Goodbye to a(nother) decade

I'm still getting some orders out that were placed just before Christmas, and I'm recuperating from my mad dash before Christmas to get them all out on time. Already New Year's is approaching, and it's a big one this time around, the turning of a decade. At first I was reflecting on this past year, but when I tried to take in the whole decade, I realized a lot really has happened for me personally.

I moved from a place I'd lived all my life to a place I'd never even seen before, leaving some good friends behind, for a place where I knew no one. I moved from the country to the city, and back to the country again.

I hoped to "find someone" and maybe start a family. I met and dated a few people I wish I'd never met, yet alone dated. Yikes.

I watched ten more birthdays go by, and managed not to freak out about most of them.

I learned how to use a computer, and got one for the first time. I learned about digital photography and printing, and made my first art prints. I learned about web design, and launched two websites. I read lots and lots about having an online business, and started one.

I got a more fuel-efficient car, and a fancier sewing machine.

I painted a few paintings, and made a lot of toys.

I hope that I learned a few things, like to when to stick up for myself, and when to refuse to settle for what I don't want, even during those times when it looks like that's all there is available to me. I hope I learned that things change, and often for the better. I hope I learned to stop trying to be nice to everybody, all the time, especially if in doing so, I end up not being nice to myself. I hope I learned when to say no, without feeling guilty about it.

I lost three kitties to illnesses, and miss them very much. I gained three kitties that people left behind. "Nature hates a cat vacuum," someone said to me. Still, I thought about Mr Laurence, when my last birthday came around. I wish he'd been here to eat a hole in the top of the cake when no one was looking, just like he always tried to do.

I got a clock for my last birthday, a kitty with a tail that wags, like I used to have as a child. I now have a clock in my workroom, something new for me too. I've got lots of ideas for things I want to try, including revisiting the idea of some illustrated stories for children. Most immediately, I'm planning to finish some art doll projects, try a couple of new toy sizes, and experiment with making some handmade books, just to see what I can do.

Most of all, as I look back on this decade, I hope that I won't ever give up on myself or what I want to do. I don't intend to. Sometimes I have some big disappointments, and quite a few small ones too. I want to keep trying, and I want to believe I can. I was just trying to finish that last sentence, but I think that's what I mean, I want to believe "I can," as opposed to "I can't." I want to believe in myself and in the presence of goodness in my life, and I want to have hope for the future. Thank you for following my journey, round-about as it may be at times. I wish you all the best on your journey as well. Happy new year to you, and all the best for the coming decade.

Merry, merry Christmas!

The stockings are hung by the chimney.

The presents are almost all wrapped.

We haven't any snow.

But we're ready anyway. Happy Christmas to all of you!

Mini shop update

I'm putting up the ready-made "Hug Me! Slugs" that I just finished this afternoon. I'll be listing the ready-made slugs in my Etsy shop. Above is "Izzie".

"Carson", above, just got snatched up as I was writing this.

This is "Julie", above.

This is "Merlin".

Above is "Dustin".

And this is "Marigold", above. She's just been spoken for too.

We're planning to ship the Christmas orders tomorrow morning. Priority Mail usually takes about two to three days. The Post Office doesn't guarantee that delivery time period, but they try extra hard to make sure the Christmas packages arrive on time. Some people are opting for Express Mail, which costs quite a bit more, but I can adjust an invoice for anyone interested in that.

It's been a long, busy weekend, and tomorrow will probably be busy too. After that, I'll try to accommodate any orders that come in for ready-made toys, but the custom-made ones will take about a two-week wait. I'm in need of a rest! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

I think I'm having a slug-themed birthday party tomorrow

Although that wasn't my intention! I've been very busy.

These are Monday and Wednesday's slugs. They're on their way to their new homes, or many have probably already arrived.

I'm going to mail at least two more tomorrow, but I'd been hoping to get more done by then. There is a rumor that we may have snow, and so I will be amending my plans to make sure I mail the slugs I promised to send on Friday, out in time.

I imagine many of the folks who buy and sell on Etsy saw today's NY Times article on Etsy businesses. I read that this morning and thought I'd better take those examples to heart, and pace myself. It's been crazy lately. I'm happy for all the interest in my toys, but I also realize I don't want to end up, someday, being someone who works thirteen-hour days, like some of the people in that article. I want to make sure I am doing what I want to do, and enjoying it.

Anyway...I'm amazed I got all these done. My mom has been helping address boxes, and trimming and clipping seams, and turning slugs right side out for me. Thanks, mom!

I hope all these little guys and girls will be a big hit for the holidays. I like to think about them being unwrapped and making someone smile or laugh.

I have a few fleece slugs almost done, in royal blue, gold, orange, light turquoise, cream (with blue eyes), and denim-colored blue. I don't think I'll get a chance to get them up and photographed this weekend, as I had planned though. I think there are only three finished slugs left in my Etsy shop, for now, as I'm writing this.

I just put this fuchsia-pink slug up this morning. I named her Holly. I can't figure out if people would prefer to name their own ready-made slug, or if I should just leave that as an option for the custom-made slugs.

Okay, just checking in, and now I've got to get back to work! Hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

The holiday parade of slugs marches on

These are some of the "Hug Me! Slugs" that went out on Thursday and Friday this week. That's "Laylee" above, in medium pink. I'm busy at work on quite a few more.

My goal is to get them all out to their new homes this week. There may be some more orders though. So, hopefully, I'll have the ones that have already been ordered done midweek.

The orange slug above is for a little one who loves looking at pictures of my slugs. He coos and squeals when he sees them on the computer. His mom is excited to get him a real one for Christmas.

My birthday is this coming Friday. I don't know if I'll get the day off. I'd like to make sure everyone gets their slugs for Christmas.

I've been trying to make a few extras, for last minute shoppers, but the current shoppers have already shopped in my stash of extras. I'm going to keep trying to add to that group of slug standby's. I've got some new colors to add too, like the bright yellow, and the bright tomato red, that are drying on the rack shown above.

Thanks everyone, for your orders! It's been great. I'm enjoying making toys and hearing from you. I know I say it often, but I hope you know that I really do appreciate it. Being able to do something that spreads a little happiness around is a great pleasure.

Christmas Parade

I made sure to get back from running errands on time to take my mom to the Christmas parade in town, this past weekend. Seeing as how I feel like one of Santa's elves lately, with all the toy making, I could hardly miss seeing him.

As always, there were lots of vehicles, starting with these great tractors, all shiny and polished by their owners for the parade.

Then, of course, there were the motorcycles.

This one says "Jesus in Lord" on the side.

Some of these guys look pretty serious.

I'm not sure if this gentleman is pointing to the star on his Christmas tree or if he is just having a conversation with someone in the crowd. Maybe he's telling his wife where to meet him at the end of the parade.

There are always the men in the little cars. The one over on the left ran out of steam and had to be towed, just after I took this shot.

There are so many cars, all with waving folks inside. A couple of years ago, the cars that had the hydraulic lifts inside, so they went up and down, were popular, but these with the doors that go up and down, sort of like a jack knife, seem to have taken their place.

There were plenty of homemade floats.

This lady was leading a song as she went by.

The Mary and Joseph float went by. Mary waved and smiled at me.

Lots of kids ride on the floats. They wave more enthusiastically at the beginning of the parade.

Then they get tired, by the end of the parade.

This little girl seems to have run out of waving energy, but her companion is still forging on.

There were at least three beauty queens. They seem to hold up better with their waving. I think they must practice.

This one had a beautiful skirt.

Some of the kids get pretty silly by the end of the parade. This little boy in the firetruck was making all kinds of faces out the window. Another little boy went by yawning.

There were even dogs strutting along in the parade, with their festive red coats.

They seem to have more endurance than some of the kids. But then they didn't have to wave or dance or jump around.

There were even dogs watching the dogs in the parade.

And there was a tiger.

He was helping pass out flyers for the karate school guys.

There were colorful flags,

and kids waving sparkling pom poms. This one was getting tired too, I think.

After just about everyone went by, there was a lull. People started moving into the street, and I thought they might be heading home. When I saw the people in front of us start to dance in the street, I realized they were moving off the curb to get a better look at the Helping Hand Mission Marching Band.

There are lots of dancers and bands in the parade, but the Helping Hand Mission really gets the crowd excited. They stop to perform frequently, which is why there was a lull, I guess. This girl on the left was doing a good job of keeping up with the girls in the group.

I had to step out into the street to get photos at this point. My mom told me there was another guy with a camera squatting down in the middle of the road, and he stayed there until they were almost to him.

They stopped just in front of us to dance and play the drums.

The one guy blows his whistle to signal when they stop or go, I think.

One lady in front of us kept dancing along. When she passed me and realized I had a camera, she looked a little embarrassed. I was enjoying that she was having fun. I felt a little embarrassed that she looked embarrassed.

An army truck went by, driven by a man with such a sweet-faced baby. I tried to get a better photo of her, but they passed by before I knew it.

And for the big finale....Santa, of course! He made sure to wave at everyone. He can't afford to get tired out. He's got lots to do these next couple of weeks!

And so do I! I'll post some of the toys that went out this week. I've got plenty to get ready for transit this coming week!

Tonight people will be lighting the first candle of Hanukkah too...Happy Hanukkah!