(Go ahead and say it...

where the heck have I been? 

Summer & life consumed my every thought & action. I swam & watched kids play, I sewed a little, I even did a couple of craft shows. I played some music. 

What I did not do is write here or share 

any of it with you...

That is changing as of today.

I need you.)

Have you ever had one of those days? 

The ones where your kid breaks out the window of a neighbor's mini van with his slingshot, 

which, in reality,

 is actually your slingshot?

How do you react?

I will tell you how I reacted.

It wasn't pretty. 

I yelled.

I said the "F" word.

I thought about the $200 it was gonna cost.

Then I thought about the things I wanted

 that $200 could buy.....

a keyboard amp!

a new serger!

a whole new wardrobe!

Then I knew I had screwed up.

My quick, angry reaction 

meant I had missed an opportunity

to teach my children

not to 

be

so quick

to anger

argh!

Today, I will try my very best not to 

yell 

& 

scream 

& 

stomp my feet.

I will do the laundry & the dishes with a happy heart because a wise friend once told me...

if you can't be happy washing the dishes,

you can't be happy.

I want to be happy.

So, I am.

Good news!

The Mitchells

are recording an album!

Here's a taste of what's to come...

Galatians 5:16-17, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." (NIV)

Inspiration Strikes!

Here's a few of my latest obsessions and I'm not gonna lie, inspiration for a few new pieces for 

Robot Inside as well....

http://www.spoonflower.com/fabric/1297477

Ok, this fabric company kind of rocks my world...you should check out Spoonflower.

I have been so super busy being a mom that I have really put my blog and my etsy shop and pretty much the whole world on hold. I haven't quite figured out how to do it all, so I decided to do what was most important and that is spend time with the kiddos. School starts in 3 weeks and my days will be mine again. That's when I'll start posting here weekly and showing you what I am making...

Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)

Things Change

I have a confession to make. Change weirds me out. I haven't written on my blog in a bit. One morning, I opened blogger and my nicely managed everyday blogger interface had changed. The setup was different, the way to post was different, I couldn't just open my page and see what I wanted to see. So, I closed the page and let my frustration at learning something new take over the need to write everyday. All of the pictures I had taken to upload were just sitting on my camera, waiting. All the thoughts that usually careen around my head, bouncing off the corners, just waiting to be poured out here, waited. My mom said why aren't you writing on as the snow fell? I thought I didn't have anything to write. The truth is I was scared of the changes and I let fear rule me for awhile. 

A morning went by, then many mornings and I read my devotionals and then checked my FB and email, then I close the laptop and go about my day. Months of not writing is now built up and I this morning, it hits me. Maybe I am ready for some change. 

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths ... I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

My Awesome Momhood

Happy Mother's Day! 

I have an amazing mom, I hope you do, too!

Here's my fantastic son making his own concoction, a recipe involving 

hot dogs and sausages skewered on linguine

and boiled to perfection. 

The outcome-

they looked kinda like weird monsters and all plates were clean!

Our Chef Will!

What an idea!

The process...

Hannah's Author Party

Will > Peeta

Waking up to this everyday is a blessing!

We watch a lot of Regular Show together. It is one of our favorites. Hannah does a perfect rendition of Muscle Man's "MY MOM!"

Hey! Look what I saw...

ROBOT Inside is available at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood.

Wouldja look at that?! 

Who would have thought that when I started making these little Owls and Monsters and Mermaids for gifts that 2 short years later, they'd be nestled in a vintage suitcase, on display at JB?

 Not I. Not the ROBOT. 

My friend, Molly, did the set up! Isn't she fantastic?

Owls and Monsters and Mermaids, oh my!

That one got all turned around!

I love seeing them all happy in their suitcase!

Mermaids love Monsters! did you know that?

Friends with books about making friends...

Even Keith Neltner/Rob Warnick Art Owl bags are available there!

You should go say hi!

Proverbs 16:24, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body." (ESV)

here's love...

These are just a few of the projects keeping me busy lately!

Frappasaurus for KTC Starbucks!

Tribute display for KTC Starbucks

Custom Owl Bag

My awesome new tags by Jacquie Ross

Love, love, love this fabric!

Hello pockets!

I seriously love this bag! She did, too...

Custom Halo 3 ODST bag (sold) Get a custom t-shirt bag! They are awesome!

Fish Bag!

Owl Always Love You Owl Tote

Catch loves fabric!

These are the Robots Inside!

Starfire Project Birds! Wait til you see our Bird Tree!

Sketch for a custom painted tire cover...

Earth Day Board for KTC STarbucks

These are the greatest meditation pillows in the world!

If you have a hurty back like I do, there is nothing like a buckwheat filled pillow! 

Custom Meditation Pillow for Brian- he Loves it! 

I do many kinds of custom work...right now, I am painting a hard shell tire cover for some friends, making custom mediation pillows (you can pick your color scheme), transforming gently used video game shirts into bags and, of course, making Owls galore!

In the works...TARDIS pillows (big ones), more Mermaids and Monsters, Aprons, lots of Burlap flag Buntings and an all new project involving old CD covers and tiles....

you can see what I am up to at the Crafty Supermarket on May 5th at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center or at OTR Celebration in Over-the-Rhine at the City Flea on May 19th.

I have been obsessively listening to the Cowboy Junkies and playing with my band, The Mitchells.

You can go to our Facebook page and listen to our latest show in it's entirety...

or just do it here!

(But you should still go like our page)

We play at Northside Tavern April 28th with the always fantastic Cletus Romp for their CD release show....come see!!

As I am...

No matter how much I want to run sometimes, run fast and far and never look behind me, running takes me backwards. I know that doesn't make sense. Running should propel me forward. I long to sprint in the opposite direction and put all of the fears in my life long behind me. When I run, I illuminate the fears, I make them bigger than me, stronger than me. What am I running to?

Nothingness.

No feelings, no love, no hate, no sadness, no anything.

A void, the comfortable hole where it feels like nothing changes.

That hole will suck me up and savor me.

I will get to use to the feeling of nothing and curl up there, like a baby in a womb. I will think it is safe, but I know better.

It's trickery, the way my mind opposes my living.

The way misery feels like comfort.

The way tears taste like etouffe.

It isn't real. It's my play place. After 3 days of it, my heart longs for something more and I snap out of it, the victimized, martyrized me fades.

I am not Joan of Arc, I am not a revolutionary,

I am just me.

Today, that will have to be enough.

No pretending, no fantasizing,

just plain old me,

sewing stuff.

Painting stuff.

Stuffing stuff.

Writing stuff.