I'm such a bad blogger.....

I always come back here and say I'm going to be a better blogger - but lets face it - I'm bad - really bad. I try, but life just gets going and I forget to come back and share. So this year I'm not going to make promises about how much I'll be here or how much I'm going to share. But I will promise to try.

Until then - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SUMMER RECAP

This summer saw a lot of growth at the Island in terms of patterns! We have found some amazing PDF designers and have begun to grow our "stash" of patterns. However, as that stash grew - less time was spent actually SEWING them.  LOL! 

So, the eldest on the Island pointed out that maybe  I should take time and SEW something from those patterns I have begun to hoard. (however if they are all digital no one can see my hording right?) 

I thought today would be a good day to take a break and recap some of the patterns sewn over the summer.......

VFT Josephine

Funktional threads Knit UPcycles

Wonderfully Made 4 You One shoulder Dress

Tumble & Twirl Shorts (so much cheaper to make our own for dance)

Aivilo Charlotte Pleated Skirt

Can't leave the little man out - Peak a boo Pattern Shop Classic Chinos

I had so much fun stepping out and doing new things! I did more - but as I realize now I didn't photograph them! And there are all the items that have been loaded into the Etsy shop and all the customs that are off at their new home! 

WOW! So I knew I had neglected my blog, but I really had no idea that I had totally ABANDONED it!! I am really going to try and revitalize it and I hope to have some help. I plan on having the eldest Monkey guest post here & there to keep you all updated on what is going on around the island. She is learning about blogging at school and she's a good writer so I told her she can help out here and blog for me. 

So in the next few days we will have a bunch of new posts so you can see what we've been up to here and where we are going! 

Welcome to May!

OK , I'll admit it - I am not a very good Blog writer. I try, but really - I'd rather take the time to create something than write about creating it. But I'm going to get better - promise!

The last few months have seen the Island grow in wonderful ways. We have added new offerings and grown in fans. In the coming months I hope to continue that trend. We have had giveaway weekend and freebie Fridays and "Grab boxes" of bows & hair accessories.  Who knows whats to come - my mind is in overdrive 1/2 the time and even I am not sure which way we are going next.

I can tell you that when the Island has 100 Fans (likes etc) over on Facebook, we will be having another fun "giveaway weekend"  Those that joined in back for our "Super Saturday & Sunday" had lots of fun and most went away with something new.  Other than that we are gearing up for a few "in person" sales - so you may not see us again til June ;-)

Welcome to 2012!

We are kicking off 2012 with a BOW GIVEAWAY!

13~ 3" bows! Completely FREE! all you have to do is check out the Facebook page to find where to enter and stop back here to see if you won on Jan 14th!

Happy New Year!

OK, So I know it's really not the new year yet, but I am gearing up for it!

I have been thinking and planning for months about things I want to do & offer this year. In no particular order....

~Grow my facebook page
~Have a steady flow of orders/work (While this year was my best by far - I want to grow it and even it out more. It seamed to come in bunches)
~Make time to work on non orders (So often I find myself only doing things when I have orders - to grow I need to work more consistently)
~take one day a week to blog (it will allow me to share what I've done to where we are going or what is up)
~Have giveaways. I'm not sure yet how often I will do them but I do know I am starting the year off with one! It will have to do with bows & will be up on Facebook on Saturday 12-31-11.

So that's where I am these days.  I have spent this past week cleaning up my space and am so excited to get moving into 2012! Stay with me and we can ride the boat together, Who knows what sights we'll see!

Ever have 1000 things running through your head & you don't which way to go? That's me this time of year. There are all these things I WANT to get done. But there are not enough child free hours in a day to get them all done. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE my monkeys. But sometimes them wanting to "help" is a little more than I can take and slows me down a ton.

My projects this time of year are broken down into groups. Things I need to do as "child free" as possible. (This would include putting clips on bows or finishing them, Korkers & anything that requires detail or alot of thinking. LOL!)

Things I can do @ work. The nice thing about owning you're own business is you can kinda set your own rules. Hubby has been saying for years I should just take it with me to work. This year I listened and it's slow going - but I'm managing. So while there isn't alot I can take with me, I can do basic bows or some of my finishing work there. Whatever I take I just have to be able to do quick and set down in a moments notice.

Then there is the things I can do with multiple monkeys hanging out & being loud. This is where most of things fall. I try to do all the cutting of things while they are engrossed in TV or playing so that the basic sewing can be done even if one or more are underfoot. 

So this is why I always have 500 fires burning at one time. ;) (and another 500 smoldering.....)