New Studio!

Oh busy, busy, busy. I can't believe 4 months has gone by. Quinn is huge, happy, funny, and still growing. We recently started remodeling our front porch into my official "work space". I am so excited- a place I can finally call my own. 

The walls are painted "melted butter"-yum! And the accents are cherry red and crisp white. We gutted everything replaced all the windows, walls, door, ceiling, floor... hoo it was a lot of work! But so worth it.

I have been busy trying to get my etsy shop back up and running, organizing my million tubs of craft stuff, doing full time freelance graphic design, working part time doing secretarial work, being a full time mom, housekeeper, chef, etc... Although I have to say I'm slacking on the housekeeping end.

I will post more photos of the room after all the "stuff" is in it. I made a cute curtain for under the desk out of my grandmas old table cloth. Im not big  on roses but the color and pattern are awesome! Still trying to decide on window coverings. Hubby wants blinds (yuck). I was thinking roman blinds or flirty girly curtains. I bought some awesome vinyl from etsy ( you cans see in the photos) from elephannie.

It has been so fun going through all my treasures that were in storage. I think I need to take a break from garage sales for a while (I brought a LOT of stuff home this summer).

More to come. 

It has been 7 weeks today since our little Quinn was born. It is amazing how fast the time goes by. The first year seems to be filled with new milestones almost every day.  I have to say being a mom is the most rewarding thing in the world. No one can really prepare you for what is in store. The emotion, the love, the tiredness...It is all quite an amazing adventure. I was lucky enough to work from home for these past few weeks and I just started working afternoons doing secretarial work 4 days a week. (Quinn gets to come with me to work!) Life is good.

It's a boy

It's a boy...

Quinn Daniel Thormodsgard

8lbs 4.2oz

22"

16 hours of labor no epidurl

Shop Update April 27th 10 AM

Lots of new items added to my shop. Some vintage some made by me, all fun! Check it out.

When one door closes...

Saturday-Early Evening

Well it is done. We closed Bella Casa for good. Today was our official last day being open. We started our sale the second week in April and were completely liquidated. It is amazing the people you get when a big sale is involved. We came to this conclusion quite rapidly and carried it out quickly and without a lot of fuss. With the increase in demand for my graphic design business, a shaky economy, and a baby on the way it just made sense. I will miss aspects of it but I am looking towards the future with my child and a budding design career (and much more crafting of course). 

I plan on hitting the road and the farmers market towards the end of July with my spoon creations. I am really looking forward to being on my own time schedule-I must admit I feel a little spoiled! After a month or two of being home I am moving into my brand new design office/studio!!! I can hardly wait, it is a little sweet building on the edge of town with a big grassy lot, lots of work benches, and a little porch, and small parking lot. It has been a long awaited dream of mine to have a work space to call my own. I can feel the new ideas coming already! I will also be doing secretarial work (book keeping and such) part time- a girl has to have a little financial security you know.

The baby is getting ready to make its grand appearance any day now. The doctor thinks it will be on the first which would be so cool because that was my grandfather's birthday too. I have been having some braxton hicks contractions and some fatigue. 

My life is in a strange transition-I guess it is true what they say-when one door closes another opens. Good bye to Bella Casa life hello to life as mommy, designer, secretary, crafter, homemaker...I am sure there are a few more hats in there as well. 

Thanks for stopping by my lil ol blog. 

Have a great weekend!

Sunny Friday Stuck Inside

The day at work is winding down so I thought I would slip in a post before the Easter Weekend. This is going to be the first holiday pretty much ever that I have been alone. My parents needed a little getaway so they headed out of town. Dan is still in Florida and my sister, Maria went to South Dakota with some friends and I have to work :(. It's really not that big of a deal I suppose I still have my dog, Chianne to entertain me. I am also taking my two grandmothers out for Easter diner. It really makes me think twice about being alone when I think about them. They have both been widowed for almost 7 years now and spend a lot of time alone in their own homes. I am very fortunate to have such a loving family so close.

I was pleasantly surprised on weds. My set of junior high girls (The Funshine Girls) who I help teach an afterschool program threw me a surprise baby shower! It was really funny they made two sheet cakes and they looked just horrible one with royal blue icing and one with hot pink icing. They must have used an entire bottle of food coloring.  Then we played the poopy diaper game where you have to guess what kind of candy bar was melted into the diaper. They loved it.

I have some big changes coming up soon. Not just with the baby or the house. I will elaborate more on this soon. 

Have a fabulous weekend.

Monday Morning Sunshine

Oh what a beautiful day. Spring is coming! I woke up late this morning well not really late because I didn't have to be to work unitl noon. I am still staying at my parents house which has been fine but I am so ready to get back into my own house. My dad and I spent all day sunday cleaning, organizing, fixing, etc at the house. It feels so good to be over there and the end is finally in sight. Everything has a place now. It is like moving in all over again but some how it feels more real this time. I spent this morning going through boxes and bags of craft materials that I have acquired over the years. There were lots of those good intention projects-you know the ones you start with good intentions of finish and then they end up in the bottom of box somewhere. I was more discerning this time around about getting rid of things I think is do to the nesting need to clean and purge. I find it easier to let go of a lot of the stuff now. I am so excited though, I now have a designated crafting cupboard in my porch. I can't tell you how long I have waited to have a place that was neat, clean, and organized for all my lovely crafting things. 

Dan, my fiance' is still in Florida and will be for about 2.5 more weeks. I really want to have the house looking perfect when he gets home so we can move in and relax before the baby comes which is coming so fast the count down is around 56 days until the little one arrives. Hoo that is exciting and scary and a bit stressful with all the the things that still need to be done.

I am desperately trying to find the time to delve into more silverware bracelets. I have a whole beautiful box of silver plate silverware. Some is as early as 1900!! They take quite the process from beginning to end. I am hoping I can at least get them started this week.

I love this time of the year. It is like a rebirth for everything. I love to walk around town and see the people out late trying to soak up everylast bit of sun and the kids relishing in the extra day light. I feel like I kind of wake up from a winter slumber and want to pursue new things and go on great adventures. Life is good.

A quiet afternoon

I am lucky enough to be able to run my business and do my etsy shop at the same time. The store (Bella Casa) has been steady but quiet today. The sunshine had been teasing me to come out and play all day but unfourtunately it is a inside work day. I have been working on updating my etsy shop today. They had a break down for most of the morning but things seem to be running smoothly now. 

The baby had been like a mexican jumping bean today. I can look at my stomach and see it rolling from side to side- it is almost a surreal experience! I am excited a friend of the family is coming to town and I get to babysit their little boy tonight. It will good practice for the coming months.

I am always trying to come up with new ideas for my shop and lately I have moved away from the resin spoons and more into a higher end with sterling silver spoon handle and fork head bracelets. I have had a lot of positive feedback from family, friends, and etsiers so far. They are a bit time consuming because there are so many steps from beginning to final project. First have to cut off the handles to the correct length, heat treat, drill, holes, file, hammer to shape, polish, and assemble but I must say the end result is quite beautiful. 

This blog is starting out pretty random, it may take me some time to find a niche that works and flows but I will get there.

My life has been in a number of transitions lately. My finance and I are currently living with my parents because our house is under a drastic remodel. My kitchen and living room were gutted, but today the new drywall is being tapped and mudded and the cabinets should be ready to install on weds. It is a bit frustrating because I have that "nesting" urge and I can't get into my own house and start cleaning and preparing for the baby! We just finished the basement remodel so it seems my life has been "under construction" for the last 3 months. The anxiety it subsiding a little bit because I can see the end in sight-finally. 

A new day..A new challenge

So here I am about to post my 1st blog out into cyberspace with all the other bazillions of blogs out there. 1st things 1st. My name is Erin I live in a small town in Montana where I own a small home furnishings and gift store with my mom and have a freelance graphic design business but my 1st love is creating things. I always find myself daydreaming of projects when I should be doing "real" work. I love to dive in and get my hands dirty, make some mistakes, and have some happy outcomes. I make jewelry from recycled silverware including necklace pendants, sterling silver bracelets and much more. I enjoy oil painting, drawing, scrapbooking... just about anything that involves making something. 

I am pregnant with my 1st child who is due in May. I am engaged to the most genuine, hardworking, loving man in the whole world. I have a cute dog named Chianne who is spoiled rotten, and I have an amazing supportive family.

I am off tonite to have dinner with my honey but there will be much more work on the blog to come.