Open for Business...

So Wednesday night we had quite the "blustery" weather - snow, wind and cold. Thursday morning we woke up to . . . no power. What an awful way to wake up!

.

Since I was the first to report the outage in our area, and I had no idea how much of the city was in the same boat as us, I called in a supply and stayed home. Fortunately, we had the power back on before lunch - and before we all turned into popsicles! DH headed off to work after snowblowing the driveway and the kids and I just stayed home and relaxed.

.

Tanner spent the majority of the day outside creating this:

.

.
Yes, it is a snowball factory. He is quite the little entrepreneur. I'm just wondering if he understands the whole "supply & demand" concept?
.

Last night we had yet another blustery night. Seriously, I am starting to think we will have snow until June! But, not to worry, cold blustery weather leads me in search of the comfy cozy. And what says comfy cozy more than baking? How about homemade bread? Breadmaker style of course! And what could be cuter than these adorable measuring cups my sweet SIL, Kim, gave me for Christmas?

.

.

We were shopping in Pier One just before Christmas when these darling cups caught my eye. Then, when my back was turned, my sneaky little SIL popped them into her basket - and then under my tree! How lucky am I?

.

With all my purging and rediscovering of my creative side, I have had an idea niggling at my brain for a few days. I will give you a little sneak peek:
.

.

Hmmm, I wonder what these could become? Since it's Super Bowl night and I am not a football fan (which my poor DH just cannot understand!), I may just have an updated picture to show you in the next day or two!

.

Well, I am off to purge some more! Happy Sunday to you!
.

To Everything

"To everything, turn, turn, turn,

there is a season, turn, turn, turn,

and a time for every purpose under heaven."

.

.

This is one of my favourite songs - it just says so much. Whenever I am feeling worn down, feeling frustrated, feeling overwhelmed, feeling the need for change, this song pops into my head.

.

And right now, I am facing a change.

.

The past several months, my creative "flow" has been dammed up. Every time I would walk into my craft room, I would take one look at the overwhelming mess and walk right back out. I haven't scrapped hardly anything for months, my December Daily still sits unfinished, and I have been feeling completely lethargic creatively.

.

Until last weekend. My dear SIL, Pam, and I had a girls' morning last Saturday and she took me to a little piece of heaven - a small, unobtrusive little shop called "Wishes". The minute I walked in, my creative heart fluttered and then sprang back to life! I was surrounded by bits and pieces of history, small primitive pieces of art work, old furniture pieces begging for some love. My own personal heaven!

.

I did show some restraint and only made a few purchases, but that little store has been on my mind ever since. That afternoon, I "hit" the craft room and did a small amount of purging. Then, Friday night, I hit it again and purged more. Then last night I did the same thing - and I feel fantastic! My creative brain has awoken from the comatose hybernative state it has been resting in for the past several months - I am seeing the room re-created, along with the kids' "playroom" and laundry that share that level. I have also envisioned our family room re-created - and all without an ounce of apprehension or feelings of being overwhelmed. What a wonderful feeling!

.

So, how can a simple purge (that I have done dozens of times) be a catalyst for such a change of heart and rebirth of creativity? Well, I have to be honest and say, it isn't just the purge itself. It's more what I am purging.

.

Deep breath...

.

Much of what I have purged, without even realizing it until I had done it, was my scrapbooking things. The trip to that little store made me realize that I have "cornered" myself in creatively and, if it wasn't scrapbooking, I wasn't creating. Since I have a strong loyalty feature built in, I wasn't able to acknowledge that scrapping hasn't been fulfilling me in the way it used to. I am not throwing in the towel, so to speak, on scrapping, but I am setting it aside and letting myself indulge in other crafty ventures.

.

So, the scrappy heart lives on - because what is more exciting than making little bits and pieces - scraps - into wonderful works of art?

.