What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what I want to do with the next stage of my life. It's not that I'm unhappy where I am.  I am.  I am truly lucky and appreciate my life.  I think it's just as time ticks by we sometimes need to think about what we want to do into the future.  When you're younger there seems to be so much time and so much possibility.  As time goes by we seem to settle and decide that this is the way it is.  Part of what I've decided to do is to focus on my art/buttons more in a way that gives me joy.  I'm a person that doesn't like to say no to anyone - I need people to like me I guess - so I always try to accommodate.  This often means I'm doing work which I'm not all that excited about and don't have enough time to explore all the ideas floating around in my head.  I'll be honest - while I have a good day job - I do enjoy the funds I get from the buttons and veering away from them - even just a little could very well impact that.  I've got dreams and part of my dreams have a financial component.  I dream of a holiday or retirement place in the Caribbean somewhere.  I love to travel and have been fortunate to be in a number of places. There are so many things I want to do.  I feel if I say no to certain requests for custom orders that people will be disappointed in me and, of course, I'm turning down the money.  I've said no a couple of times lately and it makes me feel very good.  It's hard to do but I'll see where it takes me.  That doesn't mean I won't do custom request but I'm going to pick and choose and try to get more balance (to the joyful side) of art again.

Balance

I've been thinking a lot about how to achieve some balance in my life.  Everything seems so busy between work, family, and my Etsy stores.  There never seems to be enough time in the day.  During the work week I'm usually so exhausted after the day job it's all I can do to get any button purchases packaged up and ready to go.  I don't know how people do it.  I don't even have small children any more.  I really want to do it all! 

Today I took the time to make some homemade ice cream.  It's vanilla (from our Mexican trip) with a whole chocolate mousse chocolate bar added in just for fun.  I also made some pear jam - which looks like it will be better as an ice cream topping :)  I've been trying to master jam making all summer but can't seem to get it to thicken enough to be a jam consistency.  Oh well - I have some very yummy ice cream toppings so even my mistakes aren't too disheartening.  I am determined to figure out this jam thing!!!!!!!!!!

On The Darker Side - Handmade Buttons

 

 

 

I've recently opened up a second button shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/onthedarkerside?ref=si_shop   These have the type of resin buttons and jewellery as my other Etsy shops but these images are a bit on the darker side.  I've even called the shop On The Darker Side.  I'm working on this shop with my son and I'm incorporating buttons and jewellery items that have unusual or weird designs.  These will appeal to people who like things which are a bit more out there.  My other shop Buttons By Robin still has all the cute designs but these are something very different.  I've never seen these type of button designs and I'm hoping these will fill a niche for people that like these designs.  The shop is just getting started but I'm pleased with the amount of interest people have shown in it so far.  I particularly like getting design suggestions from people. 

The Last Of Summer







Green Bird Buttons

It's been a busy summer.  As I'm enjoying this last long weekend of summer I'm looking back and can't believe how fast it's gone by.  I've been busy over the summer and especially the last few weeks.  Now that summer is winding down I'm getting back to the buttons and gearing up for the holiday season ahead.  I've been busy listing buttons this weekend and I've got so many ideas for buttons and jewelry dancing in my head.  Tomorrow is the last day of the long weekend and I'm going to see if I can get some "play" time in.  By play time I'm talking about experimenting with my crafting in mediums other than my usual resin buttons.  I do feel a bit guilty as I've got a few custom orders that are waiting to be completed.  I do think I need a day just to play and experiment.  The problem with this is that so far my experiments haven't proven to be successful in my shop.  I've got some gorgeous glass buttons but I think the price point is a bit high for most projects that people make.  I do understand that.  Unless it's a really high end garment how can you justify a $10 button.  I sure wouldn't.  I do enjoy playing with the glass though.  I'm anxious to try some stamping on some ceramic buttons.  It's a new technique I've recently discovered and I have everything to work on the buttons.  I just have to have the time to try it out.  I've also stocked up on Halloween stamps and cookie cutters and before you know the Halloween buying season will be gone and I won't have made hardly any of the items I have in my head.  Oh well.  Even dreaming about these ideas keeps me excited and interested in my craft.  The bird buttons above are some of my latest creations.  The colours (colors) are almost jewel-like.  The truly are beautiful.  OK now I'm going to finish watching - Eat, Pray, Love.  I find the movie inspirational and often have it laying in the background as I create.  One of these days I'm going to have a vacation place in some exotic land and this movie reminds me of that.  Enjoy the rest of your long weekend everyone!

Christmas in July - Handmade Button Sale



Christmas Cats

I've decided to participate in the Christmas in July sale on Etsy.  I've started a Christmas in July section and will be adding some buttons at 1/2 price throughout the month. You can find them here http://www.etsy.com/shop/buttonsbyrobin?section_id=5669566  These will be mostly Christmas themed buttons with a few other holiday buttons thrown into the mix.  It's a good time to stock up on Christmas buttons.  I've never had a sale before so we'll see how this goes.

Butterflies and Spring

It's such a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  We had a very mild winter but then spring has just been so damp and cold.  Finally it seems like spring is finally arriving.  With that of course means it's time to do yard work and cut the grass but I'll take that along with the beautiful sunshine.  This little guy was out and about flitting about on the lawn.  So pretty and it's nice to see these little creatures out and about.

Homemade Bread

What's more handmade than homemade bread?  I haven't made bread without the aid of a bread machine in ages.  My mom used to make amazing bread.  Now I cheated and used my Kitchen Aid mixer (I just got one recently and love it).  Mom used to mix everything by hand.  I sure wish she was around so I could get her recipe.  I miss all those recipes and such that I didn't think to get at the time before she was gone.  You always think you have so much time to do these things.....  Anyway no sad thoughts today.  The bread has risen quite well.  This is a picture of it after it has risen the first time.  It's now sitting in the pans for the second rising and will be going in the oven in about an hour.  I've been thinking today I'd like to have more of a "handmade" life.  I, of course, make my buttons and such but I've gotten away from handmade a bit and I've been more into labels and such.  I think I really need to get back to the handmade that I love.