Merry Christmas

From our family to yours.

Our very first gingerbread house! My son worked on it the most (over 2 hours!). To assemble the house I used melted sugar as it said on the box. It took forever to melt!
Then we used icing to 'glue' on the candy. Well, it's not bad for a first time.



And a very special thank you to I. from Florida. A lady whom I don't even know but who totally made my day yesterday by placing an order in my shop!

I'm taking this first sale as a sign that Rocajo Studio has the potential to grow into something wonderful.

Baby shower anyone?

No, no, not for me. I'm good, thank you.
But I just listed these cupcake toppers on Etsy and I think they've turned out really well!

All with the help of my new best friend: Ms.Scallop Punch!

Making changes, taking chances

Excited, nervous, happy, doubtful, ... These are just a few words to describe how I am feeling right now. Launching the shop was a big thing for me and naptime and evenings have since consisted of designing, tweaking, worrying and researching amongst other things.  Still HAPPY is the feeling that is most prominent. I'm taking a leap, taking a chance, I'm working towards my goal and that feels so, so good.

Latest design

Do you have a dream? Take a chance!

Pushing ahead: shop opening!

Rocajo Studio is now LIVE!

And I'm already getting cold feet... Oh, how I know myself. It's so easy to start comparing yourself to all the other great Etsy shops that are already out there. How easily those feelings of self-doubt start to bubble towards the surface. I tell you, comparison is lethal!

But I did do it! (Thanks for kicking my butt, Tanya ;). I went ahead and listed some items. And everytime I get a 'view' my heartrate speeds up a little. There is still so much to do, so much I want to add, so much I already want to improve (add 'real' pictures, etc.).  I'm writing down a big to do list of all the things I have in mind for Rocajo Studio in the future. And I also have a "dream BIG" list where I write down all those things that seem out of reach now, but if I take little action steps towards those big dreams I might will realise some of them.

I used to have another Etsy shop where I sold handmade bookmarks, keychains and brooches. It was a wonderful creative outlet for me and so rewarding, but I don't think I ever considered it as a true 'business'. It allowed me to be creative while making a little money on the side. This time I'm determined to make it work since my goals have changed: I want to become a WAHM.

These last few post have been a little different. Very honest, very much sharing my deepest feelings, unveiling fears and hopes. I'm contemplating whether or not to start a new blog for Rocajo Studio. I'm torn: Little Sweethearts is who I am, Rocajo Studio is who I would like to become. Do I break with the past and just start over or do I marry the two and join my former self with the person I would like to become?

The Blogger template I chose so many years ago is still the style I like (white background, clean, bright), but there are some things it cannot do. If I change the template all of my older posts will go wonky and some pictures might go missing. Still very much in doubt.   I'll let it sit for a while, I think.

In the meantime: please check out http://www.rocajostudio.etsy.com/ and let me know what you think of the shop so far!

What I had in mind in order to become a WAHM

See also my previous post.

This is what I had in mind:

This is just an example (I have to start somewhere, right?). Placecards for the holiday/winter season.

I can't afford to invest in a fancy printer and decent cutting material right now so all my items would be DIY (= print your own).  Eventually I would like to expand to in house printing. I would start with placecards, gift tags, maybe even invitations in different colour combinations and gradually expand to all kinds of printable party items (probably focusing on children's parties in the future).

I am really stepping out of my comfort zone here by showing you this already, but I also know that I have to get a move on if I wish to open up my shop before Christmas (which is, well, like only 10 days away)!

And Rocajo Studio, well, those who know me will be able to understand why I chose that name.

I want to be a WAHM

There, I said it. I want to be a Work At Home Mom.

I'm very lucky to be able to stay at home right now to take care of my youngest daughter, but eventually, when my leave is up, I will have to go back to work.  Now, I like my job. It's a part-time job at a small company but when I am totally honest I would prefer to be a WAHM.  And also because due to the bad economic situation my job might not actually be there anymore when my leave is up.

So I have to start making up a plan now, see if it works, turn my dreams into something real. I'm already preparing something but I keep delaying: it's not good enough yet, I have to do this first, tweak some more, etc...

I'm getting this off my chest and onto my blog since I know that if I don't push that publish button soon, I would not tell you. But if I do tell you, you will expect to see something on my blog.  It's not that my motivation isn't big enough (staying home with my children while feeling rewarded for something that I made and contributing to the household financially). But I know I will work even harder to make my dream happen if I have your support.

So please, leave me a comment if you read this. Kick me in the butt (well,...).

(found this on Pinterest)

Love is

when he 'gets' you.

Given to me by my husband after his business trip to the States.

Love you so, so much.