What handmade possession do you most cherish?

Hmmm, that's tough. I have a blanket that my mom crocheted like 10 years ago, that I love. I also love anything my daughter has scribbled, doodled, painted (we paint birdhouses together), or story she's told. But I think one of my absolute favorite things is food and cooking. A meal (made by myself, my mom, or whoever) is something special. Food I think is best when shared with you're favorite people. When it's home made it's a love thing. But I think it's also the same if the food is made by someone who really loves to cook. You can tell if someone cares about what they are doing. And that translates to everything you do.

Brick and Mortar

I really do dream of having my own brick and mortar shop. I have the vision of it so clear in my head that I can almost smell the air and hear my footsteps on the floor. I also see where I want it to go. But I haven't found the name, yet. It'll come to me I'm sure.. in the mean time I am still daydreaming and loosely planning.

Walk us through your typical workday.

• I'm awake. What more do you want?
• The normal song and dance of getting ready for the day.
• Get my laptop and check my emails, update my facebook, twitter, usually my blog, play on etsy for a little while. 
• Lunch Break!
• Throughout the day I work on projects, designs, homework, housework, paper work, daydream, think, and what have you.
• Dinner or school or work.
• Before bed I work on something, get on my laptop again, or just rest. 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

At the present time, I am still working 4 to 5 days a week at a local bar, where I'm an entertainer. I'm also getting my degree in Graphic design. Most importantly is raising my daughter. She is absolutely my number one priority. My day usually entails watching plenty of kid's shows and snuggle time, broken up with internet surfing, and other miscellaneous happenings. I'm love to cook, shop and go for walks. I daydream about traveling. I love the Travel channel, Food Network, and Discovery Channel for my TV time.  For the most part, making things is my favorite thing, so that's what I do every chance I get. I'm really a homebody. I guess I'm pretty much in nesting mode permanently.  I do love to eat out though, love checking out local restaurants. Luckily, I'm active enough to eat what I want. Although, I do eat ridiculously healthy.  My life is pretty simple and not really any different. I forget to put things away. I like to make the mess. I hate to clean up the mess. I brush my teeth. I think all the time. I doodle and ponder. I fiddle with things. I laugh because I think I'm funny. And because my daughter is funny. I lose my keys. I do laundry. I walk into rooms and forget why I walked in there. I eat. I sleep. I dance. I craft. I love.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?

I don't think I ever not made things. I remember always being into something. The flour in the kitchen, my mom's make-up, the recycling, sometimes even the garbage. I firmly believe that idle hands are the devil's play things and arts, creativity, and crafting kept me busy.  My brain is always going. Thinking up new designs and projects. I learned over the years that my creativity is best used in knitting, crochet, fabric, paper, and jewelry. I had to do something with all the stuff I love making. There was so much of it! I found etsy a few years ago when I got back in to crafting after my daughter was born, and loved the ease of use, affordability, and overall vibe of it. Hopefully this will turn full time, especially with my expanding not only my line, but exposure by attending craft shows and the local farmer's market.

A bit about myself.

I am a mom, first and foremost.
I am completely socially inept.
I think I'm hilarious.
I talk fast when I'm excited, angry, nervous, or just cause.
I love to hang out at home.
If it weren't for school, work, and errands, I'd be a hermit.
I make things.
Correction, I love to make things.
I am a Graphic Designer.
I do have OCD and ADD tendencies.
I am stubborn, but compliant when I want to be.
I rock out to the beat of my own drum.
I stand out the most by being myself.
I work more than I play.
I'm a non-conformist who conforms when it suits me.
I love tattoos.
I want to save the world, but only the parts I like.
I love twitter and blogging.
I am starting my own business because I work better WITH people than FOR people.
I prefer my toast dark with cream cheese, peanut butter or butter.
I love vegetables.
I love tofu.

Where do I go from here?

I've been asking myself this a lot lately. How do I make a living from my hodgepodge loves? I don't do well in any normal 'job'. I want to write more.... but I can't even really formulate the words to say what it is that I'm feeling. I need time to think, but can I afford it? I'm up in Boise again this weekend... leave tomorrow morning-ish.

A little of my side

I recently watched an episode of The Tyra show that was about the adult industry. I know that my bar is an exception, not the rule in strip clubs I have this huge desire to tell my side of the story. I'm not quite sure where to start first. Utah laws are very different and so is my personal story. I know a lot of people's opinions about me will change in doing this, but I really don't care. I'm just want to break down some of stereo-typing. Cause I see your face in reaction to the job and see it reflected in so many others. Is this job for every one, no, absolutely not, but neither is being a dentist. What makes me different? I'm happily married and have been since December of 2004. I have never cheated on my husband in the near 4 years I've been dancing, and I won't. I don't do drugs, and I don't even drink enough to be considered a 'social' drinker. I am a mother to a 3 year old girl, whom I get to be home with all day, her dad is with her when I work or on the rare occasion my mom. I am an avid artist and crafter. I crochet, knit, sew, and more. I have modeled and worked as a TV extra. I don't go out partying all night. I live a very quiet life. This is a job, not a lifestyle. Unless you make it one. I speak for myself, but I don't believe I am alone in this. I feel that some if not all the girls I work with would love the chance to tell their side.

I am in Utah's First Pole Dance Competition (www.misspoledanceutah.com). Taking the pole back, since it was originally an acrobatic circus act, until a gentleman's club in the UK put a pole in as a novelty.

Utah laws are different and strict. There are NO lap dances or private rooms in alcohol serving bars. The patrons cannot touch a dancer. It is all stage work, and we are not fully topless. We are to wear pasties and there a minimum size requirement for t-backs, or thong underwear. No touching of the breast with open palms is allowed. Hands must be 3 inches away from the genitals. We have to be licensed, but all that means is that we are legal to operate as a dancer, we are not required to take anything off. It is illegal for us to drink on the job and since January 2009 smoking is prohibited in all Bars and Clubs. These are just some of the rules, I can't name them all. even though I have to be very aware of them.