My First Commision Job on Etsy.com!

So, I got the idea from my friend next door to start selling wedding, birthday and other invitations on this website called etsy.com It is where vintage and handmade things are sold. I decided (after much research) to just sell digital copies of my invites until I can afford to print them myself (which will be a while). I format them at 5x7 and sold for between $13-15. I think its a good deal considering you can print the entire thing for the price of a photo house print. PRETTY CHEAP and great for a BUDGET!

So I had been signed up for about a week when I get a message from a mom who wants to comission a custom invitation for her two boys' birthdays. Turns out she has a HUGE fall festival bash for her boys who are both under the age of 4! So, after about a week and ahalf of working with her, we finally have the perfect announcement for her. My custom designs are $30, so I was pretty excited. I have made wedding announcements/invites for a friend or two (as wedding gifts) as well as my own so I figured I have experience enough for this.

The mom LOVED what I came up with so I'm feeling even more confident in my abilities. She was great to work with too.

I can proudly say I have positive feedback on my little etsy shop. I have a little more confidence in my shop now and I think it'll turn out better for making a little extra money for bills versus selling my stuff on ebay

(stuff I no longer use, of course)

www.serendipitidesign.etsy.com

My Shop Web Address!

Happy Birthday Brant

For Brant's Birthday, he wanted to go to Cabela's down in Lehi. He'd been wanting to g for months, just to go and drool a bit over the pretty guns, pretty compound bows, tents, funny hunting shirts, etc. Brant decided to get himself a new hunting shirt that has a beatuiful clearing, a single elk and words RUSH HOUR in big bold letters. He also got a Team RealTree hat that has 1986 on it (his birth year). He was pretty excited about that. He also got the string on his compound bow tightened a bit and got some wax for it. He had a hayday.

We were going to eat there too, but I wasn't too keen on the idea of paying $4.50 for a 6-inch chili dog. I don't care HOW good it is. Brant was a little bummed but I told him it was either eating mediocre food there or eating at Cheesecake Factory. Needless to say, He had his heart set on cheesecake factory. The food there is a bit more worth the cost.

HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY BRANT

Nature Outings

This past weekend, Brant and I had the chance to go for a walk on the Logan River Trail and go fishing.

We sort went when it was a little too dark, so by the time we reached the end, it was really dark.

It was nice just talking, no distractions, and just saying hello to others we passed along the way.

This is what was at the end of the trail. We thought it was kind of cute. It also felt nice knowing we had walked that far and that it was a total of two miles since we had to turn around and go back.

This was a tree near the beginning of the trail. I really liked how the setting sun colors lit it up. I love random photos like that. They're fun and unique.

This was about the time we started the trail. These mountains are why I love living in Utah.

On Saturday, after I got off work, Brant took me up Black Fork Canyon to go fishing. I just sat and read while he fished. He caught a small one, but it was too small to keep. We plan on fishing together on our first anniversary camping trip this weekend.

This is the spot he had chosen earlier while I was at work. It was nice and shady

And me chilaxing in a camp chair, reading the time away.

We'll be taking off early Saturday to get a camping spot. It's probably going to be a busy weekend there because the Bear Lake area is celebrating Raspberry Days. They have the BEST fresh fruit shakes there. Hopefully we can get a good spot.

Recent Projects and Fun

So, I got some inspiration for some creative projects from my friend two doors down, and here are the fruits of my labor! I'm so excited!

These are a set of frames I painted and wrapped in color-coordinating ribbon. I got the color scheme from a piece of scrapbook paper I really like. I especially like the green color. I LOVE green and natural colors, but moreso brighter, more vibrant greens

Here are some closeups so you can see the ribbon.

Here is another project I started. Since Brant and I are on a tighter budget, I thought crocheting an afghan for my niece's birthday would be appropriate. I had leftover yarn so I also made her a scarf. She'll be three. Her birthday is also Brant's birthday.

I have three more frames to paint with a different color scheme. I'm excited to see how they turn out. I'm kind of using the same idea, but I'm going to try something else.

I'm also going to try my luck at designing and printing Wedding Announcements/Invitations for some extra income and so my design and computer skills don't dwindle away. I have a few designs already, it's just getting the rest of the material to sell with it.

My project stuff is all over the living room and it's driving Brant nuts,

but I'm having so much fun!

How does your garden grow....

Brant and I were fortunate enough to get some veggie plants from our friends next door. I had been talking about starting our own little garden since we don't buy a lot of veggies (thank Brant for that one). He seems to be more enthusiastic about eatting FRESH vegetables.

So far we have:

3 green onion plants, 1 bell pepper plant (not sure if its green, yellow, or what) and

1 tomato plant. It's HUGE!!!

Here is a shot of the flowers. I can't wait!! I LOVE fresh tomatoes!

These are the flowers I got for my birthday from Brant's Mom and sisters. Brant told them I wanted to have some flowers to take care of because it was something I always did with my Mom during the summer. She and I would find new creative ways to landscape the yard. It was our "thing". The biggest start was when we landscaped around the two evergreen trees in the front yard. we planted some roses and a juniper-type looking tree (I'll be darned if I can't remember what it's called) in the center. If you were to look down at it, it would look wavy, instead of being in a straight line. Doesn't make much sense to anyone but me, oh well.

Hopefully I can keep everything alive!! Hopefully my green thumb makes itself known.

Some pictures I found.....

I was going through a lot of my pictures, putting them in my scrapbook pile or putting them into photo albums, and I found the pictures from my black belt test on April 18, 2009. I was really excited to find them because I have been wanting to put them in my scrapbook, as well as enlarge one with Master Hall (my teachers' teacher). I scanned them in and I picked out a few of my favorites.

I'm lining up my boards here.Here I am in the process of breaking them. I had to break 8 boards in 10 seconds. I managed to break them all in about 14 because my last break was a little difficult. It was a 360 degree jump back kick. I realize that only means something to me, but its a neat kick.

Here, Jessica and I are sparring. It's like a play-fight without full-on contact. It takes a lot of control to attack without making contact. Light contact is acceptable.

Here I am during a poomse

(a fighting dance trainees practiced to learn how to combine techniques)

My brother Matt, Me, Kathy, (behind her) Master Hall, Lance, and Jessica

Here I am shaking hands with Kathy (My teacher)

Here I am receiving my black belt certificate from Master Hall

And last but not least, I am receiving my black belt, Yahoo!

The Long Awaited Graduation Pictures

Here are some pictures from my graduation, May 2, 2009. I had to get some good scans because I never got digital copies from my mom. Enjoy!

JoAnn Wilson and I, as I receive my degree (actually its just the cover for it, they mail the real thing out later, and I have yet to receive it) I finally earned by Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design!!

Darrin Brooks, Me and Steven Mansfield. Two of my professors
(Don't tell, but Steve is my favorite)

My Hubby and I afterwards (Isn't he cute!?)

Steve and I, just before my name was announced

And here I am walking to my seat before the ceremony began. The white sash is the Stole of Gratitude. It's given by the graduate to the person they feel helped them the most throughout their education. I gave mine to my mom, but she insisted I keep it with my graduation cap and everything.

The lights were REALLY yellow, so no, I did not color my hair or anything. It was great having my and Brant's families there to support me and celebrate with me.

Afterwards we went to Olive Garden to have a nice lunch. There are two parts to the actualy graduation ceremony. The first is a general for all the colleges, and they award honored staff and dignitaries, etc, etc. The Second part is when each college separates for their own ceremony. Luckily, my college (Humanities, Art and Social Science - H.A.S.S) was in that same building and started directly after the first portion. However, they were both long enough that EVERYone was really hungry. I have now been graduated just over 2 months. It's been great. the job market is awful, so I'm staying at Staples. It doesn't pay as much as I would like, but every little bit helps.

Thank you to everyone who came to support me, to those who sent me cards because of the distance, and those who wrote to me.