Thanks for all the lovely comments – here are the lucky winners from last week’s blog hop!
Marcie Lovett (Ashli/tropical)
Carol Watson (Chari/new leaf )
Daisies Girl (Audrey/Attic findings )
OneCraftyStamper (Nina-marie/tropical)
Rita Montgomery (Emma/attic)
Michelle T (May/attic)
If your name is here – email me (craftwithmay at gmail.com) with your mailing address, and I’ll get your info to Buttons Galore who will be sending you a 28 Lilac Lane kit! So fun!
Stay tuned – I will be having another giveaway soon!
Hey all, just a quick check-in post to let you know how things are going here at injury central. There’s new pains, but I’m told it’s ok and most likely “using muscles that haven’t been used in months” kind of pain, not injury bad pain. Pain is good? I will take it.
I’m able to write a bit, as well as type just a bit more. Most coloring, holding scissors, or utilizing a knife are still just not possible with the brace situation I have going on. That’s ok. I’m finding things that I *can* do each and every day, and I’m focusing on that. I am also focusing on things like the fact that my gardening attentions have my long time violet blooming for the first time in about two years.
New growth, new ideas, inspiration, and possibilities. Yes this is hard, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise or pretend I don’t want to scream when asked if I’m better yet… but the progress is happening. I will keep trying to see this time as an opportunity for new directions and positive habits. Trying ideas and testing things I hadn’t previously done. Why not?
Who knows – maybe my blooming violet here is just one of many fabulous rewards I will get for the patience and good work…
Buttons make me so happy – always have enjoyed playing with them. It’s hard to see a rainbow and not smile. This week has been rough on so many, with so much tragedy. I can’t even believe it every time I think that has got to be it… there is more. Before I share my tutorial video I want to share a few thoughts on what inspired this therapeutic mixed media piece.
Originally I had a lengthy rant here about fear mongering, encouraging people to turn against each other, and hate filled speeches encouraging a divided nation. But I don’t want to add to that particularly gnarly fire.
Tearing at others does not build you up, and it definitely doesn’t help in the wake of tragedy. Deeply disturbed by both recent events in the country and so many of the the voices of “leadership” I knew I needed to get in the studio and recenter. Do something happy. Wonderful. Silly and small but that I could enjoy. Because I know one thing with absolute certainty:
Spreading love, happiness, kindness, smiles, and positivity is never a bad thing.
There will always be sick, twisted, even evil people in this world. I can’t stop that. But I can take every opportunity to make things better. To try and bring a smile to someone else or share a kind word. To fuel, feed, and embrace positivity and be more of what I want to see in this world. That, I can do. Maybe what I do is very small and doesn’t matter much, but those little things add up and the more of us who try to unite, build each other up, and be the positive change we want to see the better!
I share all of this because this is what inspired me to pull out almost EVERY 28 Lilac Lane bottle and kit. I pulled out every one available to me (except the browns) and spent a little time building myself back into a positive state of mind. If you’re wanting the how-to on a project like mine, you can view my YouTube video here.
I hope you enjoyed that tutorial – the process really is simple! PPA matte finish is a great adhesive choice. You can work with a specialty paste like the snowflake paste I used, or plain, or just glue! I also ended up sealing this project with glossy accents but that’s optional. I just wanted to make sure this rainbow that I created over a few hours this week lasts!
Looking for 28 Lilac Lane products? They’re available online and in local shops now. I used every single kit and bottle as I said before. If there’s a particular one you want pointed out I’m happy to do so. I have some affiliate links posted below if you want to shop the line as well.
I hope you liked my bit of rainbow and crafty happiness. It is going to hang here in the studio to remind me that in the darkest times, you can always look for the light. The rainbow. Seek the love.
I rearranged some things (slowly and over a number of days!) and wanted to share the results. I was able to get my grandpa’s rocking chair (he made it!) into the studio. On the chair are a quilt and pillow my grandma made along with a bear pillow that I fell in love with (Target).
I’ve always said that when it comes to your space, function should be #1, but a close second should be things you enjoy, treasures that make you happy. It’s a big reason why you’ll find random nonsense items in here – and I’d not have it any other way.
Of course that can also include things like awesome new Hero Arts stamps (see Hawaii one, below) that I’m finding ways of working with and testing out. This whole slow and steady thing sucks – not gonna pretend otherwise – but I’m making the most of it as best as I can, and remembering that this is all worth it.
Oh, and don’t worry. Studio is messy as ever even if I’m only crafting about 1/100th of my norm. I’ve not yet figured out how I’m managing to do that… guess I’m just creatively messy by nature and not even being one-armed can change that about me!
A lot of you have asked me how I’m doing, and the truth is there really isn’t anything to update. There are a lot of limitations on me. And progress is about as slow as watching grass grow. This isn’t a scrape or a common cold. It’s a long. slow. months long. tedious as heck process. A tear in my right wrist is a tiny thing, with a very major impact. It’s not even something I can update you on regularly because this injury is that slow.
There have been some dark days. Some days I wanted to just eat junk food and stare at the TV, totally giving up on any positive anything. This is why I always have one small project that I can do every day. Some days the only thing I did was to water the lawn… and grow grass. Sounds silly, but the size of the project doesn’t matter. It’s the good habits and positive action big or small.
So, I’ve patched up the lawn dead spots with grass seed. I’ve cleared out a number of junk drawers and each day I do something. I have very limited use. I have a ton of restrictions. But I’m here. And I’m trying little things. Tiny habits. Microscopic good choices. And I’m doing it every day. I’m working in small batches and stuff shows up sporadically I know. It’s all about doing my best in this moment, no pressure.
Right now my 10 typing minutes are up for now, and it’s time for physical therapy exercises…
