setting stones.

lately, things have seemed very busy. if it's not work, it's unpacking. if it's not unpacking, it's the mini clamoring for attention. if it's not the mini, it's the husband (usually he's hungry or can't find something.) but i've been carving out some precious ME time lately to explore my newest obsession... setting stones! i'm proud (and sorta shy) to share this stacking ring set - from top to bottom, garnet, amber and turquoise, all set in sterling and accompanied by various simple sterling stacking bands. it's funny though - i would have thought that the mini would not be interested in what i've been doing, but she loves to watch the flame on my torch (she points and says, "HOT!) and takes off with my rawhide mallet whenever she gets the chance.

think it's been worth the sleepless nights this week? i'd like to think so! hopefully soon i'll have them in my shop - once i stop making them for myself!

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thoughts on the mommy track

i always thought that i'd be one of those mothers who would be chomping at the bit to return to their job outside the home. i even told my boss that i'd probably be back early. well, i've surprised everyone - most of all, myself - at how i love being at home with the mini. even though being a stay at home mom is one of the hardest "jobs" i've ever had - and believe me, i've had LOTS - it definitely is the most rewarding. they should PAY moms to stay home and raise their babies!

the husband and i have been through a lot to get to where we are now - about 20 different apartments, career changes, a move cross-country and back, several vehicles, medical conditions, a separation, buying a house, and more credit card debt than i would have liked. however, it is all worth it when i look around at our crooked little house, full of things collected on our journey (and tons of baby stuff!) and the sweet little face of my mini!!!

my boss emailed me yesterday and asked when i'm thinking about returning to work. it made me really sad to give her a date - it's not that i haven't been thinking about it (and sometimes really missing my job!), but i really wished that i could have told her that i wouldn't be coming back at all.

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Late Night Musings...

i know i'm supposed to be sleeping. all the books tell you to sleep when your baby sleeps. but i can't. the mini goes to sleep (and usually, the husband does too), and i hit my second wind. my head gets full of design ideas, random thoughts, things to look up on wikipedia, or i fire up the torch to make a set of rings. i should be sleeping.

instead, i make a new "knotted up" necklace - one of my favourites. i try to drum up some interest in my blog giveaway. (not that i'm posting about this to promote it again) i wonder why it seems like my hair is starting to fall out. i read a chapter of "New Moon", which i am rereading for the second time in preparation for the movie. i start casting a set of maple pods in fine silver. i clean the kitchen and load the dishwasher. i eat some camembert cheese and potato chips, wash it down with chocolate soy milk, then feel guilty. i catch up on some of my bookmarked blogs. i think about how i wish i had named my company something more elegant than "muffin top". i polish my toenails.

but i know that soon the baby will wake up to eat. i will inhale her sweet baby powder smell and put her back into her crib... and finally, crawl into bed myself.

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Tales from the Nursery!

NOTE: you can see the finished nursery here - http://muffintopdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/11/tales-from-nursery-part-two.html

as some of you know, i've been working
with my sister (who is a decorating
WHIZ - she makes me sick because she's so talented and colour-coordinated) to put together the mini's nursery. we've decided on a colour scheme - pinks, greens and whites - and i have all of the major furniture purchased. whoot whoot!

in all honesty, we do a lot over the internet. it is the smartest way for us to do it as busy mommies (i have the mini, she has two and one on the way) - we surf and look for ideas, usually together via the phone, then make our shopping list, then off we go, kids in tow. sometimes, i send her out to get the stuff for me if i'm stuck at home with the baby.

one of the BEST ideas came from tinydecor's blog. a fellow etsian, she and her partner showcase wickedly amazing modern nursery finds - and one of her posts was a tutorial to make an alphabet card display - click on the link for the complete instructions. using Jenn Ski's beautiful alphabet flash cards and a premade stretched canvas, you too can make this amazing wall art for your nursery! i have to admit that i did not follow tinydecor's instructions to the letter because i am so less coordinated than she is - and much more impatient - and i wanted it done NOW!!! i used spray adhesive to adhere the cards to the canvas and it turned out pretty well, if i do say so myself! just a side note - the adhesive i used was very very sticky and somewhat toxic. i did all the spraying outside but still managed to cover my entire left arm and hand with glue. that's partly why my version has such a carefree, quirky (read: not straight) vibe to it - it's hard to place anything straight when you're attached to it!

i can't WAIT to put it up. i can't WAIT for the nursery to be finished - it's been a little bit of a stretch for me to venture into the decorating realm - but i am thoroughly enjoying the process!

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