Mom on Strike

It has been coming for awhile now. Moms, you know what I mean. You do the work behind the scenes. Picking up after the family so that you don't drown in stuff. Grocery shopping so everyone has their favorites at hand. Making dinner every night (and hearing "again? groan" or "I don't like that") Laundry, UGH, all the laundry, so that your kids and hubby look (and smell) nice on the way out the door. Put the holidays on top of all of that (the baking, the shopping, the wrapping, sending out holiday cards, you get the drift) and it is exhausting. I have been doing all of this pretty much on my own for the last 17 years. Which was OK. I wish I had some help, but what else did I have to do?

Enter Mom deciding to start her own company. Mom trying to make said company a success *while* doing all of the above. No one like change, especially kids and husbands who have had just about everything done for them for as long as they can remember. Now, I am willing to take some of the blame here. I should have required more help early on, but who knew that Mama was actually going to be successful? Not me, not to this extent, I can tell you. But now that it is and I hope continues on the upward trajectory that it seems to be on, the status quo *has* to change.

I am not asking for much. Appreciation for what I do is the main thing (what they see and what they don't see), a little "Thanks, Mom" "Thanks, Honey" goes a long way. A little help during my busiest time of the year (picking up after themselves, run the broom through every once in awhile, and at least offering to help out before they sit down in front of the TV) is all I ask.

My vision going forward is more of a team effort than a one man job. My kids are 13, 12 and 5, perfectly able to pitch in. Hubby works hard all day, this I know and appreciate. But, so do I. Shouldn't I be allowed "down time" too? Am I worth any less?

Starting this company was my decision, I realize. But, I did it for a couple of reasons. One, so that hopefully, I can contribute to the family coffers (with 2 kids coming up on High School, I know that the financial burden should not be on my Hubby alone). Two, so that I have an identity other than Mom (because, let's face it, teenagers act like they are from a pod most of the time) and I need to feel like I have a bigger accomplishment than saying that the laundry is done. I want, no need, to leave my mark too. I should be allowed to do that, not only allowed, but encouraged, not resented.

I love my kids and my husband to the ends of the earth and would do anything for them. Anything, but give up my identity as a person. I have encouraged all of their hopes and dreams for the last 17 years and will continue to do so. Don't I deserve to have my hopes and dreams encouraged too? I think I am worth that.

With a little help from my friends at The Artisan Group

Website is ready!

Ashley from Fancy Designs reworked a new logo for Mama and I must say she did a great job. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but she was very patient and gave me lots of help. I am a "more is better" kind of girl and Ashley reigned me in and explained that less is better :) What we decided on is a way more sophisticated look for my company that rocks!

Once Ashley was done with my logo, it was onto Stephanie Williams of Bleue Moon Web Design to do the new website. I knew I wanted a site that was geared to the custom order side of the business, but had zero idea how to accomplish that. Stephanie came up with a great base and lead me through step by step to pull what I wanted out of my head onto the screen. I could not be more thrilled! There are pictures of my work at the beginning and also a Gallery of some of my most recent orders that I can add to as time goes on (how cool is that?) There is also a Requests section that will get the custom order process rolling right away. The questions that are on the page help me identify the type of fabric that the customer may like. Prices are displayed on the Request page too so that the customer knows what to expect.

All in all, I could not be happier! One step closer to getting ready for the GBK Oscar Gift Lounge!

On the Road to the Oscars

Hard to believe that my life has changed so much in two years.

A year ago, we moved from Pittsburgh PA to Denver CO. After a year of searching and renovating, we moved into our new house. Getting the family settled was my main priority, but I was still creating bags and filling orders.

One night when my husband was travelling, I was on the internet messing around on my Face Book Page and an add came up for The Artisan Group. They are a group of juried artisans that ban together to gift their handmade products to celebrities in gift lounges for the major award shows like the Emmys, Golden Globes and the Oscars to name a few. I took a chance and applied. Much to my astonishment, I was accepted in two days! Valerie, the founder of the group stated that the quality of my work was excellent. Now, it is one thing to have family and friends tell you that you are good at something and totally a different thing to have someone outside your comfort zone tell you that you are good.

I started researching the group more and found that they are a wonderful collection of artisans that are uber-successful, kind and willing to help at a moments notice with ideas or encouragement. They have inspired me to take my own leap and I am now getting ready to send my wristlet design to the Oscar GBK Gift Lounge in February.

In the coming weeks and months I want to document my journey, not only for me, but for my kids as well. I am always telling my children that they can be anything that they set their minds to. Time for me to set the example. I am actually doing something that I have only dreamed of since I was a kid. I am happy, excited and slightly terrified all at the same time, but I am actually doing it!!

Next post, I will let you know how I decided upon the fabric that will be representing my company. (Maybe show you a picture too)

Working on a new idea.

On a pretty regular basis I get requests or ideas from my local customers. One is that the inside of the bag be waterproof. I have had a problem with figuring out a design that keeps with the wash ability of my products, but allows them to have a water barrier. Everything that I have looked into can be wiped off or thrown into the washer, but you cannot put the plastic in the drier or it will fuse together.

I do not have the kind of time to sit around and wait for a bag to dry. However....I do have time to wait for the inside of a bag to dry...thinking...more thinking.....buttons!!!!

That is all you get! Gonna try a mock up this week and will share if it works. Given that pool and beach season is coming (I hope soon)and that I have a ton of double sided quilted fabric....ideas are forming!

My kids said that I was too "wordy" in my blog (?!?!). So I hope you have a sunny weekend where you are.

Being able to see the road!

Strange title to start out with , I know. I am from Pittsburgh PA where we had over 40" of snow in February. Seeing the road from my front window has not been possible due to the mounds of snow. Finally, I am seeing that the snow is melting and hopefully giving way to spring : )

I want to say first that I have a wonderful life. A husband who I have been with over half of my life and I love more than anything. I have three kids that amaze me with their energy, kindness and heart everyday. It is a safe, warm, wonderful place to land.

For the first time in my life, I have a clear vision of where I want to go. Up until now, my life has been about caring and taking care of other people. Somewhere along the way, I lost what I wanted and who I wanted to be. Of course, I still want to care for others and always will, but now I realize that I need to do things for me too. And that is okay. It is okay to follow my road too.

"Mama Mahoney" is a nickname that a friend gave me when she found out that I don't like being called Mrs. Mahoney (sounds like I am 100 years old!). Anyway, when it came time to come up with a name for my company, it seemed like a good fit. I am mom first (always), but now I am also Mama Mahoney who designs and creates quilted bags with the mom of the family in mind.

All of my bags are totally washable and most can be dried in the dryer. I strive to find materials that while totally beautiful, can be easily cared for and used again and again. I personally carry my designs and with three kids (one, a rambunctious three year old), they have been through alot. They have gotten juice and cookies smooshed in them and yes, once even peed on (don't ask!). I throw them in the washer and then in the dryer and "voila!" they are ready to go. No worrying about getting them messed up or ruined, they fit perfectly into my crazy life.

Speaking of the washer and dryer, I need to get to it and get some Mom stuff done. Working on a beautiful springlike bag today and hopefully can get it finished. L8R!