Endeavors on the table.

I'm settling into my routine with Baby Zin. She's still fickle, as a newborn should be, but the one-on-one time is really helping me to "read" her. Her favorite thing to do is fall asleep on my shoulder, face down... so I'm pretty much limited to sitting on the couch, or the rocker, or engaging in one handed activities if I want to stand. I don't like to sit still, so this is hard! Thank god we got this laptop. At first, I wasn't sure how important it was to be mobile with the computer- now I can see it's the best decision we could have made!

Surfing Facebook and checking my email got really old after a few days of being home-bound with the little spud. So... I decided to play around with an idea I've had for quite some time. See, my friend is getting married, and being maid-of-honor (refuse to call myself a matron!) gives me the opportunity to help with some of the plans. This may be considered a burden to some, but I LOVE planning, or at least I love the crafty elements that go along with a wedding. Both the brainstorming and execution phases; I love it. So much so, that I actually (almost) applied to be a bridal consultant back when I was searching for a new job. Then, I came to the conclusion that unless I could choose who I was going to consult, I would likely strangle myself with a garter belt. Brides can be evil- especially to people like bridal consultants, who are prime candidates for punching bags should something, anything go sour in their eyes. Anyhow...

I found myself overly enthusiastic about helping my friend make her invitations. She already had a plan and a design, so like a good girl I didn't "take over." Anyone who has been a bride is aware that everyone else's opinions are a threat to her own personal vision. (And, okay, yeah, I still made some suggestions... but nothing that altered the aesthetics of the thing). Instead, I went to the craft store, grabbed some paper, and played around with my own independent project. Then, I did a little research online (a.k.a. I scoured the internet) for what other people were offering in the way of handmade invitations, mainly to see if what I created could be lucrative in any way. The answer? I think I can find a way to make it worth my while, feed the little creative beast in me, and if nothing else, nurture a new hobby.

I've decided to keep it simple and stick with one design that can be executed in endless color combinations of solid paper with a patterned accent, or two solids. I'd like to do a "test run" to see how long it takes to make 50+ sets (invite and response card), and to see if my cost estimates are accurate. I need a chance to meet any potential kinks that I haven't anticipated, and to see if I can manage it with a baby in the mix. In exchange for the experience, the rights to creative license, and perhaps a testimonial, I'd give my guinea pig the full set of invitations at materials cost only- a great deal for someone who's looking to cut costs, but doesn't have any interest in the DIY approach. I would certainly cater to the couple's desired color scheme, and would welcome a basic wording structure, if they wanted to provide one.

So, if you know me, and you know someone who might be interested in such a trade-off, please connect us! I'm excited to get started and see where, if anywhere, it takes me. The event doesn't have to be a wedding per se, but it should be something involved enough to require at least 50 (give or take) invites, and it should merit response mailers. (I'm going to want to see the shape they're in when received back.)

Time for my 6 week postpartum check up. Funny that once the baby's out of ya, they don't need to see you for 6 whole weeks. If something was to go wrong between delivery and recovery, wouldn't I be about dead by now?