The thrill of the Holidays!

There is nothing like the holidays to get your spirits up and your stress levels! I know during this time I'm hoping my stress level is up a little. I'm praying for booming business, creative ideas for Christmas gifts, and projects that go on without a hitch!

After getting my embroidery machine, you can guess what lots of folks are getting for Christmas :) Embroidered Stuff! The hardest thing for me to find were linen or cotton hanker chiefs. I remember always being able to buy these in pretty gift boxes in places like JC Penney's and I had to really hunt this year. I finally found some in a little Wal-Mart that hasn't made itself Super Sized. The town won't let it. They are afraid it will kill the small business owners, so they've made their Wal-Mart stay the size they were when Wal-Mart first began. I actually like it because for some reason you can also find products from way back when that aren't carried anywhere else anymore. At any rate, my Grandmother is 82 and I thought what a cute gift. Little flower embroidered hankies just for her. Maybe something a little nostalgic that she hasn't seen in a while either.

During the holidays that is what I like to do. Find that little special something for those you love and I think it will mean more. It's not the cost that matters, its the thought you put into what you are giving, and giving you should do! Of course you shouldn't just give once a year, but year round and to those in need. Do you have a "Goodwill Project"? Our family tries several each year, to help out our fellow neighbors, to give back what God has so generously given us. Most people think of this time of year to do it, but I encourage you to take your talent and do it year round.

This year we've done food drives, clothing drives, and monetary collections for utilities. What can you do? Even if you aren't the event coordinator, your donation means so much to someone out there.

I encourage you to be thankful for what God has given you and give what you can and maybe go a step further and give more than you ever have.

Have a VERY Merry Christmas!

Fabulous Fundraiser

The Scentsy Party turned out pretty fantastic, although I was REALLY worried to begin with. All the commissions I made from the party are going to be used for food for Food Baskets my church is doing.

I came up with the idea to do a ministry outreach just for my family. Something I wanted my kids to get involved in and help with so that they could see how kind works they could do would make an impact in the community. Every holiday season people think about coats for the cold weather, Toys for kids without, and food for families. I thought Food would be a great outreach because there are so many people in our community who have lost their jobs in the oil business and many households have 2 parents without work.

SO, when I was considering my launch party and how to get people to come, I thought wow, what a wonderful thing I could do! I could take all the commission I make and use that to forward our ministry for this holiday season.

So, I advertised in my area with flyers that I made, sent emails, facebooked about it, let people in my shopping group know, and I even got commitments from lots of folks who said they couldn't wait to come....

And as party tradition would have it, they didn't come. People I had invited at the last minute, they came! And a friend who lived in another town got some outside orders from me, and I offered her a special incentive so she came through.

All together I was able to raise $60 for the food baskets, and for some that do not think that is a lot, I can buy A LOT of food with $60.

I was even able to get my name out there to folks who didn't know that I sell Scentsy, and I'm hoping to get some basket parties from the folks that wanted to come but couldn't make it. My "attack" method will be to call my first candidate who works at a school and ask would she like me to bring the basket scents up so that she and her friends can smell it since they weren't able to make the party, and then I'm going to offer her hostess credit for doing so.

I plan to leave the basket and some brochures with them for about a week and see what happens. Then I'll hit the next school, and the next place of business, and go from there!

I really love Scentsy and all my customers are head over heals. I've even had a few approach me from the party to let me know that they will be placing December orders for Christmas presents.

If you'd like to learn more about Scentsy, or check out what it is, just visit my site:

SHANNON'S SCENTSY SITE

Business has been picking up!

Up and up and up, and that is a great thing. I wish I could tell you what to attribute it all to, but I really can't!

I've done a set of cheer bows for a squad, I've done a set of monogrammed hair bows for a great consignment shop that I LOVE to shop with.

I've done a Tupperware party.

I'm getting ready to do a Scentsy party next weekend.

And I'm getting a lot of requests for embroidery work.

The embroidery work really excites me because I love using my machine. My husband purchased me a Janome 350e and I'm in love with embroidery! I'm self teaching myself which probably isn't the smartest way to go about it, I've made plenty of mistakes... the upside is that when a pattern isn't sewing just right, I can usually pinpoint the problem real easily... although I will say once I almost went to the dealer to find out what the heck I was doing wrong!

I love my machine. There are people out there who equally love it's competitor and counterpart the Brother PE 700 II. I'll be honest, that really was the machine I was after, but they had sold out. And I'm kind of glad they did. After reading the differences in my machine and it, I think I got the better end of the deal! Consumer reviews have said that the Brother is loud, and VERY picky about the thread you can put in it (Brother only). I've found a great thread that isn't so expensive and my machine loves it. The other thing I read was that particular Brother model had to have the computer attached straight to it to add designs from the internet whereas I only need to plug in a flash drive into mine. Very convenient. The only downfall I've found personally is my machine is very picky about the tension. It has to be just right. But, that may be the case for all machines, I don't know, this is my first one.

I flirted with buying my machine online because I found that I could get a great deal from a particular store and a huge start up of thread and optional hoops for VERY inexpensive. But, since I have never owned an embroidery machine, I was thinking it may be smart to hit a dealers shop local to me to learn a little bit first. It turned out my trip payed off. I was able to snag a machine that retails for about $700 more than the original one I was looking at for about the same price as the original one. I got a KILLER deal. My Janome retails for right around $1600. A gigahoop set retails for around $400 (Gigahoop is a software and hooping program for doing much larger designs that a normal hoop wouldn't support on my machine.) So, this is my scoop. A lady had purchased the machine and the software at full price. Then, she decided it was too difficult for her to use and brought it back. The dealer purchased the machine back from her. Instead of reselling it to me, they sold it to me at a "used" price. A brand new machine! Still in the box, still in the packaging, all the parts, and even the gigahoop program and hoop! For $950. YEP.. I got $2000 worth of machine and software for $950. Is that a steal or what!

Even better... my dealer offers free classes since I bought my machine from them! Yep, if I want a class on my machine all I have to do is call, schedule, bring my machine, and they will teach me how to use it! The dealer even services all types of machines, and they know exactly who I am, what my favorite projects are to do, and what I'm looking for when I walk in the door. As a caveat, I can say I supported a local small business in my area. That gives me a great feeling all around. Now don't you think that everything I've received is much better than purchasing the machine over the internet?

In my mind I've only really begun to play around with what this beauty can do. I started with words, monograms, and have done some more sophisticated designs. I've embellished purses, bags, towels, aprons, blankets, clothes, hair bows, and I have a million more projects lined up. Time Time Time... that is the only thing I'm lacking! Isn't it usually though?

My next project to learn is quilting. There is a great lady at my church who has the passion for quilts and is going to teach me all she knows for Free! She took classes to learn what she did... and paid for those classes. I in exchange am going to do some embroidery for her for a quilt she is making her daughter as a Xmas present.

I love to craft! I love the business of it on the side! I hope I've helped some of you in a future decision regarding a machine. Oh... and my dealer also sells, sewing machines, sergers, and quilting machines! When my sewing machine needs and upgrade, you know where I am going!

Have a fantastic day everyone!

I need to streamline...

In a very big way. I think that part of my problem is I have "starter kit addiction". Hello, my name is Shannon, and I have starter kit addiction. Let me face the facts with my own problem. I LOVE to shop, and there is nothing I like better than getting a kick butt deal on products I love. Let me run you down a list of what I've done. I'm not ashamed to admit this either, so be kind LOL:

1 - Avon- this was the first direct sales company I was ever involved in. I did pretty good with it too, but left Avon when I left the military. I joined again though LOL. I missed my Avon!

2 - Mary Kay - Yes I drank the Kool Aid and joined at a party! What was I thinking. Well let me tell you. The products are FANTASTIC! And who wants to pay retail? Not me! This was a great way to get my goodies cheap... but even I didn't use my quota in products... bye bye MK

3 - Usborne Books and More - Hey I've got 5 kids, and we are readers. Do I really need to discuss this one further? If I do let me say this... no quotas, lifetime consultant status, discounts, and I'm going to be a teacher! The classroom potential and home potential is endless!

4 - Tupperware - I admit I joined for the discount. I haven't done half bad either. I've had a few parties. A few RIDICULOUSLY good parties! Holy Cow $1200 on one of them! That is insane! The starter kit had like $300 worth of TW in it for only $80. I'm good!

5 - Close To My Heart - I was really going to pimp this out. Awesome products, beautiful creations... the only problem is the economy tanked, and who wants to pay those types of prices when you can use your coupon from Hobby Lobby or Michael's. My favorite thing about CTMH... the ink and the projects.. Gorgeous! CTMH will be missed :(

6 - Homemade Gourmet - Holy gourmet the food is AWESOME! The quota not so much. We eat a lot around here, but not that much. It just wasn't budget friendly for me when I didn't get a lot of customers. I LOVE HMG, highly recommend their products... they will be greatly missed.

7 - Scentsy - Ok... use the heck out of the stuff. LOVE the stuff. My Aunt is a consultant and needed another in her downline and I figured I could help her out... plus we are going to do some craft shows together for some bonding time... it's a family thing.. and what can I say.. We smell good!

8 - Sundry Dreams - This is me. This is my company. These are my products, my crafts, and right now it mostly consists of hair bows. And I'm going to be the first to admit, I'm not doing half bad on that. I just sold a small collection to a consignment shop, I sold a set to a cheer squad, and I've been doing great things for my kiddies.

So, what can I say. I have a lot of dreams, but as a realist I have to adhere to a budget. So if you are counting, yes I am a consultant of 3 direct sales companies, and the owner of my own... and I go to school, and I have 5 kids... oh and I work too!

Yes, I am crazy. But not really. This is my strategy...

I have a helper with Avon who gets me most of my business, and I get great discounts on things for me... Think Christmas presents people! Avon is great because you can spend nothing or something. But at least do $25 within 2 months and you are active with the company.

Tupperware is for my personal self. I buy the heck out of it. And when people want, I can sell the heck out of it too. It's an ebb and flow thing. I love my discount, when people are interested I make a tidy profit. I don't run all over the place trying to grab customers, doing raffles, and tons of parties. Bet I'd make some great cash if I did though!

Scentsy is new. I'm going to do it with my Aunt, and some light promotions. Let's face it... it can't hurt to smell good, and since I use it why not get a discount on the stuff I love? It's a win win situation!

Sundry Dreams is my baby. I'm always adding to it and at the same time I can relax with it when I need to. Hair bows is my major thing with SD now. I know it sounds crazy, but I do have 4 girls so it made great economical sense to learn how to do it for them... and great sense to sell it so I could make a little money on the side. Now its turned into somewhat of a business. I just picked up a retail store that wants to carry my embroidered hair ribbons, and during cheer season I have squads who order look alike bows for their girls. In the meantime I handle individual orders too.

So when do I sleep? Never.

I will probably eventually get so much Tupperware I woun't be able to house anymore... but really I don't see that happening anytime soon! Oh I have 1 person in my Avon downline too. I don't actively recruit but if someone wants to sign up I sure don't tell them no!

Wish me luck folks. Life is too short to sit still!

Life is getting hectic

I can really say that it doesn't surprise me because I tend to do it to myself. Have you noticed how your life can be crazy one minute and calm the next. School starts Monday. Bow making is ongoing. My part time job is seeming like it may be more full time than anything, and with my kids' outside activities, its getting a little nuts. I will say this, I will never complain of a dull life!

Today I worked on a new hair bow with some templates I purchased. I'm always trying to expand my abilities and there is nothing wrong with getting tips from the professionals! I bought a set of templates from a company called No Bow No Go And the above photo is one of my newest creations. What do you think? I stacked a twisted template, with a double layer surround bow, with some "streamers" below. They are attached to one another and anchored to a lined clip.

Tomorrow I will be immersed in rebar plans, the flea market, my children, a Saturday of house cleaning, shopping, and getting ready for Monday. I'm hoping to be able to get some time on here to share some of my tricks to doing little fun projects.

Until then, I hope you remember what a blessing each and everyday is, and that you make the most of it. Don't forget to thank the Lord!

Grace's Birthday

Today was Grace's 1st Birthday and this picture was the ONLY smile I caught on her face while eating cake. She was so dang tired she wasn't having any part of it!
















Grace checking out her very own cake that she can dig into. Check out her little birthday shirt I made for her!


















Grace being brought in my Dad. Whenever she's cranky, he's the Man!


















Grace's Pig birthday cake inspired by her favorite show to watch. Word World!














This is the other cake for folks to eat so that she didn't have to share her own.














A picture of Grace with her Daddy in her Tutu that I made her. Every girl needs a birthday tutu!

















It was a pretty special day for all of us, but most of all me. I remember the day I gave birth to her and the shock that the Dr. got that ultrasound ALL WRONG. She wasn't a baby boy named Grant! I got a baby girl named Grace by the Grace of God.

Bubbling with Excitement!

It has been a pretty fabulous day considering... considering I had to buy a tire for the van. But, fabulous because I realized it instead of having a blow-out.

Fabulous because its my daughter's 1st birthday!
Fabulous because this is the last weekend before the kids start school hee hee!
Fabulous because I book a Tupperware party!
Fabulous because I got a slamming good deal on a Goodwill auction and got well over $200 in retail charms and jewelry for about $25!
Fabulous because I found $20 fancy curtain rods at Lowe's for only $2.70!
Fabulous because I get to eat cake today!
Fabulous because its Friday!
Fabulous because this is the day that the Lord has made! I am rejoicing and GLAD!

Joy is a wonderful feeling that God blesses us with and I am thankful when it just hits you out of the blue reminding you that God is Great!

I really hope that my flea market selling goes well this weekend, because we are strapped for cash due to the tire, but I know God will provide.

Pictures are coming soon of the new hair bows.

My site is finally formatted in a presentable manner, now its just time to fill that sucker up!

School is starting and with that I hope my sales skyrocket. Tonight will be open house for my kids at their school. I wish my business cards were ready so I could hand some out, but I will have all of my girls modeling their bows. When I make a little spending money, they get to have fun.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I hope to have some tutorials up soon!

Spark of Creativity

I have had a spark of creativity, and I'm pretty proud of myself because its something I haven't seen yet. Before you say... And?.... I will tell you that usually a lot of my ideas come from the inspiration of others and their gorgeous work. When learning to do hair bows and head bands, I invested in tutorials to learn the proper techniques to produce quality items. I didn't want my handmade homemade to look thrown together, I wanted it to look professional. There really is a lot to know and to learn how to do to achieve that too believe it or not.

So, why am I excited... because I came up with an idea of my very own for a bow design. Has someone somewhere already done it? Maybe, but I don't think so. If they have, I haven't seen it... I've got to build a template to make what I want, but as soon as I do I'm going to get them posted on here... I'm so excited, and the possibilities are astounding really.

I sound like I'm writing in code.

In other news today, I joined as a follower of several blogs from those in the hair bow business and hobby land. I love to look at people's work. No, not to steal, to get inspired. These ladies really do inspire! Check them out and get inspired too!

Have a great day! I hope to post some pictures soon

Slow and Steady Wins The Race

At least that is what I'm going to keep telling myself. In the midst of doing more market research, more business planning, and more dreaming of course, I was able to add a few items to my website today.

I find the hardest problem I have isn't making product, but taking pictures to put them online!

1) It's time consuming
2) I'm not artistic in the photography genre
3) I don't have all the fancy programs to fix my mess ups!

So that essentially means I have a lot of great stuff that many people don't get to see LOL.

But, the slow and steady win the race. I've essentially had to make a pact with myself that I would just work a little each day. Pick an item, accomplish it, and move to the next thing. I'm not talking 100 photos here, or 100 bows, bands, or whatever I'm making that day... I'm talking let's accomplish 1 to 5. I figure by the time I get off work, do some housework, cook dinner, entertain 5 children, and get on the computer... that I've accomplished alot!

At this pace will I be a millionaire? No LOL. But I will get to do what I love and eventually it will get out that I put 100% into what I make and people will know its true.

On the flip side, in the direct sales area of my life I am trying to get back on track with all my companies. That for the most part means doing a lot of training on the things I have forgotten, training on the things that have changed, and reaching out to let people know that I'm available.

So far:

I have 3 potential Tupperware parties. (3 people who say they are interested)

I have a strong Avon customer base (I hope to grow this even more!)

I have a plan for Usborne Books (This involves college and teaching)

I'm thinking of scaling back Homemade Gourmet (not because I don't love it, but the economy isn't quite right for it)

Looking into Scentsy (At the beckoning and begging of my Aunt... I must be crazy... spend a fortune on the products, might as well get a discount!)

Looking at bringing my bath and body products back online (for those who want a more organic and personal touch)

Oh, and I'm back out a the flea market, selling a bit of all of it to drum up some customers and whatever else I can get my hands on.

And in two weeks I start back to school full time, go to working part time, and creating in between!

What are you doing? Are you motivated?

Trying to Get Re-Wired

I know that sounds crazy, but that is what I'm trying to do! Re-wiring my life and my brain. I found out a few months ago that I have ADD. Which would explain a lot of things... inability to concentrate, thousands of unfinished projects, lack of sleep, etc... So, right now I'm experimenting with medication LOL.
I'm also re-wiring my life. I'm streamlining business, getting things in order. Getting ready to do some shows, getting ready to open my own building. I'm trying to decide if rehabbing my existing one is best or buying a whole new one and using my existing building for what it was intended... a garage/stable for animals. Not to good for hairbows, papercrafts, sewing, and such. I'm running out of room in my house though! My daughter wants her room back LOL.
Life is good. God is good, and he has blessed me. I look forward to getting on track!

It was a busy day

I didn't get everything done that I wanted, I never seem to. We are working on designing a pig pen for my pot belly pigs, cleaning up the back yard, fencing part of the pasture, and cleaning out an old house to get it ready to be moved for someone who really needs it.

I'm tired though. I didn't sleep at all and I can't decide if it was because of the pigs or because I'm sick. My allergies are really acting up and that is pretty weird for this time of the year.

Last year we bought one of those above ground pools from my favorite "I hate this place" store. It was perfect for the kids for the summer. Now it has become a death trap for my birds. I have lost one chicken in it this year. She flew in and drowned. By the time I found her she was already dead. This morning I almost lost my Tom Turkey. His name is Tom Sawyer. I found him swimming. I went out to feed and was calling all my animals and he didn't answer. I just knew. Sure enough I found him in it.

After bugging my husband for a month about taking it down and removing it, that was the straw that broke the camels back. He loves Tom as much as all of us do on our little hobby farm. Bye bye swimming pool! I drove almost 2 hours to a ranch to get Tom. I paid $25 for him because I needed on big enough to go with my girl Becky Thatcher. Becky lost her first man friend to a dog before she even started laying eggs. Now Becky is sitting on eggs of her own, and my chickens' eggs.

I know its a relevant fact that Turkey's are... well... small brained... Ok, my Daddy says they are stupid. At any rate for a "Stupid Turkey" she knows what she's doing compared to my hens. I have found eggs in the weirdest spots. My husband found a nest in the boat, I found one in their food dish! They lay them wherever and leave them. Becky gathers up what she can and sits on them. I'm hoping for a hatch in a couple of weeks.

At any rate. We got the pool taken down, laundry going, dinner cooked, our bedroom cleaned.. but no fences built and the rest of the house is a wreck! Tomorrow is church and travel day and then its back to work for the week. I didn't even get a chance to do my scrapbooking crop! I'm going to do it next weekend I suppose.

How do you handle getting the things accomplished on your list? You know... the list that never ends!

Too Much and Too Unorganized

I really wanted to have a "theme" blog, but it just isn't working out too well. I have more things going on in my life besides selling stamps and scrapbooking. I think that is why I like paper crafting so much. I can incorporate all of my life's memories in things I create.

For instance, I have a small hobby farm. I got a great shot of one of my roosters in full crow on top of the fence. I know you are thinking eh.. big deal. I know there are probably thousands of photos of roosters crowing, but there aren't a thousand taken by me and of my roosters. Just one. It will go in my farm scrapbook...

I have pigs, turkeys, sheep, goats, chickens, dogs, and cats. If it were up to me we'd have cows and horses, but the good Lord would have to bless me with more land first! I'm probably quite close to capacity with my animals because I still need room for my garden ;).

My house looks pretty shabby from the outside. But, we bought a fixer upper. And right now I could care less how the outside looks as long as the inside is what I want. And we have painted, put in new floors, fixed plumbing (several times) and decorated. The outside of the house rehab will probably start this summer. New siding is a must, landscaping, fencing, a roof, and gardening are all going to happen in all this "spare" time I think I have.

I work full time. I estimate rebar that goes into concrete slabs, piers, and building projects in general. That simply means I work in the construction industry. I just kind of fell into it. It has nothing to do with my Electronics Technology degree, my 8 year stint in the Navy as an Electronics Technician, or my degree in legal studies.

I have 5 kids! Yep, 5. My husband is active duty military.

My brother is a Captain in the Army still in Iraq. His wife is pregnant. I'm going to be an Aunt! My baby sister gave me a nephew two months after I gave her a new neice. He was born on Halloween.

We are Christians. I try to incorporate my children's life with a foundation in God. Does that mean we don't do naughty things? It means I try not too! But we go to movies, listen to country music, and read the Bible together.

We are starting 4-H. My kids want to show animals and I want them to learn about things they don't teach in schools anymore.

I search in my company's catalog for stamps that will help me complete my memories. Like animal stamps for my farm, cheerleading stamps for my daughter who cheers, music stamps for the one who plays piano, and everything in between.

I am a genealogy fanatic! I must admit it is quite an obsession. I'm not content though in knowing just their names and birth and death dates. I hunt down anything I can find about what their lives may have been like. Especially when I see things like Farmer in the occupation or War veteran.

Hmm. these are my random thoughts for the day. What are yours? I love hearing what goes on in people's lives. Especially if you can tell me how to build a pig pen! It's my newest endeavor for the weekend. My piggies are in my house right now! Yes.. I know what you are thinking.. in your house!

They are about the size of a small rat terrier dog.... not big... And so darn CUTE!

Have a great day everyone~!

It's been awhile!

But I promise you I have been busy. I have been finishing college and getting a degree, working, and creating. You can see some of the projects I've done on my artwork page over at my CTMH website.

My brother will be coming home from Iraq in about a month and we are all thankful for that. I even designed a "soldier" card that was given as a gift to a family member. Is that sneaky to encourage them to send something to my brother? LOL.

In the more recent news, I am starting a crop night at my church. I am getting the ladies together from about Junior in high school on up to our senior citizens for some papercrafting. I hope to do it at least twice a month so that we can all get together and do some fellowship. What I'd really like to do is a "card ministry".

Essentially my card ministry would involve making various cards such as birthday, anniversary, condolences, and get wells for the community. And I really want to get some more soldier cards done. Even though my brother is coming home, doesn't mean that everyone's brother or sister is. I like putting a smile on someone's face and nothing does that better than something homemade I think.

I'll post pictures soon! In the meantime check out my CTMH site for some of the projects I've done. I also did a scrap page featuring the day my daughter Grace was born. I'll get that posted soon!