Summer...

eat my bubbles...

So, am just not blogging like a mad-woman, am I?  My laptop didn't solve my "on-line" problem as I hoped, so I am still trying to work that out.  I did manage to create a facebook page for KokoNoelle buttons.

KokoNoelle

Promote Your Page Too

I would love to have you "like" us.  :)  I am building up my nerve to do a giveaway soon.  (You know, that voice, she speaks to me... "Why would anyone want your buttons?"  but I'm trying to tame her... or at very least, cage her.)   I am so glad that Liv created the Facebook page for the Flying Lessons.  I have been have really worrying how I will be able to keep up this motivation since the class is over!  It's all going strong over there.  I am so lucky to have been able to jump into that class.  It has made a huge difference in my focus. 

On Monday, I got a lovely email from Kitty telling me that she featured our buttons on her blog.  I am so excited!  It really made my week.  Weird to think that people from so far away can connect over something as simple as a button. 

Last but not least, I am pathetic at my attempts to take photographs of my summer.  I have taken some, but tonight I realized that I left them on the laptop that I returned due to poor performance.  How sad is that?  Fortunately, there were not too many on there, mostly 4th of July and I really can't say they were memory making moments!    The photo above is a complete cheat because it is from last summer, but it's one of my favorites and I really feel that a post without a photo is incomplete. 

A Blogger I'd Like to Be...

So when I think about blogging and what kind of blogger I would like to be, I think mostly about Jenny Doh.  I love her style.  Her posts are usually not long, but they are always beautiful and thoughtful.  Have you ever stopped by her blog?  You need to.  Really. 

She seems like a person I would really like to meet.  Her desire to improve the world through art seems so genuine.  It makes me think about what art can be becuase sometimes I wonder if it is self-serving or if it really can make a difference in the world. 

What blog do you love and/or admire?  Can you link me to your favorite?

After you leave me a link... go visit Jenny.  You will be so glad you did!

Let the blogging continue...

Since the summer has hit, I have been put out of commission by these four children that think they have lives of their own.  How did that happen?  Sharing the computer isn't working too well because my portion of the "computer time" wasn't really enough for me.  That was compounded by the fact that it is a big old desktop and it's cord didn't reach all the way to the pool!  So today, against the advice of my bank account, I jumped into a new HP laptop.  It is so pretty and fast.... sigh!  I have managed to justify this expense to follow my dreams of creative business ownership which just will not wait until the kids are back in school! 

Kelly Rae's class is over.  I really learned so much and loved every minute I was able to be a part of the community that she built.  I am hoping it will continue over on Facebook.  I am still trying to absorb all the information she shared with us and put as much into practice as I can.

 

 

I have not yet taken a picture for my photo class, but that's on my catch up list for this weekend.  So I will be up and running by Tuesday with my photos.  I have taken a few, but haven't had a chance for any "editing" yet, so I'll wait to share. 

Happy 4th of July to all of my US friends (really, I love to think I have "international" friends... how cool is that!!!)! 

Published?

leaf toggle

One of the flying lessons this week was about promoting yourself and getting published in a magazine. I think that would be the thrill of a lifetime... to be published in a Somerset magazine. I would feel like I had really "made it"! I can only imagine how exciting that would be. It makes me giddy just to imagine it. It's hard not too let the fears creep in just at the thought! Kelly keeps saying, "you have to be brave". Wow, that's REALLY brave.

Ocean City

The last sweet days of the school year are finally over. Every phase of the year has it's own busy-ness. It almost seems silly to say, "This week was so busy..." because they are all busy, no matter what, no matter who you are and what your life is like!
Three of my four kids finished school yesterday and we jumped in the car and headed for Ocean City (NJ) to join friends to celebrate. It was such a great day. Everyone was happy and got a bit of what they wanted... even the husband, who normally HATES the beach, couldn't be enticed out of the water.

My new badge on the sidebar is for the next on line class that I signed up for "Picture Summer". I really need to beef this blog up with beautiful photos... not necessarily my strong suit yet. I hope it will help me to savor this summer when my babies seem to all be growing up. Only 3 more summers until my oldest is off for college and my youngest heading to first grade. It's slipping through my fingers.

Burst

Burst stoneware button

I am learning so, so much in the Flying Lessons with Kelly. It's hard to take it all in and put it into action. I am a person who has soooo much going on in her head that it's difficult to stop and put one thing into ACTION. The thinking almost always kills it- between the self-doubt, the overwhelm and the excitement... well, let's just say, I'm a little unfocused.

But tonight (while my house is quiet- a rare event), I listed a button on etsy and added my etsy mini to the sidebar. So, I have focused a little. I am so happy to be moving on this road. I so very much want to keep the momentum going and see it all succeed. I want it to succeed for me & my sister. I want us to be able to go, "hey, look, we DID it!" But I also, want my kids and my nieces to say... "look, they did it and so, I can do it, too. " Maybe that's a bit too big of a dream... but right now I am dreaming. :)

This button up top, we have nick named Burst. (Each baby has to have a name!) It's a happy little thing... Thanks for indulging my show & tell. :)

De-lurking

I can't believe it has been almost a week since I have posted here. I have been knee deep in wrapping up yearbook projects for the school that my kids attend... really knee-deep would have been ok, but it seemed more like-neck deep! It is sooo fun to do, but I am always glad to see the end product & hand it off to the kids. That leaves me with catching up to do here, in my flying lessons class & catching up on other people's blogs (which is frankly my favorite part!).

I have always been magazine-chaser. I love 'em, love 'em, love 'em. Blogs are really just an extension of that. BUT, I have always been a lurker. I almost never commented on other people's blogs. I just always thought, "Why would they care what a total stranger says?' but now I realize how fun it is to get a comment back. It's a totally different feeling and it really makes me want to blog. It makes it so much more fun.... I have to say, before I felt like that crazy person talking to herself!

This photo-free post seems somehow unfinished, but it will do for now. I'll try to edit later and add some pretty pictures. :)