2010 is the year!!

With the new stay of testing for CPSIA and finding a location to teach my sign language classes, this is the year that I get "Aerowyn's Castle" and "Sing Me a Sign" officially off the ground.

Sing Me a Sign: Even though I hold an advanced certification through the Signing Time Academy, I am starting small and sticking with Baby Signing Time classes. Coming soon to Anaheim Hills, CA. If you're interested in attending classes, would like information on the program, or would like to have me come do a workshop, please contact me at Sing Me a Sign. The website is a work in progress, so please excuse the mess.

Aerowyn's Castle: Now anyone who knows me, knows this is my baby. I love being creative and have soooo many ideas and not enough time. I will be offering a variety of children's and non-kid items. In addition to all of the custom items I already offer, I am adding tutus, tutu tees, tutu dress, baby leg warmers, and a few other goodies this month. While I'm building inventory, please contact me for custom orders. When I reach 100 fans, I'll start my etsy shop... so come motivate me and become a fan!! Here's a sneak peak at a tutu with a set of legwarmers for Valentine's Day (oh, and the bow too).

Hubby's winter break = Lots of projects getting done

In addition to making beef stew, baking cornbread muffins, cleaning out the garage (mostly) and part of the house, and decorating for Christmas, I got the following orders completed for Aerowyn's Castle.

a "big sis" T-shirt custom rush order for Allie

and here is one of two sets of custom embroidered burp cloths


Other projects I'm working on: more appliqued shirts, a large blanket, doll carriers (mei tai, ring sling, and stretchy wrap), several bows and a tutu.

I love custom orders, so send me your ideas for shirts, burpies, blankets, bows, tutus, etc. and I'll get working on them!!

HUGE Signing Time sale!!!

See below for a great sale going on through the academy store this weekend! Access the store at http://www.signingtimeacademy.com/brendajones

Feel free to repost this to your friends/family :-)

I am still offering a $10 gift card for the first purchase over $50 (after discounts and before shipping)!!!

Signing Time Holiday Specials

Many gifts fade over time but the benefits of signing with your child will last a lifetime! Make this holiday special and memorable with Signing Time.

Friday, November 27 - 50% off orders over $25

* All single DVDs, CDs, Books and Flash Cards are 50% off on orders over $25
* No Coupon Necessary
* Excludes ALL GIFT SETS AND COLLECTIONS
* Not Valid with any other offer
* Good one day only
* Not available to wholesale and distributors

Saturday, November 28 - $15 off orders over $50

* $15 off orders over $50
* No Coupon Necessary
*
* Not Valid with any other offer
* Good one day only
* Not available to wholesale and distributors

Sunday, November 29 - Free shipping on orders over $50

* Free shipping on orders over $50
*
* No Coupon Necessary
* Not Valid with any other offer
* Good one day only
* Not available to wholesale and distributors
* Free shipping available on domestic U.S. orders only
* Free shipping via USPS Media Mail (2-3 weeks for delivery)

Monday, November 30 - 20% off all gift sets & Collections

* 20% off already discounted gift sets *Note: Gift sets are not gift wrapped
* No Coupon Necessary
* Not Valid with any other offer
* Good one day only
* Not available to wholesale and distributors

boutique all-nighter

At the last minute (aka 8pm before a 10am show), I decided to get a few things together for a small craft show/boutique hosted by a friend's mommy group. So in the past few hours, I finished 2 new sets of burp cloths, 3 picture frames, and 3 bows. I've put together the pricing sheet for the Signing Time merchandise, organized some photos of other projects I've done in the past, and had Robert design my flyer. I just have to get everything printed and packed up. It's now almost 4am and I'm hoping to be done by 5am so I can get a few hours of sleep. Unfortunately, baby is awake, so that is taking up some precious time. If you're in the area, Aerowyn's Castle and Sing Me a Sign will be at Heritage Park in Tustin at 10 am. Wish me luck!!

New Business!!!!

I'm excited to announce that I am officially certified as a Master level instructor with Signing Time!

I will be teaching sign language courses using the Signing Time! materials and curriculum to infants/toddlers/kiddos and their families as well as professionals. In addition to teaching, I am also a vendor for Signing Time! products :-) DVDs, books, and flash cards make great presents for the kiddos in your life and your favorite mama-to-be. I grew up learning sign language, used it in my 10+ year career in early childhood special education/autism intervention, and most importantly with my now 22-month old daughter. She has been signing since she was 8 months old and has well over 100 signs. Frustration with difficulties communicating (a.k.a. the infamous "terrible two's") are practically non-existent.

Check out my store to order your new Signing Time! products today :-)
http://www.signingtimeacademy.com/brendajones

Contact me at brenda@singmeasign.com for a coupon code!!

My personal website will be up and running as soon as I have a chance to write it all out!

6 years. (long one, sorry)

I can't believe it's been 6 years. Can't believe how quickly it went by, how much has changed, how much those last few days are still ingrained in my memory. But, I'm noticing holes in those memories now. I know I'll lose more and more. My computer with all of our photos crashed and is awaiting a very expensive recovery. I have a few I rescued from a website I used to have. I have no idea what happened to the video and there are no other copies floating around any longer that I know of.

It's been a rough week, one very few of my friends really understand... maybe only one really does. Sunday 10/18/09. CHOC walk at Disneyland. Good day with friends, great cause, but all I could think about was 1o/18/03. Also at Disneyland. Aaron and his kiddos came to Disney with me and my family. It was a great day. I loved spending time with him again since I hadn't seen him in a while (I'd moved to Vegas). I loved seeing the kids again. I loved seeing Disneyland through his eyes, the sheer excitement and amazement watching Fantasmic that night. I will forever have that smile in my mind. I will remember our phone conversation the night before we went to Disney. I will always remember what he said. I will forever remember the time we spent, that last hug goodbye when he dropped me off at the airport. I miss his hugs. I remember sitting on the plane and looking out the window when we took off thinking that was the last time I was going to see him. I thought that was such a strange thought. Unfortunately, I was right.

I asked Aaron to come visit me on Sunday. Anything to show me he was there with me. All day went by, and nothing. Until I got ready to leave. I wish I could get the video off my blackberry, but it was too long and can't be emailed :-( I left my friends at the park to take tired me and sleeping baby home. I walked into downtown Disney and there was a guy playing "Tears in heaven" on an acoustic guitar. It stopped me in my tracks. This was a song from Aaron's service. He was there. It was everything I could do to not lose it in Disney.

6 years ago tomorrow... the last time I talked to him. It was a quick conversation, but one I'm glad we had. I will forever regret not calling him for our usual Thursday chat. I'd call when he was on his way to pick up/drop off kiddos. After the week we'd both had, I was exhausted. I decided to go to bed early and to call him the next day. He didn't have a next day. Of all the moments I wish I could redo in life, that's probably at the top of my list. "One more day." That song by Diamond Rio summed it up good. I happened to have it on my CD of songs I made that reminded me of Aaron when I went out for his service. We used it in his service.

Saturday morning will be 6 years since his crash. 6 years since I woke up to that horrible phone call. I can still hear Steph's words like it was yesterday. "I'm sorry sweetie... he didn't make it." I have pictures from the crash site. I don't look at them but I have them. Pictures of the broken trees, the divots in the road, the sidewalk where he was. It still doesn't seem real at times.

Thank you Aaron for everything you gave me. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for helping me get to where I am in life. I miss you every day. I always will. You are my angel. I love you.

New facebook page!!

I'm putting all of my Aerowyn's Castle creations on a new page. Stop by and become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=764573590&v=feed&story_fbid=168713904312#/pages/Aerowyns-Castle/89405154283?v=wall&ref=mf