i still heart moop

moop
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

back in 2008 i purchased the duffel from moop and absolutely loved it.
it was the perfect everything: size, color, pockets, etc.
then i went and had another boy.
needless to say, the duffel just couldn't cut it anymore.
because i loved my first moop bag, i wanted to continue to support them and their small business.
i didn't want something super large, so i ended up with the kid's bookbag.
it served me well, but i had always desired more pockets and i wanted it to hold its shape a little more like the duffel....
enter the small messenger....
it is the same basic size as the kid's bookbag, but with more pockets (YAY!!!!)
it is also lined in the same water-resistant fabric as the duffel which i appreciate.
all in all, moop delivers the perfect bag for me yet again.

fondren after 5

ring a day #40
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

come see me right now (well, give me an hour) in fondren.

i have plenty of pieces that have yet to be photographed and you will be the first to see them!

tonite i was reminded why i focus my energy on arts, eats, and beats.

fondren won't be seeing me again until the fall.

i'm off of drugs

self portrait thursday
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

after miles was born i was prescribed sertraline, but i did not count on it to be a magical cure.
i tried to sleep.
i tried to eat well.
i exercised more regularly than i had in a long time.
i did not obsess over things around the house as much.

it did help, but i decided that it wasn't helping enough for the side effects i now had to deal with.
it made it harder to cry, which can be both a good and bad thing.
it helped me pack on 30lbs which i can't shake.

so, i am attempting to make a go of it without the drugs or at least get on something that might work better if things get bad again.

and i guess i have decided to add in all of life's dirty little secrets, at least for now.

chimneyville

set up 2
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

the show was definitely not what i had hoped and expected.
i am so exhausted and frustrated that it is hard for me to look at things critically.
there are some things that i can improve next year -
not having a 6 month old and really working hard to fill my booth should help
there are some things that the guild should improve next year -
hello, do i really have to pay $2 for a drink???
i guess that since i didn't sell everything at the show, i will be able to list it in my shop for you.

my current alternate life II

32 weeks
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

every day it seems like i am growing and stretching even more.
i am trying to prepare the house, my family, and myself the best that i can.
i have also finished the last two postpartum depression books that i will be reading.

*Postpartum Depression Demystified by Joyce Venis RN & Suzanne McCloskey
The authors both suffered from postpartum depression and wrote the book in an effort to help others. The book seemed to be more of a layman's guide, but was also very thorough.
The first half of the book discusses symptoms and the difference between 'normal' tired mothers and those suffering with postpartum depression. The second half focuses on treatment options and includes self help strategies as well as different types of therapy and medication.
I did not find this book very useful, but it was the fourth on my list. I do think it would be a great book to share with others who really have no clue about postpartum depression as it is super easy to understand and covers most topics.

*The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book by Sandra Poulin
Again, this author suffered with postpartum depression and her goal is to offer support on a topic that is not adequately covered in childbirth education classes.
I found this book helpful because it provides exactly what it describes, support. The book's chapters are broken down by symptoms and then include stories from women who have been there. I found it very reassuring (and scary) to read other women's stories.
Sometimes, its just nice to know we are not alone and that's where this book comes in handy.

*The Postpartum Husband by Karen Kleiman
I bought this one for Ryan and refuse to read it myself.
It may be helpful to know that there is support for husbands/partners who are having to live through it too.

my current alternate life

growing parker was the easy part for me. life after him was very difficult for quite a while. since ryan and i have finally decided to have another, i am preparing myself the best that i can for a better outcome.
i feel that at the very least, parker survived me once and shouldn't have to do it again.
so being the semi-obsessive researcher that i am, i bought some books and thought some reviews might be helpful.


*What Am I Thinking? Having a Baby after Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman
This is the first book that i read (yes, after i was already pregnant.) The author is very nonjudgemental and lays out the important factors that any mother should consider before having another child.
The most useful sections of the book involved questionaires/fill-in-the-blank portions which examined previous symptoms, hang-ups, and helps. Although it was extrememly difficult to relive so many of those things, it will be a major help to have calmly thought about what worked and what did not work last time. Those sections will also be invaluable as ryan will use them as a reference to judge when things are bad and what he can actually do that will make a positive difference.

*The Darkest Days of My Life: Stories of Postpartum Depression by Natasha Mauthner
The author really looks at what the cultural ideals of motherhood are and the conflicting reality for many women. The comparison between women suffering from postpartum depression in Britain and America was very interesting to note.
The book was useful for me because it broke postpartum depression into a very real and personal experience and emphasized the positive affect of communicating with other women. It was also very helpful for me to examine what cultural ideas of motherhood surround me and how realistic they are.

*When Baby Brings the Blues: Getting Through Postpartum Depression by Dr. Ariel Dalfen
The author very throughly explains symptoms and treatment options for postpartum depression.
A large portion of this book was redundant since i have personally dealt with postpartum depression and done a fair bit of research. Although the book covers many (and maybe all) treatment options, I found the section on medication and breastfeeding most useful since other books did not go into as much detail.

new etsymetal earrings...

i cannot get this post layout how i would like...

this month i decided to treat myself to a couple of pair of new earrings from my fellow etsymetalers.
i have to admit that i LOVE them both!!!

caitlyn of disco medusa had a sale recently
and since i have favorited many of her crescent blade earrings i knew that i had to just go for it.
i chose the medium crescent blades and i could not be happier.
i love this design and really wish i was clever enough to think of it on my own
and the medium version is perfect to wear every single day.


the first pair i bought (stupid blogger can't get it right) was the mod leaf earrings from nina dinoff.
there were so many things in nina's shop that i loved, it was hard to decide.
the earrings are very sleek and show off sparkling garnet and smoky quartz.
they are the fanciest earrings i own and will really look nice with my zombie tees.

yes, more yarn

251/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

in the spirit of blogging more, i am trying to get back into the habit of praising all of the WONDERFUL etsy sellers i have dealt with lately.
several weeks ago i found sunriselodgefiberstu on etsy while searching for the perfect handspun yarn.
when i found shannon's shop i was thrilled.
not only did she come up with some great color combos, but her endless skiens (400+ yards!) were very enticing.
several convos later, shannon was working on some custom spins for me and i LOVE them both.
the only bad thing about buying so much yarn, is that i will never get to use all of the scarves i make.

results are in...

results are in...
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

and i got an "eff off."

well, not quite.
i got a "...the tradition of the Craftmen's Guild is more manipulation of the materials by the craftsmen. There are many ways that this can be accomplished with a refining of you craft. The Committee would like to see a demonstration of more complex techniques."
my thoughts...
how can i manipulate the metal more? everything has been forged, formed, sawn, hammered, soldered from stock.
do i need to refine my craft or use more techniques? refining one's craft does not automatically lend itself to more or more complex techniques.
what does more complex techniques mean? seriously, please explain.

at this point i want to cry, yell, break something, break someone, crawl into a hole, and eat chocolate all day.
unfortunately none of these options are overly productive or even possible.
thanks to my friend who plans on holding my hand while i decide exactly how to proceed from here.
and thanks to everyone who buys my work because they love it as much as i do.

i heart moop

233/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have always been in search of the 'perfect' bag.
it needs to be more than a clutch but not a huge messenger or tote.
i had a kid, i want smaller bags now.
i always wanted something stiff enough to keep its shape but not look like a box.
oh, and i think i love grey accessories.
finally, i decided on 'the duffel' from moop.
i have been eyeing her work on etsy and stalking her blog for quite a while.
i have to say that it is a fantastic bag that is just the right size with just the right pockets and even a little waterproof.
how could you go wrong?

still on vacation...

face your manga
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

the rest of the week has been fun, but i just don't have adequate access to upload new pics to my flickr account.
sunday was a semi relaxed day hanging out with nathan and sadie and painting just a little.
monday and tuesday both included a drive and roller coaster rides at king's dominion. i do have to agree with many other people that the park is a great one to visit. it had enough rides for me to enjoy and more than enough for parker to enjoy. hopefully by the time our next trip rolls around parker will have grown a few inches so he can ride even more.
and, i personally have problems with heights (not so much as other people), but did manage to ride 'the drop.' (but only once since i couldn't stop shaking for at least half an hour.)
wednesday we stopped by port discovery which was fun. it had plenty for parker to do and is something that we would probably visit regularly if we lived in the area.
thursday and friday have been full of lego star wars and the greenbriar.

old towne market aka main street market

banana split v2
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

this week i worked on some pieces that i will be submitting the the craftsman guild. i rather stupidly missed the deadline last go round, but i am determined to submit in a week or two.
i also worked on some new things that made it to the old towne market in clinton. the market itself was by the school and had a much better feel than the belhavan market currently does. the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. i didn't need them this weekend, but i am reassured knowing that they are there in the future. the quality of workmanship was also much higher than many of the smaller markets i have done. sales were decent and i imagine that they will pick up when it gets even closer to the holidays. so, definitely a thumbs up. i plan on participating in the market a couple of more times this year as well as next.

beth cyr's cast rings

82/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i LOVE flowers (now who hadn't guessed?)
i contacted beth (one of my fellow etsymetalers) a couple of months ago about getting one of her dandelion wishes wedding bands.
now i am married and have been for a while, so its not like i needed the band. i just loved the idea of dandelion tufts floating around my finger all day.
she whipped up my ring in such a short time and i have barely been a day without wearing it. it so suits my personality that i feel lucky to have found it.

and, if you don't love flowers quite as much as i do, beth also has some wonderful organic pieces and some other options for wedding bands.

my ring obsession

147/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

lately i have been on a ring buying binge.
i've decided that i LOVE them all and that they deserve to be shown off a little more.
my most recent purchase was from brooke of gemmafactrix on etsy. i have four of her bubble rings and have lots of colorful stacking options. they are the perfect combination of happy glass and sleek metal.

hobbledehoy's yarn

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i "know" liz from before the gorgeous handspun yarn starting appearing in her shop and she just sold the silliest buttons ever.
now that she has become a spinning superstar i check her shop obsessively for yarns that i NEED to own.
today i dug through my stash and realized that i own a shockingly small number of her two-plys.
if i had more than $4.50 in my paypal account, i would rectify the problem immediately. but for now i am forced to wait until i sell some earrings before going on the shopping spree that is now inevitable.

having made such a sad confession, my two fav two-plys (at this very moment) are pollen count and ivy frond
and besides such bright, vibrant yarn, liz stocks her shop with LOLbatts for your own creating pleasure

folk tale fiber's yarn

136/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have been stalking abby's yarn shop for quite sometime and often find myself drooling over her happy faux patchwork yarns and wondering what i can create with her self striping yarns.
right now i have a nice little stash of them that are patiently waiting to become something wearable and more loved.
she also creates vegan yarns and will work with you to whip up a custom patchwork.

ms market review (part III)

88/366
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

in a nutshell:

-
*the ms market has a definite asthetic which did not seem to include room for mine
*the market (overall) had very low price points which made it hard to price handmade work reasonably
*although minimum orders were encouraged (and should be required at a wholesale show) many vendors didn't have one
*brochures are not cheap

+
*the staff were extremely helpful and professional prior to the event and during the event.
*the market offers a free workshop on wholesaling
*there was lots of different advertising prior to the show
*the market set-up was again very professional and looked expensive
*a good (and remember i am a picky eater) breakfast was served thursday morning and a great lunch was served both thursday and friday with drinks and snacks available during the day

*i had some custom stands made that look wonderful and i can use them in the future
*i got to meet some silly and sweet vendors that made the market a little more exciting than it normally would be
*and, i knit up a scarf and a half a scarf

*oh, and i will have plenty of pieces that will be going up on etsy this week

so, i guess that if your work fits into the average mississippi/southern home, it is worth a try