Oh, the things you'll do!

I've been on a bit of a hiatus, owing to several factors: 1. My dancing has taken over my life. The performance troupe I'm a member of recently had its first paying gig, and we were freaking over it for about a month straight. 2. My computer died. So I got a loaner, but it didn't have the "Q" or "1" or "tab" buttons. Lemme tell you-- you might THINK you don't need them, but you do. Especially when you're doing your taxes. 3. I had to do my taxes. 4. My definition of "what I do" has been changing.

Back in ye olde high school/college days, I'd make crap all day long just for the sheer joy of it. That, and I was poor, but wanted to dress super scary like the Hot Topic denizens did, and since I couldn't shell out $15 for a tee-shirt, I had to make one. Though it was more PIMA than being able to go out and buy whatever supplies I needed, the days of thrift store crafting were really good for my creativity. I am one of those people who thrive when they're forced to "make do."

Well, it's hard to "make do" when you're "making money" at "making stuff." When a customer requests a purple corduroy hat with pink faux fur, you can't wait around until you see a pair of purple cords to hack up. You go out and buy the material. This mode of thinking really started to poison my creative urges, which were formed at a time when I wouldn't have the bloody purple hat unless I made the thrift score. Moreover, many of my past projects were inspired and not FORCED by thrift sale items. Left without the constant influx of new shiny cheap things, I started having big problems with inspiration.

So I went back to the source, or at least a source of inspiration that hasn't let me down-- the Crafty Chica. Kathy Murillo's craft projects are fantastic for a bunch of reasons, but one thing I love about her is she's not tied down when it comes to supplies. If she wants you to use paint, she doesn't require you to have a certain brand (although she's knowledgable on what's worth buying, and will say so when needed). She just says, "Get some craft paint. Then do this." I own several of her books (I have a blurb in one!), and last night really looked through them and felt-- lo! Inspired. So thank you, Chica, for reminding me that the coolest thing about me is, well, myself, and that my inspiration was only hiding from my efforts at making myself into a label.

I also have to thank Kathy for making me want to write. As I sit down in my basement writing this (new wireless router! New laptop! OMG!), I can see a new future stretching out ahead of me, and it's much rosier. So I pledge, here on this blog, to go back to my make-it-and-explain it roots. That means more photos of projects, more tutorials, more MEness than I've been using for the past year. It's gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiney thread-filled day.