I recently wrote an article over at Momformation about the guilt you might feel about keeping or tossing out your child’s artwork, part of their Guilt-Free Week series. I want to expand on a few more thoughts, sharing what I do to manage the school work, projects, and crafts that my kids produce. At our [...]

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Examples of unique illustrations you can create.

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Today, the largest sewing event in the United States, the Sew Expo will be opening doors for their 27th year! From March 3rd-6th, the Puyallup Fair and Events Center (1110-9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, WA 98371), right here in Washington State will be open to attendees from all over the world, with over 100 educational seminars, free demos, fashion shows, and over 400 booths and vendors. This not-for-profit educational event is managed by Washington State University and is open to folks with all levels of expertise, from novices to experts. You can attend to stock up on supplies, to learn new techniques, and to connect with others who share a passion for sewing and stitchery!There is even a Pro-Am Sewing Exhibition sponsored by Coats and Clark on Sunday, March 6th showcasing creations on the runway done by sewing “rookies” who have been mentored for the last 3 months by sewing pros. All proceeds from the Exhibition Sunday will be donated to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. If you would like to learn more information about the event, you can visit the Sewing & Stitchery Expo’s website for all the details. And, if you can’t make it this year, you should consider marking it on your calendar for 2012! Main image courtesy of chefranden.

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Do people create in an attempt to process, and survive, a condition that overwhelms them?

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Write Long and Make Stuff Up

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I am feeling rather lazy in the kitchen these days. The thought of a gourmet meal each night does sound dreamy…when someone else washes the dishes or does the actual cooking. A lot of planning and thought goes into fancy meals. Lately I’m just not up for it. Spring is around the corner, and who [...]

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Housekeeping is no fun, but like it or not, if you want a tidy household, the work has gotta’ get done! And much like good housekeeping keeps a tidy home, it’s also wise to do housekeeping to run a tidy business. With that said, today we’re going to cover one especially important aspect of business housekeeping, cross checking your inventory. Inventory management and cross checking your stock, especially after shows and offline events is critical. It can be difficult to deal with and accept, but it’s imperative for you to be aware. Sometimes your inventory can be lost, sometimes your inventory counts are off and sometimes your inventory can actually be stolen from events.To avoid miscalculating your inventory, a smart business housekeeping tip is to cross check your inventory periodically (quarterly is a good idea) to check for accuracy. I personally learned this lesson the hard way recently when I sold an item online that I no longer had in stock. Luckily, I was able to scramble, repurchase the necessary supplies, and fulfill the order, but not without stress and concern that I would have to reach out to my customer and confess that I made a mistake. Had I crossed checked my inventory recently against the items available on my storefront, I would have caught the variance and avoided the nausea! All in all, I learned a valuable lesson on the importance of checking my inventory from time to time. Have you learned any lessons like these the hard way? What other housekeeping tips are you working on for your business?Main image courtesy of 1024greenstreet.

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These mini pots of gold are the perfect little place setting for a St. Patrick’s Day party. You can make these with large pots for a centerpiece or craft them into this miniature version. Supplies for Mini Pot of Gold: small terra cotta pots black paint and brush pipe cleaners in rainbow colors scissors gold [...]

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Neil deGrasse Tyson on making stuff up.

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We’re getting really close to St. Patrick’s Day as March begins tomorrow and rainbows are forming everywhere to get ready for the gold! Last year we mixed up a Milk Rainbow Connection, so this year we’re trying it out with pudding. Supplies for Rainbow Pudding: vanilla pudding food coloring bowl glass 1. Mix up your [...]

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