Long Time...

Hello Everyone...

It's been a while since I have posted. A friend suggested I post as my situation is something I'm sure we all deal with from time to time. 

I'm sure that some of you who have been visiting for a while know that we own our own business. It started out as a repair business (industrial sewing machines) many years ago where dh would go around to all of the mfg. in the tri-state area working on various companies sewing machines. Well with many businesses going to Mexico (after the NAFTA deal in 94) and several mergers since that time there aren't many companies that sew left in our area so we have transitioned into a specialty sew show. Dh still does repair work but on a much smaller scale. Now we take small or unique jobs that isn't feasible for companies to sew on their own. It works out pretty well, it's a family affair as our business consists of my dh, myself, our youngest son and his wife. 

I have a few jobs I work on but aside from those I fill in when/where necessary. Recently our business has been booming which is a great thing aside from the fact that I have almost no creative mojo when I get home from work. None, zip, zero, nada!  At first I just dabbled and made something here and there but as time went on it was like oh I'll make something tomorrow or maybe I'll stay up late and craft or .....  well, you know all of the excuses. It has gone on that way for a while about the last 8 weeks now and I'm to the point where I'm now almost afraid to try something for fear I've forgotten how to create.  Crazy I know but it's how I feel.

On one hand I'm afraid to jump back in  and on the other I feel so guilty for not crafting and not sharing anything with you all. I have a beautiful room, LOADS of supplies to last 3 life times and yet I come into my room and sit there just looking at stuff.  I've even bought more stuff in hopes it might get me jump-started.  

The other side of this coin is Design Team projects. For some reason these feel like a challenge to me and I really get into it. I've had such fun making those projects I don't understand or know why it isn't carrying over to my blog crafting. 

Another aspect that has me down is the underlying negativity going on right now in the business end of arts and crafts. Ellison (Sizzix's parent company) is suing 5 (maybe more now) companies for patent infringement on die-cutting.  It's pathetic in my mind because they didn't invent it, it was not new to the market, they just happened to pick up on the fact that nobody patented it and did so.  The fact that they waited YEARS after their patent was approved to start litigation is what really fries my potatoes. They "claim" they just found out that these other companies were infringing on the patent which is total BS. These companies weren't making the dies under the table and selling them on the black market for craps sake...they've been doing it all along...some even before Sizzix started selling them which is what gets me going.  It's just so wrong and it leaves a really bad taste in  my mouth for the company as a whole. I haven't bought anything sizzix since I found out about it and I'm not sure I ever will.

There are also a few companies that are going though changes where they have treated their design teams like crap, taking advantage of and not reimbursing them for work.  It's a really sad situation for those folks which also puts a sour note on that aspect of art for me.  Let me say though that I feel so blessed to be working with some great companies so luckily I haven't had to deal with those types of issues.

I have a theory and question for you all.  First my theory - I have been creating for the blog for soooo long now I feel I've show so many techniques that I would start repeating myself. Let me say this - I am not one for using an old technique, giving it a different name and calling it a "BRAND NEW" technique. I see that so many times with so many blogger/artists it drives me nuts - if it looks like a duck...etc.  I also don't get into copying famous artists styles. I realize that it's an accepted practice but sometimes I feel like I see the same basic project 110x over and it gets old. I don't have the time to just sit and experiment like I used to so coming up with new techniques to share is less and less likely.  I never want you to think I'm just repeating the same thing over and over so I almost feel like I've lost my direction.  

Mom, Morgan and I are going to have a crafty day tomorrow and I'm hoping that gets me somewhat pointed in the right direction. I have been pulling things out for the last couple days for projects I want us to make...it's been fun and I am really looking forward to it.  Morgan wanted to do something with glitter so I have a fun idea to go with that, Mom just wanted to play so I've got another idea for that and I'm just ready to create.  I will let you know how it goes and take pics :)

My question is what would you like to see?  Do you mind repeated techniques? Do you want to see more step by steps or just finished projects?  I don't do videos...I get nervous and do lots of um's and ah's so sorry that's out.  Any suggestions will be welcome!