I have spent a lot of time over the years trying to decide what 'my thing' is.
This may sound odd ... but it is something that has taken up a lot of my time (and money!) trying to figure out.
I am a creative person. This much I know. My entire family is creative - my mom has a group of 'Crafty Ladies' that has met every Monday for the past 20 years. My father is a woodworker complete with a shop that has every tool a woodworker needs, plus a few more. My father's father was also a woodworker (ah, the memories of playing in the sawdust from the table saw in the garage shop). Both of my grandmothers were knitters. And then my Great-Aunt - she, I have come to realize, was my role model more that I could say. She was a beautiful seamstress (saying 'sew-er' just sounds wrong), but her true talent was that she could do anything. Every time we visited, she had a new 'thing'. One time it was painting, another knitting, another it was felt crafting, needlepointing, beadwork ... you name it, she did it.
I have now decided that I don't have a thing. I want a thing - but the problem is that I want every thing. I want to quilt. I want to paint. I want to create altered books. I want to knit. I want to sew. I want to be the ultimate homeschooling mommy. I want to do ICAD.
But here's what it comes down to - time and money.
In high school, I worked at a craft store. Big problem :) I wanted to do every new 'thing' that came in. And I tried most of them, and could do them. But didn't stick with them. I can't subscribe to Martha Stewart because I want to do everything.
I have always been a cross-stitcher. I have completed a few beautiful pieces that have never been framed. And I have a few unfinished pieces that one day I will complete. And, in my constant need to have a complete supply for each 'thing', I have a great stash of embroidery floss.
I can sew. Mostly things other than clothing - I can't deal with the fitting. I love having this skill, even thought it's not perfect, because I can pull it out when I need it. Like to make Dew1's sensory weighted blanket. But more about that soon. One Christmas I made stockings for everyone. I love having them.
I was going to make a quiet book for the boys. I made 3 pages. I was going to make felt food for the boys. I made Valentine's cookies and a lunch bag set. But I have a collection of felt that would rival Jo-Anne's.
When I was single and carefree, my thing was scrapbooking. I lived alone in New York City and had several friends who were Creative Memories Consultants. I scrapbooked once a month (sometimes more!) and loved every minute of it. For 6 or 7 years. Then I made the decision to dabble into Stampin Up! and while I loved it, that was a mistake.
The mistake? I go 'all in' when I find a new hobby. So I have amassed a supply of scrapbooking supplies that is near shameful, and then now a similar supply of rubber stamping supplies.
But I blather.
Here's the deal. I am currently inspired by ICAD, altered art, and the like ... I have done 4 ICADs and love each and every one of them. But only 4.
But I started with something new that, the more I think about it, has been a part of me since my childhood. And it is, at the moment, functional for my kids, which makes me feel good about it.
There is a common thread that will lead me back to my other 'things', but for now, this is it.
But I can't tell you now ... soon ... I promise :)
