Writer's Self Portrait (or) Self Blogvaluation

My seester, Jess, tagged me to respond to the modern day blogger equivalent to chain mail. Remember chain mail? Those silly questionnaire tied to an empty threat of bad luck for a year if you "broke the chain"? Also, remember amish friendship bread? How sketchballs is it to make bread from  plastic bag of squishy dough ball "starter" that you can't vouch for the beginnings of? This chain stuff is a weird phenomenon. Regardless, it's an easy post topic for me. So here it is. 

1. What are you working on?
Not much lately. I have a couple wedding projects in the works, and a bike revamp project. And I plan to paint my dining room table. (as I typed those words they were said on screen my tv during a despairing scene of When Harry Met Sally! What an odd, coincidental world I live in!) But really, I don't have a big project right now. I guess my biggest new project is figuring out how to be a good wife. That's much more of a progressive task than I ever could have guessed.

2. What makes your work different from others' work in the same genre?
I'm not even sure how to classify my writing or this blog. To begin with, my idea was to write honestly about the things in my life that encourage me or challenge me. I try to look at things positively, though I go through normal phases of pessimism as well. I guess my silly asides and messy lifestyle might set me apart from other blogger/crafters.

3. Why do you write what you do?
I studied writing from my junior year of high school through the end of college. I wasn't sure what I would do with that expertise and training. I still am unsure. But, somehow, writing little bitty posts about things I make and ideas I have makes me feel good. Good enough reason to write. Besides, I also like making things look nice- layout and design and photography also pique my interest. So, blogging seems right for now. And thoughts and loves and crafts are what I have to blog about now, easy peasy.

4. How does your writing process work?
I don't have a typical process. It took me a week to set aside a half hour to respond to this call out. But, sometimes, a thought will nag me so that I can't wait to write about it. And a really fun, photogenic project can insist a blog post as well. And as for the written content. I spew. I don't edit much until I re-read later and realize that I'm crazy and have made terrible structural and spelling mistakes.

I'm gonna take a chance and let the bad luck get me. Not pass this chain mail challenge on. Still it has  been interesting to think objectively about this glasshufffull project. Why DID I start blogging? Because I wanted to write more. Because I wanted to be connected to other people more. These are good things. Why have I not blogged as much recently? Because I'm spending a lot of time with other people. Because I've had moments I've been too busy to document with photos. These are good things as well. 

Things are good. The glass is still "huff" full.

Spring Back

I love a lazy morning. The sun coming through the curtains to rouse me to wake rather than the buzz of an alarm. A few slow moments resting still tucked in my sheets, watching the sun dust slowly fall in the mid-morning sun. It is finally spring, and yesterday was my first spring morning with a slow wake. And I'll tell you what- I feel revived. 

Spring Sarah has awoken. Like one of those sleepy head daisies from the animated Alice in Wonderland. Rubbing my crusty, tired eyes. Batting my petal lids at the sun. I've unfurled myself, readying for the sun to enliven me after a long long winter underground.

Every year, sometime around February, I dissolve a little. Don't get me wrong, I love winter. I seriously cry happy tears at the sight of the first snow! But after a couple months, I become stir crazy and pudgy from a sedentary snow lifestyle. And, like clockwork, the sadness comes. It's been this way since I was a teenager. 

And this year, since I had a husband to care for me and binge watch crappy television with, I didn't find respite in the creative outlet of my blog. In fact, I've abandoned it for a good long time. At one point, I considered giving it up for Lent since I'd already gone so long without it. (I know, I'm a cheater.)

When I'm sad, I know that making something, doing something creative WILL help me feel better. I know this, and yet it's so hard to just DO it. Isn't that the way it is for you? We know what's best for us, but it's starting a new habit that's the hardest. Or even re-starting, in the case of this neglected website.

So this morning, the sun shining in, It's the first step. The tiny push to get the ball rolling. And once that ball is rolling, the inertia should pick up. But baby steps to begin with.

First, I'll wake up before my alarm. And, then -still in my pjs til 10- I'll plant some pretty spring flowers. Get things growing again.

I'll water them daily. I'll clean my bike chain. A little hard work goes a long way.

In a month's time or less, we'll all be blossoming in summer.   

Won't that be beautiful!

Two Weeks Absent - A Recap

It has been a long hard couple weeks of lots of work work work and little play play play. I am looking forward to the weather getting warmer again and perhaps a wrist on the mend from overuse. As a result of the busy-ness I have been exhausted, and thusly really neglectful of this space. Here's a quick recap of recent creative outlets and life events:

Easter.  My church hosted an amazing Easter service at the UD arena in Dayton. 7,500 people were in the stadium and another 500+ in the children's tent hanging out with me. It was an amazing experience. I build three spacey costumes for myself and two friends to wear as we lead worship for the kiddos. Poly-tubing cover makes for some Jetson fashions, let me tell you. 

photo by emilee hermon

Overall, What an awesome day! I, like many others, may have had my doubts about holding the service at such a large arena. (Seating is up to 13,000!) But people showed up in droves, and it was a really fantastic morning filled with great community feelings and an overwhelming sense of hope for a city rejuvenating itself.

The event name was "Crazy Hope".The music was crazy huge, the volunteerism was crazy organized, the whole thing was crazy inspiring. And by the end I was crazy tired. Still am. Tomorrow is my first day off in forever. I am crazy excited.

photo by lindsay hefner

It was kind of weird how my parents (who also served at the event) and I were too tired for regular Easter-type festivities and ended up noshing at Smashburger instead of having family dinner time with ham and scalloped potatoes. Perhaps a new tradition has begun?

photo by guy r. clemons 

Gardening. I have been trying to grow some plants in my back patio area and have succeeded at starting some kale. My lettuce seed are fighting hard against the frosty mornings but seem to be losing the battle. Kale is awesome, though. I love to eat it and I'm happy it's hardy like me.

Online Pruning. I spent a couple hours reading through the content of my old livejournal (which I wrote in ca. 2003-2008) and collecting the content for posterity before deleting it from the blogosphere.

Reading those 293 PDF pages of pure mush made me realize that I spent a good deal of my early twenties being pretty unhappy. It was a hard realization to make, as when I look back on that time of my life (mainly, the college era) I conjure up positive memories. My journal tells me that I was often lonely, often grumpy, often feeling misplaced and depressed. Sometimes, right now, I do feel lonely and wish for a relationship. But holy moly, looking back on those times when I was in a serious, long term relationship (one that I thought was "the one", in fact!) I realize that I am much happier now than I was then. I love my life, my family, my friends. I see my calling in life much more clearly. I think I'm great. And I really do see the "glass huff full" most of the time. Life is good!

Nephew Turns 4. I totally scored when I found this awesome plane attachment for my nephew's bike. The face says it all, right? (Also - isn't he adorable?!) I cannot believe this munchkin is four. Where has time gone?

The coming week promises me more time for myself and some summery projects I have in mind. I also have some interesting prospects in other areas of my life. Spring has sprung. Here goes nothing.

Many Earrings Made in Absence

Hello, internet friends. I went on an adventure or two in the last couple weeks and so have experienced a little (much needed) distance from the internet. You should see how behind I am in all my Words With Friends games! But I've returned with a couple finished projects. I've been doing a little tv-time crafting lately.

Mainly, I've been making earrings. Some are inspired by some sparkly fishing lures I picked up at Cabella's on the way home from a long weekend visit to Ann Arbor. One pair went to my mother for her 57th birthday. She opened the gifts as she sipped on her first mango lassi at a very grown up Indian food dinner treat from her very grown up youngest daughter. I didn't snap any pictures of her earrings, but they were a hit.

The little green bead on the top of the below earring also made an appearance on mom's earrings. It was originally from a wind chime that my family had at the island house at Put-In-Bay. Mom was excited to see it in a new form. The best kinds of gifts, in my humble opinion, mix old memories with new beauty. And now my mom and I have matching-ish earrings. It's a new take on the broken heart, best-friend necklace.

I thought I'd also share this shot I took while I was doing the earring photo shoot. I flung on a coat and some rubber boots over my favorite lazy day outfit: my adult-sized zipper sleeper (minus the feet, sadly). 

Lots of bloggers take beautiful pictures of themselves looking all perfectly primped and pulled together. Not me. I am a schlub. Don't expect cute coiffures and pressed hems from me. Sometimes, maybe I'll get it together for that- but more likely than not, my house is looking cuter than I am on any given day.

I already have more to share with you. Get ready for a post valentines recap of an awesome antiquing day that I had with "the Amys" (two friends who share a great name!) today. 

For now: I hope tomorrow is fantastic for you. Valentines day isn't my favorite, but I do love vintage-y valentine fare. This handkerchief belonged to my grandmother. I found it crumpled up yesterday in a red silk purse hidden away in a box of family things in my closet. 

The design is by Carl Tait. I did a little online seeking and found out he has a vast collection of handkerchief designs. They are really wonderful- playful, quirky and bright.