Ten Years – Wow! ‘Looking back & Reflecting…

There seems to be a theme of looking back to 2016 lately. That was my first real year of stepping into this whole blogging life.

Did I have a major plan?!

I laugh when I think back to how naive my belief was. ‘Share my creativity online; sounds easy enough, since I already do a lot of making anyways. I just take some pictures, explain the process from first hand experience and write the post. (um, that is a lot of little steps) I’m blessed to have the added benefit of family help; graphic designer daughter and software engineer son, seemed like a perfect scenario. I had already stepped into the world of teaching at a college decades earlier plus I always ran my own freelance Illustration business.

Well, it’s not quite that easy, as there’s a lot of unseen factors that can make or break it all. It is a constant challenge to not get buried & forgotten.

What was my Goal?

Do you ever get tired of doing almost the same thing all the time?! I wanted to be able to pick my projects and take on the challenges of trying new things; feeding my artsy soul. I liken it to diverse world travel.

I could now get away from just sitting at my drafting table and choose more interesting art forms that were not the typical ‘craft store’ types.

Yes, I am old enough to remember the days when gathering information was much more difficult (libraries & books) I really cherish how easily I can now acquire worldwide knowledge via the internet! ‘Nothing would stand in my way, because as you know I am quite stubborn.

I could get Outside!

My new media and ideas included sculpting for the garden using unconventional methods like the Concrete garden orbs. Art forms that had a tie to nature really caught my attention. I could combine natural things with building products like concrete and even silicone. I made Stepping stones with leaves and added more ways to combine the two.

I had such fun with the inexpensive concrete but loved to experiment. Combining my love for fabric (sewing my own clothes since I was 12) brought some new ways to combine it to sculpt with concrete; welcome Concrete Draping.

I am blessed with a very visual mind so coming up with ideas is quite easy for me. ‘Designing’ is really my forté! My Step Spook idea came to me in 2016 and has been the most visited post of my site. (and also the stolen images)

I also have a Life!

I don’t completely function like a web business person, more as an artisan choosing projects according to my own life ideas. My garden needed some additions so I made Concrete things. I wanted to help my daughter transform her house so many projects came to life. Setting examples for your kids really does play out in the long run, trust me.

I think it was the Soap Making!

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what pushed me into the crazy DIY world but it may have been due to the magic of making soap! Gee, if I could whip up some simple ingredients and produce a viable product then what else can I make. It’s really all about having that confidence to persevere. I don’t think I am that gifted, I just don’t give up – ask my husband and those who know me.

If you can make a cake, I’m sure you could make some soap (just be aware of some safety)

Forage or Reuse Rather than Buy

Part of mission is to enable some creativity without incurring much spending. Remake, enhance, rethink & recycle what you have with creativity in mind. Maybe that coat can become some Shearling Slippers!

Take a walk and gather what you find. Leaves can hold such a magic ability, Eco printing will grab your interest and not let go, but don’t blame me!

Many Thanks…

I could not have done this journey without you… Thank for joining me and spreading the word. I can’t do this without you! Maybe, just maybe I’ll be writing a 20 year recap…