Oodles of Updates

I survived my travels, despite delays and detainment. (Awesome! Not.)

I've finally adjusted to the 13 hour time difference. (I'm now a time travelling machine!)

Since being back I've enjoyed many swims at the local lakes and beaches, umpteen BBQs, a fair share of rum and cokes, and a ride around the trail. (And maintained my pale skin so far so good.)

I've got some sewing done, though mostly hems and corrections. I've a new purse in the making but not much to show for it right now. Soon!

I've got a bunch of jewellery made/started that I'm really proud of. (Here and here.)

Although I mostly use tumblr now for general life updates, I figured I'd let anyone who's still following me on blogger know what's what. 

I split my shop into two divisions and opened a new etsy shop for one. Tamed Raven Designs is now for the weird, quirky things. 

Like these.

The new shop, called Eltu, hosts the eco friendly, recycling fueled pieces like the spoons, shells, and some new designs I'm working on. 

Like these ones.

Since I'm only home for the summer I'm currently just working on jewellery for the shops, and will continue with the purses and clothing when we finally settle back in Canada, whenever that may be. A small price to pay to see the world and take part in all these experiences.

I'm thoroughly enjoying spending my days making things instead of running off my feet selling coffee or candy, and spending time with family and friends. I hope all your summers are going just as well. 

Follow Me Elsewhere!!!

The apartment is torn apart, things are packed, thrown out or waiting for a place to go.
Vaccines have been given, insurance bought and things cancelled.

This is happening!

I'm going to be away from the computer for a bit, and I'm not sure where I'll be able to post things once I get there. The best way to get updates for now will be through instagram and tumblr, and so I highly suggest you follow me on those for fun updates about adventures and crafty fun in China!

Easily manageable haircut for my travels. 

We went to see Winterlude on Valentine's Day. 

Packing up a book I forgot I had.

Dad's up visiting and helping us move our stuff. Please ignore all the crap in the background. :)

Fresh Start

Well we made it back safe and sound after a wonderful week home that went by far too quickly. Full of wedding events, good ol' Cape Breton kitchen parties, shopping (with mom), rides on the motorcycle (with dad), and visiting as many people as I could. I wish that it was a longer trip, but everyone has to come back from vacation at some point, right? 

I certainly got my fix of little (and not so little) fluffy things, getting to see Salem (the best cat ever), plus dad's and a bunch others. Hopefully that will keep me tide over for a little while.

They just floated the old boat that was sunken in the river for years, so I just had to snap a few pictures when we went to take a look. See all the dark grey on the lower half of the boat? It's all clams. And they're all over the ground. The ducks were having a field day but it reeked.

 Nanny has more magnets on her fridge than I have ever seen in my life. It's insane.

The Lick-A-Chick, a very popular fried chicken and fries kind of place back home, that many people from away find hilarious based on the name alone. It doesn't seem too strange to me, but then again I'm used to it. :P

Mom makes a mean strawberry shortcake. Mmm.

Lastly, a silly picture of the Mr.

I didn't have my camera with me a whole lot, and I also don't have any pictures from the wedding (of myself or the party or anything else) since I was helping him take pictures on another camera, but rest assured that it was beautiful.

I picked up a lot of supplies while I was back home (not everything I wanted to, but I got some things I didn't think I'd get either so I guess it balances out), and I'm itching to get everything redone in the shop, and get this page made over.. As well as make all those pendants for the swap I'm doing! My god I'm going to be busy. Hopefully everything looks good though when I'm done with it all.

What's new, Why I don't ever want to go to design school, and getting ready for summer.

The weather has been so nice here lately and it's nice to put away the scarves and winter jacket and take out the spring clothes. Everyone instantly has so much more style and originality on the streets. I love it. Along with the weather, the rest of my news from this week is as follows.. I got a new phone, yay! I'm happy I have something that will last throughout the day, and that I can access things like maps and such from. Super handy.

Secondly, the other day we ended up booking our flight tickets home. That's right, I'm going to be back in the Cape for a week in June, and I'm really excited. It's for a wedding so a lot of the time is already taken up but I can't wait to see everyone I can and do everything I can. One thing I would like to do is take a drive around the trail, fingers are crossed that I can make that possible.

Anyone ever visiting Cape Breton really should take a drive around the trail. 

And now I'm sitting on the floor surrounded by fabric. Oh what oh what to make, and where to start...

This is only about a third of the fabric I'm sitting on. Oh my.

Which starts the second part of this post, which started as a comment and kind of spiralled into a ramble. I've been feeling guilty about how little I've sewn lately (with the exception of a hat for someone) and I think that has made me even less inspired than I was previously feeling, which in turn makes me more guilty. It's  terrible. I'm constantly thinking about all the things I said I was going to make and I feel very overwhelmed with unnecessary deadlines that only I am making for myself.

This is why when I really started sewing, and people would ask me if I was going to school for it, I told them I didn't want to. I like making things my way and on my own time. I figured if I had to make something in a certain time and a certain style it would suck the creativity right out of me. I never thought I would later do the same thing to myself. So I need to take a step back and forget everything I said I was going to make for the store. Because as soon as I say that, I feel like I'm on a deadline and everyday that goes on that I don't finish something I feel like I'm letting everyone down. I can't have that feeling on me, so I won't.

So if you're hoping to see some new sewn stuff in the store, I can't tell you when that will happen. Or if you're curious to see what the new things are that I'm going to make, I don't really know. I'm just going to do my thing in my own time and in the end the quality of everything will be better. I'll make things because I love to instead of feeling like I should.

There will be some new things up soon enough though, I've got some necklaces waiting to be put together and lots of ideas, I've just got to get off my own back :P.

Aaaand finally, I'm still working out, almost a month later. I'm proud of myself for sticking with it even though I don't do it everyday. I don't see any differences but I can feel them, with what I do and how my sides and arms feel to the touch. I hope by the time I go home I can see a difference. That's a few months away so I think its a good goal to make. (I make no unrealistic by the week goals).
I did however add more to my routine.

Anyone else getting more active with the weather change? What are you doing??