I smell Spring!

There's sooo much going on around here, and I'm pretty sure my to-do list only says, "run around in circles".  I'm not going to complain too much though, some of the busy-ness is good stuff, like scrubbing up the new home for my Martha Cave.

Or getting ready to re-take all the photos for my shop!  That one I'm really excited about.  It's spring after all, and everything needs a fresh new look.  And I have a pile of brand new things that haven't been seen yet!  Unless you happen to follow me over at Instagram (@jemily383)... I tend to give sneak peaks of items in progress there.  ;)

Then there's the fact that I think Spring really is here, and that means cleaning out the goat hut, and the chicken coop, and the gardens...  Which means I better get the compost bins moved asap.  But not today, or next week, because somehow we're getting more snow.

And then there's my nerdy, office supply loving, excitement of upgrading some equipment around here.  Like a shipping scale, so I can get orders out quicker, without bugging the post lady three times a week.  And this is where I have to share a secret, my scale is going to cost next to nothing because of this thing called Swagbucks.  Have you heard of it yet?  You just sign up using this link (I don't use the computer version, I just grabbed the apps on my phone), and then when you browse for, say... White Goat Ranch, you could earn points.  Or you can take daily surveys, or watch videos, or go shopping.  Anyway, you use the app, they dish out points, and you cash them in for real giftcards.  Which I didn't trust at first, until I cashed in my first one for Amazon.  And now I'm hooked.  Anddd, if you use my links to sign up, I get points too, which would be awesome, and I'd be super grateful, as would my post lady.  ;)  So please check it out.

OHHH!  And I almost forgot, we finally were able to order the parts to fix my oven!!!!  For this scratch baker, and cooker, this is almost like winning the lottery... almost.  So be prepared for many post with my favorite recipes soon!!!  And many gripes about dishes.

Now it's back to work.  Thanks for stopping in!

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

~Emily

The Martha Cave is MOVING!

I'm excited.  Honestly.  Our basement is almost 100% empty.  The cobwebs gone, the floors ready for a deep clean, shelves being assembled.... And do you know what that all means???

HELLO REAL OFFICE!!!!

Currently all my crafting/gardening/writing/dog training goods and I are stuffed into my tiny laundry room that sits just inside my even more awkward kitchen.  Get the clothes off balanced during spin cycle, and you might just get skeins of yarn flying at your head.  It doesn't work.

Although the basement isn't finished, it's finished just enough that there's a working bathroom, and a small room with a lock.  And do you know what that means?!  A locked room all to myself!  Which means no one else should ever be going in there, which means I can splash pink all over the walls and floors, and girly it up in any style my little hearts desires.  Have I mentioned how excited I am?

Another bonus... Having the laundry room back to a laundry room.  I can't wait.

All the toys will be ushered into the basement as well, minus a few here and there that have earned their spot as necessary upstairs.  Also in the works will be a small art table for the kids in my "studio".  They'll have a place to safely paint, draw, glue... all that messy stuff I've been avoiding to allow among my pergo upstairs.  Mommy not home, and you conned Daddy into letting you paint unsupervised... tough, it's in the locked room of Mommy Awesomeness.  ;p  

I simply cannot wait.  

But there are a few hang ups.  We have to switch interweb providers.  Or something.  Or I'll be plugging, and unplugging the laptop, and hauling it up and down stairs all day.  And as it stands right now, I have no furniture for downstairs, there's bad lighting, few outlets... there's still a ton of work to be done down there.  Otherwise my Martha Cave will truly be a Cave.  ;(  But it's happening folks, and in the nick of time, I seriously have outgrown my mini Martha Cave.

Stay tuned for updates on building a Martha Cave out of nothing, lol!

How about you?  Where do you work?

~Emily

And it's Still Winter

I keep hoping, maybe if I don't watch the weather report, it won't be freezing outside.  My plan of avoidance isn't working.  It's still dang cold out there, and I still hate winter, and I am still dreaming of moving to the equator.

This weather seems to have frozen everything in its tracks.  We can't get this done because it's super windy, now it's snowing, now it's too cold... and this can't be done, until this is done, and if it would just stay warm for like three days we could do all of this.  Each day the to-do list just grows, and I'm seriously thinking about installing sunlamps in my entire house.  Winter, you so are not scouring any points with me.

And even though I'm not sure if the great garden build will happen this year, I'm thinking it's time to drag out the seed trays, and time to buy some dirt to play in... anything that makes it not so wintery for at least ten minutes.

The only bonus to this ice age is that I have no guilt what-so-ever sitting inside, next to the fireplace getting things made for the shop.  And I'm actually excited, because I've finally been able to pull out an old project, and update it to something that has really been taking off.

And the double bonus is that I am lucky enough to be working with a renaissance designer as a source for my buttons, and several metal smiths for a really exciting feature that will be added to these bracelets real soon!  You're just going to have to wait to see what we're working on!  I love, love, LOVE the resources my team on Etsy brings to me, and the amazing people I've been meeting!

To see more of the bracelets I have been creating you can check out my Jewelry Section in my shop!  

Now excuse me while I go put on ANOTHER sweatshirt...

~Emily

~January Tangles and a Dilema~

It's been stupid cold here.  Freezing cold.  Cold enough that you celebrate the temps hitting 30, then you get sick the next day when it hits 60, then you cry the next day when it only hits 2.  Missouri weather is famous for these crazy temps, and it's the beginning of our Tornado season... but this freezing thing isn't our style.  And the weeks of record low temps is cramping my style... literally.  My fingers and wrist are cracking louder than my needles clanking together, so I've had to try and slow down a bit, before my hands fall off.  But I can't sit still... and I can't go outside... thank goodness for Tangles.

Some days I keep them simple and quick.  More often than not, I start things over fifty times.  I have more concepts, and scribbled on pages than finished works.

The one above is by far my favorite... so far.  Even with the mistakes I can point out without looking for them.  ;)  

And then there's this one.  Which, don't get me wrong, I like, but something about it I hate, and so I haven't finished it.  And that's just fine with me.

So then I have another issue with all this doodling, and tangles, and such... it feels rather unproductive.  I'm one of those who can't sit down and watch tv, because it's not being productive.  I must be cooking, or baking, or knitting, or crocheting, or sewing.... something.  And while I love to draw, it's not exactly paying the bills, or building a fence, if you know what I mean.  I'm playing with a few ideas in my head to change that.  I'm not sure if I can form my style into a marketable product made for someone else, but there has to be someway to turn this hobby into something a wee bit more productive.  We shall see...

What have you been working on this month?  (Besides trying to stay warm?)

~Emily

~A Few of My Favorite Things~ Jan 2014

This month's roundup of what's new or popular over in my shop this month was supposed to be a lot more exciting.  All packed full of new things... but dear Etsy is having technical issues, and freezing up for many shops when we try to list new items.  So yeah, it's very frustrating.  So here's my roundup of what's been most popular over in my shop this month.  Click on the photos to go straight to the listing to learn more!

Three hand knit headbands, made to order in sizes newborn-adult!

A Mason jar wrap.  Perfect for candles, gifts, and more!

And my most popular custom made item, my Lacey Leg Warmers.  Custom made in your favorite colors, and your size!

All of these items and more can be found at my shop at http://www.whitegoatranch.etsy.com  I'd love to see you there!!!

~Emily

If you have an online shop, and want to link a similar post here, please feel free to!  I just ask that in return you link back to me!  Thank you!