And Janet contemplates life again

Started working on some more bags. I'm trying out a smaller sized this time, think I've done enough of the big ones. Think the school holidays kinda got me out of the routine of making them so I'm slowly getting into it again. (Had a few signs jobs in the mean time to keep me busy though).

I also have an appointment with WINZ (work and income) next week and somehow I have to convince them i AM working... even though I don't seem to make much money. Prayers appreciated.

Or should I just go out and get some dead end job I don't enjoy? Am I just kidding myself with this work from home thing? I've never really been that successful with it. And am I trying to live a dream that's not really for me? What IS my purpose? Apparently everyone has one. So what's mine? What am I here for? (oh the imponderables!) And is money the assurance that I'm doing the right thing? (The old question,... does money = success?)

And what is the meaning of life?? , haha, jokes. (But really, what is it?)

More pouches

More pouches added to the shop.

I know it's important to have good photos if you want to sell anything on the net, and phew! I have a long way to go, but I've just purchased myself a tripod which should be arriving today to sit my little camera on.

And I made a sale today! yay!

Zipper pouches

As you can see I've been a busy little bee and made some pouches. (They are in the shop now)

I've made some larger ones too, but shucks! it takes almost as long to upload them as it did to make them!! Ok, maybe not, but Ill be uploading the rest soon I hope.

For a little sales pitch, these are great! I have a couple of these I use for things like earrings when I go away, and a little one for hair pins and hair ties... like so...

more bags

in my etsy shop!

More Bags!

More Tie-dyed, screenprinted bags in my ETSY shop. These are selling at $20 US. Have yet to decide on one price for all...also want to make 20 of these in total then make some smaller bags. A friend from church wants to do a little craft market at our church next year. Would be fun!!

Finished making 12 Toiletry Bags for the Women's Refuge. Now I just need stuff to put in them! Put it up on facebook with a request for donations. Already have shampoo... other things could be soap, combs, lip balm, emery boards.

I was having a conversation with the lady from the refuge last time, and she said that sometimes the women don't get these kinds of things in there day to day lives! She told me story after story of women, like the ones who were forced into marriages (often Indian women in this case) who are told before they get married..."ok, I'll marry her, so she can look after my children while I work". Then get all this abuse stuff said to them/ done to them. The sad thing is they often go back to the men because they still feel they love them and have been with them so long.

Yet again....

Ok, so I love making bags. Here they are in my etsy shop. And I officially quit my signwriting business on the 31st of July.... Well that was untill I sat down with my old Bible Study teacher to nut out my budget, and he gently told me I was dreaming. At least do it part time to get a bit of money trickling in, he said. So on I go with my business, yet again.

Maybe I can find a way to make it work. Like set some clear boundaries. Like ring before you come, else you might find me in my nighty dammit! (yes, it has happened).

And maybe turn down the work I can't handle. Just say "I don't do that". Come on Janet... You can do it.SAY NO!

And lastly, maybe don't think I have to jump when they say jump.

Can I do it? I don't know. But I may have to.

Well, finished Catherine's Irish dancing dress. It's ok for a first attempt. I've GOT to get better though. Did I tell  you even some of the smaller dresses cost around $1000 US ?... the championship dresses can go for $2000  !

My Dad would have been disgusted. He always said that Irish dancing shouldnt only be a rich-man's sport.

And he wouldn't like this dress either. Not a celtic design on it. But I made it in a week. In the future I'll definitely be making them more "Irish"...but for now, this will do.

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And 2 more bags in my Etsy shop!

of course!

Slowly transitioning from one job to another... just signwriting a car... and then on to the fun stuff... tyedying fabric! It's still pretty hit and miss and the moment. I never really know hows its going to come out. Might dye another pattern on top when it's done, which I do sometimes.

And why didn't I think of this before... shelves! of course!!

How ever did I manage to fit all my stuff in before? Well, lets just say it was one big mess.

Ok, I'm telling half truths... the rest of the garage is still one big mess. But I'm having a "blogging break" , and then back to that mess to get it into some kind of order

This time its for real, I promise

More bags in the shop and 2 more custom orders for friends at church

!

Which leads me to this...

I quit my signwriting business... for good this time, I promise!!

I've actually been telling people and Ill be changing my website soon.

Dont laugh... coz I know this is the third time I've quit!!! but this time I'm just going to go hard out with my bags and speak lots of postive words over my decision. 

PS. somebody actually bought one of my tatting shuttles today.. WOW!

oh, rain on the roof... winter is here!!

Remember this? 50 metres of bubblewrap? Well, the first day of winter is here, and I bubblewrapped my windows!! Just for extra insulation you know, coz our flat is an icebox in the winter!!

If you want to do it... easy as pie. Measure window. Cut to size (I used a book to get the ends square), then just spray the window with water and it sticks on!!).

The only thing is, it makes the room a bit darker. But we never got around to getting net curtains, so we have a bit more privacy now.

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Plus... still chugging away at my bags. I've been greatly encouraged lately. I had another purchase from someone at church, someone on facebook is keen to get another one, and I woke up this morning to find one of my blog readers had purchased one!! (You know who you are....THANK YOU!!)

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Also... I've made 4 of these babies for Catherine to wear under her uniform this winter... and 2 more to go. They are a merino blend and only cost me $1 each to make!!

I want to put pattern and instructions up soon.

More bags

3 more bags. You can find them at my Etsy shop here.

Man Friday....

I'm reading one of the coolest books ever. You may have heard of it... yes... Robinson Crusoe! I tried 3 times in my youth to read it and couldn't get past page 20 . Now I can't put it down! I can't stop thinking what I'd do in his situation...and man... I'd LOVE to be stuck on a desert island right now. Not that my life is bad, but you know... sometimes your imagination just carries you away.
The fact that he got his little hatchet and made himself and table and chairs and SHELVES out of some tree trunks... Oh my gosh... it's so COOL!
I love what it said in the forward too... making thousands of boys happy can't be a bad thing
(Haha!)

bags

Well, I said the internet doesn't work for me... but I've gone and put these bags on Etsy anyhow. Well, I couldn't sew... I've run out of thread and have no money to but more. Maybe if I sell a bag, I can buy some more thread.

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On a sadder note. I see on facebook that the little boy who lost his life in the Boston bombings also had a sister who was an Irish dancer. Catherine has just started Irish dancing this year. The little girl lost her leg.

Today was shopping day... and I had 15 bucks for the week. That doesn't get much in Kiwi-land. I'm not putting this up to brag... OK I AM!    LOOK WHAT I CAN SURVIVE ON PEOPLE!
We have 2 sausages and a potato in the cupboard, and tonight I am making curry with Roti. Roti is just flour, oil and water,rolled into circles and fried,  but it can make dinner a little more exciting. You just need to put in a little effort. Catherine's request.
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I'm also trying to make bags again.

Hand dyed. Hand sewn. Hand screen-printed.

I have realised selling online doesn't work for me, cause I don't have anyone to keep me accountable, and end up getting side tracked with other things. So me and a friend from church have decided to sell at a market somewhere and have set a rough deadline. 1-2 months to get some stock together and well set up a stall somewhere.

Hope I sell some!