It's Wednesday

Not much in the way of photos, or even writing. Or most likely even in the way of impressing y'all. But considering what I personally have been able to do lately (which was zip) it's massive. 

A new Hearts4Hearts doll set -

the Fall Statement is official.

The Fall Line 2012 Outfit 2 has a name, and an almost complete look. The jacket was started, and almost finished this evening. But it's not like we'd show you that so soon; you're stuck with the normal stuff. 

I did put the whole outfit (so far) together on Nellie today, and I ♥ it! So does Mommers. All it needs is a few more stitches, and a little bit of bling.

The name?

Holiday Scene Stealer

Sigh. See how bright and white things are in that photo? I miss the strong sun that we used to have. =(

At least the newest singles had a good day for lighting when I photographed them. :)

Since I haven't actually bothered to download the pics (I was sewing for once), I can't give you any teaser photos...

but I can tease you with the knowledge of our new singles' identities.

We're bringing you Robyn's latest work - the slouch jacket!

 

{Imagine awesome teaser shot here}

We have drafted our Small Town Girl outfit (Fall Line 2012, Outfit 1)! Soon, very soon, our Fall Line will make it into the shop. 

=D

Night Y'all!

Paige

Election 2012...

I know it's late, but I felt like I should say something.

Obama won...
Now I am not going to say that I was politically up to date on any of this. I was not voting this year, and so I was not paying as much attention to what was going on as someone who did vote. However, I do listen to people and was with my parents on that I believed Romney was the better candidate and should have won.
Now I know I'm wrong.
How can you say that?...most of you who was voting for Romney probably thought.
Well here's why:
Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

God is in control. He knew who was going to be president for the next four years before Obama or any of us were even born.
God does what is best for His people. He knows who is the best president for His perfect plan for our life.
So don't be devastated or upset with God. Know that God is personally taking care of each and every one of us and that everything will work out.
Trust Him!
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

*I would encourage all of you to read all of Romans 13 (KJV). Just a great reminder of Who is really in control*

God bless!
Sweet dreams!
~Elisa

Coming Up {Or Not Coming Up} This Week

Oh boy. 

Things are picking up EVERYWHERE.

Last year, our shop didn't really get busy until the last day of November. And we've come a long ways from then. Right now, we have our Fall Line to finish and get out, a million adorable things to sew, holiday dresses to get on the line (yeah, we're definitely late on those), and interest in altered listings (which basically means a custom order. Those take time). 

And of course, everything isn't getting any easier on the personal level. In fact, I try not to think about things for fear that I will get sick. It's rather overwhelming. 

Remember how we hoped to be releasing the complete Fall Line 2012 this Wednesday, and to have everything in the shop by Friday? 

HA!

Right.

That was without too many complications. 

I'd say we have had a few too many of those.

Never fear, though, somehow we'll make it happen before November is over. 

Cuz if we don't, it won't be much of a fall line anymore. 

; )

It's the small matter of having time to use the sewing machine.
Without it, very little gets done.

Earlier, I posted a sneak peek picture of socks (coming soon!) to our FB page:

Those were sewn last Tuesday, before my brother went into surgery. Since then, I have managed to sew about 5 inches worth of seams total.
Pitiful.
Absolutely pitiful.
I also haven't managed a scratch of my own schoolwork. I hope Hunter comes home soon so that Mom can do her Mom stuff, and I can do my stuff. But when I think of how much I must do, once I am able...it makes me completely miserable inside.

So I try not to think about it.

Since I just did, I feel pretty nasty.
I think I'll edit some pics and come back to this.

~
Better. Much better. 
OK.
Fall line update (that doesn't involve sewing) includes the fact that the crocheted piece is probably done (very specific, isn't it?), and that the boots arrived Friday!

  We're hoping we can use this pair for both of the next outfits' photography, and order the actual second pair in a few days. The fact that we've had sales all throughout the year, and the fact that we are prepping the shop for the Holidays (and people are noticing...and shopping) makes a big difference in everything. It's pretty nice.

Robyn has sewn several things lately - I either haven't had them, or I haven't taken pictures yet.
Here's what she sent me in an update:

I redid certain pics...but I haven't had a chance to go over them.
Here are a few:

And then there are some new items - one of which is pictured below:

Fall Statement (for Hearts4Hearts dolls)

With so much going on, and other things needing to go on (like our Fall Line) we hope you'll forgive us if we don't post coherently, grammatically correct, or very well. If you catch a mistake, let us know - we want to fix it. For the most part though, we just don't realize. : /

We know this year is going to end well - we can feel it. It makes us tingle all over with excitement!

With that thought, we'll leave ya for now. More on Wednesday.
Do you want to read about something particular? Be sure to let us know - we'll be sure to get right on it!

-Paige

Personal And Business Life Mix

As in, this post is going to contain both of those elements. 

First and foremost, and update on my little brother, Hunter.

Elisa told y'all that Hunter's surgery went well. In fact, it went surprisingly well. It has been the recovery process that hasn't gone so well.

Between pain meds not working out for the first 24 hours, so many different drugs, the chaos of it all, being hungry, and just plain exhaustion, he has had a rather rough time of it. Due to a whole bunch of these things being combined in many different ways, he has been a day behind on the recovery plan. Thankfully though, the PICU team were able to resolve his pain management issues halfway through the day Thursday. He finally got to sleep solidly - causing him to snore mightily. Or at least this is what I have been told. 

My sisters and I wanted to go visit him Thursday, but he wasn't up to having any visitors. Friday he felt much better, and went public with his willingness to see peoples. Of course, of course. The day that I overslept, had to work all afternoon, and had a costume party to attend in the evening. He couldn't have planned it better if he wanted to make my day difficult. Just like he used to do. =) I chatted with Mommers about it, and she encouraged me to see him Saturday, and to go to the costume party instead of visiting that evening when my sisters did.

That was alright with me. 

I wouldn't want him to think I was too eager to see him again.

After all, I have an image to uphold. 

He got up and walked around twice yesterday. His pain is under control. He's eating. He's staying awake. He's getting grumpy. He's being 'stupid' online. He's annoying me over the internet.

He's back.

The little Tigger guy I used to use as a punching bag. The one that I could always subdue, so long as I was taller. The one who always got under my skin. The one who I would torture mercilessly, and when caught, I could make myself appear faultless, and him a monster (which he was, haha). The one who never shuts up, or sits still. The one who always has WAY too much energy. The one who leaves dirty dishes all over the house in the strangest places. The one who never cleans his room, and gets away with it (at least more than the rest of us do).

The one who, on my birthday every year, willingly does everything he can for me, and then some. The one who I can always count on for a laugh. The one who is constantly foolish enough to try to outwit me, and constantly fails. The one who loves me bunches and isn't too afraid to show it to me. The one who is, in retrospect, quite a great brother to have. Even if he is obsessed with electronics and video games and food, like an average teenage guy...

he is my only little brother this side of Heaven, and I love him very much.
I might even miss having him around to argue with.
Might.

Yuck

Enough Mush.

Must be the stress of the week; I hate showing emotion. And yet I willingly wrote all that out....

 Now, for the hot chocolate. Brb.

Thanks to all those who are bringing us meals and other gifts out of love. We finally have hot chocolate again thanks to some of you! =)

Elisa left her camera with me for the day, so now for the business part.

I've got a lot of listings to take new photos of, and several new items to photograph. 

For instance, I think our apron set (currently needing to be renewed) could use a cute holiday baking photo shoot. 

And we need to give you guys a cuteness overload by sharing sneak peek photos of socks.

We got the last pair of shoes we needed for our fall line (as far as photos are concerned. Technically, we still need another one of those, since the same shoes will be featured in two outfits. Soon). That would seem to indicate that we're close to being done, and that I could photograph the 2nd outfit that I said was finished, wouldn't it?

Well, I thought it was finished. But it needs a jacket, and a necklace. =)

Other than the socks, I haven't had a moment to sew this week. Way too much going on. 

Looking forward to bringing you new listing photography, sneak peeks, and new listings....soon. 

=D

But if I'm to do any of that, I'd better hop to it!

Sorry we missed yesterday!

- Paige

Birthdays

Are beautiful things. 

They bring fresh new faces to the world, new friends, new sons and daughters, new brothers and sisters, new minds, new curiosities, new views, new joys, new laughter, and new smiles to all those around. 

I think that is precisely why God created them. For the gifts that they bring that first day, and the fact that the new Gift(s) just keep on giving. 

More smiles. More laughter. More joy. More sibling relationships. More Mom, Dad, and child relationships. More curious minds. More friends.

I know there are siblings out there who are thinking if the flip side. As with everything, there is a dark side. But today I just want to relish the bright side.

My birthday happened recently. 

It was really just a normal day. Nothing special.

If that's how I want to look at it.

But I don't. 

It was another miracle. 

I've lived 17 blessed years on this earth.

Believe it or not, I'm a bit of a thinker. And on my birthdays, I like to mentally make a balance sheet. My time here on one side; what I've done worth remembering or noting on the other side. 

The easy way of doing this is to say, "I grew. I didn't die. And I got less dumb." Not smart, mind ya, just less dumb. I've been attached to that phrase for some time. =)

But to look deeper, what did I really do, what do I really remember, what was really worth my time?

Since I plan to keep this post light and cheery, I'd better not start my 'thinking out loud (on paper)' routine. 

You'll thank me now

. . .

You're welcome =) 

I usually celebrate my birthday in a joint party with my little sister, Ladybug, since hers is not far from mine. With my brother Hunter having had surgery yesterday, and a long recovery ahead of him, we don't know when that will be. So I woke up not expecting a thing. 

I was pleasantly surprised. 

I received three gifts, one from an adult friend, one from Lizzy, and one from Elisa. 

Elisa bought me a vintage camera necklace. She knew that I recently discovered such wonders on Etsy, and had fallen in love. Only once did I suspect she might have gotten me something like that, but I never thought it was the necklace. Element of total surprise = perfect 17th birthday gift. 

She got herself a vintage butterfly necklace from the same seller.

And when we took photos together during the long, awful day of yesterday, we both wore our necklaces ♥.

 Of course, Elisa took these, since my camera is broken. Aren't they lovely photos?

Aren't they gorgeous?

Doesn't my best friend give perfect gifts?

Aren't you jealous of my best friend?

You should be.

Lizzy gave me a thoughtful card with a word cloud on the front, full of the different words that describe me. I was not surprised to see "CRAZY" in that cloud. I still smile every time I think of it. =)

My adult friend gave me chocolates, a card, and a card and envelope set. The chocolates are long gone. 

=(

Enough on my birthday. Moving on to another one. A better one. A more beautiful one. And the belated gift that went along with it.

I welcome y'all to 

Robyn's Birthday Shoot

Which might have been a teensy weensy bit belated. {rolls eyes at own exaggeration}  

Yes, our Robyn. Our friend, seamstress buddy, and longtime beauty (hehe, she hates it when I say stuff like that) is all right here, right now.

My favorites (and my best) 

~ 

I love every single one of them! Which ones are your favorites?

I feel so discombobulated today. I have no idea if my post is jumpy, or rough. It's just how my mind is flowing. I'll fix it sometime when not as much is going on. I'll try to update y'all on my brother soon. But like I said, I want to keep this light and cheery. And surgery isn't exactly along those lines. So another time, another post. If you have questions that can't wait, just ask them. I'll be sure to answer. 

No longer 16, and no longer the youngest (at first glance) of our group,

Paige

=D

* I would like to thank Robyn for letting me use her camera halfway through the shoot, as I accidentally dropped mine on the concrete stairs, breaking it past hope of recovery anytime soon. *