And so we begin

And so I begin this terrifying journey. I have jumped in with both feet and there is no turning back now (really! ARGH!!!).

I don't even have a topic to discuss here except that my fear in starting this blogging adventure is HUGE!!

I have dabbled in creative arts my entire life, from watching my mother color with my sister and I as we were growing up; her teaching us to embroider and also watching my grandmother do the same. Gram lived with my Aunt and Uncle's house for many, many years and would go to Florida or California to stay with other family during the long cold, winter months. Going "home" to New Hampshire, we always stopped to see Gram at my Aunt and Uncles home. Gram lived in her tiny room most of the time, and during our visits we'd find Gram in her favorite rocking chair in front of her black and white TV (many years later it changed to color) watching her soaps and game shows and watching the world go by her window.

Gram would always have something in her hands that she was either sewing or embroidering. She made table scarves and pillow cases, table cloths and bed covers. She loved to make stuffed animals out of store bought patterns - you know the kind you just cut out and sew the edges closed after you have stuffed them? Gram's work was not perfect, but it was done from the heart and she loved to give the items she made as gifts to her grand children and children when they visited.

I started to really enjoy being creative when I was in high school and would embroidery words of "wisdom" on my pants - it was the early 70's and we would use our favorite colors of embroidery thread to make wonderful patches on our jeans. To this day I cannot go by the sewing section of a store without checking out the colors available. I learned to sew with a machine in junior and senior high school and learned enough to be able to sew some outfits for myself during leaner times when monies were short and my wardrobe needing expanding. Why didn't someone ever tell me that using plain and printed cotton material intended for quilting to make "gouchos" wasn't cool?

I was taught how to crochet by two different aunts when I was growing up. One taught me the mechanics, the other taught me a better hold of the needle so I could make the yarn fly! Avis and Jeannie both made lots of afghans and baby sets. I made afghans, afghans and more afghans. I never quite learned the knack for following a pattern to make a baby set. I sure wish I had - I know that some day I will have grandchildren and would love to make them something special. One of my favorite things when I had newborns was to put them in their special sweaters and blankets that were made with love. There is something about home-made that just lends itself to feeling safe and loved? Wouldn't you agree? I am laughing now as I rember two different sweather sets that Avis made my kids - my son who was first born had a lime green sweater, booties and hat set that had loops of yarn all over it - cutest thing ever - well at least I thought so!! And my daugher who came along 17 months later had a verigated white and lilac set just like it! Both sets make me smile as I remember them and visualizing my two babies in them.

I am such an eclectic creative person that the really is not one thing that I like to do more than another. I am enjoying learning new things and the process of doing them. I have improved as time goes by, just ask my sister - she'll tell you that the sighing and complaining has gotten much less over the last couple of years. That's a joke between she and I as I hadn't realized that when I was being "creative" I was fighting the process - my fear was getting the better of me. I expressed that fear with lots of heavy breathing, complaining and just not doing. I am still learning how to let go and let it be - just do it! That should be my motto - Just do it - oh wait, I think Nike or Addidas already has that catch phrase.

I guess I'll just remain - the Woman Behind the Curtain - that is what I am. I don't like to draw attention to myself, but I want to show off what I have made. So I will attempt to put the spot light on my products as I create them and I will remain behind the curtain - perhaps showing myself a bit here and there.

I look forward to more posts and comments from people as I go forth on my journey into the creative realm and the world of the written word. (Did I mention that I always wanted to become a writer? perhaps another time).