The cobbler's kids....

You know the old tale about the cobbler's kids that have no shoes?  Well, that is how it is in my house when it comes to crafting.

Every night my four year old son goes to bed at 8:00 and my husband follows pretty close behind (sometimes even earlier), so that is when I get started in the craft studio.  It's a chance for me to pass the time instead of watching television on the couch while snacking on bon-bons.  I have a room full of supplies that I love to experiment with. Fabrics, ribbons, beading, paper, yarn, even stuff for candle making!!  But I never get the urge to pull those things out and just sit down to craft with my little boy.  I guess it never really hit me until today when pinned a fun Easter craft onto my Pinterest page for making embroidery floss Easter eggs and I thought to myself "will we really end up doing this?"

So, I sat down and listed all of the possible reasons why I never craft with him.  I'm putting it out there to help me overcome these perceived obstacles and realize I'm missing out on some awesome mommy-son fun time.  Please, don't judge!

The mess.  I am far from a good housekeeper, that's for sure.  But something about purposely making a mess on my dining room table and then realizing I need to clean it up before dinner seems daunting.  I am actually thinking about the after instead of the during.  This probably all started when I first let him finger paint.  Oy.

Boredom.  Whether it is him or me, one of us inevitably loses steam mid-way through and has no desire to finish.  This happens a lot while building Legos.  We start off nicely, with him helping me sort out the different colors and handing me the pieces we need.  Then next thing I know I'm the one totally engrossed in building the Starship Enterprise and he is completely engrossed in The Cat in the Hat.

Frustration.  I will admit that this may be the biggest obstacle to our crafting time.  I take for granted that my son is only four, especially since he talks like he is 40.  So if we are trying to follow instructions to get a specific end result I get a little frustrated when he takes some artistic liberties (or simply doesn't listen to me).  I remember at Christmastime we had some snowman ornaments with adhesive backed pieces which stuck to the white base.  I don't know how many times I would stop him and say "no, that doesn't go there, use this instead."  So what if his snowman had an arm sticking out of its head and a carrot where the arm should be. It was his project and I should have let him do it.  But I'm a control freak and not ready to let him nurture his inner Picasso.

Imagination.  Some crafting projects require imagination and sometimes I just don't have any.  This is also why we don't play house or dress up or any other fun things that a kid likes to do.  I leave that to his dad, who is very good at playing "Army men" for long chunks of time.

Territorial.  Occasionally I need to get something done during the day up in my craft room. The little guy follows me up and loves looking around at all the "stuff."  Then he starts touching it.  And wanting to make things with it.  But it's my stuff!  I need it for a future project!  I swear!  Last night I watched an episode of Hoarders and realized every time the person said "oh I need to keep that in case I ever do such and such" that.is.me.  I have boxes of supplies from crafting projects that I haven't touched in years.  But the minute my son wants it, I say "oh no mommy is going to need those again if I ever decide to make a feather covered tiara with pipe cleaners and rhinestones" (you get the point here...)

Electronics.  This is the worst one to admit to, but I'm putting it out there.  My son and I are both addicted to our electronics   On a Saturday morning it is not unusual to find us sitting side-by-side on the couch with our iPads playing foolish games. Sometimes he looks at mine and asks what different words are laid out on the Scrabble-like game board (I justify this by saying I'm helping him learn to spell). Or he asks me to help him achieve a certain goal in his building game.  But I realize this foolish addiction has got to stop, for both of our sake! Now please don't think all my kid does is sit on the couch and play games, that's not true at all. He has a lot of toys that he plays with, he has karate and swimming classes that keep him active, and when the weather is nice we hit the park.  But his time with his iPad it is definitely time that would be better spent on a project.  At least once mommy gets that first cup of coffee in her system.

So, I wrote this post to lay it all out there and realize I need to start getting more crafty for FUN not just profit.  My son needs it.  I've been feeling really guilty about it and it's time I take action, especially when he told his teacher that I should come into class and make a craft with his friends.  I can't come up with a single idea of something I can make with a group of three and four year olds!  Last year I went to his class and taught them how to make lollipop ghosts with tissues and pipe cleaners at Halloween, but that isn't  going to fly this time around.  Looks like I'll be "pinning" a lot more and testing them out with my son on the weekends....NO EXCUSES THIS TIME!  And to keep me honest, I'll post pictures of the end results.... no matter how messy they come out!

If you have any great toddler craft ideas (that can be done with a large group, and with little mess or prep) please comment!

Let him alone for just a few minutes....

Mess in the making

NO!  NOT MY STUFF!

Necessity is the mother of invention

I know towels that hang from the stove handle aren't a new "invention" and there are lots out there.  But it's new for ME and that's what is important right?

It drives me crazy when I have a towel hanging from my oven and it slips off.  I usually just have them there for aesthetics, but it's still frustrating to always be fixing them so they look "just right."  I've been meaning to whip something up that will stay put and match my kitchen.  Here is the first pass and it met half of my requirements (my kitchen is more green and burgundy but I wanted to try my idea out with some ribbon that I had on hand).  A few more tweaks and I'll love the outcome! I did do a search on Etsy and there were similar items, but nothing that I saw quite like this with the ribbon along both edges.

I'd love to hear what you think.  Is this a product you would be interested in?  My goal is to also use some fabrics instead of ribbon so the possibilities for matching color schemes is greater, plus with fabric the towels become more functional.  Many of my fun ribbon prints do not hold up very well to repeated washings.  However I do think some lined with my favorite New England teams (Patriots, Red Sox and Bruins) would be adorable for a sports fan!  

So, is a new product line for Joatmon Creations born again???

My reputation precedes me

Today my four year old needed to take something to preschool for their "Leprechaun Trap."  Apparently the class has a pint size pixie wreaking havoc on their classroom at night.

At first I made the little guy a new bow tie to wear, thinking that would be intriguing to him if he saw it in the trap.  "Oh no, mommy.  That's much too big!  he is only this size" (squeezing his thumb and index finger within an inch of each other).  So back to the drawing board!  We searched through all of my craft items and my son, "CD", was picking out any small green supplies that he could find, whether they would be appealing to a leprechaun or not (but then again, who am I to determine what a mythical creature would enjoy, right)?

Finally he decided that maybe the leprechaun needed a new bed.  So we searched around for the perfect sized gift box.  We found one that formerly housed jewelry, so it already had the padding which served as a mattress.  We then added a green speckled bed spread and a felt pillow, which he helped me sew (he handles the pedal while I maneuver the material through the machine).  Finally he went through all of my miniature pieces and picked out two items that served as stuffed animals for the new owner. It was pretty cute and I was proud of him for coming up with a different idea.

He brought it to school today and the teachers told him how much they loved it.  He then said "maybe some day my mommy can come into school and do a craft with us all!'  As he told me this idea he ran up to me and gave me giant hug around my legs with a look of pride in his eyes.

So...tell me, how can you resist that?  Now to come up with something to make with a group of 4 year olds!

The bow tie I originally made for the Leprechaun

His new bed and "stuffed" animals

Everything is coming up DISNEY!

I love making custom creations for people. They always make me happy.  But the ones that make me the happiest...and the saddest...are the Disney items.  So many people seem to be taking trips to Disney lately and they want to be all decked out in Mickey!  I can't say that I blame them!  My Mickey and Minnie headband covers have exploded over the past few months.  I have yards and yards and yards of ribbon that were special requests from customers and it's waiting for new home (or vacation).

But as I said, it also makes me sad because I really miss the Magic Kingdom.  After all, it holds a very special place in my heart.  A little over 8 years ago, on December 31, 2004, my now-husband proposed to me in the gazebo at Port Orleans!!

We were on a family trip and heading to dinner on Pleasure Island when we stopped for a photo.  My dad was fumbling with the camera (which was unusual since he always set it up without incident to take group photos using the timer).  So while he was trying to figure it out my guy stepped forward and thanked my family for inviting him on the trip even though he wasn't part of the family.  Then he added "but I would like to change that," as he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in front of my parents, sister, brother in law, aunt, uncle and cousin.  And for a family oriented person like me....that was just PERFECT.

Oh, and you may be wondering if my dad ever figured out the camera.  Well he was actually video taping it the whole time.  My husband met with him a month earlier to ask his permission (very old fashioned) and they concocted the whole plan.

So.... maybe now you will know why every time I create something with a Disney theme, it sends me back in time just a little bit!!  And I love every minute of it!!!

Diaper Derby, February 16th

A new year, a new venture!

I spent 2012 building up my business to a bigger level than it was the year before (isn't that how it is supposed to be anyway)?  I got my name in the local newspaper for my Patriots headbands last February.  I started a number of new product lines that really took off (key fobs, reversible interchangeable headbands, dog collars).  I even got my feet wet with some craft fairs again (it had been years since I wanted to do another one).  It really got me excited for things to come in 2013.

One of my goals for this year is to get my products into a few shops.  I have a some contacts that are interested in different items and soon I will be visiting them to see how we can help each other.  It's exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time!

But first I will be setting up a table at a local MALL during their annual Diaper Derby event.  How fun will that be?  My son is a bit old to participate since he is four :-)  but it will be hilarious to watch those little diaper clad bums scoot down the "track" to their awaiting parents.  And I will be right there with my pacifier clips and tooth fairy pillows encouraging them on!  Crazy to think about!!

So, if you are in the North Shore area on Saturday February 16th please stop by the Liberty Tree Mall to see me.  You need to go to the mall for other things anyway, right?  I would love to meet you!

Christmas already?

When I was younger (in the 1970's) it was so much fun to see all of the holiday decorations that were put up after Thanksgiving.  It meant Christmas was coming within the next few weeks and all of the parties would be starting.  I loved driving around town and seeing the lights glistening off the snow.  It was a very exciting and happy time.

But when did Christmas start arriving in November? Or worse yet, in October??   I know it's been happening gradually over the last few years, but it just seems like each time it gets earlier and earlier.  My husband was at the airport today and he said they have already started decorating there! It is November 9th!  Slow down a bit and let's enjoy Thanksgiving first!

One of the biggest problems that I have with decorating this soon is the fact that it gets old really quick.  I no longer have that excitement when I drive around town, because it doesn't signal that Christmas is right around the corner.  I know it is still just a little over a month away and that is pretty close, but it's not within weeks.  It just feels like the excitement will be gone by the time I'm really ready to enjoy it.

Well, with all that being said, I'm gradually adding some holiday themed items to my Etsy shop.  Right now I have a Charlie Brown Christmas headband and a Christmas tree key fob.  But that is the extent of my holiday items so far.  I'm still holding out hope that there is still a little interest in my Autumn items. too.  I guess I'll be stubborn for a little while longer.

But I suppose it is time to face facts...pretty soon Holiday decorations will just stay up all year long.

"BOO" Ties

Looking for a little something to dress up a special boy in October?  How about this cute, yet classy ghost bow tie?  The best part about it?  IT GLOWS!!  

The strap has Velcro which makes it easy to put on...and take off, which is important when we are dressing squirmy toddlers.  It will also grow with the child so he can wear it each year around Halloween.

Check out the listing in my Etsy shop:  www.etsy.com/listing/111942002/glow-in-the-dark-ghost-halloween-bow-tie