Twiggie Makes by Candace Grahl

So…I’ve been MIA the last few…err…months. What’s that? You hadn’t noticed? That’s okay, I don’t think I realized either just how long it had been. This blogging thing can get tricky, especially when you decide not blog about the things in your life you want to talk about all the time: your children. They occupy 90% of my awake time and that’s not unreasonable. I just didn’t feel like splitting that time with them for anything else. And then when I would want to blog it just felt empty. And boring. Incredibly boring, actually. But just like every creative individual who has gone before me, when creativity finally strikes you can not stop it and then voila! Something to blog about.

Two weeks ago my hubby gave me the best “because I love you so much” gift by letting me go to the beach by myself for a few days. My parents had rented a house and wanted all of us to come but mothers of small children know vacation is not always a vacation - sometimes it’s just being away from home without the comforts of home. So I declined their offer. But hubby said I needed some time away and since he works for himself, no need to ask a pesky boss for the time off to watch the boys. I was very anxious about leaving them - very. I had not left them for more than a day, and they are not only my job, they are my life. However once I was in the car on my way, listening to *my* choice of music, it didn’t seem so bad. And when I woke up the first morning to sunshine streaming through my window and got to get up not to the sound of a baby that was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, not fix a bottle and not be forced to care for anyone but myself I was incredibly happy to be there.

I went for a run, spent time on the beach in solitude, drove around the island that I had spent so many summers there before, do whatever. I. wanted. It felt amazing! And while the vacation was truly a vacation, the best part is I got to step back from my life and see everything about it in a new perspective. I was able to fall in love with my life again. And not just my life, but where I am in it right now. It’s so hard to not get down about the things I can’t do, places I can’t go, or dreams I can’t chase because I am tethered to my children right now. But being away from them, tasting freedom just enough energized me in every facet of my life and sent me home with a new respect for it and also a new attitude. Those three days alone were the best thing I have done for myself since becoming a mom over three years ago.

So here I am and slowly reacquainting myself with my craft space. I felt I couldn’t just barge in there, rummaging through stuff. I had to proceed slowly…after all she has been severely neglected! And while I love to crochet and have quite a few projects that are started and remain sitting in baskets around the house, my new craft genre du’jour is paper crafting. It’s easy, it’s quick, it makes a huge mess but sometimes that is very satisfying - seeing the sweat of your brow, even if it means tons of little paper scraps are strewn all over your floors.

I’ve had some of my paper for years, always wanting to play with it but never actually giving it too much time. But lately I’ve been inspired by some of my card-making friends and have been dabbling in it more and more and find it’s another great craft that doesn’t require too much time, energy, or money.

Aren’t the colors of these cards so fabulous? They were inspired by one of my favorite bloggers and etsy shop owner, Paper*Cakes. I love the vintage hue’s of the blue and pinks. So gorgeous! These cards are probably my absolute favorite and I will have a hard time parting with them. I thought about selling some of them in my shop so they may make an appearance soon, along with some other cards that get completed. This one is my favorite, hands-down.

I will hopefully be working on a new site design because this one I am no longer feeling. Need something more *me* and not so streamlined. This one seems to lack the fun-factor. No flair. Maybe that will help keep the bloggy-mojo coming.

*Sigh* It feels good to be back.