If you read Stitching with a Shimmy, you will know that we lost Onyx a few months ago. This leaves us with two cats, one who has adopted each of us. You would think that this is a good thing, but, frankly, we’re all at odds. First, although Dora has adopted me, and the Queen [...]

There is an old article in the Onion that a friend sent me years ago about the downturn in girls aspiring to be Fairy Princesses — it’s funny. You should go read it. Now. I’ll wait. Back? My answer to Kate was, even at age 28 — “I’ll take the job!” Heck. I’d STILL take [...]

This blog has languished over the past year! Frankly, I’m not comfortable getting extremely personal online – my dance and stitching selves live at Stitching with a Shimmy, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with this. I am, however, working in paint more – and it doesn’t seem to fit the stitching [...]

I know, it’s been a while since I posted. I tend to forget, ’cause I don’t really want to be writing a boring Christmas letter in blog form! So we’ll see how the next year pans out here at Toad Hall… I’m taking Kelly Kilmer’s “Life Made by Hand” art journaling class this year, and [...]

Havi has had me thinking about personal sovereignty over the last few weeks — it’s an important topic, because it combines control with self-confidence and responsibility. If I own my own sovereignty, then I also own my own actions, choices, and the results thereof. And while acknowledging that other people’s choices affect me, I am [...]

Wow, it’s been a busy month here at Toad Hall. Between everyone (including Dora the kitten if you count the end of August) being sick, releases at the day job, an upcoming newsletter/class launch at Stitching with a Shimmy, and designing away, I haven’t had time to breathe – not that I could have done [...]

I hate being sick.  I caught bronchitis last week, went in and got something for it, and then literally two day s later came down with this ear infection like nothing I’ve ever had before. The doctor was surprised, said it probably wasn’t related to the bronchitis, was EXTERNAL (praise be) … and gave me [...]

I’ve got them. So do you. Right now my pattern is to be upset and frustrated and concerned about work. And to try frantically to get my business up and off the ground at home. I’m tired, I’m trying to get designs done and posts written – both for here and my other site, and [...]

I love this term. I love the connotation that I’m just stuck in the mud and with a little help we can shift the wheels and get rolling again. That it’s not me — well, it is, but it’s really just stuff – muddy stuff getting in my way. (No comments about me just being [...]