December 14th.

It was warm today. Like, +10 and raining. but not cold to be in.

I asked the Boss Lady today at the thrift store what her plan was for January, and at this point she doesn't think she's going to do layoffs. This is good. But also, I want more time to sit and sew swears.

It's not quite Holy Tits cold yet, but it will be soon, I'm sure. I've noticed the seasons changing the last few years (and mostly because of my gardening habit.) It's strange for it to be so mild, this far into December.

I'm having too good a time with the embroidery.

L.

I Freekin' Love Impending Winter

Aside from the shovelling of snow, ofcourse.

I freekin' love impending winter, because it's CREATIVE time!

Also, my lovely bride Lillah is settling in. We've done a few videos, but there is definitely a learning curve. Filming the videos takes me 5 or 6 minutes. Then an hour to upload it from my phone to Youtube... and tonne of time to edit it, and then Youtube takes at least another hour or more to format it.

This little creative play is really trying my sense of patience.

(Is patience a sense?)

Anyway. I have been stitching swears.

L.

Mail Order Bride.

My Mail Order Bride is on her way.

We connected online, and I was charmed by her.

She travelling through BC right now, and should arrive by the end of the week.
I'm completely thrilled.

She's not going to require too much space, which is good. She's going to sleep in my bed, anyway, and hopefully her clothing won't take up too much room.

I will post her photos as soon as she arrives.

Her name is Lillah.

Fairy Tale Life.

The house is somewhat clean. There are a lot of things I could do to improve what's going on here. I still feel like I can't have company over in this.

My living room IS my art/craft room. I can't see how I can change that at all.

But I finally laid the groovy gypsy carpet on the floor. That involved a lot of shifting of heavy furniture, and getting the old carpet out. Also, I bought a vacuum.

I love this time of year. I shift more into being able to be creative more. Creative in my art, creative in my writing, creative in my thoughts, day and night dreams. Creative in the kitchen. (although that last one is mainly because I HAVE to be! lol.)

I started a writers page on facebook. Because I felt like I probably should, as I'm doing more writing.

I also have to figure out Youtube. Because there are some creative things I want to do in that forum. I'm excited for them.

I have a few craft shows I've been invited to this year, although I don't have anything NEW to offer, I do have a bunch of crafts ready and waiting.

I'm making some shifts.

I have dreams of running away to Nova Scotia and living a fairy tale life... I've come to realize I have to just live that life here and now, where I am. Make it happen.

L.

October. Already?

How is it that I haven't written since April?

Well, I've been working nearly every day since then. Today is the a second day off in a 3 day streak. Which I am so thankful for. I was beginning to feel exceedingly burnt out.

Since then:

• I signed a lease on a new office space for my tarot readings/energy work. 
• I've done some writing that has been published on Elephant Magazine . (I have a few pieces, however you'll have to look up my name to find them there. Or join my Writers Facebook Page.
• I've been paying more attention to my writing in general, submitting short stories to different places, and working on the pieces I've left to collect dust. 
• My garden was planted, and then didn't look at it again. You should see the tomatoes rotting in the yard. Ugh.
• I was working 4 and 5 days a week at the thrift store, as well as doing tarot house parties, tarot in my office, and reflexology
• I made the last payment on my car!
• I did no sewing, or painting, or crafting of any type. I think those things are for winter. 

Anyway, it's October now. I'm down to 2 days a week at the thrift store (because I asked to be...) The kids are back into the school groove.

Today I am cleaning the house. I did NO cleaning all summer. And it shows. Right now, I'm taking a break because my sinuses are angry with all the dust I'm kicking up.

I've told the Universe that it needs to make sure I can still pay my bills and continue paying down the credit cards I lived off of all summer, and give me the time to clean the house, write the stories, make all the foods.

Seedling Time!

It's seedling time at Little Scotia! 13 days ago I put tomatoes, peppers, and beets in to start. (I've never started beets indoors before, but it was suggested to me that I do, so we'll see.)

This is the first year I've used these Coco seed started pellets to start my seedlings. It's also making me a little nervous. The idea is that they hold water longer, so you are supposed to be able to water less. I'm watching them closely. 

a little container with some herbs.

coconut expanding seedling growing pellets.

The beets are in the square containers with coco filling seedling starter. The square (is it peat? I can't recall, they are from last year.) have started to develop mold. Ugh. so today I'll be spraying that with a peroxide mixture, and covering the whole thing with soil. I'm wondering if they have to go out earlier.

In OTHER news, Here's a BUNCH of free information to help your garden this year! Information for beginners and old pros! :) Enjoy! I'm watching a video or two a day, while doing other things around the house (or during the time I would normally be brainlessly playing facebook games.)

Home Grown Food Summit - Click Here

Technically, The Doll is On the LIST.

Today my Reflexology client cancelled. Which left me with a 'free' day. Free Days aren't REALLY free days. We know how this works. There's a list.  It looks like this:

The Big Tall Boy when he was still a little squishy cute boy, as well as the list.

Today, I ignored it.

And instead, finished THIS little beauty.

Technically, she's on the list under the category "Make all the things."

Also, the "Your Mom" at the end of my list MIGHT be an insult, scribbled there by one of my daughters. Their nanny may not be impressed. Except that I'm sure neither one of us will know exactly what it means.

L.

Little Ginger Babushkas

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she Wonderful?

the Irish Russian. Hanging out with the Native Russian, and the Old Sleeping Russian. Party Time.

My boss at the Thrift Store texted me just as I was putting the finishing touches on this little mama. She's a Ginger Mama, and I was thinking of her! It's an Irish Russian Doll. Oh yes I did.

She's just so flippin cute. It is going to be hard to see them go, but a pleasure that they'll bring someone else joy too!

I have a sale at the Native Friendship Centre on March 21st, and I'll bring these beauties. All the others you'll be able to find at the Tiny Art Shack in Tiny Ontario in May 2015. 

L.

Russian Dolls Have The Best Advice

I've been making a tonne of these ladies over the last week. They take an enormous amount of time for stuffed dolls, but I just ADORE the end results. And they SPEAK to me. In the times of quiet when I get to embroider little faces and aprons, I get the best ideas.

I have about 4 more cut up and in various stages of completion. However, it's slow going. My sewing machine is at the 'end' of the kitchen. And I have to completely dig out the machine and desk, spreading the crafting joy all over the dinner table. I also open up the ironing board to sit in front of the buffet and hutch that houses all the practical and impractical dishes. (I have a bit of a Pretty Tea Cup problem. And a vintage set of dishes, complete with tea pot, creamer, sugar, dishes... that I do not let children touch without supervision.)

Creating in Chaos. It's a thing.

Anyway, it feels like it's time to tidy up to make dinner. (if that's what you can call piling all-the-things back onto and around my sewing machine.)

Still, I adore the process of seeing them come together. These little beauties for the most part will be available for sale at the Tiny Art Shack in Tiny, Ontario, in May 2015. Unless I manage to get it together enough to attend a craft show myself sometime soon.

Little Scotia Lives!

Lori

Free Square Credit Card Processing for Craft Shows.

Yesterday, I recieved my Free SQUARE! 

A Square is a device that plugs into your android phone, and allows you to take credit card payments anywhere. Which is fantastic for me and my businesses.

Ofcourse, the first step was that I had to get an ANDROID phone. I had been using an old one with a sliding keyboard. And I loved it. But I really wanted this SQUARE. So, I finally upgraded. The kids welcomed me into "modern times."

I took my first credit card transaction on the Square yesterday, after downloading the app ALL BY MYSELF. (I did have to ask my personal tech support if I was doing it right though, and a question about my phone settings.) It was very easy! I have friends who have been using this for AGES and have had no problem recieving their earnings the next day, deposited right into their bank account.

So, what does this mean for Little Scotia clients? It means that you'll be able to take home dolls and art and all the FUN Little Scotia stuff that you weren't expecting to fall in love with from my booth set up at Farmers Markets and Craft Shows. Convenient! Square can also be used as a regular payment system, you can hook it all up in your office to record ALL of your transactions.

I checked out the backoffice, and there are lots of options for creating your store, with all your items and options.

If you've been thinking about it, no more putting it off! They'll send you a free Square for Credit Card processing HERE.

Craft and Stuff.

Sigh. I WANT a ROOM. One that is well lit and dry and spacious. One that is just MINE, to create in and display all the little curious THINGS that I have to resell. I have a collection.

There is so much crafting stuff and THINGS hidden in boxes in my dark creepy basement. My sewing machine is shoved into the back of the kitchen, and will most likely need to be moved before too long anyway. (Once the nicer weather hits, we'll all want use of the door to the back yard. Not easily accessable with my mountain of craft back there.)

I also was thinking today, about how this house will only be mine for about another 6 years or so. It's a rental, it's a social housing unit, meaning as soon as the kids are grown and gone, I'll have no need for a 3 bedroom house.

I have been here for 11 years. I basically have for all those years been WORKING on having a place of our own. Instead, we manage to just get along. Can I do what I need to do in 6 years???

Today I brought home an enormous amount of old magazines that I have plans to do some fun stuff with. They will go on a shelf in my basement.

Gods and Goddesses... help a sister out.

Looky Looky what I just picked up!

Prims Handcrafted Dolls Winter 2015 magazine. Love!


I'm so very excited. It feels SO FLIPPIN GOOD to get back into the sewing, the creating. It makes me so happy.

So simply happy.

I'm good at this. Yes, I am good at a LOT of things, but this really feels like where I'm supposed to be.

Seed Cataloges Are IN

Seed Catalogues are in.

After going through my seed stash from last year, I really REALLY don't need to buy any new seeds. Except for some Zucchini (how did I save ZERO seeds last year?) and also green pepper. I have TONNES of lettuce seeds, mesclun mix, beets... I have about 10 seeds each from about 5 different types of tomatoes. Lots left.

Provided all of them are viable. Which you just know they won't ALL be.

So, I should TOTALLY place an order.

Totally.

Oh Hey January 2015

How are we 2 weeks in already?

I cleaned out the CRAFT CORNER OF DOOM, and reorganized it, so, like, I can actually access my sewing machine. I've got a few craft shows booked and THAT'S pretty  motivating to get back to work!

There's been a part of me that's been freaking out a bit (as I do EVERY year at this time.) that says "Hey, maybe you should get another job." Sigh. Because I'm going to find the time for THAT somewhere. (I'm part time at a Wellness Centre as a Reflexologist, I read tarot cards in the office as well as at parties, and I'm at a local thrift store part time.) I LOVE all of these things that I do. It's just that time of YEAR, when it's quiet all over.

Why is it THIS time of year I decide to go over my budget? Mental Self Flagelation.

So, it's NICE to lose myself in the making of monkeys and dolls. It's nice to completely ignore the dishes and laundry and housekeeping in general, and instead sew while episodes of Supernatural play in the backround. I love that show.

I have a show at the end of the month at the Huronia Museum in Midland, but I'm only reading cards there - no dolls or toys. Another show booked for the first day of spring. That's pretty exciting. And when I have enough stock, I'll get a table at one of the Farmers and Artisans markets going on locally.

I'd leave you a picture, but I currently cannot find my camera charger. Avoiding housework. ha!

Little Scotia Lori.