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May 8

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Open House

Due to a terrible worm, my computer has gone kaflooey this week, so in lieu of a full reading list to while away your weekend with a scone and screen, you just have to peek at a few and find a way to fill your weekend with other things…maybe you’ll find inspiration in the blogs below.  Enjoy!

  1. Elizabeth Beck embodies the art of procrastination at its finest – and take a peek at the week’s posts prior to this one to really get a sense of how productive procrastination can be.
  2. Bethany Hiitola finds inspiration for independence in her little girl.
  3. Kate Hopper waits and a miracle happens.
  4. Georgia Geis knows nothing beats those three magic words (not please and thank you, the other magic words).
  5. Mary Gernamotta Duquette pulls a Homer Simpson in a writerly fashion, doh!

May 7

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Brittany: Meeting Kelly and Other Old Friends

One of the best things about Creative Construction is that it’s begun to feel like a family. I feel like I have friends all over the world. As it happened, Kelly’s house was the halfway point between home and our cruise that left from Miami, so we decided to get together while we were in the neighborhood.

We had a wonderful time. I can’t say enough nice things about our evening. Kelly and her husband prepared us a delicious meal, and Sam fell completely and instantly in love with Kelly’s girls (who are, indeed, magical). Within minutes he was running circles with them in their backyard like they were old friends. I felt the same way about Kelly. We weren’t making small talk in her kitchen–we talked like we’d known each other for years, even though we’d never actually met in person.

That is the beauty of a community like this one, where we are all on a similar journey.

Meeting Kelly was an odd juxtaposition after spending the week with my best friend, Nicole, who I hadn’t seen since 1994. She is Australian, and lived with us as an exchange student during the 1992-1993 school year when we were both sophomores in high school. We had an immediate connection, were the kind of soul-matish friends that only happen once in any lifetime, and after a year together had to return to lives on two continents worlds apart. When I was a senior in high school, she came back to the US for a visit, and that was the last time I saw her. Until the internet became widespread, we fell hopelessly out of touch. We missed each others’ college years, weddings, pregnancies, and only reunited in cyberspace after our children were born. It was as if no time at all had passed, though, and now we e-mail almost daily.

When I found out that she and her family were planning to spend two months in the US, I couldn’t wait to see her again, in real time. We reunited on a week-long cruise this past week, and might have fallen into an easy rhythm again (our husbands even got along well), had it not been for the fact that after 13 years, we now traveled with husbands, children, and parents. It was disappointing to see each other so little, and also sad to see the ways motherhood and wifehood could impact a strong female friendship. We were both running hither and yon, managing our families, trying to get from point A to point B in the sanest way possible. I was so exhausted from looking after my family’s collective needs that the week flew by with only a dull twinge of regret that she and I hadn’t yet been able to reconnect in any meaningful way. She and her family will be here at our house from the 10th through the 25th, but I am readjusting my expectations about her visit and the actual time we’ll get to spend together. This year has been the one where motherhood has forced me to readjust all my expectations, and I’m only now beginning to grieve over what I didn’t realize I’d already lost.

Then, I returned home and checked my e-mail. I had a message from Micaela, who I haven’t seen since 1996. She and I were exchange students together in Hungary, and had many adventures together as we tried to navigate life in that crazy country. I’ve missed her and tried to track her down many times. Michaela is the only other person that witnessed that pivotal year of my  life. Whenever I feel nostalgic for Hungary, it’s her I want to talk to. Several years ago, I went so far as to email her mother’s work address, asking her to help us get in touch, but got no response. I had no idea where she was or what she was doing, but hen, a few weeks ago, I found Micaela on Facebook and sent her a message. Finally, she responded.

She wrote a bit about our shared experiences and then added, Congratulations on having KIDS! I hear that changes everything…

I read that and felt a little like throwing up. After the week I’d just had, it seemed so painfully true. Everything has changed. Everything continues to change. And as motherhood molds and shapes me, I continue to change, as well. I hope my friendships will weather the changes, too.

Apr 24

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Open House

This installment of the Open House brings self-assessment and emergency care; says goodbye to the old and anticipates the new; and throws in a dash of brotherly love. So grab your preferred cup of joe, or bob or serena (my name for herbal tea) and read about Jacqui, Alana, Suzanne,Tracy, Elizabeth, Johanna, Liz, Jen, and Brittany. Enjoy!

  1. Jacqui Robbins flirts with new ideas while working on her current project (I can relate to that!).
  2. Alana Kirk Gillham waves goodbye beautifully in tribute to her family’s home on the way to a new one.
  3. Suzanne Kamata considers what she loves about being a mother after being tagged. (Why do we so often wait until someone else notices us being a good mom to look at how well we are doing?)
  4. Elizabeth Beck had an ER visit, and gave an anatomy lesson.
  5. Johanna Rupp shares a meeting of herself through May Sarton and views of her garden (which is much farther along than mine is so far this year!)
  6. Liz Hum throws tarot cards to check in with herself.
  7. Jen Johnson discovers she should not Frisbee the toys across her living room when she already has frustration adrenaline pumping, with a serious consequence.
  8. Brittany Vandeputte watches her two young boys play and is justified in her decision to have them close together: no, she was not smoking crack after all.

Apr 16

8 Comments

Cathy: Blog Mom Award

awardBrittany Vandeputte bestowed an honor upon me at her personal blog. She has nominated me for the Mom of the Year Award.

Here are the rules:
First, admit one thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you’ve written it down, you are no longer allowed to feel bad. It’s over with, it’s in the past. Remember, you’re a good mom!

Why was my first inclination one of guilt when I saw it? Because earlier the same morning I made the discovery on her blog, I was internally lamenting how I am so torn between my children and my writing and its (my) need for peace and quiet. This is an oft visited topic on Creative Construction, by all of us who contribute. I was thinking I spend a lot of time in front of my computer telling my kids to or wishing my kids would go do something else besides try to interact with me, whatever their purpose in doing so is. I wish I played more board games, did more crafts, etc with them. I even promised K I would take him out for sushi during Spring Break for some one-on-one, which I feel we desperately need, but didn’t ‘get around to it’ until Monday after Easter, the very last day of break. I even commented on Miranda’s post about her art closet that I look forward to the day that K goes to college so there may be a wee bit less chaos and crowd around me as C enters kindergarten at the same time. I may actually have more time and space to myself. I also wish I generally showed more patience for S.

Okay, now that’s off my chest, I’m sure I’ll revisit the paradox plenty more, but will do my best not to beat myself up about it.

Rule #2: Then, remind yourself you are a good mom, list seven things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself everyday that you rock!

1. My kids love that I bake cookies, cakes, treats and always eat ice cream with them often.
2. I don’t totally get on their cases about the post-apocalyptic disaster zones that are their rooms, except about twice a year. It’s my tiny nod to their free expression.
3. I encourage them in their creativity without hovering: K is writing novels that he knows I would hate all the violence therein, and S draws comics and makes short films based on the Godzilla franchise. I may roll my eyes, but I never tell them they can’t do it their way. And C loves placing abc blocks in her stacking cups to rattle them and prefers to sit on open books like a cat than actually read them.
4. I cuddle Baby C nearly constantly and play, read, tickle, etc her above all else.
5. I am mesmerized by what goes on in each of their heads, how they express it, and what developmental stage they’re in: teen, asperger pre-teen and new toddler.
6. I do my best to ensure that S’s special needs are met to the best ability of the school district. I am the PIA mom.
7. I revel in activities with them: flying kites, breaking waves, going out for a treat or dinner, hiking, taking them to movies, renting for family movie night, going to the zoo, aquarium, visiting relatives, any kind of adventure we can think of.

Finally, I am supposed to link 5 other mothers across the Blog-o-sphere, to nominate them for this award.

First and foremost:

  1. Miranda Hersey Helin here at Creative Construction for getting the shebang rolling while tending to five kids and running her own editing business, and moving, and this blog.
  2. Bethany Hiitola, for her courageous and witty balancing act.
  3. Mary Duquette, for her consistent honesty in plumbing the depths.
  4. Jen Johnson, for her magical jewelry, and sparkling stories of daily life with children.
  5. Elizabeth Beck who has the happiest and most colorful blog on the net.
  6. Liz Hum’s music and book reviews, rants on current hot topics, and funky blogs on family life at .

And there are many more I would like to nominate, but Brittany has already or I’ve seen them nominate before, or I ran out of the five spaces, but I must nominate one more (I was never good at following rules):

Lisa Leonard has recently revamped and moved her blog to a new address. Her photography and jewelry are beautiful as is her sense of peace about the challenges of motherhood with special needs. She never makes the big deal out of it that too often I do.

Thank you, Brittany! I am grateful you recognize a good mom in me, and made me look at ways that I do a decent job of it, as well as the opportunity to give props to other good moms in the blogosphere. Of which, of course, you are one!

Apr 10

6 Comments

Open House

Another week, and time to get this resting puppy back on its feet! I feel for Miranda’s need to give herself a rest. So I hope she breaks out her cup of coffee, or Mother’s Milk herbal tea and relaxes to the music that is the blogs of creative women. And that you do, too! Enjoy!

  1. Liz Hum has gone a noveling and is excited it grows bigger bones.
  2. Elizabeth Beck overhauls her studio and admits she has a problem.
  3. Jennifer Johnson’s husband has hijacked her blog to show that poetry is in the genes.
  4. Kelly Warren is back on the market.
  5. Karen Winters is grateful she only lost some paintings in a tragic accident.
  6. Mary Duquette fights against the rising tide and wins.
  7. Brittany Vandeputte continues her war with disease while keeping pace with her renovation.
  8. Bec Thomas courts creative copyright laws.
  9. Lisa Damian’s writer retreat feels indulgent, but she makes it work for her by producing.
  10. Amy Grennell is making the most of of her shortened creative hour.
  11. Kate Hopper announces her toddler haiku contest winner and shares her favorite top seven (warning: lots of poopku).
  12. Carmen Torbus dreams big, feels vulnerable when dreams start to come true.

So, enjoy a lucky 13 blogs (and one more for luck, as I tapped 2 of Liz’s) with your morning cup of preference. Maybe it’s enough to last you through the holiday weekend.

Mar 24

17 Comments

Miranda: Letting go, looking up

During the past 15 months, this blog has grown into a beautiful community. Those of you who make yourself known on these “pages” mean quite a lot to me.

As our sisterhood developed, I created a steadfast structure: at least one post every weekday; a contest post every Wednesday; a bi-weekly Friday Breakfast interview; an off-week Friday Open House roundup. I committed to that structure and I met the commitment regardless of how difficult or inconvenient. That’s just my compulsive personality. I know that daily posts and regular features are key elements in any successful blog (and I would not hesitate to call our blog “successful”). How could I settle for less? Not my style.

I love the blog, so it rarely felt like work, unless I was scrabbling to post at 1:00 a.m., or in the weeks when the only bloggers posting were Cathy and I. But I rationalized that this blog’s content is not only dear to my heart, but relevant to my book. I can test ideas, observe what resonates — it all makes sense, right? Yes. Unless I’m blogging about writing my book without ever actually having the time to write it.

During the past year, but especially during the past three months, I wrote off a lot of stress in my life to having an infant along with four older kids, selling a house, buying a house, and moving. But now my infant is 10.5 months old and the real estate dramas are over. Life is settling down. Except that this huge weight on my shoulders has not lifted. There is still more to do than I can accomplish. My interest in pretending to be Superwoman is waning. And who am I kidding? I really CAN’T do it all, and I haven’t been doing it all. Two of my kids are having belated birthday parties this month because I couldn’t manage to plan their parties closer to the actual birthday dates. I missed an important deadline for a special form pertaining to my son’s college financial aid applications. I am frequently late picking someone up or dropping them off.

I have too much on my plate — and I’m the only one to blame. My eyes are bigger than my stomach. This Sunday I experienced an unusually high level of stress as I fretted over when I would get the bills paid and the accounts balanced, when I would find time for the latest round of college financial aid forms, how I would get all the pressing client work done, how I would corral help for folding the Mount Fuji of clean laundry in the hallway, how I would train for my upcoming road race, how I would create those party invitations and get them mail, how I would take care of a few important house projects. It’s all the usual stuff for me, but I no longer seem able to coast through it all on adrenaline and a couple of prayers.

As someone pointed out to me recently, accepting that you “can’t do it all” sometimes means letting go of something that you love. It’s painful. It may sound funny, but that idea was actually novel to me. Why would I let go of something I love? Why should I? But then I thought it through and realized that I really have cut out everything that doesn’t feed me in some way. The junk has already been excised, aside from a few minutes that I spend on Facebook now and then. I used to do the Boston Globe Magazine crossword without fail every Sunday morning (one of my favorite activities) and I haven’t done a single one in nearly a year. I’m too busy taking care of all of other things — and people — clamoring for my attention.

I do want to be able to do things like create hand-made party invitations and make pretzels with the kids. I want to be able to play with the children without struggling with anxiety about all the “stuff” I have to get done. Something has to go, at least for a little while.

You know where this is going, don’t you? I have to step away from the blog. I’ll still be here to moderate the flow of blog posts, and I will post when I feel so moved and have the bandwidth, but I will no longer fret about having at least one post every day. I will no longer be able to sustain the weekly creativity contest or the Breakfast interviews. This makes me sad, because I enjoy those things and I think they’re of value to many of you — but during the more intense weeks, I spend up to 12 hours in blog-related work and that is time that I have to reclaim. I may use that time to write, make something, hang out with the kids, or do nothing. All of those options are important.

I hope that our regular bloggers will continue to post here. Remember that cross-posting is always welcome — if you post something relevant at your own blog, we’d love to see it here too. This blog will now have a more organic, free-form nature. Who knows — maybe that will be even better than the structure that I created.

I welcome all of your feedback, as well as any extra effort you feel like tossing into the ring while I take a breather. I love you guys, and I have every confidence that our connections will perservere.

Mar 13

10 Comments

Breakfast with Cristi

A couple of weeks ago, I was perusing our little Facebook group and checking out the links of members who I’m unfamiliar with, when I came across Cristi Clothier‘s 2 If By Sea Etsy shop. I immediately fixated on a spectacular bracelet entitled “Spring Flowers” (below, left). Despite the fact that I’d recently initiated a few budgetary measures, I simply HAD TO HAVE THAT BRACELET. So I ordered it. It’s fabulous. Sometimes you come across something material that speaks to you; something that brings you pleasure just sitting on your bureau. So it is with my new bracelet. I love it. Something magical and brilliant went into its creation. Meet the talented artist: Cristi Clothier — mother, jewelry designer, and blogger.

headshot-1CC: Please give us an intro to who you are, what you do, and your family headcount.
Cristi: Hi! My name is Cristi Clothier. I’m a married, 41-year-old stay-at-home mom of two boys, ages 3 1/2 and 1 year. I’ve been a graphic designer for 20 years. My husband and I decided that with our first child we would make a way for me to be a SAHM for as long as financially possible. So, here I am almost 4 years later.

CC: Tell us about your jewelry design, your Etsy shop, and other creative endeavors.
Cristi: About 12 years ago I stumbled across a bead shop here in town. I decided to go in and look around. The lady who owned the shop was so nice and helpful that I decided to try my hand at making jewelry. Well, much to my husband and bank account’s dismay, that was the beginning of my bead addiction. I’ve sold my work on a regular basis to co-workers over the years. Since becoming a SAHM that avenue for sales dwindled leaving me with no way to sell. I heard about Etsy from my aunt and I immediately signed up for an account. My sales have been minimal, but what keeps me there is the sense of community that it offers. In addition to my jewelry, I also quilt and do collage. I’ve been sewing since I was a child. My mother-in-law got me started with quilting.

springflowersCC: What prompted you to start a blog? What keeps you going?
Cristi: Actually, reading the blog of a friend of mine and fellow jewelry designer, Kelly Warren, was what prompted me to start a blog. I thought it would be an easy and free way to promote my work and my Etsy shop. There again, as with Etsy, my blog has opened up a whole new world of online friends. It has driven traffic to my store and increased my sales in the last few months. Fellow artists’ comments left on my blog daily are what keep me going. It’s so nice to know that there are people out there in “cyberspace” who don’t “know” you, but are willing to support you with their kinds words and feedback.

leafCC: What goals do you have for your creative pursuits? What do you most hope to accomplish?
Cristi: My goals this year for my work are to “find my own voice” and also to start submitting my work to various beading publications. I’ve been struggling with defining my “style” for the past few years. I have a really strong desire to come up with something, maybe a technique or embellishment that makes my designs truly identifiable as mine. I most hope to accomplish authenticity this year, not only in my creative life but also within myself.

CC: How has motherhood changed you creatively?
Cristi: I’m ashamed to say this but motherhood has made me remorseful in some ways about my creativity. Now that I’m a mom I find myself feeling a lot of regret that I didn’t use my time before children more wisely. I struggle with this quite a bit. I’m now learning from these feelings that this will only impede any progress I may or may not make. So I’m learning to live in the moment and be as grateful and productive as I can with the time I have to work with.

beadtable-1CC: Where do you do your creative work?
Cristi: A small corner of my bedroom is where my bead tables are setup. I have a nice window for daylight and work there while my 1-year-old naps during the day. My cutting table and sewing machine are in our dining room, which we use as a computer/craft room. I hope to someday have a nice 12′ x 12′ studio separate from our house where Mommy can go to escape, lol.

CC: Do you have a schedule for your creative work? How do you make it a priority?
Cristi: With my boys being as young as they are there is little or no way to schedule time for creativity. My only avenues for time are to take advantage while they nap, beg my husband for an hour here or there on the weekends, or send them to Grandma’s for a few days, lol. I try and create after they’ve gone to bed, but some days by that time I am worn out and just want to go to sleep.

sewingtable-1CC: Is there something you do or don’t do in order to make housework and domestic life less time consuming, so that you have more time for creativity?
Cristi: Not really. I get up every morning and formulate a to-do list in my head of what needs to be done that day and if something doesn’t get done because I’ve decided to sneak off to bead or sew, then so be it. Housework can wait until I’m done. [Click on any image for a larger view — especially if you can’t read the note written on the photo above!]

CC: What do you struggle with most?
Cristi: Again, finding my own style is my best answer to this. Along with that I’d have to say the time issue is my second greatest struggle.

mixmedia1CC: Where do you find inspiration?
Cristi: Everywhere really. Blogs of other artists, Etsy, books and local art galleries and boutiques. Just the other day I was leafing through a women’s magazine and saw a trio of eyeshadow colors. I immediately tore out the page and put it up on my inspiration board. I thought to myself, “This would be a great color combo for jewelry.” Later on I decided to pull some beads in those colors and it ended up looking great. Never underestimate inspiration, it can be found in the smallest of things.

CC: What are your top 5 favorite blogs?

CC: What is your greatest indulgence?
Cristi: Right now, I’d have to say it’s the little increments of time that I take to either sit down and sew or bead. With my boys relying on me as much as they do right now, taking “me time” truly is an indulgence.

CC: What are you reading right now?
Cristi: I am reading two books right now. The first is I Dare You: Embrace Life with Passion by Joyce Meyer. The other is Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts.

sue1CC: What advice would you offer to other mothers struggling to find the time and means to be more creative?
Cristi: Be patient and know that the time will come to you to be creative. It may be a half hour a day here and there or your husband may offer to watch the kids all day (I know that’s a bit of a stretch, lol) so you can create. Either way, learn quickly to be grateful for any amount of time you get and if you have small children like me, realize that they will be grown and self-sufficient before you know it. It’s then that the universe will reward all creative moms with ample time to do whatever our hearts desire.

CC: Lovely. Thank you so much, Cristi!

Mar 6

4 Comments

Open House

Wow, is it Friday already?

Any fun plans for the weekend? I’m trying to get a sitter for tomorrow, as my husband will be installing tile in our new basement bathroom, and I need to work on taxes and take care of some pressing client work — not to mention a million other things, such as taking the last of our boxes to the recycling center (the bulk of them were picked up by “neighbors” for re-use). Hopefully we’ll find a bit of time for some family fun in there somewhere. I also commented on the Monday Page that I would spend 30 minutes with my manuscript, so I’d better make that happen!

Here’s a peek at what’s up in the lives of Creative Construction community members:

  1. Kristine Coblitz burned her Superwoman costume.
  2. Liz Hum worked on a new strategy for scheduling her day. She also observed that painting chocolate on someone’s butt isn’t always attractive.
  3. Jen Johnson contemplated fleeing to Australia — or not.
  4. Marsanne Petty committed to a daily, six-sentence story.
  5. Bethany Hiitola finds that mornings are a considerable challenge.
  6. Jacqui Robbins made some progress in the office. (What do you think of the premise that the state of one’s work space is a reflection on the work itself?)

Feb 20

2 Comments

Open House

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has something fun to look forward to this weekend. Here’s our bi-weekly roundup of noteworthy blog posts from the Creative Construction community.

  1. Suzanne Révy shares a creative dialog with her son.
  2. Jacqui Robbins fights with part three.
  3. Elizabeth Beck sets the record straight on her favorite colors.
  4. Emma-Jane Rosenberg had some challenges with the challenge.
  5. Suzanne Kamata’s short story won an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Magazine Merit Award for Fiction.
  6. Kristine Coblitz took to evening power writing for the February Finish-a-thon.
  7. Kate Hopper asks why write?

Have a wonderful weekend! Grab onto a few moments for yourself, somehow, somewhere.

Feb 13

4 Comments

Breakfast with Gabrielle

gblairheadshot2It’s Breakfast time again! This week you’ll want a generous helping. Gabrielle Blair is a New York-based designer, mother of five (OK, so I have a soft spot for that particular trait), and the blogger behind Design Mom, named a Top Motherhood Blog by the Wall Street Journal. If you aren’t familiar with Design Mom, don’t worry — there are at least four of you out there!  😉

CC: Please give us an intro to who you are, what you do, and your family parameters.
GB: I’m Gabrielle Stanley Blair. I was formerly an art director and graphic designer by profession, but just last year my work hours filled up with blogging and kirtsy — I’m loving this second career. My husband and lover is Ben Blair. We have 5 kids: Ralph, Maude, Olive, Oscar, and Betty. They are really good kids. I hope we have more. I also write at Cookie’s Nesting blog.

2191602648_408c3b55a11CC: Your blog is, uhm, insanely popular. What prompted you to start blogging? How did your huge and loyal readership evolve?
GB: Gosh. Thanks! I’m blushing from reading your kind words.

I started blogging a couple of years ago, when my youngest baby was born. I’m prone to some pretty serious post-partum depression, and I knew that being creative helped me manage it. Blogging was a perfect solution. I could do it in my PJs, in the middle of the night. And it was free. If I skipped a day, no one cared. Just the sort of non-commitment a new mother needs.

But I rarely skipped a day, because I LOVED it. And the more consistent a person is with blogging, the more one’s readership tends to grow. Which is what happened with my blog.

olive_garageCC: In addition to your “day job,” where you must be creative nonstop, do you have “extracurricular” creative pursuits?
GB: For sure. I love when I get any opportunity to flex my graphic design muscles — like making a poster for school or a flyer for church. And creative projects with the kids are pretty much non-stop. We had a great time making gifts for each other during December. I still dream of designing textiles.

CC: You have five kids, a demanding career, a serious blog commitment, and everything that goes with busy urban family life. What are your time-management strategies?
GB: Hmmm. I feel like my schedule, and how I manage, it changes from week to week. Working from home certainly helps keep me flexible. I also put my kids to bed pretty early and take full advantage of the time they are sleeping — those evening hours are some of my most productive.

gb_deskCC: Where do you do your creative work and blogging?
GB: Computer work happens mostly in my home office. We carved a rough office space in the back of our garage. Non-computer creative work happens at the kitchen table and is often interrupted by meals.

CC: What do you struggle with most?
GB: Keeping my fridge stocked with chocolate milk for more than 48 hours.

CC: How much does guilt factor in your life?
GB: I’ve mostly said goodbye to guilt. But I have found that our home life works most smoothly when I’m home and concentrating on the kids from after-school through bedtime — no computer allowed to me during those hours.

gb_kitchen_tableCC: Where do you find inspiration?
GB: I find inspiration pretty much everywhere. Most recently, I was inspired by the holiday windows at Bergdorf’s. I don’t know who does those windows, but I need to find out and send some fan mail. They are unbelievably gorgeous.

CC: What is your greatest indulgence?
GB: Candy. I’m a complete addict. Not really for chocolate, but for straight-up sugar. Pear Jelly Bellys and Life Saver’s Wint-o-Greens are my favorites. I never say no to Swedish Fish or Sour Patch Kids.

CC: What are you reading right now?
GB: Two books: An advance copy of Kathryn Center’s new novel, Everyone Is Beautiful. It’s so good! I’m also deep into In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It is life-changing.

hanging_birdhousesCC: What advice would you offer to other mothers struggling to be more creative?
GB: Don’t think about it too hard — just do something. When I started my blog, I remember hating that I was using a standard template, because I am a designer for goodness sakes! I should have a really cool custom design, right? But if I’d waited to make the perfect design, I would never have started. I’m two years in and I’m still working on the perfect design. 🙂

CC: Thank you, Gabrielle!


Feb 6

2 Comments

Open House

Happy Friday, friends! Here’s a roundup of the latest interesting bits from Creative Construction community members.

  1. Kate Hopper is teaching an online version of her Mother Words writing class.
  2. Bethany Hiitola is capturing late-night creative inspiration on her cell phone.
  3. Alana Kirk Gillham is vaccuming under the couch instead of writing.
  4. Elizabeth Beck hung her mother and daughter art show.
  5. Emma-Jane Rosenberg drew and painted some beautiful tomatoes.
  6. Suzanne Kamata noted her publisher’s novel contest.
  7. Liz Hum is building new muscles. Really.

I hope all February Finish-a-thon participants have a rewarding weekend! (Well, and everyone else who reads this, too.) Any great ideas for managing to fit family time, household time, and creativity time all into the same weekend?

Feb 2

7 Comments

Carmen: Taking the Plunge

PhotobucketIn October, I received an email from Miranda requesting a  “Breakfast with Carmen” interview and I was super excited. I had never had anyone request an interview with me before. I think I was giddy all day at the thought of someone being genuinely interested in learning more about me. What I didn’t know, was that the Universe was trying to tell me something. This interview was my first hint. Sometimes I need to be smacked over the head and handed a sign in order to see things for how they really are.

About a month after the interview, the night before my 32nd birthday, I sat down and wrote my intentions for the coming year. One of my intentions is to write more. I journal a great deal, but I’m not always brave enough to actually share my innermost thoughts, hopes and dreams.

Putting my raw emotions out there always makes me feel extremely vulnerable and for the few seconds before I sit the “submit” button, the butterflies start going berserk and the fear sets in and my thoughts shift to questions of…  What if they make fun of me? What if that sounds crazy? What if I’m the only one that feels that way? and when I’m strong enough, I take a deep breath and surrender. I let go of the fear for that split second to click submit. Then comes relief and then doubt follows.

On the rare occasion that I open myself up and share, I always get the most amazing feedback and encouragement from other bloggers and I feel validated somehow. I’m learning to embrace this vulnerability and sit with it. Each time I go through this process, I grow and I feel the Universe winking at me, like she knew all along that I had it in me.

It occurred to me about a month ago that this community is the perfect place to begin my writing and so I got in touch with Miranda and within minutes, I was all set as a contributor. Then I froze. Fear set in. The questions came… What if they make fun of me? What if that sounds crazy? What if I’m the only one that feels that way? and eventually it all come down to shame and the dreaded question… What if I’m not good enough?

I think that I was onto something in one of my brave moments when I wrote, “I suppose the only way to find out is to “do” while continuing to dream. I suppose I don’t have to know how, I just have to start.”

So this is my beginning at Creative Construction. I could have started this journey sooner, when the Universal hints started coming my way, but I won’t “should” on myself. For all I know the timing could be absolutely perfect! I will be back soon writing from my heart.

Go easy on me and I will attempt to go easy on myself in the process.

Namasté,

Carmen

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