2019 was supposed to be THE YEAR!!! (aka how I'm quitting my day job to pursue my passion)

... But so far, it's soooo NOT!

Hello and Happy New Year!

The New Year is fascinating to me, all the high hopes, the chance to do it differently, the clean slate, I love it! I don't really get why it makes so much difference to us mentally, we can start over at any time, decide to change something we're not happy with at any time.

Why do we have such hopes the new year will be different? Couldn't we just feel like that about each day? It makes no sense to me! But I do it too...

I was told that 2018 would be a challenging year, a year of self-discovery and learning and it totally was, by far the most challenging year I can think of and it did teach me a lot about myself.

So, supposedly, you do the work and reap the reward, meaning 2019 was supposed to be awesome. Except, by the look of things, it seems I'm still stuck in 2018!

But let's rewind for a bit here. My goal for 2019 is "simple".

I want to dedicate my life to creativity and make so much money doing it I'll be able to quit my job and do it full time.

I am a school manager. It sounded fun at first (and it was) but now I see it has a very small learning curve and once you topple the learning curve, all you have left are invoices, schedules, logistics and a lot of crisis modes, dealing with parents, students, teachers, etc.

Though I'm grateful and lucky to have this job, it is not what I was born to do. It does not make my heart sing and it does not make me want to get up in the morning every day with a smile.

And there have been times I felt that way about a job. When I got to write for a living for example. I chose stability over passion and thought I was doing the right thing, but in 2019 I've decided to try and have stability while doing what I love.
I mean actually doing it, seriously and professionally, not treat the things I love as hobbies and half-ass it because I don't trust my talent enough to pull me through.

Also, I have the SandyOwn Etsy shop which, again, has pretty much been treated like a hobby because I didn't believe myself enough.

Well, all of that self-doubt stops in 2019. I owe it to myself to try and make it on my terms. I'm going to be 38 years-old this year and I'm still wondering what my parents will think WHEN (not if) I tell them I'm quitting my job to focus on my crafts (writing and sewing, to begin with at least). And that tells me I have a lot of work to do.

I've done a couple of things in order to make my goal happen.

Sewing-wise, I've added a couple of new listing to the shop and am working on adding more. I've invested in promoted listings, Google Shopping and Facebook Ads. I've increased my Instagram presence and created a Pinterest account which I'm trying really hard to maintain active.

Writing-wise, I'm doing the Jon Morrow Guest Blogging Certificate Course, mainly because I want to see what's new on the market and I'm hoping it will get me a foot in the door as well as help organize some procedures I've done in the past but hope to do better. The writing/blogging business is in constant change and I figured I needed to refresh my knowledge.
Plus I love learning new stuff.

I know there is a lot more I still need to do and then there's probably other things I should be doing that I know nothing about. But I figure it's a start.

But despite all of this, so far, my year has been less than stellar.

I'm moving out of the home I've been living in for the past year and I'm having a really hard time finding somewhere new. Meaning I'll probably have to move back in with my mom until we can find somewhere to rent. This alone has turned my world upside down.

Writing-wise, I'm still doing the course, I hope to finish before the month ends, but it's been hard to concentrate with everything else that's going on.

On the sewing front, it's crickets really. I know these things take time, but in all honesty, I'm having less movement in my shop than I had before doing all this. I know it's January and people are broke after Christmas and I know 8 years of not doing much to promote my shop is hard to catch up on.

But my point is... COMMMEEEE OOOONNNNN!!! Give me a freaking break! Knowing it will all be alright eventually does not help me much in being alright now. I am at my wit's end, juggling the anxiety, stress, fear, sadness. I'm ready to start moving and nothing happens and when something happens it only makes it worse!!

So yeah, not in a very good place right now, but I'm committed to keep going and I'm still very much certain it will all be worth it in the end.

And, in the middle of all this, I decided to share my journey with you, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Things I've learned in my two year hiatus

Hello!

I've been considering doing this for quite some time, not sure what I'd right. Should I just post something like no time has passed? Like those really great friendships where time goes by without talking and then you meet up and it's like you've spoken yesterday?

Or maybe I should do a post about all that has happened and why I haven't been here in two years?

I guess I'll just do both!

So, first things first... Things I've learned in my two years hiatus:

1. I'm an adult now!
Or am I? Well, I'm certainly living the adult life, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I'm 37 years-old, living with my boyfriend, my 3 cats, my one dog and his 2 dogs on the weekends and vacations (yes, he has shared pet custody!!!). I have a job and a school manager for a codding school for kids, which leaves me with a lot of time to do other things that fill my heart with joy, if only I wouldn't waste it all on empty, meaningless things like tv and emails that can wait.

2. I love writing.
So much so I've come to the conclusion that I would love to be a writer for a living. However, this is, as you probably know, a very difficult goal to accomplish, adding to this the fact that I prefer writing in English, which isn't my native language so...  A bit of a struggle, but I've also learned that if I write just because I love it and it feels me with immense joy and peace and fulfillment, it will be pretty great too! So we'll just have to see where that takes me.

3. I love sewing.
And I haven't been doing much of it at all!
Two years have seen a growth and a decline in my sewing. There have been times when I've been swamped with orders and projects and it made me happy but stressed, but now I see I prefer happy but stressed anytime than having my hours taken over by useless things like tv or work emails that can wait to be replied. So, there you have it, another goal.

4. I'm addicted to the gym
Trust me, if you knew me you would be very surprised indeed but, as it turns out, I love the gym, love how it takes all my worried away, how it makes me feel energized and young and strong. I love overcoming hurdles and noticing how I evolve.

5. Living with another person is hard!
Well, another person who you haven't lived with since birth. All the compromising and the give and take and the dealing with different personalities, habits and priorities is very hard work, I remember being exhausted for the first 4 months or more. But it is also a big learning experience, and so rewarding if things end up being okay and if you're really respectful and patient about it, of course :)

I wish I could post here a photo for everything I've sewn since the last time I've posted, hopefully I will be able to show you some of it from now on.

Stay tuned! I am back! :D

Sandy

Where do you come from?

Hello.

A while ago I received a surprising E-mail. I was invited to participate in an international project. The concept is asking people from around the World to make a quilt block that represents their country. Later these blocks are published in a book and joined into a quilt. The proceedings of the book will go to Unicef.

I confess I've never participated in a quilt a long before, I've never had the confidence to do so. I confess this block was made in two hours because I didn't have enough time for more. I confess that, looking at the galery of other blocks, I'm slightly intimidated and if I'd seen them before making my block, I would have probably given up. 

But I just couldn't miss this opportunity. The project is fascinating and the cause very worthy.

And here it is, my block, my interpretation of a Portuguese cobblestone sidewalk (Calçada Portuguesa) with the colors representing our lovely sun, the breathtaking Douro valleys and, of course, our sea.

My block is called Saudade. (because I'm missing the sun and the beach right now!)

I'm very happy to participate, even if slightly embarrassed I didn't make something more elaborate, due to lack of time and procrastination..

Get to know the project and block gallery here: http://www.quilt-around-the-world.com/en/content/where-do-you-come

And let me know, who else is participating? :)

Keeping busy :)

2015

to find my true self
to evolve personally, spiritually and professionally
to feel whole, complete and fulfilled
to have peace, freedom and lasting happiness
to love and accept myself and be grateful for all that I have in my life
to be surrounded by loved ones and to be able to express my love for them
to travel!

I am blessed, I am light, I am love.

Happy New Year :)

encontrar o meu verdadeiro eu
evoluir pessoalmente, espiritualmente e profissionalmente
sentir-me completa, realizada e concretizada
ter paz, liberdade e felicidade duradoura
rmar-me e aceitar-me e ser grata por tudo o que eu tenho na minha vida
rodear-me dos que mais amo e ser capaz de expressar o meu amor por eles
viajar!

Eu sou abençoada, eu sou luz, eu sou amor.

Feliz Ano Novo :)

A new way...

Hexies everywhere!

It's baaaccckkkk...

Hexie fever is taking over me once again :)

What else am I supposed to do on a rainy Sunday??

I believe in English it's called sweet milk bread and rice pudding. :)

Here, it's pão de leite e arroz doce.

Yummi!

Soooo in love with this fabric! :D

Cute, cute cute!

All finished! :D

Remembering what it is all about...

Hello.

Lately I've been feeling a bit frustrated with my projects. They began feeling lazy to me, not very challenging. This little quilt proved to be the opportunity to get back on my proverbial quilting horse.
It is a special gift for a much desired baby.

I decided to take out my free motion quilting gloves and get on it. I must say it was quite a sad moment to realize that I hadn't used them in over a year, probably longer. How is it that we get stuck in just completing projects for time management sake and not really stop to think how we can make them more challenging? Is it the work load? Can we call work something we love doing?

I guess that's exactly the question, when did my favorite hobby become work?

It took me a little under an hour do get this little project quilted and I have to say it cleansed my soul :D
Oh, and it doesn't look bad either hehehe.

New Stuff! :D Animal Shaped Lavander Sachets

Update on the craziness :)

Little Azalea by Denise Fishbein para a Free Spirit Fabrics

As some of you may know, even tough I'm a constant fixture at my favorite fabric shops, I always like to pick 2 or 3 fabrics to buy in bigger amounts, to serve as a sort of inspiration for my work every year. And early Spring is the time I usually do it, sort of a birthday gift to myself.

This year, I chose fabrics from Little Azalea by Denise Fishbein for Free Spirit Fabrics and I'm happy to tell you they have just arrived are are gorgeous!

I was a bit nervous because this year I was unable to attend the showing, so I've ordered from a catalog, which is totally not the same thing!

But they are just as expected, lovely, colorful and I believe,much different from previous years, which says a lot about myself and my personal growth.

And, for some reason, they got me thinking about trying to make clothes for the first time... which is absolutely crazy to me :)

So, what do you think? Did I do well? :)

Patchwork Blankets galore!

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow will be a big day.

Since my little shop closed, some issues were left unsolved, mainly because there was a dispute with the shopping mall owner and they basically sued me and it's been hanging over my head since then.

Tomorrow will be a court hearing, the last. Tomorrow I'll sit at that table and here all sorts of things inallywill be said about a chapter I wished was closed many months ago but have today realized it's just as raw as the day I closed my business.

I'm asking the Universe to give me strength and serenity to not only go through the whole process without losing the peace I have fought so hard to achieve ever since that day, but also to allow me to learn and take something very positive from this experience. I ask that it helps me grow and mature and that by facing them, I finally realize I am no longer the scared girl that was so out of her depth. Now I am a woman, a serene, confident woman and hopefully being there will make me know that, rather than just wishing it.

So, root for me please, and send me your good vibes. I thank you deeply in advance :)

Time to help!

Hello.

I'm undergoing a very special campaign on my Facebook page SandyOwn, to help two animal rescue groups whose work I admire profoundly: Entregatos and Projecto Piloto.

This campaign consists on selling these handmade articles until next Saturday and donate all of the money to both groups. Even though most of you are from outside of Portugal, if animal rescue is something you support, why not help two groups who fight daily to make ends meet?

Orders to sandyown@gmail.com or at the SandyOwn page on Facebook :)

My weekend project :)

Hello.

So my mission this weekend was to refurbish four chairs for my sister. She just moved and now has a much colorful room than the one these chairs lived in. 

On a sunny Saturday we went and purchased the fabrics and then it was up to me. It was quite a simple and easy project, the only thing hard for me was taking all of the former staples off, my fingers kept scratching the board and I ended up hurting them. 

The second hardest task was using the manual stapler to attach the new fabric, I will definitely be looking into electric staplers if I ever decide to do this again :)

But other than that, I think it worked out great and felt very gratifying to do this simple project instead of having to hire someone to do it :)