Let the moving begin!!!

It's an excited day here!  Not only is it "Crochet Monday" but I am starting the move-in process back into my newly finished studio.  It is complete with authentic rustic beams and a stone wall.  The fireplace will also be in soon.

It's been a long, fun process.  I am very grateful that we are coming to an end.  As this business has grown, I have realized just how important organization and a designated work space can be.

Here is a little sneak peak of what we have done.  This room was only studs.  We did most of the work ourselves and it makes it that much sweeter.  I do have to thank my husband for putting up with my creative visions and thank God for giving him his abilities to bring my visions to life.

Baby A Duds is very excited to call this place home.

Please excuse the pics.  They aren't the best but I was excited to share them with you.  I will share more once we are finished moving in.

Have a great Monday everyone.

Spring Forward.....

Well, Happy Wednesday to all!  I don't know about you but this time change is really putting in a funk. I'm naturally an early riser but with this new time I feel like I'm already an hour behind when I wake up.  Hate that feeling!!!!!

Since this new time signals spring time ahead, I thought I would try to post some spring/summer items that I have showcased in the past.  I'm hoping it gets me in the spring mood. ( We had snow in KC yesterday! )  Hurry up Spring!

I cute little bunny should get everybody feelin' Springy, right?

And a sweet little model to brighten your day!  How stinkin' cute is she?

We've also got some great Spring/Summer sets coming out this year.  Here's a little peak...

Have a great day!  Hope you've got some warm weather in your area.  The sun is peaking out here and we are expecting a warm-up.  Looking forward to the weekend!!!

New toys!!!!!

We have a new toy!  A few weeks ago I purchased an embroidery machine.  We have been having too much fun to post.  I haven't posted much lately and now you know why.   I wanted to share a few pics with you.  These are some of our practice items but we are really enjoying the process.

Snow Day Sale!!!!! Free shipping on all purchases today.

Today Only!!!!  Free shipping on all orders.

Happy Snow Day!!!  

To celebrate our beautiful, white gift from Mother Nature we will be doing several flash sales today.  Free shipping all day, too.  

No codes, no "liking" or "sharing" to win.  

Check in on our Facebook page to see our sales.

We hope everyone is staying warm and safe.  To all the kids, get out and enjoy it.  We don't get snows like this that often.  I can't wait to get out there myself!

It's Monday.....

So it's Monday again.  After an exhausting weekend of remodeling my parents bathroom my hands are too sore to do much stitching today.  Our project turned out great but now my husband and I are paying the price.  I will post before and after pics once we put the finishing touches on a few things.

How was your weekend?  Great, I hope!  What did you do?  Anyone getting Spring Fever, yet?  I know I am.  I've already been fantasizing about that wonderful day when the nurseries start putting out their plants, the world becomes green again and I can get outside with my boys and play in the dirt.  We are all looking forward some sun therapy in my house.  I wish I could work in a trip to Gulf Shores right now.  Just a short visit to that gorgeous place is usually just what the doctor ordered for me and my family.

On the craft front, we have some exciting stuff going on.  Just ordered our first embroidery machine.  We settled on a Brother after lots of reviewing and traveling around to several shops.  We are hoping to LOVE it.  It's going to be a fun new adventure!

We will be at a charity show on March 22.  Looks like it's time to start getting ready for that.  Bring on the Spring fashions.  That should be fun!  Bright colors and soft, lightweight materials are gorgeous this year.  I'm also loving the retro pattern funk that is making a comeback this year!

I want to wish one of my friends safe travels as she is sightseeing this week.  Have fun and come home safe!  I need my knitting lessons! ;)

Have a great Monday everyone.  For those of you who get the day off, ENJOY!

The Sweetheart Dress

A big "Thanks" to Miss Allie today!  She was a great little model today!

We will be doing more of these dresses.  The top is crocheted and has a great pattern.  She is sporting a cute little shrug since it was kind of chilly but the tank style dress is perfect for summer!  

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Good morning.  Good morning.  Good morning!

Posting early this morning before heading to work.  I hope everyone has a great day!

Check in with us later to see a picture of my V-Day creation this week.  One of my favorite neighbors will be sporting it today.  I can't wait to see her!

After work, I'm off to my oldest son's daycare for a quick V-Day project....Cheerio bird feeders in heart shapes.  Should be fun!

Well, I guess it's time to sign off and get to work.

Happy Valentine's Day to all... single, married, taken.  It's a day to celebrate the love we all have in our lives.  Have a good one!

U.F.O. Day

That's right.  I am declaring today U.F.O.  day.  For you crafties out there, you know what it is.  No, not a day NASA has created but today is the day to finish some of those projects you have hanging around the house that were a great idea when you started them but they have been neglected for too long.

I am challenging myself to finish two UnFinished Objects today!  If all goes well, I might just make this a Monday ritual.  I'm thinking it might be a good way to start a new week;  actually getting something accomplished and looking forward to Monday.  Who knows......we may start to look forward to Mondays! (Stranger things have happened!)

So, dig in those yarn bags, sewing stashes, needlepoint baskets.  Whatever your talent, I'm almost certain you've got U.F.Os laying around.  If you have hidden the nasty little items from yourself in an effort to forget them, then face your fears and dig them out.  Just think, once you get them finished you can reward yourself my starting a new project.  We all love to start a new project!!!!  It's just the nature of the creativity beast that lurks inside of us.

Have a great day, everyone!!!!!!

The Early Bird.....

We are all checked in and just waiting on Mom's procedure.  All is well so far.  I'm on my second cup of coffee  and getting ready to tear into this mountain of yarn I brought with me.  Ever noticed how many people look at you like you have just sprouted a second nose when you show up with a huge bag of yarn?  It always cracks me up.

I want to send a big shout out to my neighbor for watching my kiddos this a.m.  All these nice folks in the waiting room thank you, too. :)

Two Cups Kind Of Morning!!!

Yep, I'm working on my second cup of coffee and looking at the dreary, rainy day.  Such a stark contrast to the beautiful day we had yesterday.  I do love the rain but it does present some challenges with all these boys.  Looks like I'm probably in for lots of sword fights and light saber wars today.  I do love a good light saber duel! :0

Still browsing some patterns for the Summer Collection.  I've made a little more progress so that feels pretty great.  Still lots more to get done but slow and steady, right?

After our park excursion, I whipped up a couple of these sweet little purses.  Super quick and very easy.  A great pattern, too.  I love her fun new uses for the classic Granny Squares. Thanks Sara!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-stripe-boutique-bag

I'm still attempting to organize my business but it is proving to be a very difficult task.  I'm really horrible at it.  Maybe I can talk one of my friends into a little help.  Speaking of organizing, a few of my really good friends have started a business venture.  They are super talented decorators and they are ready to make a break from their current careers.  They will specialize in home staging, seasonal decorating, organization, paint/color/style consultations and outdoor recommendations to increase the curb appeal of your home.  If you are looking for any of these services you should show them some love.  They will be running lots of start up specials over the next few months.  You can find them on Twitter @ #Nulookfreshdesigns.

Have a wonderful day!

Spring is almost here. What a GORGEOUS day!!!

Just got back from the park with all the boys.  It is a really gorgeous day considering it is Feb in Missouri.  Had a little picnic. Ran off some energy and now all four of them are catchin' some zzz's.  I can't believe it but it's almost too quite around here.

Since I 've got some time without interruption, I thought I would tackle our Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter lines.  I'm trying to get into some sort of system that is easier to streamline our production process.  There are so many cute things out there that it is so hard to narrow things down.  Any suggestions on how to streamline the process?  Any advice is greatly appreciated.  I'm hoping to post the lines soon but not sure how realistic that is.  Well, back to attempting to organize my thoughts.  This might be one of the toughest challenges I've faced in a while.  Wish me luck! ;)

Another Chilly Tuesday

Good morning!

It's another chilly one here in KC.  Sounds like there is hope for a warm up over the next few days.  (Yay!!! :)  I tried to convince myself that spring was here and went for a run yesterday during our tropical heat wave of 34 degrees.  It didn't work......run felt good but it was COLD!  So ready to get back out and hit the pavement when we start seeing some warmer temps.  I really have a hate/hate relationship with the treadmill so that's not even an option these days.

Still enjoying my week off from work and looking forward to some much needed time with my nephews.  This time tomorrow, we will have 4 little boys under 5 running, playing, sword fighting, making all those boy noises that us girls will never understand, and just having a general all out super hero fest.  Hoping to get them outside, weather permitting, and throw in some other fun stuff.

Well, I'm off to buy some yarn with my little guys. Yay for me! ;) It's always a treat to get to indulge in a few fun fibers.

TTFN!

Happy Monday!!!!  Baby A Duds is back!!!!

Well, it's been awhile since I have posted but I'm feeling inspired this morning.  Maybe it's the coffee but I'm hoping that the good vibes keep flowing all day.  Fingers crossed!

Lots of changes are going on here.  I don't even know where to start.  I've been struggling to strive some sort of healthy balance between work, home and health for several months.  It's been an uphill battle but I finally had one of those "ah-ha" moments a few days ago and things just started to become cleared to me.  That being said, I've decided that I have been seeking out the wrong answers to my struggles with balance.

I've always been a rather "free-spirited" person who is much better suited for last minute parties and impromptu get togethers then "stuffy" planned events.  I say "stuffy"  because what fun it that, right?!  Wrong!!!!  A big WRONG!!!!  Apparently I do need a schedule and I might possibly make this little business a career with a few changes.  Now this may sound like....DUH but, I have been seriously considering closing my business and sticking to my actual profession.  I'm a nurse by trade and I've always, always, always felt that I chose the right job but this darn creative streak that I have keeps rearing it's ugly head at me and making me wonder if I am destined for something else.

As I love nursing, my patients, my colleagues and the general nature of the job, I have decided that I am not the same person that I was all those years ago when I was bustling around a busy emergency room jumping from helicopter to ambulance to trauma bay.  As much as I am so thankful for those experiences and education, I also realize that I need to make a change for me and my family.  I don't plan to leave nursing but I think it may be my hobby and my "little business" is the next chapter in my life.  Wow......that feels good to say!!!!

Now, it's time to try to wrangle this creative beast into a manageable form and make it productive.  Let me tell you, that is NO small feat!  It actually really is a challenge for me!!!!!

Well, I'm off to attempt to "structure" (yuck!!!) a business plan and new lines for the upcoming seasons.

Also going to try to find my Zen today and get to yoga. Nothing gets me more centered and focused that a great booty kicking yoga class! :)

Namaste!