you must!!)

Not much else going on for me. I'm working to get things ready to open a shop on Etsy soon. I hope it does well. I have some cards made, but I need to make more. I've ordered some shipping supplies, and as soon as they arrive, I will be in business! *squeal!!!*

Chicken Marsala for dinner tonight. Yummy. Kevin and I will just chill and go to bed early because we both didn't get enough sleep last night- went to bed too late and up too early. Fun Fun!

Oh, and tomorrow, I will make some pumpkin bread and some pumpkin dip! It is perfect weather for both! Yum yum!

Take care all you beautiful people! Hopefully, I'll have some art and cards to post soon!

Let's go Rangers

Ok, first of all, LET'S GO RANGERS! Game 2 of their first World Series!!! Woop!!!!



Second, I'm going to try to do NaNoWriMo this year. You can see it here. I hope to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I tried it last year, but I did broke the 11,000 mark. I was writing a historical novel, so the facts were slowing me down. Even when I totally changed my direction, I still never finished.

This year, I'm trying to decide on what I will write. However, I'm looking for something with less restrictions. I hope I can do it! I'll try to keep you all posted on my progress. I will need to come up with my plot first! EEEEK! Anyone have any ideas- no matter how crazy!!

Sketchbook Project

Yes, I did it! I signed up for the Sketchbook Project. The theme I selected is "it must be. . ." My plan is to have every page(s) finish that phrase. I haven't done too many pages, but here is what I have so far!!

Goals and other things

Hello! My mind has been racing today. . so many thoughts.

First of all, I keep thinking about a dream I had. I was in a 2nd grade class, but it was like a college class. It was only an hour, but I was with 2nd graders. (I think the idea of the class was to help me be a better reading teacher. What??) Even weirder, one of my closest friends (who is a 2nd grade teacher) was teaching my class. So strange.

Last night at church, our Pastor asked a question: "What are your goals? What are your goals for one year from now, 5 years from now, and 10 years from now? And what are you doing to get to those goals?" The question really stumped me. His point was in Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish. . ." He said the Hebrew word translated to mean 'vision' also meant dreams and goals. It really got me thinking. What are my goals?? Do I have any? He went on to say that people who don't have goals or dreams or something to strive for aside from getting up, going to work, earning money, and spending said money, were often sad and struggled much more. That really got me, too. Lately, this summer, I've found myself very sad. I fluctuate between being happy and content to being completely down and feeling lost and alone. This is fairly normal for me, but the rate at which I'm changing emotions is rather alarming!!

Anyway, so moving on. . .What are my goals? Hmm. . Let's see:

Within a year:
start and finish the Sketchbook Project
Create 3-4 more portraits for friends
Create several more paintings
Get Pregnant
Sell my artwork and cards on Etsy
Start building websites to bring in extra money
Start saving more money and managing my money better

Within 5 years:
Have a baby
Work at home (websites or art)

Within 10 years:
Have two children
Have extra money and a cushion in the bank account

Wow. . I guess I actually do have some goals. More goals than I thought. Hmm . .I'm feeling much better now!!!

Ok, well, today, the plan is to make French Macarons. However, the humidity is currently at 71%, so wish me luck!!! I also hope to paint and possibly finish the first part of a portrait I'm working on!

Have a great day!

Sketchbook Project 2011- Should I? Shouldn't I?

I came across this from a link on facebook.

It looks pretty awesome. You sign up for $25. They send you a moleskine sketchbook. You make sketches according to one of 20+ themes, and then you send it back. They get sketchbooks from all over the world. Then, all the completed sketchbooks go on tour. People all over the country get to look at your sketchbook. After the tour, the sketchbooks will stay in the Brooklyn Art Library where it will receive a barcode and be there for anyone to check out and explore! As the artist, you can even track your sketchbook to find out how many people are checking it out! How awesome!

Yes, it all sounds very cool, I admit, however, I do have some reservations. . .(this is me. . .I can't do anything without reservations! geez!) Just looking at the website and the few samples I could find, my artwork pales in comparison! My artwork looks more like a child's drawing than a thirty-something adult. On the other hand, finishing this would be great practice at improving my art. Hmm... My other reservation is will I get it done. I suppose if I don't, I'm not out much- just the money to sign up. Hmm. . Let's see. . reservations: check. . . convinced myself NOT to try: NOPE. I think I'll try it. I don't have much to lose!!!

Has anyone participated in this before? If so, let me know. I'd love to know about your experience!

Take care all!

Remember me?

Hello all! Gosh, it has been ages since I blogged. I'm so sorry! I'll do better this summer!

Ok, first up, what have I created since February? Hmm. . .I'll post pictures and explain!

My dad's birthday is in February. This is the cake I made for him. He is a Civil War re-enactor, and this cake is the Irish Brigade flag. He loves the Irish Bridgae, and when he can, he likes to 'fight' under that flag! This was perfect for his birthday!


Of course, macarons! I made this in March. Strawberry coconut and Lemon Vanilla! They were quite good, and, as you can see, quite photographic! I have the urge to make macs now, but it is far too humid in north Texas right now to pull them off! Soon, I hope. Maybe I'll make some marshmallows!! Yummy!

On to artwork. Sadly, this is really the only painting I've created! This is a portrait I made for a friend of mine who is a teacher- she teachers the advanced math class hence the numbers around her. She is very special to me, and I wanted to create something for her! I gave it during the last week of school, and she hung it in her classroom. She told me she got lots of compliments on it! I'm very proud. My art has improved greatly since I started drawing/painting!

I've been making cards, too, but nothing exceptional, so I won't post pictures!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer! I'll be back soon!

Confessions of a Closet Foodie

I think it is time to admit it. . .I'm a Closet Foodie. I say "Closet" foodie because I haven't acknowledged the fact I'm a foodie until recently. I've been a foodie for years, but I never really knew it or truly understood what it meant! I will explain.

I'm addicted to many food shows-Ace of Cakes, Chopped, Good Eats, Unwrapped, etc.
I'm fascinated with the history and evolution of foods!
Ingredients excite me- especially when I have to look something new up before I can even purchase it.
Seeing the ingredients come together is a such a thrill.
Experiencing the tastes of various combinations of ingredients is a phenomenal pleasure.
The science of baking and cooking is intriguing!
Seeing flour, baking powder/soda, sugar, and butter come together to form a dough is exhilarating!

Ok, with that said, I also want to point this out- baking used to be the only kitchen activity I really enjoyed. I still do- of course, I do! I live to bake. However, I've discovered that preparing/cooking dinner can also be a thrill!

This year, inspired by the movie Julie and Julia, I decided to try at least one new recipe a week. My husband and I were getting tired (VERY tired) of the same old dinners. Adding a new recipe a week to our standard meals makes a huge difference. True, so far, not all of them have been fantastic, but they have been different. Those different recipes (whether easy or hard) have made making dinner fun and exciting. What will this new recipe bring? How will it taste? Will it be added to our standards? It has made a huge difference. I don't dread making dinner anymore- even the old 'standbys' because I'm a Closet Foodie!

Confession 1-DONE!

Anyone else want to join this Closet Foodie. . . you aren't alone if you secretly love to bake, cook, or any other form of 'controlled burning'! Let's stick together!

January

Oh, yes! January is here, and I haven't posted anything in about a month. OH well.

I found I'm behind in posting my art journal entries. Here we go!

This was an attempt at a portrait. The other page was practice sketches of whimsical faces. I'm still improving them!

In keeping with the tradition I started last year (here), I made another year in review page. You might noticed quite a bit of other people's artwork in there. They are the people whose art has inspired me this year. I wanted to include them for my own memory's sake!
Then I did another page for my 2010 dreams like this one here.


I also threw this little ATC (Artistic Trading Card) together! Isn't the image adorable??I've made some other ATCs for a swap, but I had to scan them at work, and, of course, I left my jump drive there. Next time!

I'm off to run a few errands and then to bake some cookies!

December Update!

Phew, ok. . .it is 2 days until Christmas. I have a little time between my baking endeavors today to do a quick December update. It has been a crazy month. Hubby and I are still getting settled in our new house. This is our first Christmas in our new home. We got the tree up in the first weekend. (Now, it has presents underneath!) Now, I just need to take some pictures of it when it is dark in the room. Those 'glowy' pictures just look so holidayish!! (My camera battery was low, so the picture is kinda blurry! Oops!)

In trying to decorate the house, I found that I don't have much in the way of household decorations. Oh well. Time will remedy that soon!

I spent a the second weekend baking cookies to give as gifts. As a new home owner, we don't have much money for gifts, so I gave away many, many cookies and pastries! Here they are all laid out in their containers waiting to be capped and sent off to their recipients! (Peppermint macarons, Sugar Cookies, Marshmallows, Chocolate cake balls!)

I even made macarons (no flavor) to be filled with peppermint ganache! They all came out beautifully- little feet and smooth tops. Most had an air bubble, but oh well. I was very excited to see the little rows of perfect little macarons! (This was quite an accomplishment after Thanksgiving where I had to try three times to get some presentable macaron cookies!!!)

Now, I'm off work, and I'm working on making more cookies to give to my family and hubby's family. Also, I'm wrapping presents and attempting a pecan pie on Wednesday!

I so love this time of year! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully, I'll be back more often in the next two weeks since I'm not at work! See you soon!

Merry Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving

Ok, this is just a quick blog entry to let you know I'm alive. Yes, I went back to work, bought a house, and now, it is Thanksigivng. I don't get on the computer as much as I'd like. I haven't been on my blog in ages. I just wanted to say hi! I hope to most more over the CHristmas break. Sorry I'm only a break blogger. I'll work on it!

Happy THanksgiving!

Winter Painting

First of all, I was so upset yesterday, I forgot it was my blogaversary! Oh well! I wanted to do something special, but that just didn't happen!

Ok, now on the Winter Painting. Do you remember my Autumn and Spring paintings? Well, they have now been joined by Winter!! Watercolor background, acrylic snowman, water color and acrylic girl! I think she looks very nice. I have to say Autumn is still my favorite, but I'm glad to see this series is almost finished! I'm working on summer, but she isn't finished! I just wanted to share with you!Have a great day. I'm off to court this afternoon to take care of a traffic ticket. . .oops! I've been on deferred adjutification, and this court day will end it! Phew!

This weekend, we have a great guest speaker at church, Paul Bradford of Warrior School Ministries. He is an awesome preacher, and our church is looking forward to his services tonight at 7pm, tomorrow at 6pm, and Sunday at 10:30am!

Enjoy your weekend!

A case of the "What ifs"

Ok, this is not an art entry. It is a place for me to put down my thoughts. I tend to go through these phases every once in a while, but this one seems to be long and really depressing me.

Ok, everyone has a case of the "what ifs". . . What if I did this. . .what if I followed this path and not the one I took. . .what if. . . Lately, that is all I can think about it. What if I had followed my dreams and not be practical about my life. When I was young, I loved to bake. Every break from school was time for me to make a cake or bake ginerbread cookies, etc. That was what I liked (in addition to drawing) more than anything else. Well, I never thought their was a future in it- just something fun to do when I didn't have to go to school. (Ask my mom. I'm certain she got tired of supervising me!)

Anyway, in an old book I used to fill out every summer about the previous school year, I grew up wanting to be a teacher. Good stable job. . .the practical side. The subject changed, but teaching was what I wanted to do. Ok, so, I went back to school two years ago to be a teacher. I tried it- taught 5th grade. I HATED it! Teaching is so not my bag. Even if I learned more on how to be a better teacher, I don't think I would want to go back. There just isn't creativeness in that job- so much by the book paperwork and details. No thanks! Not ever again.

Ok, so that dream was a bomb. What about the baker/pastry chef in me? What about the graphic designer in me? What about the artist in me? I just discovered through Facebook that a friend of mine from middle school is now a chef! Wow! How cool! (In fact, I think she might work at Disney World.) Also, another friend of mine from college is working at Disney World- how awesome. I was given the same opportunity as she was, but I was mad at her at the time, and I turned down the opportunity. How stupid could I be??? (I, of course, blamed it on the fact that they wanted me to start in Quick Food and Beverage- which isn't where I wanted to be. My friend started there and now, she sometimes gives the famous Keys to the Kingdom tour- a type of backstage tour for those of you who don't know.)

Now, my life is boring. Yes, I'm buying a house, and that is very exciting. However, other than that, my life didn't turn out as I hoped. I have a deadend job that doesn't pay well at all. I'm married-which is great. I also have a great church and a great relationship with God. That realtionship with God is the only thing that is really keeping me going. I'm certain God has plans for me that surpass my own. (There are big things going on at our small church, and I know God needs me there to do something no one else can do.) However, I don't know what God will need me to do, so for now, I'm trying to figure out my life with my carnal mind. My carnal mind is saying my life is really lousy!

My case of the what ifs starts here: what if I had gone to work at Disney- how different and awesome my life would be! What if I had studied something else in school? (Even in school I figured teaching wasn't for me, but I never figured out what was.) What if I did figure it out, got a degree in whatever I"m really supposed to do and lived that life??

I just don't feel happy with my life. I thought that when you found your niche in life, you would be happy and content and not wanting a different life. I'm not happy and content, and I do want a different life. What does that mean? What am I supposed to be doing? I guess the only one who can truly answer that is God. I have some ideas, but maybe I should be praying for direction. Who knows? All I know is that I wish my life was different- more exciting, more fresh, more creative, more fun, more me.

Sorry for the downer post, but these are things in my head. I just want it to be out there in case there are others who are feeling as I am. Just know you aren't alone.