beyond the blue door

2011-11-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

So, I have got a couple of shows under my belt but would like to hit one more before the holidays. Most of the shows have been packed and lots of shopping being done.

I have been thinking of some things for next season but, i am needing much needed rest and relaxing.

I still have some quote tiles and soy candles left for sale. Please contact me if you are interested.

Thanks again to all who came to the show last weekend in Beaverdale. Have a great holiday and blessed 2012.

Erin

bbd

Some of My Favorite Websites - Right now but that could change tommorrow!

2011-08-23T10:26:00.001-07:00

I've been working hard on some craft show items, but they are getting the better of me right now. So I am taking a break right now.

First day of school here in Iowa, and I was ready the girls, not so much. Overall, just a few fights and lectures but overall 1st day went well.

Talk to you soon. :)

erin
bbd

2011-04-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

My tiles are done and ready for selling. They come in 3 different sizes. Last fall I had a heck of a time keeping up with the sales. This year I am prepared!!! Happy Spring to everyone. This is the time of the year that I am starting to like. I am a "fall" person by nature by spring is starting to grow on me. We are busy around our house with softball and all things planting. We look forward to the summer and the kids getting out of school. With summer comes the fall craft season and all that is entailed with that. I am busy with planning and gathering, hunting and detailing. I hope you had a great spring and you all have a great summer. Spend this time reflecting on what you have in your life and what is to come.
Happy Crafting!
Erin
bbd

2011-03-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Since the end of winter I am excited that I have created some new scents for my tarts and candles and they are yummy. They are in some great fall flavors and ready for shipping. Made from 100% Iowa Soybeans and great for gifts. Contact me if you want a list of my flavors and if you would like to purchase.

Erin

BBD

Tis the Season........

2010-12-02T10:17:00.001-08:00

Tis the season and we are ready in the Wiskus house!!! I hope all of you are ready to celebrate to joyful time of the year. Well, the magic is gone, our 7 year old found out from someone at school that Santa is not real and it is your parents that set out the presents. So, this year we set out the presents already and the girls have to leave them alone.

So, Mike and I are trying to get over the disappointment of loosing the fact that our baby now knows and the magic has died. So we are coming up with other reasons to be joyful and trying toa dd the magic back by other way.

As I reflect on the crafting season I am first grateful that it is over for this year and I am looking forward to next year. I have meet some new friends and look forward to being a friend to them.

I hope that you all have a great holiday, eat all that you can, enjoy family and friends, love each other. Count your blessings and look forward to another day.

Erin

BBD

So it begins!!

2010-10-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

I had my first craft show of the season at my place of employment. It is usally one of my best shows. Sold tons of stuff. Some things I thought would sell I could not give away and the things I thought would be slow movers sold like hot cakes. So it just goes to show you that you never know.

Happy Crafting and Enjoy the season!

Erin

bbd

OH MY GOSH!!!!

2010-09-15T14:00:00.001-07:00

This is now my new website!! So much for my diet and new lifestyle.......

2010-09-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well this is what I have been slaving away at over the past weekends. What a chore. I love to paint these but they do take alot of work. My family life has been on the back burner and will continue to be until I can get my craft show bearings, if you will. I painted 9 suitcases and I am getting my tiles ready as well that takes alot of kitchen table time.

So for the remainder of the fall season our kitchen table is a make shift work table then I clean it off and make a meal and back to the table again. My wonderful husband is helping me with some drilling of plates and piping. Drilling through glass has been a trial and error process. Over all we are getting the hang of it and it seems to be going smoothly now.

Candles and tarts are ready and poured, the scrubs are made and labeled. So, just to finish some other projects for right now and then I can maybe relax a bit before my 2 BIG shows this fall.

Over the weekend we went to Chuck's Bargin Barn and then to Molly's. Molly is living my life. I just love her stuff. She is truely talented. Her and her husband have converted a 100 year old barn to this wonderful PRIM place and I could loose myself in there for days. The smells of fall and shopping, along with the fall textures and colors made me wish I could quit my fulltime job and start my own craft store just from Labor day until Christmas. But we all know how that goes.

Better get back to the grind and happy crafting and enjoy the fall!!

erin

bbd

oK iT's TiMe!!!!

2010-07-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well, its that time of the year for me to get moving on my fall craft shows. This is also the time of the year where I struggle with doing them or not doing them. They are alot of work and something sell very very well. BUT, with that said, life has been getting busier and time is very fleeding. So, here I am wondering if I should or should not.

With local stores that sell cute items for pennies and for less than what is put into them it is real hard to continue the fight. My husband had a few minutes to talk about it and he says why do I torment myself every year and it must be end of July because we go thru this every year and I end up doing it anyway. A lot of help he is was....

I made a mental list if things that will need to be done and I wanted to run from the room and not think about it. So, i will keep everyone posted about my decision.

erin
bbd

2010-06-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

We had our neighbor take our photo last night. I needed something up to date for my class reunion update. Our president wanted an update as to what we have been doing over the past 25 years. So, I thought this should be easy. Yeah right!!! I sat down and went to the computer and I swear I could not think of anything that I have done as a person to make my life note worthy. So, I guess I need to start making my life more meaningful to me and the people around me.

Yes, I have 2 beautiful children and a wonderful husband. I have a great house and I am a loving aunt and sister. My health is good, I am loved but is that the real meaning of why I was put here and where and what have I done with my life as a whole to better myself.

So, that is where I am at. I have recently lost 70 lbs and I feel great and I am looking forward to loosing even more. I try to be a good daughter and a good wife and sometimes I fail at that and I try to learn and go forward. I am open and willing to be upfront because I expect that from people around me. So here I am and maybe it is that simple- I am- could it be that simple.

So, I AM- what a statement and all the wonderful and sad things that comes with. So, I wrote my wonderful life down and sent this photo to my class president and I Am Blessed.

Erin
bbd

I'm Back !!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-06-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I took the spring off for awhile. I had a surgery and now I am back to full tilt for the most part. I want to thank my family and everyone who wished me well.

I created a project for my self while I was off. Heaven forbid I sat still while I was off. I think in my mind that helps me heal if I can keep busy. Dumb I know.

I went thru all my photo albums and purchased some baskets and took apart all my albums and separated them into the baskets. I then scanned the photos and placed them in "computer" folders. I created a memory for my girls and for my family. But my most important memory is the movie that I created for my parents. I am so busy and I do not want to be running and trying to get these memories together at the last minute. So, I spent my time getting photos together.

Around the house we are busy with tball and softball. TOO MUCH CRAZINESS. My girls are rock stars and they are great ball players.

This weekend was the Principal Charity Classic and this has been a tradition that my dad and myself attend every year. This year we took Marguerite with us and she had a great time.

I am working on crafts for this fall and winter. I had some time to reflect during my recoup time and I am going to make my life much simpler if i do craft shows this fall. To much dragging around of junk (set up stuff). ARGGGGGGGHHHHH. So we will see with what I come up with.

erin
beyond the blue door

New Tarts

2010-03-21T12:56:00.001-07:00

I have new tarts to introduce. I have also added a new flavor to my list. Hansel and Gretel's House...it smells awesome. These tarts are a little over 4 oz and they are $3.50 per tart on my website. www.beyondbluedoor.com

Erin
bbd

Metro Women Network

2010-03-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

My first time attending Metro Women Network meeting. What a great time! I am here with the speaker getting my book signed. She was wonderful. It got me thinking about spring and how I can tend my inner garden and make my surroundings happier for me. This group is great for networking and meeting other working moms and professional women.

I have decided, however that spring can not come soon enough!! I decided in the wake of this wonderful meeting that I am going to be EVEN more on top of my game and EVEN more organized.

I recommend that everyone find their inner garden and tend the life into it. My garden has been a little dry and "whiltey" as of late. Enjoy!

I am finding more avenues of creativity for my crafts so I am excited to get going again for the fall time.

erin
bbd

2010-02-08T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here is Marguerite enjoying the winter!!!

New Work Area !!!!!!!!!

2010-02-08T14:42:00.001-08:00

I finally got my new work are finished in our basement. I feel like a real crafter now. No more set up tables and finding a place to park my goods while in production. I want to thank my very handy husband he is the brains and the mastermind of the entrie thing. He did all the work and I helped to tell him what he was doing wrong (of course)and handed him a nail or too and he did everything and is the best..... Thank you husband I love you.

I spend time on the computer and did my bulk ordering for my candles and scrubs. So i will be gearing up for sales in the early fall. I am also going to be trying new ideas and adding some finally touches to my items.

Make sure to visit my website www.beyondbluedoor.com to see any new items. I am also getting into the photograph mode and expect them soon on my blog and website.

More snow in Iowa and here we go again. It is pretty however. Take care and god bless and eat all the chocolate you can.

Erin
bbd

Old Man Winter please stop !!!

2010-01-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

ICE and lots of it today!!! Well this past weekend my husband and I measures and went scouting for counter tops for my work area in the basement. We have created a room in the basement for me to create and make all my creations. But, we need some organization and I came up with this great idea to put in counters and shelving instead of the hodgepodge that I have. So, that will be my handy husbands next project. We went to our local Homedepot and Menards and found some odd ball coutner top and we will create my space from there. I will post some pictures upon completion of the great project.

I have been working on some new things in the workshop but I am finding my spcae is very cluttered and i need to get with the program. My creative juices are NOT flowing until this project is done.

I am ready for this winter to be over. But with winter I am reminded of snowmen and that helps inspire me and forces me to stay inside and get some work done. Happy crafting:)

Erin
BBD

2010-01-05T14:23:00.000-08:00

WYNTER THYME YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well, it is winter time and I have had enough right now....... This is insanity for December, and we have January and February to go through. Christmas was great and the girls had a great time. My husband and I had an agreement and he did not follow it!! NO GIFTS for each other but he did not follow it. So i finally got my paraffin wax spa thingy. I am spoiled. My girls got a Wii and I am having a blast with that. I have found muscles that I did not know that I had. or I am old not for sure yet. The girls are having a blast and that is what is important for now.

Well, my website is getting ALOT of hits this past 60 days and that is great. We had a busy October and November at craft shows and got our name out there. So that was good. We had some new things and got rid of the old ones. We went through some growing pains and continue to reinvent our selves. (When I say we, I mean my husband and my kids.) They have been a great help and my mom and sister have been a great help with getting set up and helping me with the shows and the customers. Some shows were very busy and I could not keep my head on straight. I enjoyed the holidays and next year I have some goals to strive for and will try my hand at something new.

god bless and eat all the chocolate you can.

erin
bbd

Staying home for the weekend!!!!

2009-08-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

We spent the day togetther exploring the State Capitol and the State Historical building. Marguerite and I went up the many many stairs to the dome. You need to spend the day at the Capitol and take the tours. It brought back many memories of being a junior high kid and viisting on a field trip to Des Moines. What a great way to spend our tax dollars. Take time and show your kids what Iowa has to offer. The historical building was great and the many exhibits to show you the history of this great state that we come from. Our kids love it and best of all it was ALL FREE!!!

Talk to you all soon.

God bless and eat all the chocolate you can.

Erin

bbd

Summer Time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of our summer time. Where has the time gone!!!............. I am busy with crafts and trying to keep on track. Fall will be here before you know it !!!!!!!!!!!!

take care and happy crafting and eat all the chocolate you can.

erin

bbd

2009-06-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Wisconsin and we had a rough time but overall, we had a good time. Out youngest daughter Abbi was ill for the first half of the trip. A vacation would not be complete without a visit to the emergency room. So we took Abbi to get some fluids and get some medicine to stop the yaks. This picture is taken in front of the MooseJaw Pizza Place. My dad is a nut and insisted on this photo.

Lets talk crafting, I have stumbled upon an idea and I am in full mode right now and the creative juices are flowing. Happy summer and happy crafting

Go in peace and eat all the chocolate you can.

Erin

BBD

Easter Weekend

2009-04-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

"Papa"

Well, it is getting more like spring every day. We are waiting to get to the yard work however. Yesterday was Easter and we had a great family weekend My dad (aka) "Papa" is looking over the yard to make sure that all the eggs were picked up so his mower doesn't find them.

Marguerite and Abbigale certainly cashed in with candy and my diet is feeling the effects. But, we are getting back on track today.

I am getting my ideas done for upcoming craft season and I finally feel organized. (For now anyway). I read up on how to drill glass lids for one of my products and was really really nervous, wondering how many lids I would break. Then my brilliant husband said that we needed a drill press to properly do it. Well my cousin Jim came to the rescue and brought over his very large drill press. I squirted the water and my husband drilled and boy was it very slick and we never broke one lid. I am ready to order more lids and continue the work in the salt mines.

I need to go for now my girls are killing each other. More later.

go in peace and eat all the chocolate you can
Erin
BBD

It is Spring time in Iowa

2009-03-22T18:41:00.001-07:00

What a great time of the year in Iowa. It was 68 degrees today. Holy cow!!!! In Iowa that is next to the surface of the sun hot for us. I got to clean out our garage and evaluate what I have to work with for this up coming crafting season. And let's just say it is very "skimpy" in the inventory department. I also have alot of ideas marked, written, and sketched out on every piece of paper I can find. So, look for some great things coming out of the Blue Door crew.

Enjoy the Spring time and this is the season of change and the time for new beginnings. I will try to find photos of our deck and back yard for you to see. It keeps me very very busy all summer long and I must say that between my girls, my husband, my gardening, and my crafts it will be yet another busy summer. Take care and happy crafting.

go in peace and eat all the chocolate you can.

Erin
bbd

There is a first time for everything

2008-10-08T13:57:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first time into stepping into the times to today. I named by blog beyond the blue door because our door, on our house, is dare I say you guessed it, BLUE!!!!!. I am venturing our into the world wide web. I have my own website and I have connected my website to this blog.

I am the mom of 2 beautiful girls and they are the light of my life. I am also a mother of a special angel named Elizabeth. My daughter is a twin and we lost her twin (Elizabeth) at 7 months gestation, more on that later when I feel the need to vent or have a good cry.

I am a 41 year old mother and wife and I am in craft show hell right now and keeping very busy.

I have a great family, my dad and mom are great parents and they are everything I wanted to be in life. They are great teachers about love forgiveness and how to express that love to your children. They don't make them like that anymore.

I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers and they are my family. I love them all but sometimes with that many people it can get out of control with feelings and personalities. (More on that later).

My husband is the greatest man in the world and her is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is supportive of my crazy crafting and he is my soul mate. He is hard worker and treats me better than I treat myself sometimes. On February 13Th 2007 we lost my father in law to a stupid, stupid car accident that should not have happened. My in laws live on a farm in rural Iowa and Jerome was traveling on a gravel road in the middle of the week at noon and some feed truck was on the wrong side of the road and killed him. Just that quick it was gone, the life, the love, the future. He was a sort of a man that knew everything and you wanted to be stranded on a desert island with him. He could fix and jery rig anything!!!. He was a strong man but had a quite way about him. I find myself thinking of him often and I figure it is my way of keeping him alive for my daughters.

I figure that I will keep writing in this blog and let people know family recipes and have a few guest speakers and maybe I will share some photos of my kids.

go in peace and eat all the chocolate you can.

erin

beyond the blue door