It's a play dough kinda day!

In our house, we LOVE play dough! Seriously, my son absolutely loves it! He just has so much fun pretending, creating, building and we even use it to help with our at home speech therapy moments! He makes the little tiny ball you see in the pic, he pretends it's a plankton. He loves making plankton lol. Plankton does EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in his eyes. So, I came up with him "teaching" plankton how to make his sounds. It works! He doesn't get as bored when we practice sounds and oral motor work.  Whatever works, right?

Plus, we just love cooking together. He loves cooking playdough! Let me tell ya, this is THE best playdough recipe I have EVER used! EVER!

 I say, gather your simple ingredients, a half hour of your time, some muscles for stirring,and the knowledge that you will be creating a super fun memory for your kiddo!

This mom has a great blog with TONS of recipes, DIY fun and kid stuff. Go check her out.
Here's her link

 Now go and create something today!
Krissy

see that little guy up top? That's plankton! No sooner did I finish kneading our warm orange dough (we used gold glitter as well but it just wouldn't show up in the pic), did he go and make a plankton ! I love this kid!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

We are really trying to remember and trust in this verse.  Putting in so much effort and time, it's a little hard at times to be patient. Ugh! the mere mention of that word send me into a tizzy! LOL Because I know, as a Christian, as soon as I open my mouth and mention patience, I will surely be learning about patience the "hands on" way, without a doubt! Waiting for someone, ANYONE, to order one of our designs, is insanity!!!! Not to mention discouraging. Especially for Chris. he's the one doing the building and designing right now (I'm still stuck in unschooling, speech therapy, home, mommy, wife mode). He's sees tons of people "favorite-ing" or "liking" his builds but no one buying yet. I can see where that might get discouraging and cause one to question either their abilities, strategy or even if they should even be doing this! I don't want my husband being discouraged, he's incredibly talented. I just keep reminding him that even though noone has YET purchased something from our blog, facebook or etsy pages, he has been consistently building for local clients, friends. I think that may make him wonder if he is "good" enough to go bigger than just to local people. Shoot, I'm wondering that and I have yet to post ANYTHING  on etsy! But, he's the brave one, I'm the one who tends to be held back by fear..I knock myself down before I even get started lol. He usually is so focused and certain that something can work. So seeing and hearing him question certain things in our venture, is a new spot for me.

I wonder how long WILL it take for this design/small business, to get off the ground in the "big world". Does it really have to??? Are we going about it the right way??? ugh! I do not want to second guess what we have been praying about and feeling so led by God to go ahead and do. For whatever reason, I guess we are learning something and are meant to use that in some way. I think patience might be on that list as well! sigh

We don't really know any other 'builders or craft type" people who have ventured into their own business, in order to get some kind of an idea as to what to expect. I guess maybe, that's one reason I wanted to journal our journey in this blog.  Sometimes for me, getting it out helps me to organize my thoughts and clear my head. Or drive me batty...but I'll go with clarity on this one, right?? It's kind of hard, though, writing your blog and NOONE leaving comments to offer advice. All I hear are crickets chirping in the background lol.  But again, patience...sheesh! the "P" word has been my nemesis for YEARS!!! You'd think I'd have SOME kind of grasp on it by now!

But I am thankful that no matter the questions, doubts or times of discouragement...we are creating things. Chris is still making beautiful furniture for people who will treasure his designs for years to come. Not to mention US enjoying the ones he's made for our family. And me, I've been creating things. Some scrapbooking for our unschooling, just for my own personal memory files and I've finally been able to create a page with me and my little brother about us when we were bmx racers. Yup, I was a BMX chick. I know I know, pretty awesome, right? I've been wanting to make a page of that with one of my favorite pictures of he and I and it's finally done, yay! But, I am the one lagging in creating for the business...which makes me feel like a non helper in all of this. maybe that's why I am trying to be a great encourager and cheerleader for my hubby. If I can't, at least he can use his gifts.

And speaking of gifts, here are some pics of his latest builds and my scrapbook page. He made a breakfast bar bench for the same client who he built the long foyer bench for. they wanted that same design. And the other pics show the gorgeous desk/table he made for us. Which actually began as a teen desk he built as he went, just off the top of his head in his shop. I think that's pretty cool! He wanted to put it on etsy but we both just fell in love with it and decided to keep it lol. It still needs hardware, we have to find the perfect ones ( he doesn't want any but I do, so there you go!) I just LOVE how the finish came out. Absolutely love it!

Well, here are the pics. So my lesson to me through all of this is ....persevere through the hard times...the 'patience learning" times. Keep creating, trust God to direct you every step of the way. Wherever that may be. And "“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

There is so much more to life than just this part! And ya know what? I'm so glad that we are still enjoying it. Actually, maybe even more it seems. Hmmm, that's interesting. I think I will reflect on that. 

Now you go on and create something today!

Krissy

 Look at that beauty! And it makes the painting that Chris did stand out even more!

 love love love the way the finish came out! honey undertones over a soft black. love it!

 just look at those sexy legs!!! the shape is so pretty and I  love how he distressed the legs. Gorgeous!

 Three drawers

 Like I said in our intro post, he's an artist! This is just one piece of art he's done. He is so blessed with so much artist ability.

 His custom breakfast bar bench. This is how it will look in their house. Love it so much, he made one for us! But we will stain ours to match our dining room furniture. 

 Very cool slat design that they wanted. He did this in the entryway bench he made for them as well.

 These guys? Oh they were just something he whipped up for me on Monday. I asked him for some crates so I can desplay Fall stuff outside. Can't wait to get my decorations, pumpkins and flowers, so I can set it all up!

 This is my page. I can't remember how old I was. Maybe 13?? But I was one tough chick! oh yeah!!! 

If you are ever interested in having something created by us...just leave me a comment below and we can tawlk, alrighty???

Be blessed and go create something!

Works in progress and my high hopes!

Well, Chris has been busy in the shop, reorganizing, changing things up, thinking up designs and ideas along with some new builds.
He began on a cool breakfast bar bench for a client, that we are going to keep and he will redesign a bit for the client. It just works for us :) It's built but not finished...I'm really hoping it gets finished. We're kinda like the old story of the Shoemaker whose family ran around without any shoes....we are the family without our own creations lol. Or unfinished ones.
I added pics from my phone but they are loading sideways..ugh..so I apologize for the bizarre angles.

He also began a desk that was intended to be put up on etsy as a child/teen desk but after working on it, he wanted us to have it.  It works as a great desk for us and I love it! Perfect size, two small full extending side drawers and a large center, full extension drawer. Lots of room for my calender/scrapbook for our home learning activities as well as laptop stuff. And it's in our sitting area in the family room. Perfect!
And again, it's not finished, but they are both in the house, that's a step up, right?
I've been trying to get some scrapbook pages done but seem to not have the time to think and create and then actual time to implement what I want to do. A little sad, but I know it will work itself out. Our son and our home learning adventures or his interruptions kinda make that aspect of my life a little tough. But I have been putting together a "do as we go" monthly learning scrapbook. Easy and no frills..no big embellishments because the book has to be fairly flat, but I'm happy with my design and it will be a good record for us to have since we unschool and learn/explore/play as we go.
Figuring out how to do it all is  something I have to figure out, but, I don't have any clients, YET, but if I did, I know I would kick it in gear, I'd have to!
Starting, advertising and maintaining a small home based business is fun..but tough work!

The scrap pages are my monthly records I mentioned. Not all filled in, I need to get it filled in and pics in place but these are August and September layouts. The last pic is the first page. I will add a photo and some current facts about Cheesy. The monthly layout will have 2 two page spreads including a calender, summed up notes, activities, places visited or lists on the first 2 pages and some pics that capture the month on the next 2 page layout. I have coordinating papers and embellishments for the entire album. I'm pretty excited to be able to keep a record of our activities and learning moments in an easy and fun way.

Thanks for visiting!
Now go and create something!
Krissy

My grandmom's side tables...refinished

I have had these two sweet little tables that belonged to my grandmom, ever since her death in 1995. Oh how I loved that woman! She was the one who always bestowed upon me pure and unconditional love...kindness and encouragement...prayer and forgiveness. She was the one who loved me like a parent should. I learned how to love by her example.

I have wanted to refinish these tables for forever! They have gone everywhere with me. And now, I have a husband who can refinish and build furniture! How convenient, right? lol lucky me! So we finally decided to re-do them, but in a distressed, pottery barn kinda way. From actual old tables to old looking tables ???? strange I know, but they came out great! Chris also built a top to replace the individual tops of them in order to join them together to make a small console. Apparently he and I were on different pages when it came to size of the top, he thought I wanted them to be close together when I actually wanted them spaced further apart to become a longer console. But, I wasn't going to have him buy more wood and rebuild a top, I'm too kind :D.

Chris is able to build these same type of tables, either separate pieces...or made to be a console like mine, short or long, however you like.  And it doesn't have to be in a distressed way, a regular finish is perfect as well.

Here are some pics!  and please please please, forgive the awful pics, we are by no means good at taking pics, we really need to learn more.
                                   BEFORE

after sanding and primer

table top build, sanded and primed

I love it. even though it's not the long version I initially wanted, it still looks cute in our foyer. the sweet mama  giraffe and baby are from Africa, given to us by a friend. The basket is handmade from Hawaii, a gift from my hubby

distressed it a bit, not too much. the paint is Martha Stewart Silhouette 

 And that's it..tada...an old looking table from an old table turned small console. I am so happy my grandmom's tables will continue to bring me joy....and now, in a new way and with a touch from my hubby.
Thank you for looking!
Now go on and create something!

Krissy

Cheese lost his first tooth! And we think he ate it!

Yup, his very first tooth...that mommy wanted to keep and safeguard as a memento, didn't happen that way, why am I not surprised! LOL but, after searching and searching the entire house for it, as if it got up and ran away or just plopped out of his mouth, we determined the cinnamon toast he had been eating was probably the culprit. And yes, I checked out the toast, no tooth :(
In a desperate attempt to hold on to this memory with him ( he was a bit upset that the tooth was missing or the tooth fairy took it and forgot to leave a coin! gasp! she could never do that! I decided that we could write her a note explaining what happened to his tooth and draw her a picture of the tooth. Cheese thought this was a terrific idea. come to find out, it was not a genius idea on my part, many smart parents have come up with this solution as well.
I then realized I never made him a tooth fairy pillow like I had intended..insert panic at this point. So I decided to grab his baby pillow and search for a pair of cargo pants he no longer fit in, and went on to make him a pillow!
 Here's what I did

Easy peasy homemade tooth fairy pillow tutorial 

Supplies-
a pillow - I used his baby pillow, for sentimental reason. if you have one, I would use that or you could stitch a simple one together with fabric (maybe an old baby shirt) and fill with poly fill and stitch up. no need to worry about perfection here, it's not going to be used that often and it's the memory we care about so don't stress!

A cargo pocket- mine had a velcro pocket on top and a small square pocket on the left bottom corner..PERFECT!  Top pocket will hold our note and the little pocket will hold future teeth. sadly not this one :(

a good fabric glue- I used Liquid Stitch, stitchless sewing glue
Rickrack or ribbon of your choice or you could use fabric paint as well

Putting it all together-
 I cut out the pocket, making sure not to cut too close to the stitching around the pocket. I used pinking shears but later decided I didn't like the look and just used regulare scissors to cut in close.
Next Cheese helped me smear on the fabric glue on the back. He used a brush,  I smeared it thickly with my fingers. Very sticky and messing but it really was the best way to rub it in to ensure a good bond. I made sure to reach the edges. Then carefully placed my pocket in the center of my pillow and rubbed it down really well. Cheese helped me with this part as well. We made sure to not make it slip around.but rubbed it in really well. Next I added rick rack. Baby blue was what I had so that's what I used. Typically how I do things lol. I also used teh liquid glue to adhere the rick rack. made sure to run it on all over and placed it around the pocket. I wanted to cover the edges of the pocket so I tried to get as close as possible to the pocket edge. I cut the rick at each corner and tried to match the next piece with the otherr one. I continued this until it was all covered. Rubbed it in really well and voila! tooth fairy pillow. I might add his name to it later, I'm not sure.

 The pillow looks HUGE in this pic, must be my awesome photography skills and the angle. sheesh! it's a baby pillow trust me lol

 I made sure to use scrapbook paper and an acid free pen because I will be placing it in his scrapbook along with a picture of that cute face!

 I did the writing, since he is only 5 and gets tired of writing very quickly and I do not like stressing him out. He held my hand as I wrote and we had thought about what we wanted to write and they were his words. Then he signed his own name. We also drew a picture of a tooth. He wanted me to draw it and then he made a smiley face lol. That's my happy boy!
It's a pretty basic design and you can do it up anyway you like.Probably better than me! Use the colors of your room or glitter it up for a girl. Create it your way! That's the fun of it. Let your kids join in. I was on a time crunch to have it ready for the tooth fairy tonight so it wasn't an etsy worthy design lol. Which I don't care, he loves it. .
 Easy peasy!
Now go and create something!!!

Krissy

And we're off!!!!!

This weekend has been a blur! So many exciting happenings and so much work. Getting this train rolling along isn't an easy task nor is it easy on the "time" aspect. lots of long hours, which, I suppose, is a taste of what is to come and will probably continue. Figuring out how to manage that time with family life will be where we need to especially ask God for wisdom and discernment. It can get very easy to go and go and research and research and lose total track of time. And the last thing we want to do is keep telling our son, "hold on, Cheese, we gotta do this", repeatedly. Definitely NOT in our plans. So I guess when you start your business going, setting up your priorities and goals is a must. Which should then be followed by a plan. Charts and graphs and "plans" are NOT my thing. I am what you might call a 'free spirit". Hubby calls me a hippie lol. I think I can say that I do not like being confined to a box..hence the reason I probably gravitated towards the unschooling way of home education.  I know we need some sort of framework to go by, concerning our business and the course of action we might like to take, due to legalities and time management, but I also want to do it in a way that is uniquely "US". Custom tailored for us. A Dawson Custom Design, you might say :)   unique to our situation. A good general plan, brought about by our goals and priorities, but not a set in stone kind of plan, a grounded in faith and heart kind of plan. That's it! Faith and heart. This should lead to our distinctive priorities and goals.

Our priorities and goals are:

Our relationship with God- seeking to honor him through all we do in life.

Our family relationship- to live out our relationship with Christ and His character with our family members.

Our relationship with others- to show the love of Christ to those we encounter. Either through direct conversations, interactions/activities or the products we make and sell.

This is what we have so far. We can always add to it. But this is our beginning step. Gonna make sure that train runs on a good solid track. 

Thanks for stopping by! Now go and create something today!!

Krissy

Making our dream a reality

Hi! First of all, thanks for stopping by. Wow, I can hardly believe we are at this spot! Not blogger per se..although THAT"S a surprising turn of events. Ending up here, at the point of wanting to fully go ahead and begin making our dream of a family owned furniture/creativity type of business, a REALITY! This is so exciting!
Well, let me introduce ourselves...we are Chris and Krissy .. yeah yeah, I know, cheesy, right? No, Cheesey is our 5 yr old son lol. Yup, we call him Cheese! And he's the coolest kid EVER! We will be doing lots of "LIFE" posting here so if you don't already know Cheese, you will, believe me! I've been sharing our life via facebook (and myspace initially) for 6yrs now so there are many people who know our story..which is a cool story! God is an amazing God who does amazing things! But, I'll just tease you with that! lol can't give it ALL away or what will I have to blog about?? 
Seriously, we are excited about the possibility of having our dreams, our creations and designs, turned into a business. We are reminding ourselves that it will take time. It will take hard work. It will take patience..gasp!!!!!! It will HAPPEN! It is happening! No matter how small it starts or stays, it will be ours. That's all we really want. We wanted an official name to be able to  market all the things we were already doing such as selling furniture that Chris custom made for friends.nd for me, actually make money on my scrapbook and craft creations.

 We are a single income unschooling military family. Say THAT 5 times fast!!! I have been blessed to be able to stay home with our son since his birth. That is good and it's tricky at times. Financially. As I'm sure it is for many families. As a means to pay for extra therapy sessions and nutritional supplements for our son when he was diagnosed at age 2 with autism, God showed Chris an undiscovered gift he had. Woodworking. So, he started to build furniture for friends and it helped pay for vitamins and things that were not covered by insurance or our wallets! but were necessary for Cheese's healing. And heal He did! But that's a WHOLE  other back story that will come up at times. He shows no signs or symptoms of autism anymore, just his speech disorder called Apraxia. Pretty cool, huh? We think so! We also thought it was pretty cool how God revealed that gift and love for woodworking to Chris. Chris was/is a very talented guy. Boy can he draw! He's a pretty artistic guy with incredible gifts in addition to woodworking. 
 Chris has been designing and building furniture and cabinetry for around 4 yrs now. He is self taught and always learning. His woodworking has kinda taken over the 3 car garage! It's all his now and I park outside :( but it's all good, it was my idea so he could have room to do his thing. Chris uses a design program to custom make any idea you may have, from your head or a picture you see online or in a catalog, he can recreate it with REAL WOOD!  I know, right?? real wood??? hard to find that these days, isn't it? You see particle board and you see it at HIGH PRICES!!!!!! Well, his builds are not flimsy and will last and last. Plus, they just look so darn good ;)  You won't be disappointed if you have us create a piece of furniture or artwork for your home. Oh, did I mention he can paint artwork as well? yeah, pretty much if you have any idea in your head of any piece of furniture or shelving or storage idea  for your home or a solution for your garage, he can do it I'm sure, or he'll figure out a way to do it. 

 For me, Krissy, this has actually been a lifelong dream of mine. I think I was a teenager when I found out I really enjoyed creating things. I loved seeing people smile when they received a gift I made. I would make very simplistic items..simple jewelry, crafty tshirts, stuff like that....fast forward a few years to my early adult years, with a young child ( I also have a 21 yr old son) and a desire to capture his life, I began scrapbooking and FELL IN LOVE! I never really had the available time or financial resources then, so I used all of my frugal moves to make it work when I worked it! It's funny, looking back I have always crafted or scrapbooked, but why don't I have a huge stock of my own pages>?? I seem to have made tons of stuff for others! lol just like Chris..I guess we are the typical story of the shoemaker who makes everybody's shoes while his kids run around barefoot. lol yeah, that's us. Not too many scrapbooks or our own custom made furniture or designs but a lot of happy customers! Which, really, I like it like that. makes me think we've been doing it right...giving generously and freely. And we do enjoy making stuff. 

So I thought about doing this blog to chronicle this new adventure..the twists and turns of making a business happen from infancy to adulthood. Listening to others talk about their own personal businesses, they relate it to having a child so I will use that as well. I also wanted this blog to be an interaction, not just a way to sell our products or get orders. But a way to connect to more people.  I'm a people person, I'm a storyteller, I'm a free spirit and I just want to open our lives and ideas to a wider audience and I hope you will follow us along for this ride. I am really excited and I promise, the other posts will NOT be as long as this introductory post..sheeesh this was a lot of typing and a lot of interruptions by Cheese..which meant a lot of getting back inside my head to remember my train of thought! And that train kept leaving without me! figures! well, hop on board our crazy train and join us for the ride. I'll have lots of goodies and ideas to share along the way!

Go on and create something today!
Krissy