Provision

Last month one of my tree necklaces was on display in a local coffee shop art show.  When I went to see the exhibit on opening day I was delighted to see that my necklace had already been sold! But when the art director brought my piece back to me at the end of the art show she didn't know who had bought it.  However, she did make an offer.

"I'll ask the people at The Coffee Cottage if they know anything.  And if we don't find out, I'll buy it.  It's beautiful!" 

It turned out that coffee shop people didn't know who the mystery buyer was, either.  So the art director stopped by with $30 and took the tree necklace. 

With that $30 I purchased fabric for Bloom Brooches and pearls for Poppy and Pearls necklaces.

A few days later, I needed silver chain, clasps, and hair clips.  And I sold a pair of earrings.  Another $20 for supplies.

On the day I decided to visit some thrift stores to get display items two more orders came in.  The money was provided.

I have one week until the Christmas Bazaar and Ruby Willow has $5 to its name.  I still need to purchase my packaging supplies and more chain.  I admit, I fretted about money last night.  Despite that list of provision above, I actually worried that I would not get what I needed.

This morning I recieved an email from The Coffee Cottage:

Jeana,

The mystery of the sold necklace is now solved! A youngster bought it, with her allowance! She will be coming in to the coffee cottage on Monday to get it.

I'll have $30 more dollars in my pocket on Monday (after making a new tree necklace of course!).

How awesome is God!

Vacuums and Bazaars

The appliance mutiny continues.  Our vacuum cleaner should simply be renamed The Vacuum Messer because it leaves more dirt on the floor than was there before the attempted vacuuming.   My neighbor let me borrow her Dyson vacuum cleaner and my floors look amazing...for now.  I asked Geary if we could get a Dyson with our tax return money.

I really enjoy my creative outlets of jewelry making and sewing.  My little etsy shop has given me a nice little bit of "pocket money" to buy new supplies or even a new outfit here and there.  It's nice to be able to get something for myself without interrupting the family budget.  I know Geary appreciates that, too.

My friends have been amazing advertisers for my work.  I now have two opportunities to sell my jewelry at local shops.  It's exciting but at this point still something I haven't faced head on.  I have not talked to the shop owners.  I have not made inventory to take to their shops.  I haven't had time to do any more than the orders that come in from my etsy shop. 

The Newberg MOPS group is holding a holiday Bazaar and I'm going to participate.  It's funny...I set up my etsy shop that so that I could replicate a few designs over and over and therefore not have my house full of inventory just sitting around.  But for the bazaar I need a lot of inventory sitting around.  The bazaar is on the 20th so these next two weeks are going to be full of creating stuff.  It will be good though.  Because once I have that inventory (and packaging, and display) I can send my work to other craft fairs and maybe even have some stuff to bring in to those two shops.

And maybe...just maybe, God will grant me success and I will make enough money to buy my own Dyson without interrupting the family budget and the little yellow Linhart house can have clean floors all the time.  Well...most of the time.

Pronunciation

Noah (almost 8):  Some of the native tribes Lewis and Clark met on their journey were the Oto, the Show Shone, and the Misery.

Jeana:  Good.  But they're pronounced shuh-SHOW-knee and mih-ZUR-ee.

Noah:  I know.  I was just being sar-TAS-tic.