Wind.

So the winds are changing, blowing in a different direction.

I have loved My 3 Lil Monkeys. I have loved learning how to screen print, and I have loved re-discovering sewing. I have loved creating and I have loved putting a smile on people's faces.

But as I said. The winds are changing. The fact of the matter is, I really do love screen printing - but right now, the only way I am able to do it (order blank shirts as I make a sale) it is not profitable. Which makes it a VERY time consuming hobby. Again, a hobby that I love, but a hobby non the less. And being a full time nursing student, I don't have a lot of time to spare for non-profit hobbies (especially when we're so broke - but they again, who isn't broke?).

So here's where things sit. I have started my photography business {and am loving it WAY more than I ever imagined}, I am finishing up this semester and am about to start my final semester of nursing school, and as always, I am enjoying my family as much as I possibly can. Financially, things are tough, and for as much time as it takes to make custom shirts, it is not profitable, which is very frustrating. So, I am backing off from My 3 Lil Monkeys a little.

I am no longer offering custom shirts, only pre-printed shirts. My focus is elsewhere and it's not fair to my customers to make them wait for shirts because my life is too busy. Life is a balancing act, and I'm just leveling the scales.

I'll still post here, and I'm still going through with Duncan the Traveling Monkey. I will still post feature posts, and I still LOVE Etsy :-) I'm just scaling back a bit.

I just wanted you all to know. :-) Cause I love you muchos.

Thank you for your support and love!

'Gotta Pay Rent' SALE!!

I know, I know, it's a recurring theme in today's society. "The economy is hurting, people are hurting".

*sigh*

We're hurting. It's the classic struggle of 2 full time college students trying to stay afloat till they graduate (while raising 2 handsome boys).

So I'm having a sale. I know, I know, doesn't make sense. We're desperate for money, so I sell my goodies for LESS? I don't get it either. But it's happening. and I do have more things available to list in my shop, but they're stuck on my computer - and the monitor is on the fritz so I can't get to them. I'm not sure how long the sale will last, but it's for anything that's "ready to ship" in my shop. So, like this shirt. Or this Diaper Bag Jr. All prices are already marked down with a great discount! I hope to be able to list more, but that depends on my monitor situation. I don't currently have an external hard drive, so all my pictures are on my computer (I know, I know, naughty!!)

Let me know if you have any questions!!

Update on Duncan!

Who's Duncan? Why, he's the traveling monkey, of course! And he's about to be sent off to start his very first adventure! Where is he going, you may ask?

To visit my good friend Addy in MALAYSIA!!!!

She's the furthest away, and she's agreed to cover shipping costs when it comes time to send Duncan on, so I figured I'd start there, then the rest of his trip, his hosts wouldn't have to spend as much to get him to his next destination.

For those of you who volunteered to host Duncan, I'll be sending out an email (providing I can do what I need to do on Ryan's computer, since mine - with all the Duncan information - isn't in service right now) so you will have more of an idea of when to expect this adventuresome little monkey.

Thanks for your patience - Life has been crazy busy around here, much busier than I had anticipated. Between school, family, photography, and My3LilMonkeys, I have a lot on my plate. But Christmas break is in a few weeks, so I just need to get through these next few weeks and I can breathe again :-)

{Open for Business}

I realize that I have a lot on my plate right now, but I am very proud to announce my newest adventure. It took me awhile to get the ball rolling because I was stalled trying to come up with a name. I made the name decision today and I'm very happy with it! So I am officially open for business! Website (and more) to come as I get funding!

Tropical Tree Frog Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

No WAY! I'm SO in love with this adorable costume!! On my goodness, I just ooh'd and ahh'd over the pictures, I'd LOVE to see my little man in this little frog costume! Check out this Tropical Tree Frog Costume GIVEAWAY and see how you can win it!

Getting my act together.

Ok so we've now lived here for almost 3 months. I can't keep using the "we just moved" excuse to get me out of making new screens for screen printing. So today - I got my act together.

Over a month ago, I purchased the wood to make new frames.

A couple weeks after that I finally got around to cutting the wood.

Now, weeks later, I finally got around to piecing the wood together to make the actual frame. I'm hoping I can keep my mojo long enough to actually put the mesh on the frame by today. I have tomorrow off {shock! 2 days off in a row! I haven't had a day off in a LONG time!} so I'd love to get a screen completely made (with emulsion on it, and if I can get a transparency made up, hopefully burn an image onto the screen) by the end of tomorrow.


In other news...

I've been listing more in my shop - finally! And somethings working, cause I've been getting a few more sales! I'm anxious for the day that I can have enough extra funds to have a small inventory of my most popular shirts (ie: black, and white Ts, size 2, 4, and 6). As it is, I have to order each shirt as I make a sale - which, if I were making multiple sales in a day, it would be ok. However, with one sale one day, and the next one 2 days later - I end up having to place 2 orders, which means i have to pay for shipping twice {thus making my actual profit way less}.

Anyway, it all works out in the end. And for now, I'm just having fun with it!

This is a Sign!

My friend Jen is a phenomenal artist when it comes to metal work and jewelry.  She has recently come out with a new "line" of sign language necklaces!  Oh my goodness, I am giddy with excitement, they are so fun and I LOVE sign language!

The cool thing about these necklaces is that they are almost like a "3-in-1" necklace concept.  You can wear the whole set together, with the inside and the outline together.

Or you could just wear the inside piece.

Or you can wear the outline!  OR you could use it as a "best friend" piece and share the other half of the necklace!

You should really check out her shop, JMW Jewelry is full of beautiful, unique and creative pieces that Jen makes herself in her own home studio.  Check out her blog too!  Sometimes she gives insight into what goes into making a pendant, which I always love.

Pleated Poppy Giveaway!

Not long ago I came across a blog that I subscribed to almost immediately.  The blogger's name is Lindsey and soon after I subscribed, she branched her personal blog off into a business blog called The Pleated Poppy -- she makes some of the cutest little posies!  Like adorable little fabric broaches that you can do so many things with!  She also makes fabric headbands and zippered pouches, and really cute clipboards!  So now she has a really fun crafty blog AND a shop where she is selling her goodies.

What's more?

Natalie over at Natalie's Sentiment is hosting a giveaway through her blog in which we have a chance to win a set of 3 of those adorable posy pins!  So go check out Natalie's blog too - and while you're there, go back a few days and read all about her Fall Giveaway Soiree!