Finding my 'Thing'

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 :)