frazzled & frumpy

After yesterday's post, sweet Larissa from Papa is a Preacher , shared a link with me. It's a talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love.   The talk is about the creative genius and it is pure genius . I've watched it once, and will go back to listen again. One thing she said that really hit me was this, "When it comes to writing...is it rational, is it logical, that anybody should be expected to be afraid of the work that they feel they were put on this earth to do?" We all face fears in our creating. I, personally, fear finishing. Dumb, huh? But, when I finish, then I have to face the possibility of failing. As long as I'm 'working on it',  there is no failure, no rejection. I can bask in the glory of my family and friends' praise. I can still say, "someday, maybe..." But, this is what I was put here to do. (One of the things.)  I have put away my shame at the years that I didn't write. I was still creating, it w...

I love making bags for the people I love. But, I get very anxious when I have to pick out the fabric. My sweet sister-in-law, Kerrie, had told me that she trusted my judgement for her bag. I roamed the fabric store for the longest time looking for material. Once I found this adorable, pink, owl fabric, though, the decision was easy. Here's the finished product-  I have to say, I love it.   See the owls? Oh!  Inside, loads of pockets. Crucial when you have a baby, or two in Kerrie's case.  They just got one of their foster babies back. I got this done just in time! Now, my favorite thing about this project. Kerrie has a 3 year-old daughter, Jocelyn, who LOVES her big sister role.  What does every big sister need? A big sister bag! Introducing, the Mini-Me Bag Just looking at these makes me happy. I think I need to make myself something out of this fabric. What do you think about a pink owl muumuu?

My daughter's friend was over yesterday. When I walked in the room, she said, "Mommy," (two of my kids' friends call me this. I love it.) "what have you been doin' today?" She said this with a little twinkle in her eye. I knew what she was asking. She's read my book and was a little perturbed with the ending-it's a cliff hanger-and has been bugging me to get going on the sequel. I smiled at her and told the truth, "I did laundry, went to the grocery store, vacuumed." She frowned. I gave her a shrug. I haven't been very motivated to write. I'm waiting on a publisher-again- and honestly haven't given it much thought. If you read my other blog, you'll know I've been sewing. I made two bags last week. I was a sewing-maniac! Really. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys sewing. After my mom taught me, (she's a very talented and patient seamstress) I would do the absolute least I could to finish a project. Which, ...