My Retirement Dream

Anyone who knows me has probably heard me talk about how I want to sell my property and build out a rig to travel. I used to travel when I was working a job that required me to go to construction projects to work in many states in America. Now that I’m retired I am ready to travel again. I want to use my equity from selling my property to buy a small tract of land for a home base to keep some stuff that I don’t want to get rid of or haul around with me. Then I want to fix up a dependable vehicle that will be my home on wheels and start traveling to go visit family, friends, and to enjoy wandering around our wonderful country to experience the many wonders of our land. I want to camp at National Parks and Forests, on BLM land, or anywhere that I may find that is peaceful and hopefully free or at least reasonable in cost to stay the night or longer.

I made a page on my blog to share with others as well as for my own use to have helpful links for others who would like to travel and want to find other people who are like minded to be friends with and travel with occasionally. Here is the page I made for the list of those resources:
Maggie’s Home on Wheels Resource Page

Below click on picture to go to The US National Park System website.

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Autumnal Equinox 2018 -the first day of fall is September 22.

Time is flying by this year, here it is the middle of September already and I haven’t accomplished many tasks I set as goals for June! I should count the ones I have accomplished but all the ones I haven’t completed yet seem to overshadow any feeling of satisfaction that I have for the ones I did complete.

I am looking forward to the cooler drier weather that I hope will arrive soon. I am still sorting through all my stuff and selling off things. I am happy to report that the Dollar General Developer has made a deal for the land across from me and hopefully it won’t be many more months and the Dollar General will be built and operating!

You may wonder why I’m happy the developer bought that land instead of my own land. I really do want to sell and get out of here but I am here to tell you the reason I decided it is a good thing in the long run is because some say it could bring an offer double what the Dollar General developer offered me. What with the expansion of the Industrial park across the road, the new bridge going in, and the completion of the 4 lane Highway 87 that goes to Navarre Beach, things are looking up for my property to bring me much more than I was offered up to now.

I tell myself to be patient and work toward sorting out all my stuff in preparation for moving once I sell to another developer. I wonder what developer(s) will want to build next to a Dollar General? What do you think?

I hope everyone is enjoying the end of summer and are ready for the beginning of fall, it will be here soon!

Good Morning this Wonderful Monday 8-20-18

I can’t believe we are halfway through August already! I am trying to get some stock made up for the Fall Festivals and Farm Markets. I doubt I will set up a booth myself but I have some friends who will carry some of my handcrafted items in their booth to sell for me. I am looking forward to the Fall, it’s my favorite time of year!

I enjoyed the last weekend, I didn’t accomplish much toward the home repairs I need to do but I did some regular household chores and a lot of relaxing watching DVDs and favorite YouTube Channels.

Here is a picture of the girls relaxing Sunday evening (8-19-18). The girls are so adorable. Terra’s bedding is complete, Zoie’s bed cover is still in the dryer, last load for today. I vacuumed and reoriented the rug, rearranged ottoman, and washed all bedding earlier today. They love clean bedding. I did their floor beds that they lay on in my sewing room, and Tango’s bedding yesterday. He loves clean bedding too, who doesn’t?

 

I been working on computer writing some new tutorials, it’s been slow progress on those new tutorials but I hope to complete them this week and publish in both of my tutorial/pattern stores, see links below. The two new tutorials I’m writing are a new hamper and the courier tote, see pictures below.

This custom hamper is 18″ wide, 8″ deep, 30″ tall, with a flip up lid, and shoulder sling handle. I made this hamper for a customer to her dimensions and choice of bag. I like it so much I want to make this design part of my regular “made to order” items.

 

The Courier Tote is 14″ wide, 14″ tall and 6″ deep, and is lined with a chill-keeper lining. To see the listing for the actual courier tote in my shop click on picture.

 

To see more about the totes and tutorials that I make check out my shops at these links:

HandCrafter Maggie Etsy Shop

Maggie’s Tutorial Shop on Etsy

Maggie’s Craftsy Pattern Store

Maggie’s YouTube Channel

Sunday August 12, 2018 Reflections

I was reading an article this morning about gut bacteria influencing weight loss. There was a study that Mayo Clinic did testing gut bacteria of a group of people who were trying to lose weight and it seems that the ones who were most successful had a different bacteria in their gut than the less successful dieters. The article went on to talk about laboratory probiotics that could help dieters lose weight in the future. Since I am a proponent of eating foods and drinking drinks that are processed as little as possible, instead of popping a pill, I got to thinking about the kombucha and other fermented drinks that I brew, as well as the fermented vegetables that I make. I got to thinking about gut health and as I was researching online for scientific studies about this subject I found this article and I so agree that the fermented foods and drinks should be included in food guides. I just wanted to share with you all.

Here it is, this link is the U. S. National Library of Medicine National Health Institutes of Health article on Inclusion of Fermented Foods in Food Guides around the World: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4303846/

I am enjoying my Sunday morning reading and catching up on some work online. I’m relaxing in my easy chair with my feet propped up on my hammock bed and laptop in my lap. I’m working on some new sewing tutorials that will be coming out soon for the Courier Bag and for a new design on a Hamper. I will blog post about them when I publish. They will be an instant download in my Craftsy and Etsy shops.

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday August 12, 2018. Take time to reflect and relax, enjoy your day, and I hope your upcoming week will be all you want it to be!

To see some of my previous posts about foods and health see the menu bar for my recipes under Maggie’s Handcrafted Kitchen, and Plant Based Eating Journey.

To see more about the totes and tutorials that I make check out my shops at these links:

HandCrafter Maggie Etsy Shop

Maggie’s Tutorial Shop on Etsy

Maggie’s Craftsy Pattern Store

Maggie’s YouTube Channel

 

Closing old maggiescorner.org website and progressing HandCrafterMaggie

Today I archived the information from my old website maggiescorner.org and I will begin the process of closing it out. I’m not sure if it will take effect next month or if there is a minimum cancellation period but if not August 2018 then certainly by September 2018 the old website should be down. I removed everything from it today so it should be showing nothing except a blank home page. I will abandon the domain name too. It is bittersweet but time to move on and I am ready for the change. Again I ask everyone if you find broken links or outdated/erroneous information on my blog or any of my social media platforms please let me know. I have been trying to spend a little time each day or at least a few days a week working on the change over. It takes time to go through all the pages on this blog, and on all my other social media platforms. I’m trying to do it a little at a time so that I don’t feel overwhelmed. This is all part of the long range plan for less hassle for me to deal with because once I sell my place and am able to start traveling again I don’t want to be fettered with such matters.

In case you missed the last post, it follows:

HandCrafter Maggie – For the Love of Traditional Crafts Social Media Pages

Posted on July 6, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

I am working through all of my social media pages changing names and glad to say that Facebook approved the change but they denied me the first time I requested and I had to put in an appeal asking for a human to review my account and to see that I had good reason and that it represented what I do much better than the old name of Maggie’s Corner. In case you are reading about this for the first time, I am changing the name of my handcrafting endeavors from Maggie’s Corner to HandCrafter Maggie. The old name originally came to be because my property where I live and work is on a corner lot and it made sense to call my little enterprise Maggie’s Corner but I am selling my land and I plan to have a mobile studio. I plan to do a lot of traveling and I decided on the name HandCrafter Maggie because it encompasses all crafts; that is my field of interest and sphere of activity. If you find any broken links or errors, on any of my online pages, please let me know so that I can correct them. Thanks and I hope you will check out my Facebook page and “like” it. Wish me luck selling my land this year so that I can move forward with my mobile studio and house on wheels, and thanks for following me.

My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/handcraftermaggie/
ABOUT ME
I am on a journey – living life – with an ever changing landscape! I love all hand crafting of all sorts, and especially of traditional skills that are becoming a lost art! For me, it is intrinsic for a feeling of well being to make things with my hands. I believe it is vital to our civilization that we keep the traditions of handcrafting in our everyday lives. I am a sustainable living advocate, preservationist of all things homestead, old ways, and handmade, but I do enjoy the modern world, and I believe both worlds can meld into a wonderful coexistence using modern technology to enhance our knowledge and make labor intensive chores faster and more pleasant. Our traditional handcrafts can be enjoyed as a hobby now instead of a household drudgery that it may have been for some in years gone by. A handmade rug, made from all those discarded t-shirts can be enjoyable to make as well as be useful as a bathmat in the shower area or at the mudroom door. A shopping tote made from discarded feed bags can make wonderful durable easy to clean carryalls on market day. A hand knit or crochet pair of socks, slippers, hat, or maybe a lap throw, is a unique and priceless gift to make and to receive. I love all HandCrafting and think of myself as an Artisan and Craftsperson. Weaving became my obsession a couple years ago; I find that I’m fascinated with all fiber arts. I found satisfaction in learning to build simple looms and weaving on them. I love giving a new life to items that have outlived their usefulness as their original purpose, such as the broom and mop handles that are now my Backstrap and Inkle Looms. Be sure to see all the new weaving – spinning – and other handcrafters website links on my blog sidebar. https://handcraftermaggie.wordpress.com/
My Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandCrafterMaggie is where I sell the up-cycled items that I make mostly items of utility from material that I recycle. Purchase will help me in my efforts in recycling advocacy and causes such as the animals I foster and adopt. Here are some examples of the cost of the fur babies care: 50 pound bag dog food $22, Box of Trifexis 6 doses $135, Vet annual visit for a dog for all vaccinations and testing $117, Office Visit Vet as needed for various reasons $46, urinalysis $54, Clavamox $50, and other various medications needed occasionally are ear, eye, skin medications usually between $35 and $120 depending on medication. Various grooming items such as shampoo, brushes and other items $5 to $50. Any amount will be appreciated. Easy way to pay or send money – http://paypal.me/HandcraftsByMaggie or buy something from my Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandCrafterMaggie

HandCrafter Maggie – For the Love of Traditional Crafts Social Media Pages

 

 

 

 

 

I am working through all of my social media pages changing names and glad to say that Facebook approved the change but they denied me the first time I requested and I had to put in an appeal asking for a human to review my account and to see that I had good reason and that it represented what I do much better than the old name of Maggie’s Corner. In case you are reading about this for the first time, I am changing the name of my handcrafting endeavors from Maggie’s Corner to HandCrafter Maggie. The old name originally came to be because my property where I live and work is on a corner lot and it made sense to call my little enterprise Maggie’s Corner but I am selling my land and I plan to have a mobile studio. I plan to do a lot of traveling and I decided on the name HandCrafter Maggie because it encompasses all crafts; that is my field of interest and sphere of activity. If you find any broken links or errors, on any of my online pages, please let me know so that I can correct them. Thanks and I hope you will check out my Facebook page and “like” it. Wish me luck selling my land this year so that I can move forward with my mobile studio and house on wheels, and thanks for following me.

My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/handcraftermaggie/
ABOUT ME
I am on a journey – living life – with an ever changing landscape! I love all hand crafting of all sorts, and especially of traditional skills that are becoming a lost art! For me, it is intrinsic for a feeling of well being to make things with my hands. I believe it is vital to our civilization that we keep the traditions of handcrafting in our everyday lives. I am a sustainable living advocate, preservationist of all things homestead, old ways, and handmade, but I do enjoy the modern world, and I believe both worlds can meld into a wonderful coexistence using modern technology to enhance our knowledge and make labor intensive chores faster and more pleasant. Our traditional handcrafts can be enjoyed as a hobby now instead of a household drudgery that it may have been for some in years gone by. A handmade rug, made from all those discarded t-shirts can be enjoyable to make as well as be useful as a bathmat in the shower area or at the mudroom door. A shopping tote made from discarded feed bags can make wonderful durable easy to clean carryalls on market day. A hand knit or crochet pair of socks, slippers, hat, or maybe a lap throw, is a unique and priceless gift to make and to receive. I love all HandCrafting and think of myself as an Artisan and Craftsperson. Weaving became my obsession a couple years ago; I find that I’m fascinated with all fiber arts. I found satisfaction in learning to build simple looms and weaving on them. I love giving a new life to items that have outlived their usefulness as their original purpose, such as the broom and mop handles that are now my Backstrap and Inkle Looms. Be sure to see all the new weaving – spinning – and other handcrafters website links on my blog sidebar. https://handcraftermaggie.wordpress.com/
My Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandCrafterMaggie is where I sell the up-cycled items that I make mostly items of utility from material that I recycle. Purchase will help me in my efforts in recycling advocacy and causes such as the animals I foster and adopt. Here are some examples of the cost of the fur babies care: 50 pound bag dog food $22, Box of Trifexis 6 doses $135, Vet annual visit for a dog for all vaccinations and testing $117, Office Visit Vet as needed for various reasons $46, urinalysis $54, Clavamox $50, and other various medications needed occasionally are ear, eye, skin medications usually between $35 and $120 depending on medication. Various grooming items such as shampoo, brushes and other items $5 to $50. Any amount will be appreciated. Easy way to pay or send money – http://paypal.me/HandcraftsByMaggie or buy something from my Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/HandCrafterMaggie

Name Change from Maggie’s Corner to HandCrafter Maggie

You may have noticed the name change recently if you follow any of my social media platforms. I have quite a lot of online pages to work through to get everything changed. I will be selling my land where I live and work which is on a corner lot, that is how I got the name Maggie’s Corner. The new name HandCrafter Maggie describes what I do in a much better way. I also have come up with a company message, “For the Love of Traditional Crafts.”

If you find broken links or outdated information on this website or any of my social media platforms please contact me and let me know.

I ordered business cards today from Vistaprint. I chose the basic options and didn’t pick any extras. I got 500 customized business cards for $14.98 and that includes the shipping! I chose the cheapest shipping option and I didn’t let them talk me into any extras.

Below is a screenshot of the customized card that I created online and ordered.