I HATE BEING SICK

 Being sick is no fun.  Right after Christmas I caught what I thought was a cold, NOPE.  Turned out I had developed bronchitis.  For the past few weeks I have not felt like doing much of anything.  Thankfully caught it early and should be back to 100% soon.  Unfortunately, I have had to push pack completion of and listing of finished products.  

The only bright spot about being sick,  I found a bunch of new patterns I want to try.  And I managed to finish a couple of books that have been lingering on my Kindle for the last 5 months or so gathering electronic dust.  

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know why I have not posted any updates in a while.  I hope to have some pictures and listings to update you with shortly.  In the meantime here are a few pictures of things I have done in the past.

Busy Season

So this is the busy season for me.  I have several Craft Shows coming up between now and December 14th.  So I will be MIA for a while.  I am currently working on replacing stock from a very successful farmers market last weekend.  This is a free market hosted once a month by the local Tractor Supply Store.  I almost didn't go, but decided I could use the fresh air.  I only took a small amount of stock, but what I did take was flying off the tables.  Luckily I had more at home for the next show coming up this weekend in Farmersville, but I still want to replace some of the toys.  Luckily they are are quickly made, unlike a blanket or garment which can take a few days or even weeks to create. 

I did find a new pattern for a small dragon.  Years ago, when my youngest niece and nephew were little I made 2 large dragons for them as Christmas presents and they were a big hit.  They also took a couple of weeks to make, because there were a few errors in the written pattern that I had to figure out (2 single chains in each of 6 sc chains around does not equal 15 no matter what math you use).  These take only an hour or so to make and use up very little yarn (just under a 388 yards).  If I can remember to do so, I will take a picture of some of the toys I make this weekend at the show, and post it, along with the links where you can find the patterns.

So, back to work for me.  Will try to catch up even if its just to say a quick hi/bye next week sometime.

Its Been a While

Lots of things going on lately.  I do have some updates which I will list below.  I am getting ready for a busy craft show season.  I have 8 shows between now and mid December.  I am also getting into the design end of things, which if things go the way I hope, means I can ease up on the number of craft/vintage sales I do each year. 

I am working on a hat and scarf set pattern.  I hope to have it finished and beta tested sometime in the next two or three weeks.  With a publication date set sometime before Christmas.  My goal is to get at least 4 new patterns written, tested, and published on either Ravelry, Etsy, or Craftsy before July 2019. 

I have already etched out at least 8 different designs I want to work on.  Just have to figure out the right pattern stitches to use.

My current pattern is a cow I named Sticks and Stones  I have it listed on Ravelry  Etsy and Craftsy

Now on to updates.  So my digital scale battery is dead, and I keep forgetting to buy a new one, so no weight loss updates today.  But I have met and exceeded my miles walked goal by more than 16 miles (I will keep walking each week though, as I find I feel much better when I walk than I do when I don't)  I have only887034 steps left to take.  I am actually trying to increase the number of steps I take each day.  If I can up the amount by a 200 or so I am sure I will meet my goal steps wise by the end of December. 

Thats it for now.  I will do my best to post more frequently in the future.

I'm Back

Had a great time at the CGOA Chainlink Conference in Portland, as well as a nice visit with my friend and her family.  Have already started saving for the conference next year.  Left Portland heading home Wednesday and it was 54 degrees, got home around 7 p.m. and it was 104 degrees at home.

All signed up for a couple of more craft shows this year.  One in October and one in November.  This is in addition to the monthly farmers market and the vintage/craft market I am doing.  May try to get into another show in the spring of the year.  Just not sure if it will be a good fit for me.  Still researching it.

Updates, yes I have them.  I finally busted through my plateau and have lost another 1.2 pounds.  81.6 pounds until I meet my goal there. So hopefully by next spring.  35.15 miles walked, leaving 29.85 miles until I reach my yearly goal.   And 181395 steps walked, leaving 1113454 steps left to take this year to meet my goal.

More updates coming soon.

Sorry I'm Late

Sorry I'm late with my weekly updates.  Its been a busy few weeks.  Between craft shows, antique shows, a touch of the stomach flu, things have been hectic to say the least.  So just a quick update.  I am stalled as far as weight loss.  Inches lost, doing good in that area.  The weight will eventually start going down again, will just have to wait it out.  As far as miles walked, I knocked off another 22.24 miles getting me closer to my goal, only 96.24 miles to go.  As far as steps, I walked off 165420, leaving only 1472174 steps to go.  Hopefully, I can get back on track with weekly updates starting Monday.  Until next time, just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Redoing my front yard

So I've spent the last week redoing my front yard. I have broken it up into sections. I am almost finished with the 1st section.  It had a lot of crushed red brick and just a little white rock, and river rock.  I prefer the white rock and river rock, so I have been taking up all the red brick, laying down new weed barrier, and now I am ready to start laying the white rock and river rock down.  I am adding several new walk ways first, and using stepping stones to use as planter bases.  I plan on doing a lot of succulents in planters. I am using a lot of different sized and styles of planters, as I don't really want a "cookie cutter" look to the yard. 

When everything is complete I'll take some pictures and show it off.  That may be a couple of months down the road.  As I am also doing a recurring craft show each month, a June craft show, and a recurring vintage/repurposed/craft show each month.  I am also getting ready to take off for the Crochet Guild of America conference at the end of July.  So pretty busy right now.

Good news on the weight loss front, I dropped another 8 tenths of a pound this past week.  I still need to lose 82.8 pounds to reach my goal weight.  I added another 8.01 miles to my annual goal I set for myself this year, I still have 118.98 miles to go.  And I knocked off another 77587 steps off my annual goal I set for myself, leaving 1637594 steps to go.

Will check in again next week.

Updates for the week

So the scale went down another 6 tenths of a pound.  I'll take any weight loss I can get.  I still need to lose 83.6 pounds.  I managed to get another 9.59 miles logged. This brings the total left to walk to meet my goal for this year down to 126.49 miles.   And I logged 67113 steps.  So to meet my goal I need to walk another 1715181 steps.  The only two I'm really worried about not meeting are the miles walked and the steps walked.  I have given myself at a minimum 2 years to meet the weight loss goal. 

On the other front, I had a great sale this weekend at the 2 Sisters Flea Market that is held every 2nd Saturday.  Had some repeat customers from the first time I did this show, and requests for some different items that I can make for the next one. 

I am also looking to selling finished products on Amazon Handmade.  I've read both good and bad things about this one.  Mostly good.  And a few people I have talked to that have been doing it from the start say its getting better.    I am also trying to finish up a couple of more patterns that I want to list on Etsy.  I don't sell a lot of finished products on Etsy, but the one pattern I currently have listed is doing well.  And I need to get some more items listed on Bonanza.  I always seem to sell well on that one.

This week though, I am in the process of redoing the front yard.  I moved into this trailer October 2017, and I am finally getting a chance to do something about the yard.  I am removing all the crushed red brick, and replacing it with succulents and white and river rock.  I really want a fuss free, easy to care for yard.  I hate yard work with a passion.

Well time to get back to work.  More updates coming next week.

Flip Flops, Not Just for Wearing

So I am a week late on my update, sorry, real life got in the way.  But I do have some new photos to share with you.  These are a couple of the flip flop wreaths, and one of the flip flop ice buckets I completed just in time for the farmers market last week. 

Not to bad for a rough idea.   

So for the updates on the personal goals  down another 1.6 pounds, walked another 24.79 miles, and stepped off another 111015 steps.  I promise I will try to get back on track with my weekly updates.

update time

Well I did two shows the past two weekends, one I will definitely do again, the other maybe if I don't have anything else going on that weekend.  I am also doing a farmers market that is strictly for handcrafted, and homemade items at a local Tractor Supply Store in Dinuba on the 5th of May.  We shall see how it goes.  Its free to set up, and its only 15 minutes from my house. 

I went to a Rusty Roots show Sunday.   I found some great display items for my craft room, and for showing off finished products.  I am really thinking I would like to try and get into the next one they have in the area.  I do believe my products would sell well.

I have booked my room, and signed up for three classes at the Crochet Guild Conference going on in Oregon this July.  It will be my first conference, and luckily it is within driving distance (a 14  hour drive but I am breaking it down into two days.)  That makes it nice because I can visit my best friend and her family in Seaside for a few days after the conference before heading home.  I will probably stretch the trip home out into three days.  I really can't wait.   I'm told next summers conference will be on the East Coast.  If I can swing it I hope to go to it as well.  We shall see.

I am working on some different crafts for the next two shows I have coming up.  I am going to try and post some pictures of them later this week.  Lets just say, flip flops, and buckets. 

On the personal front, I lost another pound, leaving only 85.8 pounds to go to meet my goal.  I knocked another 11.03 miles off the mileage total I am trying to make, leaving 160.80 to go.  And I made 63114 steps, leaving 1893309 steps to go.

quick update

Sorry I'm late with the updates, getting ready for a vintage/repurposed sale, and two craft shows coming up in the next couple of months. 

Weight stayed the same this week, no gain, no loss.  I still count it as a win,  9.33 miles walked leaving 211.20 miles to reach my goal for the year, and 65585 steps walked leaving 2180290 to reach my goal for the year.

I am working on turning an old lamp shade into a wind chime, and also a larger lamp shade frame into a basket.  Will post pictures when I get them finished. 

Discovered my storage shed (it came with the property when I bought it so its really old but still sturdy) has some leaks, so I have been working at patching them this week.  My brother came by and brought his small electric garden tiller and tilled the small section of yard I am planing to put a small garden into for me today.  Hopefully I will get everything planted before Sunday, because I am going out of town for Easter.  So next weeks blog post will definitely be late getting posted.

Updates

Okay, so I am a week late, but I had a good excuse.  I spent all last week doing my taxes.  So this weeks updates will include two weeks worth of udates all in one.

total weight loss is 1.2 pounds leaving 88.8 pounds to go.
total distance walked is 16.87 miles leaving 231.61 miles to go
and total steps walked is 105124 leaving 2320958 steps to go.

Monday Updates

Okay, so the yard sale was Saturday.  Didn't do as well as I had hoped, but still did okay.  I was told about a parking lot sale coming up in March that is heavy on the craft/repurposed/vintage items, but where you can sell anything you want.  Spaces are only $15 so I think I will try it out. 

Did well on my personal goals front.  Lost another 1.4 pounds.  Just love it when the scale keeps going down.  The really nice thing, because I am losing slowly there is not a huge amount of excess skin.  I know there will be some, but I also know that the slower I lose the weight and the more muscle mass I put on, the less loose skin there will be.

I plan on getting some cup sleeves and padded hangers listed online later this week.  I will of course update the blog when that happens.

New totals for my personal goals are as follows

91.2 pounds left to lose
263.4 miles left to walk
2548603 steps left to take.

I am still trying to find some more recipes that only make one or two servings.  I am so used to helping my Mother fix huge meals for several people its hard to adjust the cooking.  And I do better with eating better when I make my own food as opposed to eating out.

Well that's all the updates until next week.

Monday Updates

Better late than never right.

Okay its going to be short and sweet today.  I am in the middle of getting ready for my sister in laws yard sale, cleaning out my closet and getting rid of all my now too big clothing, and getting ready for a craft show coming up in late march.

Only lost 2 tenths of a pound this week, but at least its a loss (i blame the superbowl snacks)
so totals are as listed
92.6 pounds left to lose
8.35 miles walked leaving 270.29 miles to go
64,855 steps taken according to my fitbit (best $140 ever spent) leaving 2610462 steps to go.

Thats it for now.

Weekly Update

Short and fast today, I've got so much to do that I am just doing a "drive by" post today.

So the new numbers

to lose 95.6 pounds (down 1.4 pounds)
284.46 miles left to walk
and 2,737,217 steps left to walk

That's it for now.  Will try for a longer post later in the week.