More Iris...

Rain usually "melts" iris blooms - but not in this case. I was lucky enough to get this shot right after it stopped raining.

Ahhhhhh, summer...

What you CAN Expect...

The birth of a logo...soon. I've been working with a dear friend of mine and her colleague in business (they too, are dear friends), on the look I want for Poladora, my new Etsy shop. It's been a complicated project because Poladora actually has three different boutiques within it.

The first little boutique is called S.I.S.S.Y. and will be primarily custom work on an as-ordered basis. I'll list different items, their purpose, and price points on the site. The waiting time will be 4 to 6 weeks. From time to time, I will make something that I am inspired to create within the SISSY family and offer it up for sale on a buy-it-now basis.
SISSY stands for Sensory and Immune System Stimulating Yarns. After much research, the publication of numerous studies through the news outlets, and plain old grandmotherly wisdom, I've come to the conclusion that our kids today are not being exposed to enough germs to allow them to build healthy immune systems during the ages of birth through seven - which is when this typically occurs. With the explosion of childhood illnesses such as ashma, multiple allergies, and worse, I am convinced that earlier exposure to some "normal" environmental fibers can only help.

SISSY products will typically be made of every natural and synthetic fiber I can get my hands on (from all over the world), in the color combination that you order. (You pick the color palette, I get to design it.) With a line of approximately 8 different products from birth through adulthood, SISSY's primary item will be the "SISSY Smart Start", Tummy-Time Play Blanket. This blanket will be meant for use on the floor, used by the baby for tummy time play (with sensory and motor skill stimulation), shared by the entire family (including the pets), and seldom washed. That's right - seldom washed.

I'm not a doctor (and, I don't play one on TV), but I do have kids and grandkids - lots. I've read the studies, I've heard the reports, I've seen it first-hand. But the bottom line is that I'm simply using my grandmotherly intuition and offering up something my own friends and family children have thrived on. It is patent-pending but comes with no medical guarantees. I do guarantee the feeling of a soft, cuddly piece of learning and stimulation that you can enjoy watching your little one (or big one), grow up with.
Remember..."I'm a SISSY so you don't have to be." And, no two SISSYs are alike...


More on SISSY and the other two "boutiques" as we go...


Have a wonderful weekend. Do something fun!

Thriving on Neglect...

Have you ever noticed that the more time and attention you give to a houseplant (especially violets and orchids), the worse they do? Well, that's me.

During my working career, I served one company for over 32 years. (But I'm not that old.) I really did. And, for some of that time, I was the chairman and CEO. But even before that, I spent most of my time as an executive officer or manager in some capacity.

My point is that I felt that I had to look my very best every day. After all, I was to serve as an example to others, as well as "dress the part". Or so I thought.

Since I've been home this past year, I have come to "neglect" myself in strange ways. For example, I had all of my hair cut off. I previously had it colored, but my hair is baby-fine and it finally took its toll. My hair began to break and fall out. Out of frustration, I had my hairdresser cut me a "pixie". Of course I'm dating myself again and I keep trying to convince you that I'm not that old... I guess nowadays, they call my cut a "chop". BTW, it's gray now too. Geeze.

All those hours, all that pain, all that time... I guess I wouldn't really call having my hair less fussy neglectful. But I thought it helped me make my point. Now that I've entered the world of working from home and doing what I love (creating things soon to be placed on Etsy), I realize how unimportant some things really are. I now know that I would rather spend my time making something that will bring someone else joy, than working on my own head of hair. This is all rather strange to me...

But, it's all good.

My First Iris!

Can we finally have hope that warm weather may finally grace us with it's arrival? Oh, probably not. But, hope springs eternal (or something like that)...

Thank you Clarence...

Happy Spring everyone!

What CAN You Expect?...

I know I've teased you a little with the "expect the unexpected" phrase for Poladora, my new Etsy shop (soon to open), so I thought it may be beneficial to let you know what you can expect while you wait to be surprised...

I've had a year to think about my little boutique, and I've had a year to see what I like to do the most. The problem is (good for you - bad for me),  that I just love to do so many different things. And, I get bored easily. This means I don't like to keep doing the same things over and over.

Being a first-born perfectionist makes all of this even more of a quandary. But, like everything else in my life, I was determined to make it work. So here are some of the things as a result of who I am and where I've been this past year, that you can expect:

I will never make the same thing twice. (Well, if it's popular, and I just happen to enjoy doing it, I'll make it again but, it will never be the same pattern/color/material/design...whatever, again.) So if you see something you like, give it a good home. I may or may not make something similar again. "One-off" will be the character of the Poladora.




I will never use a fabric/yarn/material - natural or otherwise/metal/bead/raw glass/notion/design/item that I don't love. If it's in my work, I love it. One example would be in fabric. If I don't love the fabric in color/design/feel/sensation/style/quality/emotion it inspires, then I will not use it. For example, some people use what they call "blenders" in their fabric work. These are vague colors/prints that help transform one fabric to another in one piece of work. Blenders are sometimes nice, but I don't buy blenders unless I love them on their own. This is sometimes a way to save money on a large piece of work. I will always put the best with the best to make the very best original piece of work/art that you can count on as being not only the best it can be, but also a one-off of the best quality for its category.

Enough for now - I will continue this subject in another post.

Until next time...

"Expect the Unexpected..."

Expect the unexpected...

What does that mean exactly? What I want it to mean, is that my shop Poladora becomes a place you can go to on any given day and see something there that either surprised you (pleasantly, I hope), or found something that you are familiar with, but with a twist you hadn't expected (and, you like it!).

The "unexpected" should mean:

Wow! I didn't know she made those.
Gee! I never thought of adding (blank) to a (blank).
Hmmm...That's an interesting way of (blank[ing]).

I hope you get the idea. But, you won't really know what it means until the shop opens and you have a chance to see some of the wonderful creations just waiting for a good home. My creative core has been bound for 32 years (more like my whole life - but, that's another story). Now that it has been unleashed, hide the children! (Just kidding - it's all good and its all family rated.) The ratings are more like soft, beautiful, charming, colorful, cuddly, interesting, wearable, usable...

See you soon!