Imagination

Creative block.  Probably something like writer's block.  I sometimes fiddle with beads, wire, and chain, and just can't come up with anything that makes me happy.  I'll start a necklace, realize I don't like where its headed, take it apart, and start over again.  Sometimes it all just comes together.  Other times, I spend more time ripping things apart than putting them together.

I realize there are many factors affecting my creative flow (lack of sleep and lack of time, to name a few), but I wonder if there is an art to being creative.  Is using your imagination an art in and of itself?  I look at Conor, my 4-year old son, who is wonderfully inventive and imaginative, and I think that most parents would say the same of their young children.  So, do we lose the ability to be creative as we age?  I hope that I can always foster and encourage creativity in my children.

A recent conversation with Conor went something like this:
Conor:  When Friday comes into my room, I can fly.
Me:       Friday comes into your room?
Conor:  Yeah, Friday is a boo-yak.
Me:       What's a boo-yak?
Conor:  It's a kind of a thing that turns into a ghost.
Me:       The boo-yak's name is Friday?
Conor:  Yes, Friday comes in and we fly all around my room.
Me:       That's pretty cool.  I didn't know you did that.  Today is Thursday, so tomorrow is Friday.  Will Friday come into your room tomorrow?
Conor:   No, he only comes on Tuesdays.

I can't make this stuff up, people.  I struggle to keep up with his creativity at times.  Like when we're playing trains and he wants his train to talk to my train.  I mean, other than introducing our trains to each other, and saying "Hey, let's pull some freight," how much does a train really have to say?  I do my best, but it's a struggle for me.  I realize that this type of pretend play is different from artistic creativity, but I think it all comes from the same general area of the brain, right?  Perhaps more train-play will be good for my creative juices.

I finally sat down and made a bracelet this week.  (Actually, since I started this blog post 2 weeks ago, it has now been 2 weeks since I made the bracelet.)  It will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop.  Ideally, I like to wait until I have a few pieces ready for sale, and then do a photo shoot for them all at once.  I think it's a better use of my time, and it helps to give my website a cohesive look and feel when my photos are all shot in the same light.  I made an exception this time, and just took a few photos of the bracelet today, so I can share them with you.

This bracelet feels like autumn to me, with the amber and brown tones.  It was made from a mix of new beads, and some that I repurposed from consignment store pieces, so I will be making them in limited quantity.

I'm Still Here and I Still Love You

I have been receiving emails from concerned individuals wondering where I am.  I'm here!  Right here in my house!  Between the pile of laundry and the baby swing.  Can you see me now?

Seriously though, do you really want to hear my long list of excuses for why I haven't updated my blog?  You do???  Good!

This is my number one reason:

Meet Jude.  Isn't he cute?  He's the newest addition to our family.  He is quite possibly the happiest baby on the planet.  He doesn't sleep very much, but he's so cute that we forgive him for that.  And actually, he is finally starting to sleep a little better.  (knocking on wood)

Here is proud big brother Conor, who also keeps me very busy.

As many of you already know, I left my full-time job in May to stay home with my boys.  It has been a big, but wonderful, change for our family.  We are having a fabulous summer, and I'm so fortunate to be able to  stay home with them.  For some reason, I thought I would have more time for jewelry/blogging when I left my job, but I am not finding that to be the case.  My 4-year old hasn't napped since the baby was born, and the baby likes to take 15-minute naps.

Shortly after Jude was born, my computer crashed.  That certainly put a damper on my website updates and blogging endeavors.  I just got a replacement a few weeks ago, so that is a relief.  And I switched to Mac!  I really like it so far, but I'm still working through the learning curve.  Earlier ,when trying to add a photo to this post, I accidentally opened Photo Booth instead of iPhoto.  And when I tried to close it, I instead took a scary picture of myself.  Scary because I'm still in my jammies and wearing a dumbfounded expression and yesterday's eye make-up.  No, I'm not going to share that picture with you.  Are you crazy?

We traveled a lot in July.  And I mean a lot.  For 2.5 weeks, we traveled via car and train from Massachusetts to Florida and back, with stops in Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.  In case you're wondering, I highly recommend travel via the Auto Train from VA to FL.  The vacation deserves its own blog entry, but I will just say that the boys were superstar travelers, the weather was amazing, and we saw tons of family.

We celebrated my grandmother's 100th birthday in Florida.

The boys enjoyed the Carolina beaches.

We have also taken a lot of little day trips and have just been generally enjoying summer and everything that New England has to offer in the summer.  We have to live it up now and make the most of the summer, so that when we're having a Nor'easter in January and I question why in the world we live here, I can reflect on the fabulous summers we have.

I'm really flattered to know that there other followers who look forward to reading my blog.  I didn't realize that I had more followers beyond those who follow me publicly.  You know who you are, and I love you!  

Since I'm such a procrastinator, I kept telling myself that I would get back to blogging and jewelry-making after the baby was born, after I figure out a new routine with the boys, after I get a new computer, after vacation...and before I knew it, six months had passed.  It's really kind of ridiculous.  I know you're saying, "How long does it take to write a simple blog entry anyway?"  The answer is 6.2 days.  That's right.  Because I start it, and then the baby needs to eat, or Conor wants to play a game, and then I forget about the blog until the next day, and I pick it up again until someone needs help on the potty.  You get the idea.

So for now, I'll say that I should finally be able to post more regularly.  You know, after I get back from my trip to PA next week, and as soon as Conor starts preschool again...

Another reason to wear your baby

When my oldest son was a baby, I used to make slings.  I even thought I would start selling them, but then the CPSIA came along.  While its intentions were good, it made it nearly impossible for a small business, or work-at-home-moms (WAHM) to make and sell children's products.  So while I couldn't sell them, I still enjoyed making some for myself. 

I'm a huge fan of babywearing, and I buy baby carriers the way that some women buy shoes and handbags. OK, so I buy a lot of shoes and handbags too. (I told you I love accessories!)  The other day, I was wearing my little guy in a "Bali Baby Stretch" wrap, which is snug and warm and perfect for New England winters.  We were at "Ring a Ding Sing Thing" at our local library, which involves stories, music, motion, instruments, dancing, and general chaos with toddlers running all over the place while enjoying these things.  The wrap is the perfect solution for keeping my little guy cozy and happy while keeping both hands free so I can chase my toddler.

Another mom commented on my wrap and asked some questions about how to use it.  She asked how old my baby was (3.5 weeks), and then she paid me a lovely compliment by saying I looked fantastic and she couldn't believe that I just had a baby.  I thanked her, but explained that by wearing my baby in front, and covering the rest of my torso with a wrap, I was able to disguise my problem areas.  (And just so you know, I am trying to cut myself some slack, and I know I will bounce back to my pre-pregnancy weight with time, but I have a long way to go.  I've had a few people tell me that I don't look like I just had a baby.  I know I should just take that compliment at face value, but I can't help but wonder if all these people think that I just looked this big all the time?!?!)

May 2008

November 2009

March 2011

So, baby-wearing makes you look thinner -- just another reason to wear your baby!  ;)

P.S.  If you don't understand the term "babywearing," you can learn more here.