Picking up

This photo sums up my life.  It doesn't get any simpler than this, a guide to organized living lying forgotten under a table.

I have good ideas, big ideas, good intentions.  I get excited.  I plan.  I make lists.  I buy supplies.  I think "I'm gonna do it".  I intend to do it.  And then I don't.

Why?

Life gets in the way.  I'm distracted by my kids.  I have to do this or that.  There is not enough time, not enough space.  I don't have the right supplies, the right plan.  Oooh something shiny.

My good intention, my big idea, lies forgotten like the magazine, collecting dust under a table.

Why?

I am unorganized.  I am so very unorganized.  I have things, too many things.  These things do not have homes.  When new things come in, old things do not leave.  The new things are piled on top of the old, balanced precariously.  Piles have piles have more piles. Things are shoved behind closed doors.

There is room in my home.  It is the office.  It was designed to be my creative space, space to write, to paint, to make jewelry.  I should feel pride in that space but I do not.  

Oh, that room.  I shut its door, I hope you don't see.  If you don't notice, its contents may disappear.  But, I know it is there.  It haunts me.  It paralyzes me.  I cannot fix it.

Why? 

Procrastination.  No.  Procrastination is just a five syllable word for sloth.  I am lazy.  There is no magic cure so I do nothing.  Doing something requires action, effort. 

Things stay as is.  Ideas collect dust.  Creativity withers.

Or maybe, just maybe, I could pick that magazine up off the floor

Shaking off the Dust

Often times a well loved treasure gets lost. It falls between the cracks, behind something and gets hidden from view. It sits there, forgotten, collecting dust.

There may come a time when the treasure is rediscovered. Perhaps you are searching for something else and stumble across it. You may sit down in the midst of the dust and cobweb to remember. Once the years and neglect have been wiped away, you realize how much this treasure meant to you at one time. Memories come flooding back. You can feel the person you were the last time you held it.

Maybe the sight of it, the feel or the smell will inspire you to bring the treasure back to life, proudly displaying it once more. The dreams it once held are sparked anew. The past now holds the key to your future.

Lost and forgotten no more, endless possibilities await in the future.

Showing Some Love

Its been a while since I've posted here. Part of it was laziness and procrastination. Part was trying to decide where I want to take this blog. I'm still working out some things in my head but I figured I should still post from time to time until I can figure things out. So today I am showing this blog some love.

Love is actually the reason for this post. My husband and I recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. We have always exchanged the traditional gifts. While the traditional gifts of diamonds, gold and silver can be fun, we are't quite there yet.

The traditional gifts for the earlier years are a bit more interesting - paper, linen, leather, tin etc. For 11 it is steel. Steel kind of had me stumped. Should I buy some silverware? A new grill? A new car? Well no, money is a bit too tight for that.

Then it hit me, the hardware store has tons of steel stuff. I love the hardware store even though I'm not very handy. I just love all the tools and stuff. I've even used some hardware in my jewelry. So I decided to get some washers, nuts and bolts to make a pair of cufflinks for Bubs.

I experimented with a few things before hitting on the perfect design. I took two nuts, a few beads, some wire and toggles and came up with these beauties:




I was thrilled with the way they came out and Bubs loves them.

Day 30 - Casting a Web

Now that I've started this blog, I've been looking for other crafty blogs. I've found a bunch through blog swaps on Etsy. I've also been following links to see where it takes me.

I've found that there are a lot of sites, like Inspire Me Thursday where people all post on a common theme. This week's theme is soup. Last week it was peeling paint.

I like the idea of these types of challenges because they can give you that little spark of inspiration. Some days I don't really know what to do. I stare at the paper and it stares back at me. Blank, white paper can be awfully intimidating especially when you don't have the greatest confidence in what you are doing to begin with.

One of the challenges or contests I immediately was drawn to was the Black Hearts Anti-Valentine Challenge over at Dabbled. I was immediately inspired, drawing all sorts of things from broken hearts to black hearts. Envisioning cards and jewelry all with that theme. I loved it.

Even though I am married and have a built in Valentine, I can remember many years where I didn't. I hated Valentine's Day because it was a reminder that you were alone. So channeling those memories will make the contest more fun.

If this goes well or if I just have a ton of fun, I think I'll be doing more of this in the future.

Why Are We Here?

Well I am here because I am planning on creating and crafting every day in 2009.
This blog will be a record of my adventures and misadventures. It will recount my year of crafting dangerously.

I run a jewelry shop ReneeDesigns on Etsy. The shop is still there but I have been seriously lacking in inspiration to make the shop what it should be. I hope that this year of crafting every day and documenting my progress here and on the Crafting 365 flickr group will fill me with much needed inspiration.

I am also planning on exploring some mediums that I am not all that comfortable with, painting and collage. I hope that these experiments are successful and that I grow as an artist.

Along the way I plan on showcasing some really talented artists who inspire me to do better.

So stop by from time to time and see whats up in the world of Juniper and Coffee.