Wedding Stress Rant

So there are some things I need to get off my chest to relieve some stress and move forward so I can enjoy this coming weekend, which is my bridal shower and bachelorette party. First off I just want to say that I am really excited to get married and have also really enjoyed planning everything myself with a little help from my sweet and awesome friends. Jesse and I have been engaged for over 3 years and the reason we didn't get married right away is because we really wanted to be able to afford a nice celebration that we could enjoy and have all of our friends and family there to support us and be there for the very special occasion that I am sure will only happen once in our lives. Just Once, So in my opinion weddings are a pretty big deal...it not like you can make up for missing a wedding or special events involving said wedding by catching it next time.

Text I received from my mother today regarding my bridal shower " Oh baby I can't afford 2 come down. It is all I can do to come 2 your wedding. I love you. I hope it is a good party"

1. My mom has known about the wedding for longer than most of my friends...because she is my mom. She was one of the first people we told when we set the date. But she knew we are having this August months before the official date was set. Just to be clear that is about 8 months worth of notice.

2. My mom has plenty of money to drive all over Maine to go kayaking almost every weekend. As well as taking a vacation a few weeks ago. In which she stayed in a hotel for four nights here in Portland...when she could have stayed with us for free.

Maybe I am over reacting due to the stress of trying to finish school and working out all the final details of the wedding. But I thought my mother of all people would want to be there for me more than anyone else. That she would want to be there for me enough to put a little money aside for her travel expenses...(which by the way is only a 2 hour drive. So we are talking maybe 50$ for gas)
I have not responded to the text yet... I just don't know what to say. I am angry, sad, and truly hurt. I am afraid that if I respond in this state that I will say something I may regret. So I am hoping this little rant will help me to cool off before I talk to her. "It's all I can do 2 come to your wedding" Really! Thanks Mom so glad that you are trying so hard! Really makes me feel special.

Okay end rant...if you read thanks for reading/listening.

Thinking about a major hair change.

I have been growing my hair out for a little over two years now.  In that two years I have only had my hair trimmed once with only about an inch taken off. Since I started cosmetology school I have had a lot of color done to my hair...including some lighting as well. Because of that my hair is pretty damaged and although I am extremely attached to my long hair, it has become very difficult to care for and to make look nice due to all the damage and chemical breakage I have. So I have been contemplating getting it cut short. I have had lots of short styles before and used to love having short hair.

This is what my hair looks like after professional product and an hour or more of styling. (blow-drying straight and then flat ironing.) Note the frizzyness in the front....Thats chemical breakage!


Anyway my hair has become a lot of work and with the twins being much more demanding as toddlers I would like for my hair to look nice without having to spend hours on it because I don't really have the time for that anymore. I have been looking through some pictures online and have found a few styles I love...I really want to try something I haven't done before but I am unsure as to how well they would look on me personally so I would like your honest opinions please.


1. I really like this asymmetrical cut...but I think I would want it about chin length. I think that the bangs would also cover the breakage that I have in the front, until it grows out.

2. I really like the length of this cut and the texture it has as well. Again the bangs would work well to conceal the damage I have in the front and it is a very playful style.

3. I love this style It's edgy and modern. I have never had my hair this short and I am unsure if I could pull this look off but it is something I would love to try.

So let me know which one you think I should get. I would really appreciate your input because this is a big decision for me.

Simple Wallet Clutch

It took me about an hour to make this cute wallet Clutch. I added a bird  applique and a ribbon trim.

On the inside there are six card slots and a large pouch for money, keys, chapstick, cell phone...what every you need.

Update

Hey Crafty ladies, This is just going to be an update. I haven't posted any tutorials lately because I have been mainly focusing on my new Etsy shop. I have been trying to build up an inventory and have been playing around with ideas. So far things are going well with my shop.  I have only made one sell so far but that is better than none. I am not really trying to make a lot of money, just a little extra to help support my crafty hobby is my goal. So you may have noticed that I have yet again changed my banner and I have also changed the name of my Etsy shop. While my blog is still The Crafty Owl, My Etsy shop is now named Adwin Ryvers. (which is the middle names of my twins) I felt that I needed to change the name because the direction my shop is going in. I am not primarily focused on owls, while I love owls and they are rather popular right now, I know that they will eventually go out of style and while I am sure I will keep my owl collection going strong, I also want my shop to be a place for all the creative things I make, not just owls. So I hope you like the new name, and the new banner that I made. I also recently changed up my kitchen and would like to share the pictures with you.

This is where the fridge used to be. I moved it to the back of the kitchen and now it is much more spacious and has a defined dinning area. I made the pendant lamp hanging from the ceiling. I had an old lamp that broke so I took the shade and attached some chain to it and hung it from the ceiling with a lantern light cord. It works well and I love the softer lighting it provides.

I have been saving all the jars I get from the grocery store as well as all my wine corks. You can never have to many, and well if you do you can always recycle them. All I did was gather branches from the yard and I made felt rose buds and hot glued them right to the branches. It is a great center piece and very inexpensive. I think this would be a great and inexpensive wedding decor as well. When I eventually get married I will probably use this Idea.

Finally I hung a few pictures on the wall, These are ones that I made myself from scrapbook paper and I am also selling them in my shop. I love these vintage kitchen Inspired ones. Please visit my shop.  for lots of other scrapbook art, and handmade bags. There is a link on the top right side of this blog.

Grand Opening Of My Etsy shop!

The Crafty Owl on Etsy.com Is now open! Go check it out.....The Crafty Owl
Get a 10% discount on your first purchase, Message me for a custom priced listing! Offer Valid until March 16th 2011.

Also I am willing to do custom orders, If you have an idea or want something in a different color please do not hesitate to ask me.

I am loving this bag! I made one for myself and It is so awesome! I will be making some more like this one when I get new fabric.

Etsy Preview

I made this today, I think it came out cute! I will be making more in other fabrics and colors to sell on Etsy, As well as some of my owl pillows. Just wanted to give everyone a little preview. My Etsy shop is not open yet but I am planing on having it up and running within a few weeks from now. I am also getting ready for a craft fair in April.
 Let me know what you think of this bag! I am eager for feedback, Would you buy it and why or why not?

My First Quilt

My old spread was starting to get dingy and it had a tear in the fabric. Actually it was a duvet cover with a comforter insert and it stated to be a hassle because the insert would always get bunched up in the duvet cover and I was constantly having to re adjust it. I was going to just by a new bed spread but while I was looking nothing was jumping out at me. Everything looked so commercial. It seems that the better I get at sewing the less I like store bought items. Sewing is such a relaxing hobby and I really enjoy it. I love having a "Handmade Home" This was my first attempt at making a quilt. I didn't know what I was in for so I choose a very simple pattern. Now I am thanking myself for not getting to ambitions. I had a few bumps in the road but over all I am very pleased at how it came out. I also made some matching pillow cases. I have slept with it a couple of night now and it is so warm and cozy. There is something very comforting in curling up at night with something that was hand made!