Be Careful What You Ask For...

...you just might get it. (Put a pin in that.)

As you may have already guessed from my absence, the fall season did not go as planned. In my personal opinion, my life is crazy.  Always has been.  I am too, quite possibly.  These two items are at the root of an ongoing inner battle of mine over what to post here.  What is the proper ratio of personal to professional?  I know there needs to be both, but this social media age of public apologies and ruined careers over tweets and postings makes it a bit difficult to decide.  I certainly wouldn't want to post anything that I'd regret later.  Something tells me I've over thought that enough at this juncture.  So, would you like to know why I missed the boat on Christmas this year despite the fact that I was so amped up about it in September?  Keep reading...

This fall season began with a lot of enthusiasm, new ideas, networking, knitting, photo editing and product posting.  I started out at a pace that I thought would end up with some pretty decent Christmas sales, a few giveaways and some extra handmade gifts under the tree for friends and family.  Now, I currently live with my uncle (nine years my senior), his son (teenager) and my son (two).  Not even two weeks into October, my uncle was in a major car accident and broke his neck.  I mean he for real, literally, broke his neck.  His surgeons told us that twenty pounds more pressure would have severed his spinal cord!  He made it and is no less than a walking miracle I must say.  To say that I am thankful is a gross understatement.

Of course I knit some through this ordeal, but caring for a loved one who has just received both vertebra and disk replacements in his neck plus chasing behind an extremely active toddler with a cousin in the house that is about as helpful (not) as any typical teenage boy didn't leave much time for my most basic needs let alone working out the plans I laid for Christmas.  I will just let you imagine what all that entailed.  Even that, is only a portion of what went down.

Remember that pin from earlier about being careful what you ask for?  Once I asked God for patience.  I got pregnant soon thereafter with no preparation for, knowledge of or interest in children under the age of three.  Since I asked for it, I found myself in the position to develop patience. Follow? Ok so in my last post, even though I thought I had learned my lesson about ASKING FOR THINGS, I see right there in black and white that I was seeking flexibility the same time I was planning the next few months. Wa La I found myself in the position to develop more flexibility.  Dammit. I've been kicking my own tail for months for not succeeding in what I set out to do only to look back and realize I asked for it.  Shame on it all!

Achieving more balance was also on my self-improvement list.  Lucky for me some very kind mothers let me know that balance was not something I should expect to achieve while my son is two.  I was instructed to give myself permission to not get things done sometimes for he will be running my show more often than not.  This is advice I should have asked for at the beginning of 2011 as opposed to the end of it, but better late than never.


The fall was not a complete fail lucky for me.  I took a step outside myself and actually asked for a bit of help selling some of the things I've made since I hadn't been able to post on Etsy like I wanted to.  My mom sold pretty much everything in less than two weeks.  Imagine that!  I don't have enough left for any of the seasons remaining craft fair or farmers market set ups because... well because the woman can SELL!  I should have asked for her help years ago.  Silly me.  Better late...

Years from now when I have learned how to balance, flex and master all the things I seek, I will look back on 2011 as the year I bit off more than I could chew.  I've already mapped out next year keeping my prior failures and successes in mind.  We shall see how it goes.  I anticipate good things in the near future!

FALL HAS ARRIVED!!!

One Last Look at Sunset Cliffs @ Summertime

Summer is Officially Over.  In my younger days those four words meant the time for random, spontaneous and haphazard antics and fun were instantly giving way to days of structure, regimen, schedule & work work work.  Now that I'm older & have developed a passion for knitting and business it means the same.  Fall and Winter time is GO TIME so fellow knitters GO GO GO!  Hats! Scarves! Mitts! Cowls! Shawls! Shrugs! This is actually the first year I have started planning so early for Christmas.  Procrastination is a true sickness.  It is. I'm in recovery.  I think.

As I am learning to be more proactive in working toward my goals, I am also learning to be flexible. I can lay the best of plans, but there has always been this tendency to scrap the whole plan in disgust when things go awry.  Things go awry. They have been going awry.  That's life.  For now I am fortunate enough to live just six miles from the beach.  Much of Summer 2011 was spent on the beach in meditation with my needles and fiber, trying to absorb some ocean and build some speed.  You know that famous Bruce Lee quote right?  I need and want to be like water, my friend.  I've been like stone for so much of my life  - that worked in the past but it no longer serves me.  Stones roll, but they do not flow.  Stones persevere, but they do not grow.  

I also began frequenting more local fairs and markets to scope competition and get inspiration. The California Farmer's Market App for iPhone has made finding them a no-brainer.  The booths are not as involved as I had made them inside my own head. I believe I over-thought the thing.  To my utter delight it appears to be quite doable, especially with a booth partner, and I do have those lined up. I saw no knitting or crochet being sold however.  Not sure if this is good because of the lack of competition, or if it is bad because they all gave up.  We shall soon see.

California Farmer's Market App for iPhone

  

As the sun moves from Virgo into Libra and September is melting into October, my focus is BALANCE.  Why are balance and moderation so difficult for me to achieve?  I am an addictive type.  That's me.  Surprised?  If you know me personally I'm sure that you are NOT.  There are so many balls to keep in the air it almost seems ridiculous, but its quite doable.  All you successful indie artists and designers out there... I see you.  I'm learning from you.  Some of you more disciplined individuals may not understand, so please allow me to illustrate.  I know it looks like I have been neglecting my blog, but I've been immersed in my tumblog sharing inspiration and technique with the knitters I've found there. When I am spending time editing photos, writing my stellar product descriptions (laugh) and designing graphics for my future site, I am not knitting.  When I am knitting, I'm not doing jack else. When I am networking on Twitter, I neglect Facebook. When I am researching new techniques, I am not taking the time to develop the ones I've already found. When I'm on point with mommy activities, I don't keep up with self activities. Right now, maybe most importantly, when I am working hard to network and let people know who I am and what I do, I am not keeping my shops updated.   I know... H.A.M.  I can do this.  I'm breaking my fingers to open Etsy back up by October and a few more shops by November.  All things in moderation.

LIBRA CHART (Sept 24-Oct 22)