Big Step

Things have begun to happen on the music part of my life, so I thought I'd share the process here. It's been a dream of mine for a while to start a steel band in a school or community setting. I got my Masters in Steel Pan, so I'm trying to get one started. I've had several organizations, a music school and community center contact me about this possibility, but for various reasons, it never happened. I figured if I want it to happen I'm going to have to rent a space somewhere, and that wouldn't happen for many, many years.

Yesterday I was talking to someone from my church and he threw out the idea of having a community steel band at the church! Whoa, that's huge! A facility to rehearse in is a major step. The next step is to get instruments (very expensive) and figure out how I want to fund this. Do I want to form a non-profit organization, or a normal business, kind of like a music store that teaches classes?

I went to the library and picked up some books on non profits, writing grants and starting a business. I need to weigh my options and figure out what will work best. With a non-profit it's easier to get donations, and government grants are only for non-profit organizations. But I feel a little overwhelmed by the amount of work and bookeeping that goes into it, and being just one person, that's scary! I'd like to get my husband involved so he can quit his day job, but he doesn't have the same knowledge of steel pan that I do. He is a great musician though, so there is a role we could find, plus just helping me with the bookeeping and business details. We're still in the infant stages with this and there's a lot of work to do. I'm excited and I feel a new sense of motivation that I had kind of lost since graduating last may. Now that one major step has happened it doesn't seem as much like a distant dream.

I also wanted to share some new stamps with you!

 These were so fun to make! They are a set of 9 stamps, 3 for each robot and you can mix and match them with different colors and body parts!

Crazy Days

Don't you hate it when you check a blog and they haven't updated in many days? Ack! I know, that's this blog and I'm sorry! Things have been busy, which is good, but unfortunately had to put the blog on the back burner. I also need to post results for the giveaway and I promise I will soon. Just wanted to apologize for being non-existent here.

I have been playing some gigs which is definitely a good thing. I'm thinking of applying to work at our local library part time because I need the work and it's walking distance, which is great since I share a car with my husband. Well, that's it for now!

I was featured in a local newspaper!

Oh my goodness! I was featured in a local magazine/newspaper! I am so thrilled right now after reading this awesome feature about my hand carved stamps. Please take a look if you can HERE.

**Super Mega Ultra GIVEAWAY!!!****

This giveaway is huge! The winner will receive 1 hand carved cupcake stamp, 1 hand carved bird cage stamp and some journaling spots for scrapbooking! Scroll down for entry rules.



To Enter:

Go to my shop, come back here and tell me what your favorite item is. Remember to leave your email or other way to contact you.

You will receive EXTRA entries for the following (these are not required for your first entry, but will get you extra entries):

1.ONE extra entry for following my blog. Leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

2.ONE extra entry for writing about this giveaway in your blog and linking to this giveaway. Leave a separate comment with your blog link.

3. FOUR extra entries for making a purchase from my shop! Wow, 4 extras!

Giveaway will close on Saturday, March 14th. Open to U.S. and Canada only.

Peep show

I was doing some research for my next stamps, trying to get some ideas, and somehow stumbled across this, made all of peeps. It's just too hilarious not to share! It's Jesus' image made all of peeps.

Spring is coming!

WOO HOO! Our high temperature today is 72 in Kansas City, MO! I'm so excited! I absolutely love when the air starts to turn warm this time of year. It's like starting over. Every year I feel like the end of winter and the entrance of spring means new things to come. We have a rental house and outside have noticed some kind of plants sprouting up. Who knows what they are, but it's still fun to see! Here they are, with my kitty Maddux

We want to plant some flowers in the front this year, and we're going to attempt to grow some veggies in the back in containers. I think we're going to try tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and red bell peppers. I've read these are the easiest for newbies, except maybe the red peppers. We love bell peppers, and I can't eat green ones, so we always buy red. But they cost about $2-$3 each at the store! WAY too much for one vegetable!

Here is my amazing stamp that I just finished for a customer. It's huge, measuring 4 inches by 4.5 inches.

Definitely the biggest one I've done.


I've been getting a lot of custom orders lately which is so amazing and I'm so happy for it. However, I haven't had time to work on any new designs for my shop!

Notice anything different?

I got ad space on my blog! Woo-hoo! If you use project wonderful, be sure to bid on my ad space.

Labor of Love

This is my newest treasury. I wanted to do something different by using all art prints, photographs and original paintings. Usually, when I curate a treasury, I have dreams of front page in mind, but this time I just decided to do what I think would be really cool. I'm a musician so it holds a special place for me too!