Wandering with Direction...

Wandering with direction..I know that sounds like an oxymoron..but there are many of us that do just that. Even when we don’t realize that our wandering path is still leading to our True North.  It has been a bit since I have mused..or done a quilting bee here. I was chatting with a couple women in my life this week and realized how very much I missed writing here..and having you all chat right back. I missed you all. So here I am..contemplating my path.

I am 52 come October and my sister will be 60 this week. We have been chatting about our ages and what that feels like to us. Often that conversation focuses on where our paths have led. The expected and the unexpected. Which led me to consider just where I have ended up and how I got here.

I was NOT one of those young people that had a clear vision of what I wanted to be when I grew up..I waivered and wandered.  The fact that at 51 I am just now finishing my degree speaks volumes. I could easily say I was clueless..but that would not be true.  I could also feel frustrated that I have taken this long to find my path..or focus. But ya know…I don’t feel that way.

After the last year of wondering how on earth I ended up being 51 and kinda poor and how did that happen, and what the heck…I snapped out of it. I had an epiphany..I like who I am! I like who I have become..I had a path all this time..I just didn’t see the whole picture! I am a teacher..maybe teaching different things to different ages..but still teaching. I am creating as I always have..new things all the time..but still creating. These are things I have ALWAYS been. So as I have wandered about taking side paths and exploring this thing and that..I have been learning and honing in those skills..teaching and creating. The summer I spent running program at Girl Scout Camp (OMG that was fun) I was teaching and creating…all summer. All those years working with different ages of children and creating with them…all those adult classes I have taught.  I have been at times accused of being a Jane of all Trades..unfocused..even called Martha Stewart at times because I have mastered so many creative disciplines.  But through the years I have gone about learning many craft..to be honest there are several still on my list..I wanna learn to make glass beads and weave baskets, spin yarn. I have always been fascinated by craft!

So what is my point here? I often hear folks say that they are unfocused..have so many interests..why could they not be like their sibling who knew just what to be at 15 and did that. Like somehow that is better than wandering a bit. “Not all those who wander are lost!!!!" (JRR Tolkien) we are just lucky. We get to try out lots of hats until we find one..or many as the case might be that fit! I have a bunch of them.  We are those “Creative’s” who are Allowed to play a bit! I own my own little cottage, have FIVE wonderful kids, run my own business and am a senior in college!! How wonderful is that!?

So here at almost 52 I am pretty happy with me. I am unique..uncommon..a bit of a geek and I am ok with that. Why..cause I am also a powerful force to be reckoned with! There is nothing more powerful than a happy woman!!  So even though my life is not exactly what I expected it to be at 51..it is oh so much more!! Who can argue with that!!?? I am kinda excited to see what comes next!!

So please take a minute and tell me what in your life is so much better than you could have dreamed?  Tell me how you have wandered..do you see a pattern? Tell me about beautiful you!!!  Hugs all!

Bitsy Spiders...

A couple summers ago I posted this beautiful crab spider Mama. I know ewww factor..but if you can get beyond that..she really is beautiful! A week or so later I found her little babies on the same flower.

Seems we have progeny in the garden again this year. To be honest I am thrilled. They make such wonderful macro subjects and eat all the nasties in my garden. So here is the new batch for 2012!

Happy Wednesday all!!

Working on Fabric...

Last summer I did a few canvas gift bags for my Etsy Shop. I had an older simple machine and it made it a bit of a chore at best. But...I kinda liked designing on fabric. So this year I bought a new machine. Not a huge expensive one..but a medium priced one with bells and dingers and a computer!! I will be honest..it intimidated me a little..ok A LOT! But I had promised Nonni (8) that I would teach her to use the machine this summer. She has been hand stitching all year. Time to show her the magic of a sewing machine! So..I had to suck it up and give my new one a rip. OMG HEAVEN!!

So Nonni and I started her summer home school sewing lessons. She rocked, she was amazing, she was patient and detailed. Love you Nonni!!  Look what she created!!!

Yup she caught on quickly and after three days (about 3hours each) she had completed her very first quilt. She did 75% of the work and WOW! So proud of her!! Now she is making little ones for her dolls. All by herself. That makes this Mama VERY happy. Yes it does!

So last year I made some of these little canvas bags.

 This year I am going to try something a little different. I have been creating a few "henna" design fabric panels..am thinking small wall quilt. What do ya think..or maybe a bag..or bandanna..what do you think??
Have a great Tuesday all!! Hugs!

Bannerfans Tutorial and Banner Sale

I have been asked often where I create banners..or if I might do one for folks. So I thought a tutorial might be in order for those of you who might want to make one for Craft Cafe or Etsy. If you would rather not..feel free to contact me @ cottagegardenstudio@gmail.com and I would be happy to create a simple one for you(like above) for $10.00.

So here we go..head on over to www.bannerfans.com and sign up ...keep the tab open here so you can go back and forth...good luck!

Sign up..it is free so you can save you banners and edit later if you wish.

1. Scroll down and mark add your own image.. then mark custom size (Craft café is 1040x200..Etsy is 740x100)

2. Scroll down to the next section and upload a picture you would like to use in the banner..then on the right add where you might like it to show up..don’t worry if it looks wrong you can change it. Now update your banner (don’t worry about the text we will do that next). So play with your image until you like where it is placed.

3. Now  the lines of text can be clicked and dragged around to place where you want them. We will change size and font in a second.

4.  Scroll down and click on the tab for text and font.

Line one is the larger one..for your shop name for instance… Type in your text in the first line and then click on the arrow next to Font face…that will open a new window so you can choose a font you like. Please notice at the top of the box are several “types” like..3D, creative, edgy…if you click on them they will open a slew of fun font choices.  Click Update  again to see if you like it. If the size is wrong you can click on the arrow to the right of that line that says Font size and change that too.  You might like to change the color of that line of font…to the right there is a box that will be white to start..click that and a box will open with a spectrum of colors to click on..you can chose there and then update.  All of these are fixable if you don’t like it…just go back and change them until you have the look you likeJ

5. Repeat with line 2, 3 etc.  On the second line the font size does not have a arrow..just click on the number and the sizes will pop up.

NOTE..for the colors on the fonts.. there is a series of letters and #’s that pop up in the box next to the little color box..that is the color code you have chosen. If you want to use that color for other line of text also..just add that series of numbers and letters in each line color box(where letters and #s are) and it will bring up the same color in the little box. That way you don’t have to mess around trying to find the very same color in the pop up box.

6. Shadows and effects tab….you can add shadows to your text here..use this the same way you did with the font..mess with it and see what you like. Just like the text tab…these have arrows that show you examples of how it might change your text and color boxes..they work the same way. This adds a bit of drama to your banner..but is not necessary. But it is a bit fun!

7. The next tab is a border for you banner..when you click on a choice another section will open below. You will again be given the choice of colors. There is also font size..which here means the size of the line not text.

REMEMBER TO UPDATEJ

We have a WINNNNNER!!!!

Whoooot am happy daning..I pulled a name out of my little hat this morning... it was....drum roll please........................Dawn Saari!!!! Congratulations!!!

Giveaway Reminder..

Just a quick reminder to pop on by my giveaway..ending on Friday morning the 8th of June! Scroll down a couple posts and add your name for some sweet treats!! Happy Giveaway all! Good luck:)