I’m still learning!

OK – So I ‘m a little slow.  I was looking at my visitor statistics and had a a eureka moment!  It seems a lot of people are fiinding my blog, but there aren’t half the visitors to the website.  I just assumed that that was how everyone was finding the blog.  Silly unspohisticated me!  So I have added my own website to the blogroll on the sidebar.  Check out the website!  I’m in the process of getting the store up and running (again some technology challenges!)  I’ll get there eventually!

It’s a wonderful life

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We are all settled into our new home and really enjoy being close to my husband’s family. Christmas just seemed that much more comfortable this year, since we’ve been togther so much this past year. Even my mother seemd to manage to enjoy herself a little.

Our 5 year old Andrew was very much into Santa Claus this year and the 9 year old is still hanging on with no signs of doubt. Even more beautiful was how much Andrew was excited that we were celebrating the birth of Jesus and often told us. On the hour car ride back from Grandma’s house on Christmas night, while Stephen slept, Andrew went on and on about about what Christmas “was really about – giving and love.” I think 5 year olds are often much more in tune to what is important than we grown-ups.

And then there is my incredibly supportive husband, who keeps cheerleading me on in my crazy quilting adventures. I just happened to mention that self-threading needles would make burying threads easier. Don’t you know that man found a quilt store on the way back from a business meeting a few days before Christmas and put them in my stocking. He never ceases to amaze me!

Every day I count my blessing to have such a wonderful family and be able to pursue my dream. It’s a wonderful life! Hope your holidays were extra special this year!

Helle-May

A funny thing happened…

Did you ever wonder if there’s a reason why you’ve met a particular person?  I was never interested in getting married or having a family until I met my husband 15 years ago.  But now I cannot imagine life any other way. 

Last spring, as I was just starting to  think about how I was going to start this new business venture, I just happened to stop and talk to the father of one of my son’s classmates as we were both picking up our kids at school.  I happened to know he had just started his own business (I had no idea what kind) and so I just wanted to ask if he could point me in the right direction for filing the appropriate papers to make it official.  Turns out he’s a bit of an internet maven and six months later, he and his wife have become  friends. 

Last night, we invited them over for Christmas cookies and a glass of wine to celebrate the holidays.  We’ve all been very busy with our lives and so haven’t talked much in the last few months.  I began to talk about the frustrations I was having in getting the business moving forward as fast I would like.  Now mind you, we haven’t known each other very long and yet he was able to read me like a book and tell me what I didn’t want to hear but needed to.  Essentially he said, I am paralyzed by perfection and that if I wait until I have things perfect, I’ll never get anything done.   Those of you who know me are laughing right now – because that is one of my biggest challenges – I’m a perfectionist.  It is a personality trait with very mixed blessings!  I have very high expectations of myself and demand perfection on anything I try to do.  Those of you who also fall into this category know how frustrating that can be when you can’t meet your own expectations, let alone those of someone else. 

My friend was right, I can’t seem to make progress on getting my patterns to you because I can’t seem to get them perfect enough (for me anyway!).  If it’s not a software issue, it’s a printing issue, etc.  I’m not saying that the directions aren’t as accurate as I can humanly make them – but they may not contain all the bells and whistles that I’d like to see in them and with them.  So I’m going to give it my best shot and try to overcome my “perfection paralysis” and make some progress.  Some of those bells and whistles will just have to wait!

Sometimes we all need to listen to someone who is a bit more objective than those who are close to us.  It might not always be easy to hear, but we need to listen with an open mind and heart.  My friend’s advice may be one of the most valuable gifts I receive this Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, it’s almost here and I think after a few more batches cookies we’re ready!  We had barely moved into our new house last Christmas so this year we are much more relaxed and feel much more at home.  Hope all of your holiday preparations are going well and that you are able to take time and truly enjoy the spirit of the holidays.  

Helle-May

Winter is here!

Our first snow day – no school.  It’s snowing and sleeting.  I suspect this is the beginning of a long winter!  Fortunately I finished everything yesterday that I needed to go out for – food shoppng, mailed my last cards and sent a few packages.  This weekend I planned to do some baking and hopefully some sewing!

I’m in the process of working out the bugs with the printer regarding the new Publisher software and I think I finally got my e-shop issues resolved.  I’m hoping that I’ll finally have this booklet done by mid January.  Keep your fingers croseed!  Something tells me that I won’t be able to get in touch with the printer today!

Stay warm and dry!

Helle-May

Ho!Ho!Ho! – Bah humbug!

Well I was on a roll!  Kids – gotta love them!  My Andrew (5) has been on and off sick with a bad cough for a month now, but this Monday it got worse.  This time the doctor detected some wheezing and put him on a nebulizer and antibiotics.  Of course last night was the big Christmas program that the kids have been practicing for months.  I had to get him better to get through that or he’d be devastated.  The treatments worked – he read his lines loud and clear with not a cough to be heard.  It was so cute!  He starts public school next year for 1st grade, so sadly, this will be our last Christmas program.  He just had to get better!

Now that he’s on the mend, I’m sure my 9 year old will be sick on Christmas Eve.  Family tradition, you know!    Anyone else have traditions like that, too?!

My printer encouraged me very strongly to get Microsoft Publisher to avoid any formatting/printing issues.  I have been working in Word.  I listened, ordered the software and of course the CD drive on the computer crashed.  Finally got that up and running via phone support from HP.  Amazing  – over the internet they were able to reach out and and get into my computer – she erased a few files (I hope I didn’t need them!) and Voila!  it was fixed.  I was very impressed!  Back in business!  I’m trying to get that booklet done, believe me! 

I can’t believe Christmas is only 2 weeks away!  Everything will get done I keep telling myself.  My husband says I’m most productive when I have a lot on my plate. His theory will be tested once again – I hope he’s right!

Keep shopping – the economy needs a lift!  I know I’ve been doing my part!

Helle-May

Can’t believe it’s December already!

Where did this fall go?  I had such great plans to be up and fully functioning on my website by now.  I was so naive about the amount of time I’d really have to dedicate to this new venture.  I have been making progress, just not as fast as I’d like.  It has been one huge learning curve after another – establishing a new business, setting up the website, learning how to write pattern instructions and drawing diagrams, setting up the blog, and now trying to get the on-line store set-up, just to name a few.  In all honesty, despite a lot of frustrating moments, the times when I finally felt like I understood or mastered a new skill were very satisfying. 

After being a stay at home mom for exactly the past 6 years (my last official day of work was December 1, 2002) , one of the things that I have really missed has been the challenge of learning new things.  Yes, I have learned a lot as it relates to child rearing and I’m still learning – but I’m talking more about mental challenges – brainy stuff.  As I’m sure other stay at home moms who have left careers to raise their family will attest – its a bit of a challenge to switch gears so completely.  

In conclusion, I’m very excited about learning all this new stuff, but this 44 year old brain just isn’t absorbing it all as fast as I’d like! And this mother of 5 (almost 6)  and 9 year old boys doesn’t quite have as much time or energy as she though she would!   So bear with me on this!

Helle-May