Following the Call

If you were to look at our daily life before little man and compare it to today, you may think you were looking at two different families. Before he was placed in our home we had weekly play dates, trips to the park and were rarely home. For a few months we were able to keep that up. Things slowly changed.

Most of our days are spent at home. Going out is stressful. It's hard and it wears me down. I feel like people look and judge us so much when we are out. I've always had the easy kids. The go with the flow kids. Now I have "that kid". And having "that kid" means the other ones act out more too. They want the attention he gets. I'm not complaining (too much). It's not his fault. Every action made by him has a direct link to his life before us. I could write a whole post on why people shouldn't jump to conclusions when "that kid" enters the store but that's for another time.

Hello Vessel!

Hi! I am Kristen from Vessel Handmade.

Wow! It sounds so weird saying that. For the past few years, I have been Kristen from Rock-A-Bow or to many people in the blogging and handmade world, simply Rock-A-Bow. Our blog and shop names so often become a big part of our identity. So this change is huge.

But I am so excited to introduce you all to the new name. The new look. The new me!

Vessel Handmade, although something completely new will still reflect pretty much the same things. You will still find a lot of the same products. I will still post mostly about my family and my faith. The core of who I am is still the same.

What is changing? In addition to the new look, there will be a lot of new products. Lots of styles of leather clutches. And later this year, an expansion in the whole leather product department. There will be a ton of new art accessories. Some cute little girl merchandise. Just fun stuff.

You will see some changes on the blog too. More shop updates, more tutorials and more recipes. Good stuff people!

So what do you all think of the new look? The new name? Are you as in love as I am?

If you are, hop on over to the new fan page and like us! There will be more posts happening over there. Maybe even some occasional games where you can win Vessel product.

If you aren't already a follower here on the blog, I hope you will consider becoming one. There will be so much happening here, I would hate for you to miss it!

Update Central

Wow, it's been a while since I've come to chat with you all. Usually I realize when I have been lagging on the blog posts. I have reached a point in so many areas of my life that busy seems to be the only way to describe each arena. Good busy though. Not the chaos that we seem to get wrapped up in so often. Just full lives. Lives full of happiness and things to do.

I have lots of posts I want to write but thought I would just check in and share where we are right not. In general, it's just a joyous place. We are surrounded by God's blessings. But to break it down for you a little more...

• Rhiannon and I just got back from an amazing girls weekend where our relationship was nurtured and built up in a way I didn't realize we needed. I can honestly say that my 3 year old is my best girl friend. There is no one I would have rather shared a girls weekend with and I can't wait to share all about it soon. 
• Rock-A-Bow has been super busy. I am prepping for two upcoming shows, a MOPs boutique this weekend and Queen Bee in June. I am having a hard time prepping because You, my customers, are keeping me busy busy busy. I am so beyond blessed by all of you.
• While we are talking about Rock-A-Bow, have you heard? This summer I will be releasing a few new products to the shop. Including the messenger bags, girls handbags and new art accessories! Annnndddd we are changing our name and branding. Lots of fun stuff is in the works over here in my little studio.
• Our end goals of foster care are slowly approaching.  We are currently in the waiting stages. We have completed all of the steps to prepare. Now our paperwork is in the hands of our agency and we are waiting for a call from our adoption worker to schedule a home study. That is the LAST step before certification.

So that is what is happening here. What have you all been up to?

Let the construction begin...Again.

About 4 years ago we moved into our home. We purchase a dump of a manufactured home aka Mobile home. People who have been to my home get upset when I tease about  the mobile home we live in because it really is gorgeous. But all joking aside, we purchased a dump. We knew we did. We had a very small dollar amount to work with but knew we wanted to own something. We had been burned so many times renting that we were fed up.

So we found this place. A very nice mobile home park. A park that only recently became open to anyone. It used to be a senior only park. We loved that. It meant a quiet neighborhood with friendly neighbors. We looked through the park. Found some beautiful homes. All out of our price range. And then we found this one. It was not beautiful. Not at all. Upon finding this place, my hubby and his parents (who were looking with us) saw it and were ready to run. I saw potential.

Although I didn't want to buy a mobile home, which is a whole other story, I figured, if we were going to go for it, we could make this place work. Between my hubby who is an amazing handy man, as well as, my dad and brother who do it for a living, I just knew we could make it work. We brought my dad to take a look, assess it and see if it was doable on our humble budget. He too was shocked that his daughter would even consider this place but he thought we could make it happen with LOTS of work. Inside and out!

Did we really buy this place?

We purchased out home in December of 2007 and our journey began. We had to redo the whole home. Replace floors, everything in the bathrooms, windows, paint, cabinets, anything and everything. Looking around, the only things that remains is the walls, fireplace and one unused bathtub. The transformation is ridiculous. Seriously mind blowing. Look. I think I may have been crazy.

BEFORE

Livingroom

Kitchen and Dining Room

Bathrooms

AFTER

Kitchen and Bedrooms

Formal Living Room and Family Room

When we bought this home, we had only been married a couple of years. We had no kids. (We found out shortly after buying that I was pregnant with Rhi). We were a family of two with plans of selling the home 5 years after buying, to make a small profit, a down payment for our first house.

Today, we have two toddlers. We are about to begin our adventure with foster care to adopt. Our family is growing. Our lives are changing. Although we still plan to make a small profit on it eventually, we don't see ourselves moving too soon. So, it is time to take this ol' place on another journey with us. I am so excited for the new transformation.

Stressed, nervous but SO excited. I cannot wait to share all the changes with you. I think that is why I wanted to share the originals with you. To give you the background. I mean I can't show you where we are going without showing you where we came from right?

Sooo... I hope you will follow along with us as we change our home and everything that happens in it!

Where did the shop go?

There are some big big changes happening here at Rock-A-Bow.

We have come to realize that the way things are done here at Rock-A-Bow are not what is best for our family. Since Rock-A-Bow has started it has been a made to order shop. If you don't know what that means, Made to order is when a customer comes to shop, they purchase their items and then it is made to be shipped to them.

This has been okay for us. I only make what I need to. I don't have to purchase tons of fabric ahead of time. It just was most doable for us.

With the recent increase of business, in the past 6 months, it's becoming quite overwhelming. I feel like I am always playing catch up. Do any of you shop owners feel that way?

When I have nothing going on, no orders. I sit. When I am busy, it feels like someone has opened the flood gate to customers. It has been such a blessing but so hard on myself and my family.

So...we are changing it up. Starting this week, everything in the shop will be ready to ship. (except dresses and custom orders). That means that everything you see in the shop is already made and will be shipped out within the week. As you may have noticed, the shop is in maintenance mode right now. That is because we are filling it up with LOTS of product.

As for now, we are calling this a trial run. We will see how this goes this month and reevaluate. So please please please give your feedback. I want to know if you all like the new system. Hate it. Or are happy either way.

I feel like this will be a win/win. I get to make product in my down time. Hopefully limiting my game of catch up. And you, the customer will get your items faster. Only time will tell. The shop should be re-opened by the end of today or tomorrow.

Oh yes and you will be wanting to check the blog tomorrow and the days following. We are having HUGE sales on Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday and Cyber Monday. All of which will be announced in the next few days. I think you will be pleased :)

Changes

The new year is here and with it came a ton of ideas for Rock-A-Bow. Not only is my brain filled with new ideas but also a great deal of motivation. I thought that you, my followers, should be the first to know what is about to happen. A sneak peek without an actual peek.

A New Look-
I will be switching over from Etsy to Big Cartel. It's a huge leap but after reading this over at Gussy Sews, I am convinced it is the right choice for me and my business. BTW that means I am clearing out the etsy shop to add new items (you will read about those in just a few seconds). In order to clear the store, everything is 30% off. Yes, you heard me right 30%. Just type in the code NEWYEARchanges.

Anyway, back to the changes. Big Cartel will be a whole new look. Fun but simplified. There will be a new, simple and clean look to the blog as well. With a button that you can all add to your blogs. It's gonna be rad! Do people still say that? Doubtful but I like it.

The new store and all new look should be here by the end of the month. I'm trying not to rush anything since I have the two little ones.

New Products-
This is what I am most excited about. I am totally changing the concept of the shop. It is going to be totally directed at babies-young kids. Although it is already mostly that, it will still be a big change.

New styles of bows...fabric bows. A lot more fabric through the store since I LOVE FABRIC now. Lots of headbands. Some adorable felt flowers that I have been playing with.

Oh yes, clothing! Yes clothes. I am so super thrilled about this. Starting off with just a few items but will expand as I go. There will be appliqued onsies. There will be some re-fashioned dresses. There will be completely handmade dresses. It will be fun!

New Things Happening-

Not sure exactly how many or how often but there will be guest bloggers. Super excited for this as well. Just emailed a friend, who I ADORE and you will too, to ask her to be the first post. Ahh! I cannot wait

There will be tutorials. I mentioned this a little before. Said I wanted to do it but never did. Well it WILL happen this year. They will help me to continue crafting for myself and my fam. That is something I do not want to lose sight of.

I am also hoping to start posting about other items or blogs I love. There are so many handmade business' and mommy bloggers out there that I just know you all would love. I should be sharing them with you. So I intend to.

There is so much going through my head right now. I am sure I forgot something but I thought I would share and get you excited with me. Make sure if you don't already follow Rock-A-Bow, click to follow now. You will not want to miss out on this!