Quiet...

I finally have some quiet. Some time to reflect, some time to ponder, some time to really think. It's been such a crazy few weeks... as if you couldn't tell from lack of posts!! I haven't really had much quiet time...Even when I've been by myself late nights (which has been every night the last 2-3 weeks working in my studio) it has not been quiet. My brain just has been buzzin' with things I have to do, what needs to get done, what schedule I have to keep. So having a bit of just "me" time - just time to sit, relax, and think...has been good. Short. But good.

I am truly trying to get our lil' online Etsy store - www.mArrineRsmonTage.etsy.com  /company up and running. Right now it is just a little dream - but ultimately I would love to do something big with it -  I'm not sure where it will take me but I can't wait to grow with it. I've found what makes my soul sing... and interestingly enough - I found it through such a dark and horrific time in our family's lives. And yet something beautiful blossomed from that time.

Being creative is just a blessing to me. This summer I sewed my heart out along with my sister. We cried tears, sang songs, laughed, cried some more, hugged, remembered, loved, and started our healing process all with an idea I had for some sundresses for the girls & "Adventure Bags" for all 5 of the kiddos. It helped. It made me focus on something other than the numbing pain of losing my little nephew Andrew, but first Mr Safety-Man's mom, and then of course Mr Safety-Man's dad the day of Andrew's funeral. I could pour energy in to those stitches I was doing. I could feel all my emotions and sort through them if I wanted - or just "phase out" if I didn't. (And ask my sister... I certainly phased out a bunch - I think I sewed my sleeve to one of the dresses a few times. My excuse - it was rather late!!!).

All this has brought me to realize - that I love to sew, I love to create, I love to use my hands and work with my clay. And I want to do this and share it.  It is a very 'soulful' fulfilling feeling to realize something you want to do. Something that makes my heart really sing. And owning my own company - doing something I love to do... that's my dream. My goal for later... well let's just say it will start with making my first quilt and move to some day being the designer of a fabric that someone else might use for their quilt!!

Early this spring I was invited to participate in the first craft show at the PAC - a local art center here. One of the ladies that put it together and I had become friends through another art show we both were featured - at the PAC. I saw her just before Christmas and she had this wonderful idea...a craft show of just local artists - right before Mother's Day!  I told her to GO for it! MADE HERE craft/art show was born! It was a fantastic idea and we are planning to do it semi-annually  - November and end of April now.

There were not a ton of vendors and it was all local talent. I felt honored to be among some wonderful artists represented. I was super excited and super anxious at the same time. I worked my tookus off...I wanted to make Mr Safety-Man proud, my family proud, and my friends. I wanted to let Mr. Safety Man know that I could do this and follow through and be serious about my commitment to our company - mArrineR's monTage. I wanted to achieve my goal and perhaps even make myself proud again in the process?

The craft show was Friday April 29th... there was a lot of work for mArrineR's monTage to get ready - we really had a tight schedule and both Mr Safety-man and I worked on a lot of inventory, on set-up, on props for the booth, etc.  A LOT OF WORK. But it was worth it in the end! I tried to handle the stress before our first "solo" booth. I didn't do half bad (well at least I think... Mr Safety Man may have different thoughts on that one...) - but I really have to thank my family for their patience with me. The girls were SUPER troopers and really helped us a lot and understood that a lot of time was going towards that. They were my BIGGEST fans and their parting words in the AM... "You can do it Mommy! SELL A LOT MOMMY!!" and they DID give me confidence!

Set-up was a bit difficult for me. I wanted everything perfect and I realized that it would have to be what it was. I think in the end... it turned out well. It made me laugh that I thought I would NEVER be able to fill a 6 foot table and in reality I think I needed a larger one!!!

The people just kept coming. During the show I think I can remember only a few lulls - and even then - there were still customers walking around. Mr Safety-man took off work to be with me after reffing two hockey games. It meant more to me than I can explain having him there to support me.

Loads of our friends came to support us. And for that mArrineR's monTage - all are truly thankful! I wouldn't be where I am without our friends. We got calls, e-mails, and texts from people that wish they could be there but supported us by thinking of us. Those meant a lot to us as well.

It was a great experience. I learned a lot, we networked, we learned certain things to say and what not to say, we sold items (YAY!), we received some knowledge, we taught our children some valuable lessons, and we spent time together as a family.

Everything that day/eve REALLY was a learning experience- really great learning experience.
I sit, thinking, and realize... no matter how anxious I got,  this day really was a wonderful one.

Was it all worth it?

Yes. Good times. Good memories. Can't wait for the next one!!

What's in a Name?

OK well it is incredibly hard to decide on a name... and no I am not pregnant... Though the Lord knows I truly wish I were pregnant. We are trying to decide on a name for our new online store (through Etsy). It's a start at least... would rather have my own store - but that will happen. Let me back up one click... Chris and I are opening our own online store. We will be selling our pottery items, my porcelain jewelry, textile items (clothing/accessories), and some of my crochet/knitted items.

We've written to our family & friends and asked their advice - and ALL suggestions were extremely great ones...

AND THE WINNER IS....
 

mArrineR's monTage

(see the ART in there?!)

...at least that is the decision at this moment. It has to be all one word (mArrineRsmonTage) right now for the username. But the banner will have it look a bit different. I just have to figure out how to make a pretty banner!! (Or hire a person to do one for me...)

It was EXTREMELY hard naming our store. We wanted to do something together - a joint venture. And I wanted Mr. Safety-Man to have a huge say in it - to feel a part of everything. Something to create some excitement in our family again. We wanted the name to represent something that was "combined" - our clay/pottery, my jewelry, textiles, crochet, knitting, and any other fun art/craft... but it's just not that easy.

We grappled with doing two shops...doing just my stuff and not his...but mostly just naming it!!! So now we are sticking with Marriner's Montage. I do like it... I wish I was much more creative. Kymmie's Kreations was a thought - but ehhhhh it just didn't hit me. Marriner's Mysteries, Marriner's Mishmash, Melange Marriner, Marriner's Masterpieces, Marriner's Crap, hehehhee Marriner's Mishmash, Ceramic Thread, Porcelain Thread, Marriner's designs, and last but not least Needleful Things or Needful Things were all contenders.

Well I hope it is a good name... I truly do! What's your opinion?

Something to be excited about...

With all the stress and all the craziness over the last few weeks I figured out that I was not only down but wasn't really happy about anything. I mean don't get me wrong... I love my family to the moon & stars and back again... but I have just been doing MUNDANE things since we got back from Maine. I've been keeping busy, sure. And it's helped keep my mind occupied - for the most part. These chores and things I have had to do - have actually started to stress me out and have taken over my life.

Then I got to thinking... why am i so stressed? besides the obvious reason with Mr Safety-Man's mom so sick... why do i feel an overwhelming sense of no accomplishments, no highlights, no happiness. Heck it's been hard to even make myself get out of the house... BUT "I've been busy". Then it hit me... perhaps i feel this way because i am doing nothing with my creative outlet. And that always helps me maintain balance... especially in times of stress. It is an outpouring of emotion for me.

BOOM! I felt some of the weight release from my shoulders. I have been missing creating my jewelry- anything for that matter - out of clay, I have been missing making things. I miss sewing. I miss doing wonderful things for my girls. I miss being creative. It is not enough just to do chores, errands, cook, clean, etc.

I knitted a pillow for my MiL. I felt so good. I had a purpose. My girls wanted one to match their Grammy San's. What better tribute to their Grammy San. So while in Blue Hill, ME at her house - we got Alpaca wool yarn for them...I started one for Ky and finally finished it this week! I have started Boo's...now as well. That has helped... with the creative flow.

But it didn't seem enough. I wanted to tackle a really BIG project. A fun, challenging one. So a good friend of mine has been doing some new, fun stuff with fabric & sewing and we got talking at our book club... and it hit me. I want to get back to sewing again. I felt inspired to make pretty things. To make thing for my girls... aaaaahhh yes. I want to turn the back part of my family room in to a studio. A studio to do our clay, to do my sewing, scrapbooking. WHATEVER - but somewhere where I can have all my creative stuff in one area.

Boo's birthday is coming in July - and instead of waiting until last minute - where there would be no time - I found this awesome fabric and a voice in my head said 'go! you can do it - make her a dress'. Unfortunately, the designer of the fabric also made awesome patterns - but only to size 7. Too small. After much looking around etc. I e-mailed the DESIGNER herself, and she actually e-mailed me back and helped me out tremendously - like she was a friend next door. I found a wonderful woman who sold the fabric and when we started to discuss patterns... she told me she had a wonderful group of patterns that went up to size 10/12!! "PERFECT" i said... and looked at them.

I fell in LOVE. They were exactly my little girls' (yes both of them) styles. They WERE absolutely PERFECT. But then deciding on just one - would not do. So I chose three (but wanted more...).


Here is the dress I decided on... It is called the Lydia dress. It will be a challenge that is for sure - for the shirring in the bodice looks difficult. But a challenge I wanted... a challenge I received.

(all photos are from MATERIALGAL - go see her etsy shot (link below) she's fantastic)

This next one is an adorable skirt. But when I saw the name... I knew things were happening for a reason. There seemed to be Divine presence with me. See, I follow this blog about a young mother who was involved in a plane crash with her husband. I have been reading this blog for a long time - pulling for, praying with her and for her. Well her nickname happens to be NieNie... and so does the name of the skirt... The Nienie skirt. As I read further part of the proceeds go to help Nienie with her constant health costs. I KNEW that I had been sent here for a reason. That this is EXACTLY what I needed to be doing - sewing things for my girls!! To follow where I was lead was to help myself and to help in a small way Nienie. I couldn't believe it.
Isn't the skirt just darlin'??
That skirt name and what it represented just sold me (literally i bought it hehehe) - that I was doing the right thing, that this is what I should be doing. I was lead here and I followed. I was given an idea... it was popped in to my head... and I faithfully went for it.

And then I saw the shirts... fun, funky, different... SO my girls!!! These are the Juliet shirts... and I fell in love. I chose which girl would have what... and funny enough Ky chose the same way I did. She loves the one left and she thinks Boo will like the one on the right... YES!!! I think Boo will love that for her birthday!! (Shhhhhh she doesn't know of course...) So how cute are they? Right?!?!

So I picked out some patterns from PINK FIG. And the material... ahhhhhhhhhhh the material... a beautiful array from a designer named Patty Young. And it is ALL different palettes. The reason I fell in love - 1 palette is the mustard palette. ALL different yellows (Boo's favorite color) and one of the fabrics is DANDELION (Boo's favorite flower). The Flora & Fauna collection has butterflies, birds, bees, flowers (both girls love nature). It has a raspberry palette (Ky's favorite color is pink and purple and this is kind of a mix of both!!!). It is just wonderful. Here's a little sampling of some of the fabrics. I got the image from the etsy store I bought the patterns and material - MATERIALGAL!!! Just gorgeous! SO different than what I would normally choose!! I LOVE it! BEAUTIFUL! I am starting these shirts first... I cannot wait!!

I have to say thank you to Patty Young... designer of the fabric & the help she gave me to find her mustard palette fabric. And Stephanie at MATERIALGAL (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MaterialGal) for her tirelessly answering SO many of my questions and her kindness!!! She's a dream to work with and I suggest you see her online etsy store - she has got a TON of fabric!!