A Parent's Promise...

 'A Parent's Promise'

Dreams...

It struck me the other day, as I sadly closed up my Etsy shop for the time being, that the quote from this print rings pretty true in my life... When I began selling on Etsy three years ago, I never dreamed that anyone would ever buy my jewellery! Over the last few years, I've had over 2800 sales in my Etsy store and filled countless orders for shops around Canada and the US... It's been a dream come true... A dream that I didn't even know I had... I never imagined myself owning my own business... Or being able to contribute significantly to the family income... The Lord was truly gracious...

Sometime around the New Year, things changed... Business slowed right down... And it was difficult to determine why... I felt defeated and deflated... After so many hours working hard to build my business, it just seemed as though what I was doing was no longer relevant... Couple that with the growing number of difficult customers, I began questioning more and more whether the time I was investing was worth it... I've been surprised and saddened by how hostile and mean people can be... And I'm just not the type of girl that's cut out for that... I'm the kind of girl that lays in bed at night wondering what I could have done differently...

After some discussion with my loving husband, a big move that really drained us and a pregnancy that has left me tired and worn out, I reached the sad conclusion that it's time to put my Etsy shop on an indefinite vacation... I'm hopeful that I'll miss it... That I'll have some time to re-evaluate and perhaps feel inspired to re-open the shop at summer's end... We'll see...

For now, this just seems like the right thing... And despite the melancholy that I feel about this decision, it really was a dream coming true... A dream I didn't even know I had...

 via 'Pretty Zoo'

Print It Up... {Mother's Day}

With Mother's Day around the corner, I thought it would be lovely (and of course, practical) to share a pretty selection of printables that just might come in handy on Sunday! Enjoy!

1. To and From Printable Labels 2. Printable Thank You Cards 3. Perch Printable Note Cards 4. To and From With Love Printable Labels 5. Mother's Day Message Box 6. Printable Bird House 7. Printable Lace Tags 8. Printable Wallpaper Note Cards 9. Free Mother's Day Card 10. Miss you. love you. Printable Card 11. Printable Mother's Day Card

If I Got Married Again... {Programs}

We spent many, many hours making our own wedding programs... How much simpler and more elegant are these options? Enjoy!

Pink & Sage Foliage Programs from "Beyond Design"

Booklet Wedding Program from "MTK Designs"

Peony Wedding Programs from "Almost Sunday"

Vintage Rose Wedding Programs from "Cricket Printing"

Wedding Fan Program from "Mrs JD"

Illustration Inspirations {Munieca}

Original illustrations by "Munieca"... Don't you love how she turns her artwork into jewellery... Wonderful... And inspiring!

Illustration Inspirations {Belle and Boo}

Illustrations from "Belle & Boo"

A Few of My Favourite {Etsy} Things: 'Bloomsong'

A lovely Etsy shop for sweet, sweet Paris... "Bloomsong"... Enjoy!

A Few of My Favourite {Etsy} Things: 'Yardia'

I love the whimsy of the prints created by "Yardia"... With lovely phrases from the works of Jane Austen and stunning images, how can you go wrong?