I made some more bandana scarves for the holiday bazaar the other month and I just got around to putting them on my Etsy shop. They're available in floral print, aztec, blue plaid and came. They will definitely help keep you warm in these subzero days we have been having lately.

Hi folks! I've been meaning to write this for a while but wanted my new blog place to look more together before I shared the link.

It's still not so together, but in the spirit of just getting something out despite whatever shape it's in, I'm going to share it today. The new blog actually lines up with the title and the link is: http://taterandemily.blogspot.com. Check it out and add it to your RSS feeder/Bloglovin'/whatever else you use to keep track of blogs.

The reason I decided to go with a different blog address is that at some point I may want to use this blog again and so I am leaving it open to that possibility. Think of the new blog as a personal blog of sorts.

Also, see below for a screen shot of my shop. I'm still having a 40% off sale and now the prices are reduced to reflect this. Purchase while you can! Once these items are gone, they are gone.


Best wishes, you all, and be sure to follow me over at the new blog!

In my day job, I often teach people about radical acceptance, the notion that holding onto pain promotes suffering and letting it go helps you acknowledge the pain and move forward. (Also note that acceptance does not mean approval. Important, but does not have to do with the point of my post here.) As I've been thinking about the notion this week, I realized that I need to let go of my shop. My brand. This blog. The notion that it will make me money. The notion that it will be popular. I didn't get into this thinking that it would make me money or be popular. I just enjoyed creating and sharing it with others. I only made or posted about things that I truly believed in and enjoyed. Whether or not people bought my stuff or left me comments was not my main concern. However, I realized this week that a bigger part of me than I thought hoped that as I went along, money and a little popularity may naturally occur. I realized this week that I was more disappointed with this than I thought. In the interest of simplifying my life and moving forward, I am shedding the skin of small business to create what I'd like when I'd like to create it. 

Letting go feels freeing to me. I can do what I want to do with this blog. I can post frequently or not at all. I can post about any subject that I so wish. If I happen to make or do something that I want to share with others, I will share it. I am not going to push myself to think of new, creative content when my heart just hasn't been in it lately. When I'm inspired, I want to write all about it, and when I'm not, I just want to hang back and spend time with my loved ones. And I am ok with that. 

I'm not sure yet if I will keep this blog name or use another. This blog will definitely continue to be about myself and my beabull, Tater Tot. If/when it (the name change) occurs, it will happen. (and don't worry, I'll be sure to announce it if you're interested in following along with my life. )

That said, what about the practicality of my shop? What do I do with my inventory? I decided to have a sale to recoup at least my cost of the materials. Use the coupon code LETGO at checkout to save 40% off your purchase of any amount. Once the items are gone, they are gone. 

Thanks for all of your support since starting this endevour three years ago. I'm looking forward to what's next. 

I ask this because once I switched to Google+ comments, I noticed that comments left on my posts dropped off drastically. I do get some 1+'s, but it is very rare that I get a comment. 

I wondered if it was because it was the comment form change or that my content was somehow different than before or some other reasons... Please let me know what it is for you...either comment here on this post or send an email to jean . emily @ gmail.com (without the spaces). I am very interested to know. Thank you!

New color for the neckwarmer/scarf on the shop! Check it out, here.

Hi folks! Do you ever have one of those days where you are so sick of all the unfinished projects around the house that you feel overwhelmed? I had one of those days today! It was really hard to pick which to work on, but once I did, I had a lot of fun putting them together.
 First up was creating some pillows to put up on my shop. It's been sewn and stuffed for months but I finally sewed it shut today. This is the first of many cloud pillows I plan to put in my shop. The ecospun felt is charcoal gray and filled with polyfill. You can see the listing for it here.
Second up was creating the first of a few state-shaped corkboards. I have seen various DIYs of these on Pinterest and ended up with this. I thought I would do Oklahoma in memory of the devastation of the tornados (OK strong!). I really like how it turned out and have a few more states in mind to finish up.

What crafts or projects did you finish up this weekend?

Thanks to those of whom have switched over to following me on Bloglovin'! That's great. I am still trying to get used to the different format of it compared to Reader, but so far so good. If you haven't yet,  a link to my Bloglovin' account is on the bar to the side of these posts. Check it out!

Hi All.

I think I have settled on a new name, and, at the very least, a style that I will try to convey across the blog, shop and Twitter. If you suddenly realize you're following taterandemily instead of turtandelephant, don't worry! That's me! I'll do a final announcement once the official names are changed everywhere.

I have been thinking about what I typically focus on in the blog, and it's usually Tater and me. Although I was tempted to make the name more just about me or what I create, I do love Tater an awful lot and thought she could deal with being put in the spotlight. After all, she loves everyone too. What I'm not sure about is the date established. Technically, I started this in 2011 but it is now that I am changing the name. Should I make the date 2011 or 2013? What do you think?