Jamaica vacation part 1

The most memorable event during our 5 day stay (mainly vacationing):
the tour to the Indigenous Rastafari village.
This eco village has their own website and one of the spiritual leaders was kind enough to pose in pictures with visiting tourists.
http://www.rastavillage.com/

The "lightness of being" was overshadowed by the earthquake catastrophe in Haiti on our 3rd day of enjoying a ressort in Montego Bay. The tropical beauty of the Caribbean comes with the price of forceful destructive nature forces. And nothing is ever granted.

The Power of Doing

I believe in it.
And even though the power of positive thinking seems to be the rage these days, my focus is on the following action. Think as you please, if you don't do it, it is not happening.

I had time to realize a lot of the projects that I have always wanted to do:
Reorganize the craft room (not finished yet but 50% is done, it's still ugly but getting functional)
Try new patterns and some of the YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArn (well, not all of it, but I have dug through my totes and found a lot of hidden treasures, the Colorways yarn in the pictures is one example, more to come)
I learned cable crochet
Joined 2 Etsy online teams
I ordered books on my list and I read them before sleepy time
Adding more teas to my collection and enjoying them every day
Finally cooking with Miso paste

Pretty much random, but very enjoyable to look back on "things done".
....................................
It's a start, a new beginning which looks very promising.

Fresh!

I have updated both my Etsy shop and website with new goodies!
Happy New Year from a nerd who chose to work on New Year's Day!
O well:)

Random Ramblings ...good bye 2009

Another year makes way for a new decade.
I am not the person to announce New Year's Resolutions, but for every new decade I have a vision. About new directions, goals.

Have my desires for change been more radical in the past I feel like I am in a good place now.
Instead of re-inventing, changes of patterns and minor adjustments are my goal for 2010.

And as a nice analogy I attempt the same for my craft.
Advancing, perfecting, diversify.

My newest project: hairpin lace for different garments and even hats.

New hats with structured patterns will be part of my focus in 1010.



My book library is growing thanks to this great site
BetterWorldBooks

Snowstorm in Oklahoma on Christmas Eve

Our daughter came all the way from Germany to be with us on Christmas. We were happy to have 3 of our 4 children home on Christmas Day.
Even though our activities were limited by the winter weather we enjoyed a good time together.

And Sherlock Holmes turned out to be a great movie.

Winter Sunset

Oklahoma's hidden beauties are serene nature scenes that are breath taking. Compared to a winter evening in a German big city, small town Ponca City, Oklahoma does not have the flair of a busy vibrant metropolis, but the burnt orange sky and fancy cloud formations always fascinate me. I love the laid back living in the Native American state ("on license plate for OK")

(Christmas market in downtown Bremen, Germany, home for several years before moving to the USA)

An Early Christmas Gift to myself

will be an early break from my business this year.

Thanks so much to all of my amazing customers who have ordered for the 1st time or repeatedly from my little enterprise on Etsy, Artfire or my Purple Sage Designz web shop.

It's been a great year and your purchases made it possible for me to work from home and be my own boss.

The deadline for last Christmas shipping is almost upon us and I have decided to devote some time to myself after all orders will have been shipped (which hopefully will be tomorrow).

Even as small handmade business owners we should value the truth in:
"Work to live, don't live to work".
It's so easy to forget to smell the roses when a filled order box gives us a load of self-esteem, sense of pride and accomplishment besides the monetary reward.

There is a time to stop. And go out into the sun, play with the dog or just window shop in the little historic down town area while a cheesy "Chestnuts on an open fire" is filling the street with Christmas sounds from speaker mounted on top of the holiday decorations.

Please check back for new hats and patchwork after the 29th Dec, I still have my website open for business but please keep in mind that your orders may not arrive in time for Christmas if purchased after the 16th Dec.

Blessings,
Angelika

Time is ticking away

Hours are running quickly these days, it's a matter of perception. Despite the physical law of an hour and a minute staying a constant.
I believe it is defined by our living in the future, we think about when the holidays are here, when all orders are packed, when all gifts are wrapped.....thinking ahead and not living in the today.
Since my daughter will be home for Christmas, I keep thinking about this one week around Christmas when I can have some daughter-mother time with her again.
She is here just once a year.

I have not logged into twitter for months, not sure I will keep up social networking. And I am still not convinced that I will need a facebook page ever.

Random projects:
I have found a great wholesale source for pure hemp yarn, in outstanding quality for crocheting and knitting.
And I have started to list a few skullcap sized beanies, to broaden my offer on different hat styles.
They are available on Etsy (pictures).
Have a safe time, grab a cup of tea and just sit back for a while. To make that clock tick slower:)