That Darn Engine

Still working on getting that creative engine fired up and running consistently. Eegads! March has not been the best month for anything. It isn't over yet. I did get some more down on my short story but I haven't finished the rough draft just yet. Maybe tonight. I have been reading though. Finished another book. I got it from the dollar store believe it or not. So far, it's my second pick from said store and I've enjoyed both books. I got a dollar! Death of a Prankster by MC Beaton and Star Spangled Murder by Leslie Meijer. I like murder mysteries and have started several myself.

I helped a friend clear out his backyard, in prep for spring and he's going to let me take over his raised garden beds so I can plant some things this year. Tomatoes, cucumbers, bush beans, and herbs. It was good to be outside and smell the dirt but I was way stiff that night and the next day. I do feel the creative juices starting to flow again. Maybe that's what I needed to help me out of this funk, was to get outside and be in some sort of nature. Even though it was only a backyard.

I still haven't finished my two Halloween dolls and maybe I can add a bit to their wardrobe. Also working on being nicer to myself again. I am way to hard on myself. Rarely cut myself any slack. After all, I am human. Not even close to being perfect, I make mistakes, fall down (which hurts) and I always seem to pick myself up and keep going. It seems to take longer to get back to get going but I eventually do. I do have a couple of fun things in the works and I will give myself a little nudge to work on them.

I am okay.

Friday the 13th- No pic post

It's Friday the 13th. I love Friday the 13th. My mom was born on a 13th and I love it when her birthday falls on one. I am not superstitious in that way. It's another day that I've been given. And I'm going to start a new chapter in my life book. I've started a new business that's slowly growing. Please check it out at http://wendybquilts.blogspot.com

The new chapter is to get back to writing. A few years ago, I was writing like gangbusters. The words were flying out of me and onto blank pages. I was getting things done. Kid stories, Sci/Fi stories, mysteries, women's stories, fantasies. It was amazing. Then something happened. I guess it was a gradual thing, or not. Can't remember but I lost my zest for writing. I had begun to read so many negative things about women writers, writers of color, who would read my work, who would buy my work, I'm too old, and it went on and on and I stopped. Instead of finishing what I had started. A great body of work, I turned into a chicken and went back into the coop. I filed everything away. And worried.

Well...

I want my 'Eye of The Tiger' back. I thought that the stories would go away if I didn't look at them. The characters I created. They didn't go away. They stayed. They were silent but they were always around. They worried about me. Some cried and wondered about their fate. I ignored them. Others stayed by my side and waited. I neglected them. Then they went away, except one. She hung out. In a corner. While I cooked my meals. She bounced around and tried to make me laugh. She was oh so patient. One by one, the others came back. Talking to each other. Waiting their turn to be born.

Writing is hard work. Editing it to the point so someone else can understand it is even harder. But I have something to say. I have characters to put out there. I may not be a Bestseller, but someone will read my work and I hope that it touches them in a powerful way, make them laugh, cry, think about good things. The way my stories and those that inhabit them have touched me. I have apologized to them. I have apologized to myself for almost giving up. I'm still a bit scared about this whole process but they are all smiling now.

Let's cook!

No Pic Post

Six days in and only two posts. But I have been posting on my Wendy B Quilts blog. So by all means, please hop over and take a peek. I had to take apart the top for one of my Halloween dolls because it just wasn't working for me. I didn't like the print, it was too loud, so I finally took it off the doll and now she's just staring at me. Sorry kiddo. But... but, my creative mojo is coming back. It went away the last part of February and I ended up in a slight slump. Say that fast a couple of times. I am really working on my patience and business is slow. At that time I started listening to all the Bad Wendy voices ad nauseam and I finally told them to shut up.

I am okay. I've decided to live one day at a time. Enjoy my moments of quiet, creativity, just being. I am working towards something to better my life and things will happen. If I give them a chance. There are just some things that I cannot control and I need to stop trying. I am working on eating better because spring is coming and I'm ready. So far, I've lost 3 pounds. Yes, I jumped a little bit for joy. I've been practicing on my longarm machine (Leonidas) and I picked up two gigs today. Been reading on the regular and working on writing on the regular (in my journal and stories).

I have signed up to do an online doll challenge, so expect some pics soon. I have an idea and now I probably should sketch it out. The challenge is witches spells. It's a Halloween group. Get my two Halloween dolls dressed. Now that my slump is leaving me, I know why I was procrastinating with them. They are both going to be wearing hats. Hats are new for me. Nothing like a challenge.

Spring is coming. The days are getting longer. Hibernation is coming to an end. I like that. Getting a little excited. Have a good weekend!

Merry March

Okay, I don't know how merry this month will be but one can dream. Most of the country is frozen solid and warmer temps are way into the future. But... we do what we've got to do. Keep on keeping on. Last month was a so-so month. At the end, I kind of got into a funk. The kind when you work hard and things don't quite turn out the way you want them to. You shed a few tears, regroup, lick your paws, crawl under a blankie, and prepare for the next day, the next month. I'm still getting out of my slump and looking a back at last month, it wasn't that bad. As far as being creative.

February projects completed
1- Gail Wilson doll kit (I finally got all four of those kits done, yee haw!)
2- Wendy B Quilts jobs
1- Personal quilt top done
1- Book read (out of 3, got to get that number up this month)
1- Day trip to the Fearrington Folk Art Festival
1- Machine applique design
10- World of Wendy Lu blog posts
8- Wendy B Quilts blog posts

For a grand total of 24 projects, goals, things to do. Ten less than in January.

So now what? Continue to get out of this slump. I am so ready for spring and need more sunshine. The days are getting longer. Until then, I will forge ahead. Practice stitching on Leonidas, keep blogging regularly, read more, and make something Halloweeny. Yes, I made that up. Here's to an early spring.