New Blog Name

So I may have inadvertently made a mistake.  I changed the name of my blog and I'm not sure that anyone that follows me will know.  I don't have a ton of followers, so maybe it's not a big deal.  I can start fresh, but I will feel bad that the followers that I do have may not be able to continue to follow me now that the blog name and the address has changed.

One of my high school friends posted on Facebook that a friend of hers created a mobile for my friend's  daughter.  Along with that she posted info about her friend's etsy shop and her website.  Of course I looked and this just re-invigorated my desire for my own etsy shop, well that and the fact that one of my friends said I should have an etsy shop.  I decided that I would come up with a shop name and change the name of my blog to the name of my planned etsy shop.

So, here we are!  My etsy shop/"business" name is Amy Fratto Studios.  Not very creative, but simple and to the point.  Also it doesn't limit me to what I "specialize" in.  That could be good and bad.  I should probably have a specialty, and I guess I do: small, special gifts just made out of multiple different type of craft media.

Now, I just need to take the plunge and post something on etsy to sell.  I have a few personal projects that I need to work on.  I then need to take the plunge and start to market myself.  Maybe I will get to move forward with my dreams and passions!

Amy

A Little Embroidery

In the past, I've dabble in different needle arts, mostly cross stitch and embroidery.  Recently, I helped out a fellow blogger by testing out an embroidery pattern.  This made me catch the embroidery bug again.  Recently, I moved my daughter into her own room and we need to get both the boys' and her room decorated.  The boys room is going to be an outer space theme and I want her room to be somewhat shabby chic and very girly.

I decided that, since I've been bitten by the embroidery bug, I would embroider some things for both the boys' room and for my daughter's room.  I found some planets online that I can embroider as well as spaceships and other outer space themed pictures!  For my daughter's room, I found some fairies that I plan to embroider.  For the boys' room, I plan to put the embroidered pictures into painted picture frames.  For my daughter's room, I plan to make distressed frames to put the fairies in.  It's pretty exciting to start decorating.  After getting these embroidery projects competed, I will start working on quilts (as long as my back is better and I can sit at a sewing machine).  Then I need to decide if I am going to make a twin quilt or just a crib size  or a little bigger that they can lay over the top of their bed.  I'm leaning towards the twin size, but I'm not sure yet.

This is the first fairy I am working on for my daughter's room.  All three fairies are going to be completed in single color variegated embroidery floss.

Fairy in yellow variegated embroidery floss!

I am also going to embroider initials to hand in their rooms too.  The boys's letters will be very masculine while my daughter's will be very feminine, just like the kids are.

Amy

Dreaming

Sometimes, I feel like a broken record.  Sometimes, I hope that if I repeat myself enough, maybe I'll actually follow through with my dreams.  Sometimes, I think if I repeat myself, my fear of failure, my fear of people making fun of me, my fear of anything negative will go away.  Sometimes, I think that I should just give up and just keep going as a hobby crafter.  Sometimes I feel like if I remain a hobby crafter, I will not be being true to myself.

I keep having this dream of, one day, making some money off my love of crafting.  If it a pipe dream, maybe.  Do I realize that I will probably need to continue being a social worker, yup!  Do I realize that the likelihood that it will be a success, may be slim to none, yup.  Do I realize with that statement, I am being very negative, yup!  Do I realize that there may be some truth in it though, absolutely.

What I keep dreaming about, is owning a studio and gallery where people can create, learn, and exhibit their work.  I would love for there to be a cafe with healthy food too.  I love to create and I would love to share that passion with others.  I would love to offer a place to create for people who can't afford to go to a regular studio as well as for those that can.  I would love for it to be a place where anyone can feel like an artist or that they are creative!  I would love for them to feel comfortable and mot judged.  I would love for children to have a place to come and create.  I would love to offer a place for those with mental health issues.  I would love to offer a place where people can come and create and leave a legacy for those they leave behind (that's the social worker in me).  I actually did a major paper in grad school on scrapbooking and social work.  I would love for this to be a way to have my career and my dreams meld together.

Maybe if I keep talking about it, it will happen.  I should am going to stop saying maybe and I am going to start saying, "When I have my own gallery and studio, it will be a place where both young and old and everyone in between can come and create.  It will be a place where people can come and create something, that can be given to those they love, wether it be a scrapbook of photos or an object that they have created.  It will be a place where I can share my love of creativity and my social work career. I will love my job and be able to make a living at it.  I will use my education and my passion to create the life I love."

From this point on, I will continue to pursue my dreams.  I will continue to create and I will continue to try to make some money by creating.  I will continue to be positive and not focus on the negative.  I will stop feeling like I'm going to feel or be laughed at.  I will remain positive!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for 2013?

It's been a while, but I decided to join in with Jamie Ridler at http://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca, for Wishcasting Wednesday.  This week Jamie asks, "Wishcasting Wednesday: What do you wish for 2013?"  This year, I wish to follow through with my dreams and beliefs longer than I usually do.  I start off doing well, then I lose it.  I don't want to make resolutions for the New Year, but I want to make changes that stay.

This year, I want to:

• eat a more plant based diet to be healthy (hopefully lose weight in the process as this will be healthier)
• get back to running once my back is better.  I really liked it, but the hot weather killed me and then my back started acting up.  I'll probably have to start walking since I have sciatica right now and I don't know when it will get better.
• spend more time sewing and doing other creative activities that I love.
• do more homeschooling activities with my twins while my older one is in school.
• get organized and stay that way.  In the process, get rid of things that I don't need or use.
• maybe, finally start that easy shop or do some craft fairs like I have wanted to in the past.

What do you wish for 2013?

Amy