Somewhere in Texas

It is 80 degrees in Texas, 'winter' has faded and the humidity has begun to descend. I am closer, closer to completing my manuscript. I feel like I am wrestling with a giant. Months ago I had the first draft of the text written and sent off to my editor and I had turned my focus to the art portion. Once that was complete it was like a veil lifted and I could see all the flaws in the text. The repetition, the missing points, the sentences that didn't make sense! I cringe at the thought!

Since then, I have been buried in words and ideas and points and logic.

I need to get my hands gluey again. I have another AOC deadline coming up to lure me from Word and the thesaurus. Hurry up stamps and get here!

Being an author is consuming. But in truth I am the happiest I have ever been right now. I have my kids about me. I have my purpose. I am singing in my own way. My vision for the book is that it can inspire other mothers to find their version of this feeling; a rather lofty goal I know, but why not think big?

Apronology

Last night I was soldering some pendants and my mother was musing about how my granny and her sisters use to knit and sew together in the evenings and take crafts with them where ever they went. My mother did make my clothes when I was little too, but mainly out of necessity. She didn't revel in it, it was just something she did.

Now she doesn't make things, but she was marveling at my love of creating. But I don't just love the act of creating, I love having things 1) that I took the time to make 2) that are artful 3) that you just can't buy in Target.

One of my favorite things is to make stuff for my girls, they love everything pretty and are always so pleased when I make something for them. That kind of encouragement will always bring you back. Anyhow, I was delighted to be in the newest Stampington offering Apronology. Featured in those pages are these aprons I made for my girls when I was at a crafting weekend. I bought the flowers, sticker backed ribbon and buttons at the scrapbooking store we were crafting in, which are not really my style, but I knew Lily and Laura would like them.


When I work I wear a black apron by Michael DeMeng, but after reading this magazine and seeing all the lovely handmade aprons I am feeling inspired to make myself one. Misty Mawn and Rebecca Sower are both in there and worth, as always, checking out.

North Light & snow

With the photoshoot done, tomorrow I meet with the talented designer, Marissa Bowers (who designed books like Pretty Little Things, Exhibition 36 and Semiprecious Salvage, Taking Flight to name but a few) and work more with Liz on the text. I feel so confident that this great North Light team will produce a book worth reading. Not only are they a professional, interesting, friendly group, it seems that they love what they do. And everyone knows when you love what you do you do it well.

Pinch me, is this really real?


And while I have enjoyed taking in the bright whites of Cincinnati, I am looking forward to the warms hues of home, the place where all my art begins.

North Light photoshoot

I have a WHOLE new level of respect for those arts and crafts book authors who went before me. There is so much that goes into producing a book, from writing the copy, creating the projects, dividing them into steps, photographing the steps, keeping it all in order, making sense.... all while being creative, interesting and new. Oh my!

Today was the first day of my book photoshoot. I thought that I was really prepared, I had written up the steps, had all of my supplies ready, had even drawn up a shot list. But even still, when I got there I almost had stage fright, I had to create in front of other people, think about what needs to be in each shot so a reader could follow along, pause for the camera while do something I usually do freely, alone. It was fast paced and exhilarating.

I find it hard to visualize what the book will ultimately look like, but I am resting in the knowledge that the photographer, Christine Polomsky and the editor, Liz Casler are pros and they know what to do, they have been here before. They guided the process today so effortlessly, so I know it will turn out great.

I feel like going on to Amazon and rating every North Light book 5 stars and giving the authors and all those involved kuddos for their time and effort.