New Year's Eve

2008.......

I have started to prepare already. I took a long walk this morning and then came home to clean. I am doing a huge purification night tonight. Throwing away, recycling and organizing. I know this does not sound super exciting to everyone but to me. It is the perfect way to spend the new year's eve.
Tomorrow is my day of setting intentions for the next year. Tomorrow I will announce what the theme for this upcoming year will be. I have a couple of area's I want to focus on.

I made it

The holiday orders have been filled and now I have a few days to breathe before product development starts in January for next year!

It was a rush to the finish line but I can not believe I made it. I have to toot my own horn and admit, I am very proud of myself. I did everything I set out to accomplish this year and I am only stronger because of it.

This Christmas was marked by a bit of sadness, yesterday one of my sister's cats died while I was house sitting. It had been very sick for a long time, but not the kind of thing you want on Christmas Day. Lucky, my mother and I were with the Cat as it passed away.

I also am very happy to report that my good friend Lindsay, who also cuts my hair, is going to be in Allure magazine this summer thanks to my bugging a friend who writes for Allure. I got my hair cut on Christmas Eve and was able to tell Lindsay about her upcoming spotlight!
Go Lady! She'd better not get too busy!

Ahmi and I spent the evening last night relaxing and snuggling in my bed. Tonight we go for our first long walk in almost a month. I can now finally walk again!

What I have learned from my new job!

Gift Baskets are awesome!

I am sitting at my new job with a huge food gift basket on my desk and I LOVE IT!

Things are starting to wind down for the holidays at Odessa's Herbals. I made it through the madness but not without a knee that can not bend, a studio where the floor is covered in wax and a realization that maybe, the holidays are not such a good thing(just kidding on that last part).

It has been a struggle to make it but I must admit, I did better than I ever thought I would and I am ready for next year when it will be even better.

I have my first assistant to this little candle company. It is fun to have someone come and help me with all the chores and work that needs to get done. I would have never imagined that I would have to hire someone one year into my company, but alas, it is true.

This maybe the first year that the rain and cloudy weather is getting me down. I long for snow and sunshine. The move is closer than I think. I realize that it is time for me to leave the northwest and branch out on my mine. So we shall see. This has been a common theme in the last few months, but maybe that is a sign?

A little bit of both

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned this on my blog, but I grew up moving from the East Coast to the West Coast every year of my life until middle school. For most people, they can not even imagine what this was like. Now, I am not sure I would recommend this type of childhood, it has made me able to feel like every place I am is home. Because I have been in the Northwest the last several years, I seem to forget how much the East Coast is a part of me. I had a wonderful home coming last month when I was there. I am really starting to understand and process part's of my life that just seemed "normal" to me, but that are truly unique.

The only problem with this split life, is that I always long for the Coast I am not on. My mother calls this White Line Fever. I always long to move to be near one Ocean or another. And lucky for me, I can still keep doing this in life. I have pretty much set up my life so that it is totally portable and fluid. And I am always present where I am at.

Wow

Careful what you wish for!

The Glassy Baby Tea Light candles being made by Odessa's Herbals are selling out like mad, without any Internet attention or special announcement. It's amazing!

I am in panic overtime as I try to keep up with demand while doing everything else. This is a good place for me but one that I could not have imagined for myself. Leave it up to the universe because it will always dream bigger for you than you ever would!

I am so grateful that Glassy Baby took a chance with my company and that I am able to produce a product that people are loving.

If you need to get a hold of me for any reason, you may have to wait while I make candles and try to keep up demand.

2007 really is my year for Success!

So sleepy

Some mornings I just want to stay in bed with my dog and cat and sleep! This morning was one of those mornings. I am not sure why, I went to bed early but it does not feel like enough sleep. We are only one week away from the winter solstice and I can not wait! The days will start getting longer and a new year is approaching.

I have been thinking a lot about what my theme is going to be this year. 2007 - my year of success - definitely came to fruition. But I think this next year is going to be more personal. My from my heart and more concerned with my personal life. I want to spend a year traveling, meeting people, connecting with people from my heart, fulfilling every moment with love, and much much more. I will keep you posted when I have more details about it.

Ok, I must get back to work and try to wake up. Coffee is not doing enough for me today but it is still early.

100 boxes ordered for this weekend

I have delivered 300 boxes to Glassy Baby and counting. It is so exciting to see all the wonderful Glassy Baby customers accepting my candles and falling in love with them. Each tea light is hand made by me so it is a special gift to give your loved ones. A gift set totally handmade in the Seattle with love.
Glassy Baby and Odessas Herbal's candles!
A perfect combination.

I finally posted some pictures of my trip back east. I have 5 more rolls to develop next week so look out for even more pictures.

I will let you know when Glassy Baby has posted pictures of my candles.

My knee is finally getting better and my new job rocks so I have been very busy this week.

A vision of the future

This morning I was up early to work. It was snowing such large flakes that the everything was white in record time. I sat in my kitchen, which is my new studio until I can get my leg in better shape, and I made candles. the whole time I had Rick Bass and Montana on my mind. It was so peaceful and meditative. I looked out the windows and watched the snow fall, as I prepared my delivery to Glassy Baby. I thought about what I would like to create for myself in the next few years, a home in the country, a successful company, a larger studio that is either in my home or right next to it. And peaceful Sunday mornings where I work quietly, watch nature and drink a good cup of coffee.

I start my new job today. So for the next month, I will be all work and no fun. Or at least it may appear that way. For me, candle making is my love and fun. I don't mind spending every moment working on candles. I am just so thankful to have had such a wonderful year.

Snow

I don't remember a year where it snowed so early in December. The animals in my house have been eating like they may never get another meal. I kept thinking maybe it's going to be a cold winter, but I did not really believe it.
The flakes are small so I am not too worried about this weekend but I am longing for the South. It was so warm on the East Coast and I loved it.

My knee is getting better. It has gotten a tad smaller and is easier to walk on. This is all good news because I have a weekend of tea light making that needs to happen. I can't wait to get back into the studio. I also just placed an order for new molds. On the East Coast I visited with a very wonderful artist named Michele O'Hana, she is my hero and inspiration. She had so many new idea's for my candles and I can't wait to start creating.

I will keep you updated on the snow storm ( ha ha) happening in Seattle and hopefully will be walking around soon.