Just Pretend You had a Good Night's Sleep!

Today I found myself on Barbara Brabec's website after putting her great book "the crafts business answer book" down for a minute and I really dig all the fabulous and down to earth advice she has on her website!

 

I am guilty of being a creative insomniac.  Actually when I start sleeping full nights of sleep, I worry about my spark not returning.  I try to just allow my mind / body whatever sleep it needs or doesn't need!

 

Read Why Creative People are Sleep-Deprived--and What to Do About It along with other useful articles for crafty biz types!

 

Enjoy the day!

 

Sadie from allnaturalme.com

 

 

Go Girl!

The new Rosie - painted for me by my little sister.  Thanks Betsy!!  I love it.

 

This is Motherhood.

And it is so much fun!!!!

:)

Book Binding 101 - Making my own books.

No I don't yet.... but I've been seriously entertaining the thought and have a few green ideas floating around in my head. When I save up the $$ to buy all the essentials, I expect the experience to be nothing less than this!!






So here's another video that will inspire me to make a bit of an easier book. In case I want to crawl before I walk :) My son would dig having something like this to make a story in.


Best Homemade Book Binding - Awesome video clips here





Instructables


How to recycle office paper into blank books

Make a 100 page Notebook

Envelope Book

How to bind a book

How to bind your own Hardback Book

Handbound Book




Alright. That should keep me busy for a while.

Mouth Yoga

I am trying to smile more. Really, even aside from reading it in "MOMfulness" by Denise Roy, I KNOW it needs to happen more. I catch glimpses of me in the mirror with my all too serious look that I often carry. What am I - trying to not get wrinkles?? Haha.

So I am trying to smile more about the little things - not just wait until something humorous hits me... because even then, it's more likely to be a smirky grin than a real smile.

I'm definitely a smirker (and in my genetics, a Smurker) with a dominance for my face to have the smirk more or only on the left side of my face.... are there any face readers here? I'm sure that means something like if your mouth has left side tendencies, you are most likely to be a self centered bitch who has incredible passions for recycling, dark chocolate and India food.

It sounds believeable.

Cheap Ass Valentine


Should be noted for all you poor fuckers out there, that back rubs, compliments and sweet kisses are free and are graciously received on Valentines and every other common day.

For crying out loud - Spread the love!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Buy something from me! I'll plant a fucking tree!!

Really? I've been to so many websites this week toting the phrase "For every blah-blah, we'll plant a tree!" And I couldn't help but wonder if these eco-biz-folks are really digging up some dirt planting trees??

So I actually clicked a link today to find out more and it looks like they are getting some international tree planting website to vouch for them. I dunno. Seems like everyone is jumping on the eco-bandwagon and pulling tons of green shit from their asses just to get more sales.

If you want to plant a goddamn tree, then plant a fuckin tree because you want to - not because someone purchases one your handmade *eco-friendly* bags.

And if you're going to promote that people in India are planting your commercialism funded save the fuckin earth trees..... then I hope you've racked up a few carbon points, flown there and seen for YOURSELF that those green fuckers are being planted.

Thanks for your business.

Have a nice day.

Homeschoolin' Mama!

The learning has officially begun for the year - we started early because we are big info sucking dorks and actually like to "do school" as my little guy puts it.

It's fun - it's eclectic - sorta Waldorf - definitely child centered and led.

We love to learn.

Am I for real??



Really??



3 days before the birth of my baby...was I really posting stupid "my porn name is..." posts??



Well I will certainly blame that on crazy sleepless "when is this baby coming out" nights and extreme boredom! and even though I very much want to delete it - I'm going to leave it there to be reminded that careless posting can lead to embarrassing blog moments.



Ha. Let that be a lesson to me.



So yes. The baby DID FINALLY COME OUT!! Not the way I thought either - I ended up having a C-section!! Crazy nuts eh?



But she's beautiful.



Elaine Grace ~

My Porn Star name is....

Your Porn Star Name Is...

Candy Coxx

What's Your Porn Star Name?

Looks like I've been hitting the tanning bed with my new profession.

Funny the only thing tan on me right now is my fat pregnant feet - with a major sandal tan line too! When I take off my sandals - my feet just look dirty.

How to Make a Belly Cast!

First, find a positive helper who's excited to take on the challenge!

Then, make him read the directions while you scarf down something chocolately.

After you cut the pieces of casting material, dip them in hopefully warm water - mine was NOT - just look at my miserable face!

And plaster those babies right onto the big belly.

Try to have fun :)

Freakin' Fleece is driving me nuts!!

So I've been craftin' a bit with the ol' polyester and my machine is not digging it at all! Major issues with skipping stitches and I think I've tried almost everything: using a Stretch needle, changing needles, cleaning the needle, using different tensions, making sure to use a polyester thread, using a long stitch length, using a zig zag stitch, trying different fleece fabrics....

And I have noticed less trouble with the bulkier fleece but the skipping stitches return with thinner fabrics..... what the hell.

So it's such universal bullshit for me too because I made some fleece diaper covers that actually sold on ebay (for more than 99 cents like all the other shit) and it just SO FIGURES that a product that I may actually be able produce that people want, I can't even make - even though I want to.....

What luck I am having.

So I'm starting to put it into my tomorrow-land that I'd like a serger. I've heard that's the machine to properly deal with fleece! Okay so mucho expensive serger - I'm going to manifest you!!

Miss Toilet Scrubber.

Oh yes. I do believe the nesting has begun.

I got the tie hook up!!

Thanks to my local Freecycle for this fat donation of men's ties.

I have some ideas to use the neckties for the straps of tote bags - so we'll see!

If ever created, of course they'll be sold at All Natural Me!

Snippy - Snip -

New bangs for Sadie!

I thought I'd mix up the straight-across snip with a little angle and center point.

I like-y.

No More Soap Slime!!

I love using an all natural bar of soap in the bathroom but I hate how one side of it gets slimy!

Here's the solution:


Glass pebbles in the soap dish - for drainage!

No more gross soap.

We've been cartooned!

La familia is doing great. I'm getting super huge - the cartoon really is not exaggerating!



Ayden's been filling up his 4 year old schedule with dance class, swimming lessons, play dates and homeschool field trips.



Today we toured the Postal Headquarters in DuBois - which I should really put on his blog along with hundreds of other pictures.



Honestly, there really is way too much shit on my 2-do list!!



Much love!

Nursing pads!

Kudos to me ~I made a bunch of nursing pads for the breastfeeding days soon to come!

3 layers of flannel from an old sheet and fleece on the outside for (hopefully) leak proof protection. Just a quickie zig-zag stitch around the edges.