New Design, New Scent!

OOH! I am so excited! I just made an awesome blend specially designed for headaches. I make a blend I call Tension Relief which works for headaches but this new blend has rosemary instead of chamomile. It smells wonderful and works really well for helping to relieve some of the pain associated with migraines. It is perfect for those who can't tolerate chamomile.

Also, I have designed the cases different on these and I think it adds flair. I had a great time making these and I do so like to keep things NEW and FRESH! I really love this blend. I think they're also great for eye strain.
Don't forget, they can be heated or cooled and used to relieve muscle aches too.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think! :) Thanks!!
Hugs from the West Woods,
--Kim

I love making accent pillows :)

So my most recent love in the sewing world is making accent pillows. I've made scented ones where I craft a pillow and add scented sachet inserts to the poly fill before sewing it all up but I am REALLY having fun creating accent pillow cases and pillows.
The design is simple in most cases (envelope style pillow/pillow case) but the added flair comes in when I add something like this:




I've also tried my hand at making a large applique for a pillow. This one was a custom also:

I've also made this one- a more artistic approach to my pillow making endeavors:

Cinnamon Rose Scented Aroma Accent Pillow (Sachets are on the inside)

 

 

 

I am about to make some more and I think list them on Etsy. I would like to make a large envelope style accent pillow cover. The largest one I've made is 18" x 18" (the bird ones above).

I absolutley LOVE and ADORE making custom orders for people. I love the challenge of it and more importantly I love to make people happy and there is nothing like seeing the smile or hearing a squeal of delight when one of my customers sees their order for the first time. Really quite awesome.
Ta Ta for now :)
More later from the West Woods
xoxox
--Kim

Guess How Many Buttons and WIN AN AROMATHERAPY EYE PILLOW! :)

Guess How Many Buttons…

The closest guess without going over will win a Winter Solstice Dreams Aromatherapy Eye Pillow. The jar is a 6 ounce Ball Mason Jar. 

The Details:

·        Contest Dates: 2/22/11 – Midnight 3/1/11

·        How to enter: 1) post your estimate as a comment about this blog post (Say something nice J too. I like compliments although they will not help your chances of winning.) *2) Send me your email address in the event you are the winner of the contest. wintersolsticedreams@gmail.com

·        Prize: ONE Aromatherapy Eye Pillow (Lavender or Chamomile not BOTH. ONLY ONE. See pictures.)

·        Winner Selection: The person who guesses the closest WITHOUT GOING OVER wins. The End. Very simple.

·        Notification of Win Rules/Disclaimer:

o       *Winner will be contacted by email. MAKE SURE you send me your email address! If you do not, you will be disqualified. Thank you.

o       *If you are the winner, and you do not respond to the notification email from me an alternate will be chosen within 3 days.  Thank you for understanding.

·        Who Can Play: Contest open to residents of the US only. Thank you.

·        Other Notes: No purchase necessary to play; winner will be announced on FaceBook, Twitter, Email, and This Blog.

Invite your friends to play! Good luck and happy guessing. (PS: If you become a fan on FaceBook, you can see more pictures of the jar!)

(The Red Pillow is Lavender and the Pink is Chamomile.  All innards are organic.)  

 Pictures of the PRIZE!!

Organic Chamomile Eye Pillow

Organic Lavender Eye Pillow

 Our aromatherapy eye pillows are organic and made with love. The covers are removable, washable, and can be dried in the dryer. This makes them more hygienic than other pillows. Both pillows pictured here are designed to relax, restore, and rejuvenate :) 

For more product information please send an email to wintersolsticedreams@gmail.com or visit my Etsy site WSDreams.etsy.com.   

CONGRATS TO JILL RAMSEY! FREE GIFT RECIPIENT 2/22/11 :) Look for other offers soon! :) This one is closed now :) Thank you!!!

Hi All!
Am taking some time today to rework my workshop. My dad (carpenter for many MANY years) is expertly revamping the workshop. It is in the middle of, as my good friend Teri in Utah says, "Organized Chaos". Well said my friend :) I can't wait to see how it will turn out and will help me streamline my work. It will also give my husband some room for his projects as well. :) All around fantastic.

In other news, I am offering a free gift to the next person who purchases something from my Etsy shop. Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop
The purchase is up to you the gift is up to me :)

I hope everyone is enjoying this break from the deep freeze and has a great night!
I will post pictures of my shop once it is done AND the VIDEO for the Balsam Fir Blockers is NEARLY FINISHED! AM super excited. It is short but very funny.

Hugs and loves from the West Wood.
--Kim

A Novel of One's OWN...(Sorry V. Woolfe. Sorry)

IEWW! Too many days have passed without a blog but my life is very full this week! My dad is up for a visit from NYC and I've been teaching too. (IN addition to being mom, wife, crafter, artisan, business owner, marketer, snow removal expert, nurse, housekeeper, etc etc.).  Teaching is going very well and I am really enthralled with the students; they are quite wonderful and funny. I especially like the change of pace; it is a great way to break up the routine a bit.

I removed snow from my mailbox today which was not unlike moving a small glacier. Nearly 4 hours of shoveling, ice picking, salting, sanding, shoveling then ice picking again. My hands are shaking, my back is aching, and it is time for a rest. Sometimes I don't know when to stop and my body tells me ALL about it. Now is one of those times.

But enough about THAT..... :)
I have recently made a HUGE decision. I MEAN HUGE. 
I hesitate to write it for that makes it REAL but I will because I am sure one of you lovely "followers" will hold me to it.

I. AM. GOING. TO. BEGIN. WRITING. AGAIN. 

My poor neglected novel sits in my thumb-drive unloved, unappreciated, and UN-WRITTEN. I have had many signs and symbols point to the OBVIOUS. They all speak one truth: WRITE IT OR YOU WILL ALWAYS WONDER....WHAT IF?
I do NOT want to end up back in wondering limbo..."what if i had just written that book? what if i had just tried harder to get past that fourth chapter? what if i just let go of my fears and just did it? whatifijustfinisheditforcryingoutloud? WHAT IF?" Nah. Not this kid. Nope. NO SIR.

Once upon a time I wondered many things such as: "WHAT IF I just climbed this trail? What if I DID make it to the top of that mountain? WHAT IF I climbed the Knife's Edge?  What IF I finished school? What if I became a teacher? What IF I took this job in radio? What if I stayed at home with Veronica and started my own business? I could write much more but it might bore you to death.

My point is that eventually I did them all. I moved past and through my fears and just did it.
EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. FINISHING MY NOVEL. I have been what iffing this one for about 15 years now. I think it is time to say

WHAT IF I FINISHED THIS NOVEL? 

SO here is a little glimpse (I am keeping this clean) as to what my brain does to that thought and perhaps a huge reason why I haven't done it yet. The CENSOR in my head tries to stop me all the time: It goes something like this: "Oh my GOD?! What would happen then? What if no one likes it? What if I can't get published? What if it stinks REALLY BAD? What if NO ONE WILL EVER READ IT?! What if people think I am absolutely bonkers (which REALLY won't matter because NO ONE WILL READ IT, RIGHT?! You can't finish it! YOU can't write it! You tried to get a writing job (once) and that didn't work out so WHY BOTHER!"  ON AND ON AND ON ad nausea.  (I even wrote a short stream of consciousness piece called "The Censor" but it is REALLY inappropriate for a general audience or I would post it here.)

The only time that censor shuts up is when I give in, figure something else to do instead (distraction is my middle name), and stop with the novel "nonsense".  I have become quite successful at this and am really prone to coming up with new "career" ideas on a whim. I completed college with the INTENT of becoming a writer. I think I have done everything but become one.
I am pretty sure the time is now to finish that book. For NO OTHER reason but to finish it because I haven't yet. I have to say, I am pretty bull headed and love to say I CAN when someone (in this case MYSELF) tells me I CAN'T.
SO here I go. This is me. Saying YES I CAN. Going to get that icy blue thumbdrive with the contents of this crazy novel and pick up on chapter four where I left off OVER A YEAR AGO. Me. GOING.....wish me luck. Thanks. ;)
--Hugs from the West Woods of Maine

PS: NO I am NOT giving up Winter Solstice Dreams! I will STILL continue to create things for my shop and business! :) Wouldn't give that up for anything! I love it a lot. Just going to add this dream of my life to my daily routine. I am queen of multi-tasking. I may even just get a recorder and "write" while I sew. I do it in my head anyway; might as well put that thinking business to good use.
XOXOXO
--Kim

Sale and a Rant

Good MORNING! :) It is wicked early but I am up. It's nice to be up first too; some quiet before my day unfolds. Today is filled with Macbeth (I'm teaching today), snow storm preparations, hauling wood, cleaning the house, taking care of sick kid, and HOPEFULLY taking pictures of my new Balsam Fir Draft Blocker Babies. I am REALLY REALLY REALLY psyched about how these came out. I've finally FINALLY finished tweaking the pattern and am super happy with it. The one I made yesterday is sort of quilted; that is there are patches of a print in the middle and then surrounded with a solid but textured color fabric. It rocks. I almost want it for ME. LOLOL. I may actually make one for myself. I mean a cover. That is another thing I love about them; the COVERS are REMOVABLE so I CAN WASH THEM! I love being able to wash things when they get dirty don't you? At any rate, eventually I may sell additional cases for the blockers sort of like seasonal prints for people to purchase. IE: Fall, Winter, Spring prints and depending on where you live, summer prints LOL. I have done this for the eye pillows and have had nice reviews.
AND if there is something you would like to buy from my shop here is a code for you to use to get 20% off your ENTIRE ORDER. Use the code WINTER20 when you check out on Etsy. :) 

BUT I DIGRESS....
I don't know about your neck of the woods but in MY Neck of the woods it seems to be that food prices are SKYROCKETING. We are on a budget (like the rest of the world) and it has really knocked our budget for a loop. BY LIKE $30 bucks extra a week! It may not seem like a lot but when you do the math (iew...I know....) it comes out to $120 per MONTH. Which is a lot; that coupled with normal high rates for electricity during the winter REALLY leaves a sour taste in my mouth and a worry on my brow.  So it is for the Keeper of the Homestead.
On FaceBook my friend posted about national averages of food bills for a family of 4. I read the numbers and I nearly cried laughing. One statistic I read said 1300 per month (yes you read that correctly) for a family of 4 and I read $770 per month for a family of 4. I feel better knowing that we are no where NEAR that but at the same time the prices have still skyrocketed...WITHOUT WARNING! BAHHH! Sigh. We don't even buy frozen foods or frivolous things so these are staples we are buying to cook all of our meals (all of them).
I am pretty sure it has to do with gas prices going up which affects everything. OH well. Will have to just juggle some more LOLOL!
I so love Winter...I really REALLY do. It is my favorite time of the year however, I will say that I am happy to see Spring this year. Spring means garden, garden means fresh veggies, fresh home grown veggies means slashed grocery bills.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Stay warm, get the shovels ready, bundle up, hunker down, and get the tea going.
I THINK it might get a LITTLE snowy later on.
--Kim
PS: Do you think if I am really good this year, Santa will bring me a Pomegranate tree? AND a greenhouse to keep it in? Just sayin'.