Sunday is when I have some time to relax and reflect. The end of a weekend, and the herald to a new work week, I always find myself a bit introspective.

As I’ve posted before, I live in Texas. And the weather here is somewhat unreliable. It will be madly raining for a few hours and then bright blue sunshine. It can be freezing in the middle of October, or warm enough for just a teeshirt in November. Last Friday morning, it was a teeshirt day. Until the rains came and I had to put on a sweater. Seriously, the weather here is rather strange.

The good news, today, is that it is chilly, but otherwise bright outside. I hope life will permit me to do some photographs. I have a ton of new products to list, and a bunch of old ones (photos) to update. As I’ve groused before, photography is not my favorite thing. But you can’t find a product that I know you’ll love until I manage to get a decent photo of it. And so we go.

In other notes, I’m still remodeling the house. Tidying up from the huge paint and flooring extravaganza from earlier in the year. I have touchup along baseboards, more caulk and some paint to scrape off tile. I also have to finish the clear coating of the separating boards that need to fill the juncture between laminate flooring and tile.

I wish there were 3 of me. But, there’s just one. So what are your plans for this marvelous day? I know you’ll make them good ones.

If you are doing a double take going ‘whaaa didn’t she just DO a site makeover?’ you are not mistaken.

I did. Earlier this year. I went to what I thought would be a fun pink and blue girly site. But then, after a few months, it really started looking a bit juvenile. Which wasn’t working for me. On top of that, I had some new packaging plans in my future (which are now available to YOU) and I really wanted a  cohesive look.

Which brings me to this new vision of Coquette Bath & Home™. It isn’t finished yet. There are a few more tiny tweaks. I want a backing color to compensate with the black header (maybe more black!) and I definitely have to take some photos.

Which, if you’ve been reading, you know is probably about 2,434 on my ‘favorite thing to do list’.

If that high.

I’m also starting to present my line to local business through Wholesalecrafts.com. If you’re a member, my page isn’t live ‘yet’, but look for it soon. And if you are a customer, tell your favorite local shop! Never know, they might think my fun, retro hip and cool items would be a hit for more than just you!

In the meantime, since I do owe you a weather report, it is a blissfully lovely day in north Texas. The type of day that makes me  happy I’m here. And even more so that August is 11 months away.

(insert happy sigh).

Have a great weekend and if you’ve like to drop in a few comments about the redo, feel free! I’d love to get your reaction.

As always, thank you for stopping by.

Cari

Hello!

I’ve just recuperated (not kidding) from my first visit to the Trietsch UMC in Flower Mound, TX. They have a yearly handcraft only sale and every year I’ve always been a bit too late to get a space.

Well, not this year. And not from now on, either. What a GREAT show and really nice folks, too!

The ladies came up to me (more than one and more than once) to ask if I was okay. Did I need to go to the bathroom (ummm, YEAH) and did I need another bottle of water? How were my sales? And did I like the show.

An incredible attitude from all! And other than the bathroom comment (already answered) the rest are yes, don’t know until get home, and YES!

This is now show season. On October 13th (if memory serves) I’ll be at the Martin High School show in Arlington Texas. The following weekend, I’m at the Saginaw High School show. Then comes the Southlake Carroll Senior High show and LD Bell High School which is on the first Saturday in December.

All of these shows rock. I know, I’ve done them before. I sure would like to see you at one of them. So stop by and say you read this post.

There might be a gift for you, if you do!

Watermelon pink Crepe Myrtle

I’m not entirely sure where you are. But I am in Texas. And if you’ve read many of my blog posts, you’ve probably already figured that out. I’ve been in this state since 1985. I came after college at Purdue, when the economy was still a wee bit shaky and Texas, especially the Dallas area, was the place to be.

Since that time, I married, I had kids, I divorced…Texas law (enacted under former Governor Ann Richards–as I’ve been told) now requires the custodial parent (usually mom) to remain in the county that the divorce was granted in (or adjacent counties) until said kids are all over the age of 18.

I have 1.75 more years. It isn’t that Texas is a horrible place to be. Quite the contrary, it is filled with really cool people and an amazing culture. But it is a little bit different when you aren’t here because you really REALLY want to be here. But rather you have to stay or else some dude with a badge might come after you. That makes a big difference in your mental mindset.

I do love Texas. But this requirement, which I lived under since 1999, has been a bit onerous. When I couldn’t find a job, I still couldn’t leave. When parents needed some help in another state, I couldn’t leave. Or rather, I couldn’t take my kids. And that sure wasn’t happening. So I stayed. Of course, I did. Texas is a cool place to be.

A few mountains, however, wouldn’t hurt. This place is FLAT!

The only time of year that I dislike this state is August. Blistering heat, usually in triple digits, makes grass go brown (as I refuse to water if I don’t have too) and even a quick walk to your car makes you feel a bit wilted,  yourself. We’re actually warm–sometimes untl the mid 90′s–even as late as Halloween.

The winters here are mild and even a dusting of snow is enough to close schools. We have no snow removal equipment and the very infrequent ice/snow storms cause panic everywhere. Within moments of an announcement, every jug of milk or package of bread is gone from the grocery. I’ve always been amused by that…the worst case scenario I’ve experienced was being at home for about 18 hours.

But folks panic like it is a 6 week blizzard!

It’s Saturday morning where I sit. We’ve had the remnants of Hermine around here. Dumped a ton of rain the middle of last week, and even since, the heat has dissipated significantly. I always note the ‘fall monsoon’ (my words) which marks the end of the hellish August. It came about 2 weeks earlier this year. I hope that means a lengthy fall and winter.

I like those seasons here.  They don’t last long enough. So we don’t gt but a couple of weeks (if that) of seasonal color. And the really colorful trees (maples and such) won’t grow here due to the heat. I miss that. I miss walking around with leaves crunching beneath your feet. I miss walking at night while a light sugary snow comes down.

I miss those years in Indiana while attending Purdue. I’d come from the south (fresh from years in Alabama and Arkansas) to the state, unaware and unprepared. And fell in love with the seasons. But there weren’t any jobs to speak of. And I returned southward.

In less than 2 years, I can leave. But I have a great job and well, who knows? Maybe this business will be big enough so that I can move to a smaller town, a bit more northerly and be able to fit into things. Open a little store, sell online and enjoy my world. A college town would be perfect. I love the vibe and energy.

But for right now, I have no idea what is coming. Only that life is always in flux. And that’s a good thought on this Saturday morning…while the sky outside at nearly 9am is gray and the branches of my lovely watermelon pink crepe myrtle wave outside my office window in the breeze. Perhaps more rain is coming.

What a lovely blessing! Have a great week.

Cari

I always talk about my stuff and my life, and that’s okay, I guess. But today, I’d like to talk a bit about someone else.

Yes, I have my own site, but I’m also part of two other great selling venues: Cargoh.com and Etsy.com. On Etsy, I found a really wonderful shop: Jill’s Treasures. She also has one called TurtleTreasures and in that shop, I found a way cool pair of earrings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55506561/citrus-shell-earrings

I wish I could paste a photo, but since the item isn’t in my shop, I can’t. But, I will tell you that it is delectable shades of yellow, brown and green…a perfect pair of fall earrings.

Give handmade a try. Not only my stuff (LOL) but also go and visit some of the great artists on Etsy!