Saturday, August 7, 2010

Weekends Are For Playing... And Brainstorming.

Now Playing:
Bigger Than My Body
by John Mayer
on slacker.com

Good afternoon, lovely readers! I'm feeling quite good right now... hopeful even. As you may or may not know, we are struggling financially right now. At my last temp job, they had to send us home early for lack of work at least a couple days a week for about a month. We never recovered from that. We're struggling enough that we are cutting back on things in our regular bills and spending NO money on extras (eating out, things we want, etc. Thank gawd I have a hefty yarn stash!!!). Stu hasn't been able to get a job yet (effin economy!!!) I'm working a temp job that barely pays enough and will end (they estimate) early Semptember.

Tiny Amigurumi Cthulhu
This little cthulhu that I decided to crochet for Stu on a whim... he is what gives me hope. Once Stu saw it, he expressed that I could sell these (and other amigurumis). Especially considering that he knows a few people who would buy these little cthulhus... and they have friends that would buy little cthulhus, etc. I have thought of selling my handmade items before, but never figured that it would be worth it.

For instance, making an afghan while working a full time job would take me a month to three months... and that's when I was single. Even if a charge a couple hundred dollars, doesn't seem that would be enough to really make a living off of it. Granted, if selling handmade items was my full time job, it might work. BUT, I can't just quit a job hoping my things would sell. Gotta transistion, you know.

Anyhow, since amigurumis can be quick, this might be the ticket I need to start a career doing what I love and take better care of my family. Stu is totally behind this, supportive and very encouraging. He's been asking all his facebook/gaming friends for input and is pushing for this to happen more than I am doing anything, lol. He even mentioned that maybe he could learn to crochet to help with production. And of course, he would be a part of the business end of things, he's too smart for me to not take advantage of his wisdom, knowledge and ideas in a business endeavor. I've had and Etsy shop for a couple years, just haven't used it or set it all up yet. Just been waiting for the right time... and this might be it.

I have even wanted to sell patterns I write and am working on my first purchase pattern now. I just have never gotten around to it. Seems now is a good a time as any to jump into all this. When talking with Stu about it, I asked him, "Wouldn't it be a God send if this could support our family someday?" Indeed it would. Cross your fingers, eyes, nose and toes and say a little prayer for our success, please? =)

Also, lately I've been cutting some squares to make a rag quilt out of a sheet and some pink themed quilt fabric I bought a LOOOONG time ago. I'm thinking maybe rag quilts will be faster (than knit or crochet) baby blankets for those I know having babies. The only challenge right now will be getting material while being broke. I could buy plenty of sheets from thrift stores and wash them in hot water with a bleach degergent, but I can't even afford that right now. So, I've begging everyone I know for non-stretchy clothing and sheets (even flannel, makes a good replacement for batting and provides warmth). I'm kinda bummed that I can't find my Pixie sewing machine. Stu and I both have basically torn apart the garage and can't find it. But, I did find my cheap-o "Mighty Mender" machine. That should do for these rag quilts so long as the layers and fabrics don't get too thick... and if I can get/keep the tension right... damn cheap machine. Hopefully I can get some more squares cut tonight.

Moving along... The baby is doing good. And there's some movement that I can feel now. How exciting!!! We have our next ultrasound to check the baby's development and find out the gender at the end of this month. Do you think it will be a boy or a girl? Stu has become accustomed to saying, "My son", "He", "Him" and "Logan" whenever referring to the baby. I'm anxious to see if his prediction is right!

Ryn starts school at the Salt Lake School of Perfoming Arts (SLSPA) at the end of the month! We're really excited for her to start this journey. She wants to be an actress and/or a writer. So, we're really glad she can go to this school. They don't enroll by lottery like other charter schools here, you just enroll as long as they have room. It's really great. It's a ways across the valley though, so we must all prepare for getting up earlier and tweaking our schedules if she ever has early morning rehersals and such. Hope it goes smoothly as possible for us all.

Pinky Preggie Toes!
I painted my toes a couple/few weeks ago. Thank goodness my pedicures last much longer than my manicures considering that my toes are going to get harder (if not impossible) to reach in the coming months! Oh, like my piggie bling? It's been soooo long since I've worn toe pretties, I figured it was time. The last time we were at the OB's office waiting for a blood draw, Stu saw the toe ring and knowing how a pregnant woman's everything can swell, he asked, "You gonna be able to get that off?" I replied, "Uh-huh, it's open underneath and bendable." What a sweet hubby/daddy. He's always checking on me (and the baby).

Naked Nails!
Well, I was going to paint my nails last night with hot pink tips to match my hot pink toes, but didn't, so you get naked nails today. Have I mentioned that I love taking prenatal vitamins? My nails already grew fast, but now they're growing like weeds! I cut them (only when I break one or two) and two weeks later they're getting long again. Please excuse the lack of white near my nail beds, I had just washed dishes and long exposure to water does that for some weird reason.

Changing Table/Dresser
My grandma bought this changing table/dresser for me at a church yard sale. My dad brought it over today. Boy, this baby not having it's own room is gonna make things quite cozy! =P

Well, I'm gonna go see if hubby's ready for me to make dinner yet. I know me and the baby are!

Until next time!

3 comments:

rautis2 said...

woo hoo you go girl! I am looking through my stash right now to see if there is anything I could donate to your cause!! Love you guys and praying for all to go well!

Gloria P. said...

Hi Amber: You are very talented and I think you can probably sell your crochet and knit items but what I found is your better off sticking with smaller items if you want to make money, afghan are like you said too time consuming. I sell a lot of hat sets, especially hat sets. You could put your patterns into an ebook, copyright it for free and then sell it as a download.
I will include you guys in my prays that you get steady work soon.
Insurance adjusters are making mega bucks these days due to our crazy whether. Disaster workers make a ton of money. for example when Hurricane Ike happen they Insurance adjuster were working 7 days per week and making a $1000 dollars per day and they are still working and making between $600-700 per day. They make a ton of money during Katrina. We are in hurricane season now and they are predicting 4 that will hit land. Hurricane Ike happen two years ago and still working on it.....if your husband is interested he should look into getting lic, your state should have the test and I believe you can also get take some of the test online.
Amber if you are ok about it give me your address, thread etc that I will send you. I am going to be traveling again and there is no way I can fit everything in the car so I would be more than glad to send it your way.
My email: gloprater@yahoo.com

Crafty Mom said...

I know what you mean about things getting cozy with baby in your room! We only added a swing and a crib and it's still crowded! Love the cthulhu and I wish you all the luck in the world selling your handmade items