What do I do now?

The studio is empty!! At Christmas rush? I know it's really bad timing but we have to have a sturdy roof over our heads, one that keeps out the cold and critters (stupid tree, stupid hurricane). The good news? While they repair my walls, ceiling and roof in the studio I get new lighting and 3 new windows!! Window's that actually open? That is so not my very old house way of working!

What do I do now that I've cleared all this out? You must know that I am a total work-o-holic, right?!! It's really not healthy how much I work. I blame my parents for such a work ethic. I spent a day resting, well 1/2 a day. I've spent almost of my evenings hanging out with the family, that's been really great. I feel like I should be baking cookies and lavish meals with the kids but the kitchens all cleared out too. They guys will be tearing out that ceiling as well.

What I really should be doing it is catching the the kids up on their home schooling but I am really stuck in la-la land and very tired. I just keep staring at the emptiness that is the back of my house and at the messiness that is the living room and hallway. Those areas are filled with the kitchen and dining room. Not to mention about 25 bolts of laminated cotton that I just couldn't haul though my muddy backyard in the cold rain.

What does a work-o-holic do when her work is stripped away? Withdrawal? That's it, I think I have the D.T.'s. My husband thinks that he can give me little "honey do" lists. ACK! I have my own to do list thank you very much. Okay, I don't but we won't tell him that.

What is amazing is that in the last two days, I have been getting little glimpses of the future. 

• Yesterday I got a new shipment of laminated cotton fabric that has me thinking of bringing back the Modern June kids line. That's exciting!
• I'm creating a list of patterns that I want to make. That's something very new!!
• I started thinking about taking wholesale clients again. Imagining a new look book is fun. 
• The hubbies been talking about servers for the new ModernJune.com site. That's very nice. 

Maybe a forced construction vaccay is just what I really do need. Some clarity and restructuring is always good for business, even if it is during the holiday rush. For now, I think I let myself slack off for the next two days. (Got that Mr. Modern June?)  On Monday I'll get out those school books that collected some dust while I wandered the country doing a little book tour. And, I'll figure out the rest of life and work later.

Happy weekend! 

Reality Check

The little sign up in the corner was supposed to help me make a change this year, and although that little sign is in plain view, recent events have shown me that I've totally missed it's message. This week I've been reminded that I have to love more, work smarter and play harder.

For my beloved Junie friends that have just said good bye to loved ones: I wrap you in a mental tear filled hug and I wish you comfort. For my long lost friend that is prepping for surgery while caring for her children and mother-in-law, I give you all my love and hope, and I say "kick that mass in the ass!" And on a happier note, to my friend and Junie that has a whole house to pack up this week, I am wishing you a bigger and brighter future in your new home! May it be filled with love and laughter by Christmas!

Each one of these women has helped me become who I am as a business woman, and I couldn't be luckier!!! I love you all so very much. Please take care, and know that my thoughts are with you. I'm off to love more, work smarter and play harder!

Goals are good. So are Production Spreadsheets.

I have a lot to do in a typical work day. Not only do I run my little business but I also homeschool my two kiddos. So, in order to have any life at all. I really need to keep on top of my work life and not let it encompass my entire life. This year I am all about working smarter, "work smarter, play harder and love more" is my 2010 motto!

Soon, I will be taking on another big project, so now is the time to up the ante on my organizational skills, time to take it to a new level. I'm going to be ubber-organized. Balancing wholesale orders and custom work, all while cranking out some new lines can be quite a challenge, as is keeping seven Junies working.

I have called on my old friend, the to-do list. But wait, this isn't just any to-do list. No, this is a wicked-cool production list of epic proportions. I have spent my Sunday creating a series of spreadsheets that will help keep track of every project. I'm talking color-coded loveliness! Now with a click of a button I know who's working on what, when it's due, and when it will ship. I have set up the production sheet to help me keep track my supplies as well. No more midnight panic attacks because I don't have enough brown trim--for some reason it's always brown trim.

Every week I get a bit closer to reaching the ultimate goal of working smart!

Do tell... what helps you work smart?

Balance?

Yes it's another one of those posts again! How do women do it? Worker, wife, mother? That is a pretty tall order isn't it? Now, don't get me wrong. I am not down in the dumps, I'm just amazed, that's all. Just totally amazed.

Last week when the kids were under the weather. I got caught up on work. Then, I took the weekend off and felt refreshed and ready to conquer my world. On Monday I had a new and improved school schedule in hand, Modern June in a good place and POOF, it all went to hell in a hand basket. How is that possible? Life, plain and simple. Life happens.

So here it is, it's already Friday and I'm all a-panic about what we didn't do, what we have to do this weekend, and where that will put me next week.

I figure there is only on solution, cloning! I need another me! Anyone know of a place I get that done? ; )

So here is to another day, to catch up and fall behind all at the same silly time! Cheers and good luck to all of us that are living life! And, the hope that we can all sit down in the shade, sip on Iced Tea (Sweet Tea Vodka) and read our Martha Stewart Living in peace!

A happy holiday weekend to you all! xoxo, Kelly

blog blog blog

I am trying to come up with a fresh topic something other than I made this I made that. But that is all I do lately. What a boring little life I have! I am not complaining about the orders, no way! Busy is good, I love how much Modern June is growing, but I could use a little balance. Last week I took a day off, first one is weeks. What did I do with it? a massive spring cleaning. Wahoo! On Sunday Don took the kids to an awesome kite festival and I made cupcake aprons. Wahoo!

Yes, this is becoming a mini-pity party. I miss my kids and my husband! On days when we don't do homeschool I really miss the kids. Thank goodness I do teach them or I would be totally disconnected from them.

If someone were to ask me where I would like to see my business in 5 years I would have to say, "strong enough to take most weekends off"! That would mean having a staff. I like that idea! Working alone can be a drag. I have been having a few friends do some cutting and stitching for me! They are building up a tiny bit of stock while I get the orders out. Slowly this will build and become something really special.

What I would really like is a studio away from home. Some place that I go to just to work. No kids, no husband needing to know where the soap is, or if they should do this or that. A place where I could really book it, sew like the wind and then go home. Home to a house with out oilcloth bolts in my kitchen and patterns on ever door knob.

When I go running errands I am constantly noticing for lease signs. I even emailed a company last week about a space. But I don't have money for rent. But someday I will and when I do I know what I want and where I want it. But for today I will try to take the kids for a walk, actually eat dinner with my husband and work no later than 11:00.

Dreams of balance are good! I was raised my small business owners I know what it is like to get a business off the ground I know how hard my parents had to work. I am no dummy, this is how it is. But I also know what it is like to be a child of a small business owner. That breaks my heart. Aidan no longer wishes that Modern June never existed. Well at least he is not saying out loud like he did at Christmas time, that's a plus. And my sweet Maddie told me the other day that I was her hero. That she was so proud that I could do everything that needed to be done. WOW! ok I can go on another day! Things are growing, I guess these are growing pains!

Today

Today I feel like a turkey. I'm guessing turkeys don't have very big brains.

I have had to do everything twice today. Like the post office: I forgot to tape the labels on my packages and had no money with me to buy tape, so I had to go home. Thank goodness my mailman took them for me. Then I went to cash a check and get some groceries. I got to the store/bank and I realized I had no wallet. So I go back home to get said wallet. I tried to buy flowers at the Azalea Garden Center and I could not remember my Debit code. Thank goodness they are my friends and ran it as a credit card. But wait -- I got all the way into the van before I realized I forgot to buy the bulbs for the bulb pot I had just bought. Urg!

That's me! I do it right cuz I do it twice! I'm not even going to touch any Modern June work today. That could be really bad. I promise, if you are waiting on a order you will be happy you waited an extra day. One can only mess up so much.

creativity!

So instead of school this week the kids have been left to their own creative selves. Yesterday I came into the dining room and heard the kids collaborating on this. They said it was their new comic book. No call from DC Comics yet!


One thing that I love about this unschooling week is this Webkinz Club form that Maddie worked on all day Monday. She revised and edited until it was just right. And then learned how to use our copier. Who says we didn't work on spelling, writing and grammar?


And Aidan and I are having a power struggle over math. I know he knows much more than he communicating to me. Earlier this week I tried to get him to do a Math Fact sheet and got a load of disinterest and a fair share of DIS! So I made it crafty math and we made a big book of doubles. When I asked him to help me with the answers he rattled them all out quickly! Who's trickier, me or him? I tell ya add glitter glue to math and you can get them thinking every time!

I love my blog it helps me see how our lives create balance in the end. I get obsessed with the balance of each day and forget to look at it over a week or a month. Keeping this record of our lives really is wonderful.

Todays project, sun catchers for them and oilcloth tree skirts for me! Structured reading, writing and arithmetic will come next week! For now real life is our lesson!

A bit of balance

Of late I am suffering from Burn Out. This is just not ok. With the busiest season upon me and school in full swing I just can not stop. So what to do. Well, cook of course. Today after working a full day I actually stopped working at 5:00 just like a real worker! I cleaned up the house and studio while the kids did webkinz on our computers. (they met and play online, weird right?)

I then took a break, flipping the channels I settled on Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals. And then I did the unbelievable... I made what she was making! What was really shocking was that I actually had every single ingredient! Wow that panty list has helped out!

Let me tell you the BBQ Chicken Burgers with Slaw are super yummy! The kids wouldn't eat then but Mr. "Don I never eat burgers" loved them. I used ground turkey and also cut the fat and sugar in half. Still, they were wonderful! The slaw was great too. With tons left over I look forward to tomorrows lunch. Unfortunately the sweet potatoes fries are all gone!

Now with a full belly and bed time at hand I feel a bit of balance. Now if these kids would go off to bed and I could snuggle up for a movie with my man! I could get used to this! Happy weekend!

Perfect Little Podcast #2

Ok peeps I found a good one this week!!!! I know I said that about The Budget Fashionista too! This week I am back to that trying to do it all ideal. You might remember the "How does she do it" post. Well in my attempt to find work, family and personal balance I did a google search to find a podcast about getting organized. I needed boost in that department after the crazy Mamma - wild kid day I had yesterday!

So here is the great site that I found, Let Talk Organizing. Suzanne is a mommy to two (I believe) and she works from home. That sold me right there! She is speaking my language. What I really like is that she is not speaking down to me like some other podcasters. No names here! But you know what I mean, people that talk too much about what experts they are and are trying to sound ultra professional. Maybe its a "radio voice" thing? Well after listening to all 5 of the Let Talk Organizing podcasts I have no doubt that this woman and her team are professional and are most certainly experts in their field.

The first podcast in her list is all about finding your organizational style. I listened to this over and over again, trying to figure out what style I might be. Now that I am not sewing up a storm, I see that there is a little survey in the site you can take! I love a quiz! I don't know about you but I read every little article and blurb about getting organized that I can get my hands on and not one of those has ever mentioned an organization style. This is rocking my world! I see now why certain methods fail for me and why other are perfect! Who know?

Well I hear the kiddo's are awake upstairs. I worked all night so we could have a fun day today. Obviously after yesterday they need more Mommy and LESS Modern June!!! I will take my survey and report back on the results later!

Let me know what you style is and if you like the podcast too! I love to hear from you!

Crafty thanks, Kelly!

cupcakes galore!

Here was our little venture in cupcake land!

I have been finishing up a load of cupcake aprons and I thought we should eat cupcakes too! Oh they were yummy! This could be a regular friday afternoon tradition!

Mommy guilt!

Last week the kids I had a blast. We had this great balance between fun time, downtime, and work time. But not this week. As I stress out about finishing up for the Renegade Craft Show this weekend, there will be NO fun. And no sleep either.

I was asked yesterday at the playground by a mom, that does some selling used stuff on Ebay, how do I make it all work. Well that is a highly loaded question. Well I don't feel like I can do it all well. I can feed kids, but not well. I can home school but not well. I can sew like the wind any day but not get a thing done very well. At least not every week.


I will ease my mommy guilt by remembering that I took them to the park at least once!

I told the Mom that if I were not making Modern June I would be doing something else. Like the summer and fall that I took down the wall separating the kitchen and dining room. Or landscaping the yards. (that took up tons of time, years) Or painting a room a new color, hell painting the entire house a new color. (not by me, I drew a crafty line there!)

Point is every little thing I have done to release my inner crafty has only enriched our lives. ONLY. So why shouldn't Modern June be any different! This is hard and yes kids are only young once blah, blah, blah! But that works for all of us. We all are only young once and we deserve so make a happy life for ourselves and the others around us. I need to remember the order in which I said that sometimes.

It's all good in the end! For now I sew like the wind, and look forward to hanging out at the pool next week with my mommy starved children. LOL!

update: I just took the kids to the pool now I have Modern June quilt. It never ever ends...

So the questions are...
What makes you feel guilty and why. How do you handle it?