sale time!

After a 6 month maternity break, my etsy shop is open again!

I thought I'd start out with a sale!!! Everything is 20-40% off my usual prices. This is your last chance to buy these items, so if you see your favorite pattern, this is it! I'm starting over, fresh with a new line of wares to launch this fall. I'll be listing items all week, so be sure to check in often! I only have one maybe two of each item, help me clear my shelves and get yourself or someone you love something lovely.
Shop the Little Flower Designs Sale!

a place i love

I'm trying to get to a place I love, where the world moves a bit easier, time doesn't evaporate so quickly, and things stay lovely - maybe not forever but at least long enough to notice.

Are you on that road too?

Just us girls in the studio!

Wow, it's been awhile! We're progressing slowly here, the new work is coming, designs are flowing from my pen like mad. Some are even making it into the clay. Just slowly. Baby lady is not one for napping, at least not in the conventional baby sleep pattern sort of way. Everyone reassures me that the day will come. I'm hoping for a nice 2 hours afternoon nap, we have afternoon sleepiness, lots of nursing to avoid the dreaded "laying down" but no official nap. I do take the little miss into the studio(pictured), she will last about an hour if I switch her between the baby swing and her pack and play. (in case anyone is in my situation) I sometimes do this a few times each day, we're up and down. On nice days we go outside. I did get her an exersaucer and she loves it but is still a bit small, but it's great to put her in and do a few chores.

Anyhow, back to little flowerness. I've mentioned that I'm changing things up a bit, no more custom pieces unless it is a BIG commission, it's just too time consuming. I am also limiting my line to select forms that I enjoy making. And thats shaping up to be a new bowl form, platters, vases and I'll keep making the cups since they seem to be my hot seller! I am also working out the kinks of a 2-d item I've been tinkering with forever. Other than that it's been so nice to have all this time with Mazzy. I've slowed down my life to a reasonable pace, I even sleep now! In addition to making new wares, I'm also trying to keep this new pace a priority, previously I was on the road to total burnout, I loved it but that really wasn't the best way to live. And I'm sure some of you know what I mean!

I am hoping to reopen my etsy shop in the upcoming weeks, I have 2 things in mind, the first a sale of pre-baby items and of course the launch of new items!!!!

Hope you are all well!

xo, Linda

step one

I think every maker has an unstoppable hunger to create. I've been out of the studio for almost 4 months now, unless you count standing in my studio looking around thinking "how in the world can I make this work?" So here I am sitting in my studio blogging with my little lady in her pack and play. I'm calling this step one! I am beyond hungry! My previous approaches just didn't work, I was waiting for her to take a nap, only she naps randomly throughout the day. Yesterday she slept for 3 hours in her bouncy seat in the living room, I did use the time to do a ton of chores but didn't venture down to the studio because I didn't know how long that would last - a missed opportunity... I guess this is now more than just running my business (I miss having an income) it's more about the fact that I REALLY miss my studio (yes tears have been shed) On the other hand, I LOVE being a mama, I LOVE my daughter and when I think of somehow combining the two to fit into each day, well, it would be a dream come true. I also want to show her that while she comes first and I will drop everything for her, that mama is an artist and a business woman and trying to be an awesome role model. Right now Miss Mazzy is napping!!! Since today is day one to my new approach, I'm just fooling around and packing some items to send out. Anyhow, my new approach is to take her along on my regular everyday tasks. Today we started with some nursing and playing, then yoga and bathing, then eating (for me) a few house chores, then we walked Marley and now we're in the studio with the laundry going! We're also trying to make cloth diapers work for us, um messy! My next happy studio baby strategy is to get her an exersaucer, my thought is that if she doesn't want to sleep, she needs something to do and I think that in her 3+ months of life she might be getting tired of laying around. She really like to stand up and is even trying to take some steps when we hold her up. So move over slab roller, make way for the exersaucer! or something like that!
I'm off to pack orders and baby allowing, weigh out some clay (tomorrow I might try to make something!) Happy May 12th!

slowly & a sweet story

The other day while Mazzy was wiggling around on her play mat, I noticed her looking away at something, not at my face, more at my hand which happened to be holding one of my bird cups. She was smiling and starting to giggle when I asked her if she liked the birdy, more wiggles and giggles, my heart melted. So may I gush? How lovely is it that my nearly 3 month old daughter wiggles and giggles at my work? So a trip into the studio for some more smiling and telling her what mama does was in order. Here we are visiting my studio for the very first time! Now to clean it up and try to make something!

a list for the mama maker/ things you'll need to know

• baby comes first (a given!)
• get your health back because having a baby beats you up
• don't set goals until after the baby is born (intentions yes but no "do by" dates)
• enjoy your wee one even if they never let you eat your dinner hot
• if you are nursing (breast is best!) it is intense
• and nursing is around the clock
• as a maker you already don't sleep much right? well, here's a new level of tired!
• my baby does sleep but due to the nursing it takes me 12 hours of nursing then sleeping to feel rested, so i have to go to bed at 8pm to be up and rested by 8am (that's with about 4 feedings if I'm lucky!)
• get some fresh air
• go for a walk and chit-chat with neighbors, people love to see new mama's making their way outside with the new baby and their smiles will mean more than you can imagine
• strap that baby onto you to help loose that baby belly quicker (that will work right?!)
• set a small goal each day to feel like yourself, today my goal is to draw!!!
• new mama's can and do shower
• try to clean your studio before the baby comes, you'll be so glad you did! ( i didn't, ugh!!!)
• make a clean spot for baby to nap or hang out while you work, infants want to be with you 24/7 and you'll want your mini me with you too
• it's ok to take time off
• although the craft world changes daily, you can jump back in when you are ready
• and people will be there to welcome you back (right?)
• anyhow, it's ok to take time off - to the mama makers out there, mostly remember that! Maybe even try to take a family vacation!

'tis all for now!

she's here!

Whoa, it's been awhile! I've completely checked out of the internets. Our little lady arrived safe and sound way back on January 28th after a laborious 49.5 hours of labor. Good thing I'm tough like that! That's her, Miss Mazzy Violet, the girl that has stolen my heart. We're going to take a good bit of time to get to know each other better before we try to relaunch Little Flower Designs. My original plan of heading back to the studio after 6 weeks is just unrealistic. Who would want to go back to work when they can snuggle with their sweet daughter while she's so wee? um, not me! It's a perk of being your own boss and having a super supportive Mr. that sais not to rush it. So while I am on my bacation (baby vacation) don't forget about me, I've got some plans up my sleeve to balance all this out, not to mention new designs and that new medium I've been trying to get to for quite some time. So, happy winter!

xo, Mama Little Flower

last day... for a while

So today is my last open day for Little Flower Designs. I've been going non-stop for almost 4 years. And by non-stop I mean, working very long hours 7 days a week. Living, breathing, being Little Flower Designs with time for barely anything else. I've LOVED it, it was my goal for a such a long time before I gained the skills and sales to make it my full-time life. And 4 years is an under estimate, before going full time with my biz, I worked for 8 years in corporate america while honing my skills and figuring out my escape route. So now, here I am facing a welcome change, my little lady will be here soon (soon please little lady, soon!) I want to thank everyone that has supported my little biz and made my dream possible. It is incredible to be a working self supporting artist and now to enter doing it as a mama, I am sure it will be rewarding in a much deeper way. Over the next few months I will be figuring out all things baby and how to combine that with running my biz. I will pop in for updates here and there and of course to announce the relaunch of Little Flower Designs. If you need me, you can always e-mail! I am taking some orders for my return, but be warned the turn around times are sketchy until I get my mama-studio groove going!

Thank you all for your support!

xo, Linda

front page in the middle of the night

In the middle of the night my funny bird serving dish made it's way to the frontpage of etsy.

Thanks Etsy!

welcome new year!

Welcome lovely new year!

I hope you all had a wonderful break, we had a nice rest, filled with family and quite a bit of baby prep! ok, and alot of movie watching. I am back in the studio today, moving very slow but still going and grateful for that. Over the break I set a date to close up for maternity leave, January 15th, 2010 will be my official close date. And baby allowing, I will re-open in late spring. So don't count me out!!! I have plans to change things up a bit, to work a less hectic schedule, to hire help and to introduce a new medium. The new year is sure to be quite an adventure, and of course I am nervous and excited. If any parent makers are reading and have tips on balancing their day between infant and making, please feel free to send them my way.

It's a sunny freezing day here in SE-PA, a perfect studio day.

Happy 2010, Linda

(ps- my esty shop)