Recently listed

Here are some new hats that I've recently listed in my shop, Emmylou & Jake. Modeled by none other than Emmylou and Jake themselves!












I have been super, super busy. It's crazy how many orders I have been getting lately, especially since it is still August. I guess people are getting ready for Fall. I myself cannot wait!

This Moment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. -SouleMama

A trip to the jungle

Yesterday morning I took the kids on a nature walk in the Cedars of Lebanon State Park, which is practically in our backyard. The weather was beautiful and we were tired of being cooped up in the house.

Jacob and Emma found many treasures! We even found horse tracks, which Jacob was pretty excited about. Little Miss Emma did not want to be left out. She walked the majority of the time and picked out "treasures" just like her brother. Hers consisted mostly of rocks. She very excitedly put them in our bag.

That night I helped Jacob rinse off our acorns, chestnuts, sticks, and rocks. He was very excited and worked very diligently. He was so proud of his treasures and told Daddy all about our trip to the "jungle".

Their treasures are now sitting in wooden bowls on the dining room table. Jacob visits often and plays with them all. Who would have thought acorns could provide so much entertainment? My little man is such a nature lover!

I think we'll be making more trips to the "jungle". At least once a week.

WIP Wednesday

What have I been working on lately? Hats, hats, oh and more hats! I cannot complain. My sales are doing pretty well and my goal of getting a new couch is not too far away!

I just received these photos from Jamie Lynn. Jamie Lynn is a local photographer based in Clarksville, TN. She does amazing work! Not only that, but she's really a sweet woman. I always have fun chatting back and forth with her!

Anyway, on to the photos!

Now, how cute are those munchkins? Awesome models if I do say so myself!

County Fair 2010

We headed up to the Wilson County Fair this past weekend. All in all we had a good time. We got to watch the piglets race, the demolition derby, play with baby ducks, Jacob got to ride a pony, play on tractors, and eat fair food. Jacob's favorite part had to be climbing on the antique tractors, go figure! And Emma was just cracking up over the ducklings!

Just remind me next year to leave at least an hour before it closes. We were stuck in the parking lot for OVER an hour trying to leave.

Next year I think I will participate it some of the crafting competitions. I think I just might have a chance!

Finding Balance

I'm on a mission. A mission to find balance. Balance between being a mother, teacher, house keeper, entrepreneur, and everything else that fills my life on a day to day basis.

There are so many things I want to do and so many more things that I feel I should be doing, and I am not. I am really starting to feel overwhelmed. I need to take a step back and reevaluate things.

What is most important? What can wait? How can I simplify things? Am I being the best mother I can be? Am I being the best wife I can be?

Those are just a few questions running around my brain of the late.

Balance. I need to find it. Have you seen it?

This Moment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. -SouleMama

Crafting

I went on an online book buying spree. Seven books to be exact.

I haven't mentioned, but a couple weeks ago I learned to knit. I learned from watching youtube videos and remembering what Mike's grandma taught me one afternoon. I'm really no good at it yet. But I'll get there. I'm one of those people that wants to be perfect at something right away. Which makes it very hard to learn something new. I bought a couple of beginner knitting books that I'm really excited about. I think my first project will just be a basic scarf.

I've also been dabbling with hand embroidery.




This was my first project. I plan on keeping the fabric in the hoop and hanging it up in Emma's bedroom. I plan on making one for Jacob too. One of the books I bought (not pictured, because I'm still waiting on it) is a beginner embroidery book. In it has all different kinds of stitches and beautiful patterns to use. It's called Embroidered Effects . Based on the reviews it seems like a pretty awesome book. I can't wait to get it!

Here are a few patterns from the books that I'm really excited to try out!

Easy Baby Knits by Claire Montgomerie

Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner

Now if I can only find the time...

Potty Update

Looks like my little man is really starting to catch on! He peed on the potty a couple more times today!

In celebration, I made Jacob his first pair of big boy undies. He wore them with pride... for all of two minutes before he just slightly tinkled. I guess he had to break them in.

Ah well. I did manage a couple of photos before the accident. I'm hoping to get a couple more pairs made for him in the next few days. I used this pattern from Fishsticks Designs.






I also found these really awesome training pants by Vintage Lucy's on Etsy. Jacob is really into robots right now so I'm sure these would be a hit.

Finally!!!

I am so excited I could SCREAM!! Are you ready for this? Jacob FINALLY peed on the potty!

I have really been stressing over potty training lately and things have just not been going my way. Jacob is very stubborn and has been showing no interest at all in the potty. However, he does not like a dirty diaper on him and he is constantly taking it off-- even if there is nothing in it.

He has not peed in it since, but it's a start. I am so proud of him!

What I've been up to

I've been keeping myself pretty busy. My sales on Etsy have been pretty good, considering it is the summer months and I do sell hats...

Speaking of hats, I've got a few more hats photographed by the lovely Kelly Cicero.







I'm also working with another semi-local photographer, Jamie Lynn.




And here is a fun photo that a customer sent in and granted me permission to use:



With all the crocheting I've been doing lately I have really felt the need to find another creative outlet. Here's what I've come up with:

A new peasant style dress for Emma. I made it out of a thrifted floral bed sheet. I just love the vintage look of it!





Candles. I made these candles out of baby food jars. Back when Jacob was eating baby food he refused to eat anything green that I would make for him-- which resulted in MANY baby food jars. Maybe it's the hoarder in me... but they are neatly stacked in a cabinet just waiting to be used for some kind of projects, or perhaps even donated to a school.



And here is Emma modeling a new hat listed in my Etsy shop. I never did get around to taking some nice photographs of her in her birthday dress I made for her, so these will do!







Mr. Jacob's birthday is right around the corner. I have a few ideas swirling around in my head. If I were a smart girl I'd get started working on them now so I am not waiting until last minute. A horrible situation I find myself in much too often.