Getting Creative

in my previous life before kids, I was a project-maker. When Deputy Handsome worked night shift, I used my evenings alone to knit sweaters, make photo books, journal and embroider tea towels. If you followed my now-retired blog, Katie Can Knit!, you know all about this and also how with the arrival of Little Miss, things of a creative nature fell by the wayside (with the exception of crafty dates with Mrs Harmony!). But creating and making cuteness is something I try to make time for in my life, even if it's just little snatches once or twice a week. I am glad that being a make-ahead mommy in the kitchen does allow for more time for myself during the kids' naps and after early bedtime. However, I am usually so shell-shocked by the quiet when it finally arrives that if I don't have a plan, I waste the precious hour or two with Friends reruns and a box of Oreos.

Through an at-home craft workshop that I took back when there was just Leila and she still slept a lot, I was re-introduced to journaling and to the idea of setting creative goals. As a runner and frequent list-maker, I am no stranger to goal-setting, but I had never thought to bring that formality into my hobbies. But this year I decided to try it. In January I sat down with my journal and thought of four things I wanted to accomplish in 2011. I made these goals while 8 months pregnant, so I thought I was being conservative, but I am glad to say that as we're now half-way through the year, I am well on my way to being half-way through my goals!
The biggest project was organizing my craft room/office/mud room that up until a few weeks ago was the designated "room of crap" where anything we didn't know what to do with, but didn't want to throw away got put.
Over Memorial Day weekend, my parents came to visit and helped set this organization train in motion. It is still a long ways from being finished, but just being able to sit at my desk in this room to type right now is a huge accomplishment. I can't wait to share pictures when it's finally done (and posting about it here is the extra kick in the pants of accountability that I need to do it).