Cheers

{image: MaiAutumn}

What a wonderful year it's been - one filled with surprises and happiness and new beginnings...and maybe just enough heartache to appreciate it all. 


Every New Year's Eve is a little melancholy for me; sadness over time passed too quickly and hope for all that is to come. I've never really been one for the big celebrations & glitz- more just reflection & reaching out to those I love. 


And in this little handmade world, I am really so thankful for this wonderful community of friends & colleagues & cheerleaders - who are a continual source of inspiration & encouragement. 


Sending wishes for a year full of happiness, fulfillment, & appreciation.  Cheers to 2011! 

Handmade Holiday

We had such a wonderful, magical holiday this year. Lots of laughing, eating, & merrying....plus there was so much handmade gift-giving it made things all the cheerier. Thought I'd share a few of them here. {so wish I could share them in some sort of natural context, but seems like we're in a perpetual state of gray here in Oregon and have no natural light. ah well.....}

Star ornament I made for Jack- with his favorite colors of course! I just couldn't stop making these little patchwork cuties!

Coaster sets for family gift baskets. (I've got a whole stock-pile of woodsy, country fabric reserved just for my fam ;) 

This year, the husband & I decided to give each other only handmade gifts (focus our spending on bigger things to come ;) anyhow- I made this embroidered wall hanging. It's a bit girly, but as my husband noted - he would expect anything I made to be on the girlish side. I can't wait to hang this up! We don't really have anything lovey dovey like this in our house...even our wedding photos didn't turn out so this was my little homage to us. 

Ok, so here's more sappy lovey-ness. We also decided to get ornaments for each other & I just couldn't find one I liked so I made this pillow heart- embroidery on linen. "Soul Matey" - is a little inside joke. 

(I love how it turned out, inspiring me to offer something similar in the shop? hmm.....)

And with his usual awesome gift finding-ness, he found this adorable teensy little handmade house from My House Party. It is so incredibly tiny & intricate & lovely...plus it's from a little shop here in Portland. 

And for the grand finale...... My ultra-talented, sneaky, surprising, & amazing husband drew this portrait of me.  How incredible is this?  It's inspired from a photo taken two Christmases ago when I was looking down at baby Jack. 

Hooray for handmade- Hope everyone had a lovely & magical holiday as well! 

Bits of Navy & Orange

'Navy + Orange' by allisajacobs

Kylie in orange / m... christystudio $40.00	Cowl blouse in navy... MyLolaFashion $59.00	Navy and Orange Pea... itsastitch $14.00
Calm (Water and Sky... eyeful $28.00	Midnight Garden - H... JarosDesigns $23.00	Large 13 x 19 Poste... dekanimal $30.00
Heirloom Polaroid L... jerseymaids $35.00	accent pillow - sta... yorktownroad $56.00	Daisy bird cushion ... roddyandginger $38.00
Free Shipping-Herma... CoMod $600.00	Orange , Brown and ... buttonsbyrobin $8.99	Laundry Detergent /... mrsjonessoapbo... $10.25
toddler eco nap mat... SewnNatural $95.00	Vintage Hanova Oran... thewildplum $55.00	Tricolored Vintage ... funretro $30.00

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Business Bits - Reach Out

Well, here it is. My very last Business Bits post. At least officially. I'll definitely be sharing more tips & experiences about my Etsy shop & small business...in fact, I'm in the early stages of drafting an e-book culminating all my business bits posts & gobs more findings & sources...but this is it for now.

It was a year ago about this time I decided to write weekly posts sharing my thoughts & opinions on running a successful Etsy shop and online small business. It was a little scary. At times, I missed the mark. But on many other occasions I had wonderful feedback & am thankful to Etsy for featuring part of my post in the Success Newsletters.  

What started it all off was my initial posts "10 for '09" - a list of top ten lessons I had learned from 2009. It was such a powerful exercise for me to reflect & list all those hard-learned lessons....I thought I'd finish up the year with a bit of the same. This time, though, just one. One big lesson I learned this year. 

{image: Papermoth}

Without a doubt- the best biggest simplest thing I learned this year was to reach out. 


To other people. And along with that I might add that it includes reaching out in kindness & without underestimating anyone.  


In 8th grade my history teacher told my mom I was a social butterfly. For many years I was-  flitting around, smiling & making friends. Somewhere along the line though, I became a bit of a homebody.... being a stay-at-home mom with a home-business sure didn't stretch the social boundaries either. So, probably much to the surprise of both my mother & my 8th grade teacher, sometimes I have to make an effort to get on out there.  


I had done a fair bit of it with my shop before....but this year I stretched myself even more. And I'm still stretching. Reaching out has returned wonderful rewards both personally & professionally. I've gotten to know some amazing people & have been fortunate to share in others' success. I've felt that comfort of friendship- but this time connected to my shop & craft. I've gotten to know customers, and their stories, on a whole new level- adding more meaning to my sewing. I've formed incredible collaborations & have been amazed time & again by the kindness of others. And yes, there's been some rejection & let-downs too.


 But that's all part of reaching out...and because of it, my shop is a fuller, happier, more fulfilling little place.


{{{Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read & support my Business Bits posts...I am so appreciative of your feedback & input...and the experiences you shared with me. I'd love to hear any suggestions of topics you'd like to see included in my e-book...so comment away or email me at allisa.jacobs [at] gmail [dot] com.  Cheers to continued & shared success in 2011! }}}

Hopeful Wishes...

...for a very happy Christmas! 

A Bit of Holiday Cheer

Business Bits - Surprise Yourself

With Christmas & the new year soon approaching, I'm doing a lot of thinking. About everything really. I just love this time of your for reflection & introspection.  Not only to give & seek love but I find the warmth & newness a welcome time to take stock of just who I am. 

This, of course, includes my shop. 

One thing that has come to mind in regards to my shop, is that I never would've imagined I'd be where I am today. It feels good to soak that in. But, more frighteningly, it means that there is also more to come.  Much of which, I may be holding myself back from.

And so, I think it's time to let myself be surprised. 

{image: LolasRoom}

Shouldn't be too hard to do if I remember all that I've changed, become, accomplished, & done that really shocks me when I stop to think about them. 


things about myself that continue to surprise me:
*As a country lovin' young woman I moved on my own to 3 different large cities to pursue social work & teaching
* I attended college.  A good one. A really good one. Even though I thought after high school I'd probably get married & move on a farm & work at the beauty parlor. But I tried the scary thing (for me!)
* I was accepted to Teach for America & became a teacher of students with special needs. Never thought I'd be a leader. of any sort. 
* I earned my master's degree. 
* I learned to embrace sunshine- wherever I can find it
* I sew  things that people like. This, to me, was a scary scary endeavor to start. The ultimate set-up for rejection. But it's just happiness for me to create & make & share. 


Sooo....when I think about my shop & where it's all going and all those little thoughts creep in like, "oh well. that's just who I am I guess." or "it happens to other people, but not to me," or "oh no, I could never, ever ______" or "I guess I'm ok with secondbest"   - I want to remember all that already amazes me & have faith in what is just waiting for me to grab hold.... 


....and let myself be surprised by all the goodness that can surely come. 

Bright and Happy Christmas

'Bright & Happy Christmas' by allisajacobs

2011 Printable Natu... bluetricycle $5.00	Handmade Gift Tags,... LBCpaper $7.95	Blue Spruce Tree 5x... redtilestudio $16.00
LOVE Miniature Clay... thelittlereddo... $14.00	Magnetic TIffany Bl... prettyvisage $15.00	Farm Fresh BAKERS T... OhForCute $3.50
Choose Joy 13x19 -P... evajuliet $30.00	I was different lauraamiss $110.00	Joy - 12 x 16 PILLO... NestaHome $28.00
Deluxe Gift Set - A... MamaKs $38.00	SALE Set 6 Large An... birdie1 $16.00	Hand Embroidery in ... merriweatherco... $30.00
paper garland 5 . d... gretchenmist $18.00	Hello Friend . a gi... staceywinters $12.00	Polar Bear Art - Ho... amberalexander $18.00

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A few of my cheery favorites cheery from Etsy.  

Hope everyone has a lovely & bright weekend.