What Is Going On Here???

Just logged in and the format is all wigged out! Hmmm... Hopefully just a temporary glitch..

Sneak Peak!

Where or where is the time going!!!!!!  Wow.  Busy and am loving it.  Love what I'm doing.  Here's a sneak peak of what I've been creating and working on.  Hope to have a few of these up over at my etsy shop later this week.  In the mean time,  I hope life is treating you well!  Thanks for checking up on me, I appreciate you :)

New Obsession...

...Glimpse of whats coming soon to my shop. Im obsessed! :)

Christmas Time...

..is for kids, big and small. Been busy round here sewing up a storm. Night gown for my sweet niece, iron board covers to ship and Santa aprons for the shop. Got a little decorating in too. Crazy busy here, but I'm a big kid, love Christmas time :)

Three more days!! 35% Off!!

Three more days, 35% Off over at my etsy shop!!  Happy Shopping!!  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/shellyjackshop

Black Friday Cyber Sale!!

Black Friday and Cyber Sale going on now over at http://www.etsy.com/shop/shellyjackshop

Head on over to my etsy shop and enter in coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at check out to receive 35% off your total purchase now through Monday!!!  I was going to wait until midnight tomorrow, but why???   ;)   Have fun shopping!! And have an awesome Thanksgiving!!!!  Cheers!

Also... while you are over there check out these other awesome shops that are having sales on one of a kind, handmade, awesome art pieces!!  Who wouldnt love to have an original piece of artwork in their stocking!!!  These guys are fabulous!

A Frosty Morning Here...

....Makes me HAPPY !!!  Christmas mug collection + frost on my car = very happy me =)  It's the simple things, really.

 

The Regularly Scheduled Program...

....will return shortly :) In the meantime here's a shot I took of my husband and mom in law not too long ago. It looks so peaceful to me. Sometimes you just have to take a walk and look around at the beauty that is always there. Even while we travel, work, shop, sleep. I can't walk the beach tonight, but I can still breath deep and appreciate :) Peace.

ELECTION DAY SALE...

OVER AT MY ETSY SHOP TODAY!  GOOD STUFF, CHECK IT OUT =)

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShellyJackShop?ref=search_shop_redirect

A Little Early...

....For this but a fun day here with the fam :)

Square Card Reader Update

Can I just tell you how much I love this little Square Card Reader!!  I was able to download the app to my iphone, create my account,  process a transaction (even without a physical credit card...customer order was over the phone) and have the money deposited into my checking account all within 24 hours! Oh, and I was in the car traveling, hubby was driving of course :)  How sweet is that?  There is just a small one time fee per swipe/transaction, about the same as my etsy shop, and that is it.  It is so nice to be able to offer the option of credit card payments to my customers.  I'll keep you posted as my Square journey continues.  I purchased mine at Target for $10 and when I created my account on line, Square deposited that right back into my account the next day.  You can also check it out on Amazon, I've put a link on my side bar here.   Well, that's it, easy peasy :)  I've also put links for a couple of Kelly Rae's products that I'm drooling for!  I love my little journal so much I'm afraid to write in it and mess it all up lol!!!! 

It's The Little Things

That make me happy most of the time. Spent the afternoon with a new friend at lunch. Then spent the evening doing a little shopping by myself. Had an especially rough night yesterday. So I decided to turn that around and pamper myself a bit today of course. How happy was I to find an adorable little note book by Kelly Rae Roberts at Target!!! I am taking her Flying Lessons creative business ecourse which is in its last week now. So I just had to have it as a token of all the inspiration, support and amazing, life changing information and knowledge from it. I also picked up some sharpies so I can give the art of Zentangle a shot soon. And.... I picked up the Square for my biz. I have been seeing ads for this on television for a while now and thought it would be a great thing to have. It was only $10 and it says once you sign up they put that $10 back in your account. I do custom orders in Michigan, Florida and Tennessee and thought this would be extremely useful when I'm traveling. I do not put everything that I make and sell on my Etsy shop. Plus, with the holidays approaching, art fairs etc. it could be pretty cool. Has anyone tried this out yet? I would love to hear about your experiences with the Square. Well, hope all finds you well, thanks for reading, and I look forward to chatting with you soon. Xoxoo

Why

Did I draw and paint these on a cardboard box lol? I'm going to apply clear coat, cut out and attempt to hang on the covered balcony wall in the morning. But, said I'd post a pic tonight so here they are :)

Giant Pumpkins

Forgot how much fun drawing can be!! I need some sort of decoration for my balcony and decided to give my drawing a shot. Had so much fun sketching these onto a cut up box. Almost felt like a kid again. Next comes the paint. This is why I took photos now Lol!!! You never know. But I sure am having fun :)

Spaghetti...

Squash for din din tomorrow. Have never had it before so I'll let ya know how it turns out. Veggies and fruit for the rest of the week for me. Trying to recover from a bit of the flu :/ Need to get sewing!!!! Any good recipes for the squash????

Something Fun

Made a new mini iron board cover for myself and one for my etsy shop :)

"Bloom Where You Are Planted"

Not sure who I am quoting here but I've been thinking about this for a while now. Personally I do not have a green thumb, so that leaves me questioning the actual probability of a saying like this. I have moved so many times in the last twelve years it borders on the ridiculous. Eight to be exact. It makes me wonder if blooming is even possible, especially for someone like me who isn't exactly a spring chicken. How can something bloom that has been uprooted so may times? But, I can't help believe there is a truth to it somehow. This past week has been a challenge with learning from my creative business course, trying my hand at painting again, and seemingly going nowhere with either. After a sorry attempt at painting my own art onto canvas for my bags, I went back to what I knew. And look what popped up. Or "bloomed" if you like. Not sure what this proves, if anything, but even though its fall here, I'll take the strange blooming process of things. Even if it is only a single bloom. For now... :)

Burn Out

Stayed up way too late working on a new banner for my blog, which I'm not entirely crazy about or even sure if it was worth all the effort. Twelve hours on the computer worth. Still in my pajamas since um...wednesday night and it's not like I'm jumping up to change that just yet. Need to finish my painting and assembling my latests bags. And feeling immobilized because I still do not have a Business Facebook page or a "Grab a button" URL for my blog page yet. Hubby's got a gig tonight and two tomorrow so I'll have plenty o time to work on things. I think I need to stop thinking for a minute and shut this thing Down! Hope your weekend is fabulous and restful. Nites...

Being brave....

...and putting this out there.  Making progress, all day today is dedicated to tweaking and updating my blog, etsy and FB pages.  So, while I'm here thought I'd post what I will be finishing up tomorrow and Saturday :)  

Painted yesterday...

....sewing today! And with my creative inspiration candle lit (just made that up but really did light a candle this morning) I will attempt to combine both. Here's a sneak peak:

Back in the saddle...

Just not sure where I'm going today!! I can't decide if I want to sew or paint. Actually it's both. I want these flowers I painted on canvas, on another piece of canvas so I can make an apron and a bag. Which just leads me back to the Internet to figure out how that process of transferring happens. I'm trying to avoid having to heat set the paint onto the canvas because I've read that the process can be harmful to your health because of the fumes that are released. Definitely do not want that! Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!!!

Busy Busy Busy!!

Things I've made this week....all gifts. Next!

Flying Lessons!!!

Today is the first day of my Flying Lessons with Kelly Rae Roberts!!  I'm so excited!  It's a creative art business e-course and I've already met so many awesome creative women from around the world and have picked up a few blog appearance tips.  All before the course officially started!  This is going to be great and life changing!  Thank you Kelly Rae Roberts in advance and thank you all you lovely, creative, artsy, daring women who are learing to fly with me!!  Here we go!!!

I took this shot last week on the beach in Florida :)

Doing It...

To quote a three year old little boy from years ago "I'm having fun! I'm having fun! I'm having fun!" ......

Spooky...

....sewing going on around here. These spooky things are for the little gobblins who are my little niece and nephews and cousins. I love these Halloween projects, so fun!

Ramblings of a Gypsy....

I took this picture last week.  I feel as if I'm coasting through the days in some one elses life. I haven't driven my own car in so long I don't even recall when the last time I was in it or where I even went. And this car is only one I've had for about a year now. We are traveling so much for Dave's work I never unpack. So I live out of my suitcases and cosmetic bags even when we are home. Home. Is it really here in this second apartment we've rented since moving to Nashville last July? Home is where the heart is right? A major part of my heart is in Michigan where my son is. Another part is in Rochester, Mi where I bought my very own home on my own and raised my boys for ten years. My old trusty Explorer is in Michigan, being driven by someone I do not know now. Another big part of my heart is in Tennessee at the university where my youngest son is. Dave and my mother in law have a home in Florida where I love the ocean. My heart feels at home when I'm standing on the shore with my toes in the waves. My heart is yearning to paint. I have almost everything I need to get started. Except time. Quality time. My heart wants to get going and start pushing my etsy shop further with my bags. Only to have to shut it down and put it on 'vacation mode' until our return from the latest road trip. Without my steady second income any longer we are now on a diet, blessing in disguise I suppose. Dave's job is our bread and and butter. I am very, extremely, grateful for his generosity and support. We support a lot of other people besides ourselves and have become quiet good at juggling. My choice is to travel with my husband as opposed to working at a low paying mediocre job and be left alone for days by myself in a state, town where I know no one. I see him excelling and doing well in his career. Every Saturday he does what he loves and plays drums the entire day and night at a paying gig downtown. My heart is happy for him. My son is doing what he loves and doing it fantastically at university. He will go far. My heart is exceedingly happy for him. My oldest son is doing very well in Michigan at his job and will start college again soon to move further in his education and employment and future. He is engaged to be married to the most awesome, loveable girl ever. My heart is so happy for him, them, they are so awesome and have so much to look forward to. I am a gypsy right now. I want my heart to be happy for me. I want to paint. I want to sew. I want to sell. I want to blog. I want to be successful. I want to provide and take pride once again in the things that I accomplish. It will happen. Send good thoughts and vibes and energy my way. Send money. Send encouragement. Send a comment. Visit my store.  Buy a bag.  It's my blog, I can say what I want :)  I wish you all well. I wish you all success. I wish you all love and courage. This is my journal entry out to the universe.... Into the mystic.

The sky..

...Today over Neylan stadium after the game next to our hotel. Creepyish ..

A little R&R...

Ahhhh.....

A good sign...

...on the road again :)

It's a..........

Camera bag!!!! Yay lol. This one was tough! Lots of labor and love involved here. I'm very proud of my very own leather bag:) now to go somewhere and use it!