glitter is the herpes of the craft world.

in the last year, i have had little time to do anything creative.  fine, in the last few years.  no wonder my house always looks frumpy.  but FINALLY i have had nothing better to do than make all sorts of crafty crafts.  laundry? dishes?  sweeping up dog hair?  psshh!  bottom of the priorities list.  

chartreuse and grey wreath

i know, i know, many of you are thinking "alex is one of THOSE??  a crappy crafter??" and others are thinking "yeah i totally had you pegged.  your closet-crafter act doesnt fool me."  you caught me.  i used to be uber artistic-i took art lessons, went to artsy summer camp things, and generally loved any arty medium.  i used to sketch all the time, and i think "creative" was one of the words my parents used most to describe me as a child.  after chatter-box and (whats a nice way to say annoying?).  

at some point that changed.  

mostly, i think i ran out of time.  but i also liked (ok, i admit, loved) the image i had (do i still have it?) through college.  i was known for doing things my own way, pushing the limits a little bit, and letting my very expressive and hard to mask facial expressions do alot of the talking.  hmmm i guess i probably still have that image.  i was told once that a person, before meeting me, thought i might punch whoever pissed me off.  he was surprised when he first heard me laugh, which i guess gave away some of that bravado.  i was shocked to hear thats what people thought of me, but slightly...proud?  that i wasnt perceived as just another giggly, much-too-talkative girl.  i liked being different, and was glad others liked it too.

in law school, one of my friends out of the blue said "im glad we are friends. i know you have my back.  like, if i ever needed defending, youd rip that persons throat out."  im sure she meant figuratively.  i dont like blood much.  i think this is the part i loved most-that my passion for things-life, politics, law, friends-was plain, and i would go to bat for them no matter how hard that was.

and a hardened female lawyer with a quick tongue and lightning fists doesnt go home and scrapbook.  amiright?

but making things has always been therapudic for me.  maybe its the time spent figuring out how to do it, like a puzzle that suddenly opens up to me, or its the countless hours doing the repetitive tasks that allows my mind to wander, or the back that aches after sitting on the floor for far too long in one position, that somehow sucks the stress out of me.

ORRRRR i might just like the chaotic mess i make in the process.  which is entirely possible.

seriously though, its like Michaels barfed on my floor half the time, yarn and hot glue and paper scraps mixing with dog hair and unfolded laundry.  but man, i have cranked out some keepers.  i think. i have some self respect though-no glitter has or will ever be used in any craft i make.  ever.  i have also been cooking up a storm, but ill save that for later.

i made two wreaths, the one above, and this one:

light grey and varied blue flowers

i backed a bookcase with paper and arranged it:

i promise the paper isnt that obnoxious in real life. 

i made two banners (one for a church thing, and one for a party):

this one is for church. i dont like pink that much.

party banner.  love this one.

AND i arranged my photos on the wall:

the h and the white canvas arent done, but its all up.

and for the first time in a year, we live in a house with some personal touches.  i never want to see a hot glue gun again. ok, not for another couple weeks.

oh, and i need a table to sew at.  this sitting on the floor and pushing the foot petal with my knee thing is getting old, especially when my dog decides to stand on said knee before my fabric is all lined up.

but im done with this nonsense for a little bit, because i have a party to plan!  on friday, we are finding out the gender of our baby!  stay tuned!