She Started Pre School. It Is A Good Thing.

My darling Violet started Pre School last Friday. She is nearing age 4, so I know in my head that she is old enough. But golly where have the past few years gone!?

We were so fortunate to qualify for a free pre-school program with our local public school. She will attend everyday. And it is not just "playtime". She will be challenged with a great curriculum, learn Spanish, and make new friends.

I will be completely honest. I really needed this. As any mom who works from home can attest, it is nearly impossible to go to sleep at night and not think to yourself "I wish that I could have done it all today". The constant struggle of balancing parenting with maintaining a growing business is nearly impossible. I have been so incredibly stressed the past several months trying to take good care of the girls (they are the #1 priority) while tending to Gingiber.

I've been so stressed that I've started having crippling anxiety attacks. Now please don't misunderstand me. My children are not the source of my anxiety. The realization that I have stretched myself too thin, compiled with some other external stressors (that I will not go into) have been the true culprits. It is a ton of pressure to be the bread winner of the family.

I digress. I know it may sound selfish to say "yay, I am so glad my kid started school". But it is honest. Now that it is just me and Lucy home I am trying to find a new rhythm. I really do miss Violet. Like usually this time of day I am making Violet lunch. We always sit as close to each other as possible at the table and she will ask me a million and one questions about what we are eating. What we are doing next. Try to negotiate herself out of a nap. Etc.

Now there is a lot of quiet in the house.

Any other work from home mothers out there relate?

Stacie

Organic Brown Bunny Toddler Shirts Now Available

Our brown bunny design is now available in toddler shirts sizes 2T, 3T and 4T! They are organic, printed with water based inks, and are soooo very soft!

You can view it here in the Gingiber Etsy Shop.

Thanks!

millions of projects, projects for me

Since Lucy was born back in November, I have realized that my home has become the graveyard of unfinished projects. This charming vintage sideboard? It still needs to be restained. Only one door has been given any attention. And I have had this in our home for like 5 months.

My most awesome upholstered houndstooth armchair? Still missing the piping around the edges. Which means there are many upholstery staples exposed. Not super classy.

I've got a list a mile long of half finished projects around the home. Hopefully now that Violet has started public school full time and Nathan is back for the semester, life will fall into a nice, predicable schedule.

Are you like me? So much to do, so little time?

Owl Onesies Preview

Hi! I wanted to show you a mock up of one of the new designs coming soon to Gingiber. 

These are adorable 2 color owl onesies (and toddler tees) printed with eco friendly water based inks onto the softest navy blue shirts. Available in Pink for girls or Blue for boys.

The actual onesie may look a bit different (i.e. have more of a worn "vintage" feel to them). As soon as I have them back from the printer I will snap pics and show them to you!

I am soooo excited about these. I will share another new design with you next week.

Stacie

1st Swing

This is Lucy's 1st swing ride. She is all like "yeah mom, I've got this". 

This was Violet on her 1st swing ride. Hard to believe this was 3 years ago.

Time goes by far too quickly. I've got to get to the park more often :)

P.S. I've updated my blog layout. Again. You've heard of stress eaters? Well I am a stress coder ;)

$50 Gingiber Giveaway At Smile And Wave

Morning, friends! Just wanted to let you know that I am giving away a $50 credit to Gingiber today over at Smile And Wave :)

Click here to visit SAW and enter to win!

Stacie

Reindeer Games

What am I doing? Oh, just sketching some reindeer. Working through some ideas for limited edition gold silk screened prints :)

That's all. 

What have you been up to?

Happy Mail

Happy mail on Monday from Bookhou. Seriously the quickest shipping from Canada (less than a week) and the most lovely handprinted tea towels :) I seriously may frame them above my couch.

A nice closeup of the packaging. Simple and clean. Sometimes you just need something beautiful in your home, ya know?

Critters

I've been drawing animals since I was a little girl. I have always gravitated towards cute little critters. Foxes. Birds. Dogs. And animals like that. These doodles are from my chalkboard walls in my dining room. I've been thinking of painting over the wall color with something more "approachable" for when we try to sell the house, but I am struggling with parting will the years of doodles :(

But I've been branching out lately. I am trying to come up with the perfect Gingiber hedgehog. My husband wants to see a sloth. I've had some custom requests for dinosaurs. 

So I am going to take some time to just sketch. See what comes out. I have been wanting to play around more with mixed media and watercolors. Maybe if anything turns out it will find its way into the shop!

Any requests?

Stacie

When All Else Fails, Draw A Barn Owl

The picture is a bit blurry, but I drew a wee barn owl yesterday. Truthfully, I poured a great deal of energy and time into the line that I released last week, and I just feel like I need to clear the pipes. 

So why not draw an owl? I draw lots of owls. Owl calendars. Owlphabets. Friendly and feathered. 

Not sure what to do with this fella yet. I've been dying to design a tea towel, so maybe something wintery and black and white with this bird?

What do you think I should make with this owl?

Stacie

Fig and Yarrow Packaging

Handsome packaging by Fig + Yarrow. Clean and Masculine. I think Nathan might need a bottle.

Leah Goren Tank

Love this 2 color silk screened summer tank by leahgoren (although I might add some pants to it!)

Tea Towel by Bookhouathome

Love this triangle tea towel by bookhouathome

Happy Friday

Happy Friday. From my silly family to yours. I tried in vein to get a photo of the 3 of us using photo booth, and I felt that this photo really captures our family dynamic ;)

What are you guys doing this weekend?

Stacie

On Good Moments

Since I have been filling this blog with lots of business related news, I figured I would break it up a bit with some personal writing. Sometimes I work so much, and love working so much, I really don't feel like I have anything else to talk about.

But of course there are my kids. And Lucy is on my mind. She is the sweetest natured little deer. She never gets mad. Never complains. So much so that last week she had a double ear infection and a throat infection, and I had no idea she was sick. She just smiles and plays all of the time. In fact, if not for a persistent cough, I wouldn't have taken her to the doctor.

Lucy is the type of baby that just makes you feel good about life. Like if you are having a bad day, just look at Lucy, and she will give you the biggest grin! And of course when she is not smiling, you've got these squishy chipmunk cheeks to adore :) She is just a joy.

I do love being a mother. And I do like the fact that my entire identity isn't just "motherhood". Like I have a business and a few friends. Not that my life is as balanced as I would like for it to be. I would love more date nights (okay, any date nights) with my husband. I would love to feel more passionate about social issues, or even educated on current events. Tonight I was fantasizing about running. Like maybe I should take up running. For no real reason other than it sounds nice to be able to do something alone like running and the end result is a clear head and calories burned :)

I feel like for the most part I am happy with life. Grateful that I get to work everyday from home, using the gifts and talents that I have been given. Sometimes I think about the past 6 years of my married life and wonder how I got here. Arkansas. 2 kids. Small business owner. I've lost some friendships due to the changes in my own life. Some friendships that were on the verge of blossoming, and others that just couldn't stand the test of time.  I mourn the past, because I didn't appreciate those moments more.

But happily I find myself more and more often cherishing small moments of my life. Like the way Violet calls Lucy a "little cutie pie" and softly touches her sister's cheeks. Or the way Lucy lights up when Nathan comes home from work for the day. I notice with alarming similarity how much Violet reminds me of myself at her age. Only she is far more confident. Something I remember praying for when I was pregnant with her.

Anyways, sometimes I just want to write down what I am thinking.

Stacie