Holy Moly! I'll be 50 soon!

Well... next Sunday is the "big one". 30 didn't phase me, I was raising the kids, 40 didn't bother me, I was starting my teaching career, but 50, now that's a different story.

My body is telling me that it knows I am almost 1/2 century old, but at least I'm on the top side of the grass....

Best wishes to anyone hitting a milestone this year (especially Miranda at 30 in two days!)

Here's hoping I have enough breath to blow out candles!!!

What does your creative process look like?

Been thinking about the creative process lately (see my earlier post about endorphins) .....

Talked briefly with a crafty friend at work whose process seems to be similar to mine...
When I begin a project, it usually takes on a life of its own before completion. I believe the term I have seen used is "the muse takes over."

• I start with an idea in mind
• I carefully gather the materials I think I will need
• And begin.
• But, wait.... don't I have a great "so and so" in my supplies that would go perfectly with these __________ (fill in the blank: colors, brads, beads, papers, etc.)
• Once I find those "perfect" items, my imagined project takes off in a whole new direction.
• And so on until it is complete.

My finished item barely resembles the sketch (either on paper or mental) that I started with.

I used to get bothered by the changing plan, but have since just tried to "follow the muse to whererver she takes me at the time" and have become more happy creatively.

So..... back to my post title:

WHAT DOES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

1. Are you happy with it
2. Does it produce satisfying results?

A work in progress

Thanks ladies for your support. I am working on the projects for the craft class April and I do once a month as well as my ATCs for her swap. As a teacher, my week is pretty full... in fact I spend two hours one night a week tutoring for a great fifth grader and so far her improvement is nothing short of amazing!! What a great job I have. How many professions other than teaching can make you feel so blessed!
As for the title to this post, a friend and I were talking at school this afternoon and I commented that my teaching, as well as my life in general, is continually a "work in progress." So this blog fits perfectly into that idea, doesn't it? I most likely will not get any photos of my work uploaded until this weekend. That is usually my crafting, "down" time....
Tidbit: it has been proven by research (sorry, can't quote the source) that the creative process releases endorphins in the body. These are the "feel good" chemicals that produce a "runner's high." So...... that being said...
CRAFT AND CREATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!! It's good for you!!

Just Beginning

I decided to make a blog to archive what I do in my craft room up here at the end of the hall. I feel the need to record my projects as I go. I rarely take pictures of my cards, books, etc. and this will give me the impetus to do so. Sometimes I think back to a particular project and think, "Geesh, why didn't I photograph that before I gave it away?" I look forward to reading my daughter, April's blog and thought, hey.... maybe someone would like to read mine as well. So here goes nothing.