Quilling!

I REALLY should be working on cleaning up the house, but before I get started on that I just HAVE to share something with you.

First, I have to say a grateful THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my recent foray into different crafting techniques. It warms my heart to know that you appreciate the different things I am trying/getting reacquainted with.

I can't remember if I shared this before, and if I have, forgive the repeat, but I have been a crafter most of my life. I've done all sorts of different crafts, counted cross stitch, plastic canvas, crocheting, knitting, beading, tole painting, just to name a few. I have my mom's wonderful influence to thank for my love of crafting. She was always working on something and exploring new things. I don't think I remember a time when she didn't have a project going. She taught me to crochet, knit, and sew and really to just love creating things with my hands. She never got into painting, though. She said her hands would shake too much when she picked up a paintbrush. She even did a latch-hook rug, a huge one, that sits in the living room of the house I grew up in. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. It helped keep us warm in the addition, as the flooring was cold.

So anyway, I drifted away from lots of crafting after she passed away. Maybe it was just too painful in some ways...when so much of my creating was closely linked to her and our time and mother/daughter. Then, I discovered and became obsessed with scrapbooking and that's where my interest was for a good 15 years or more-a craft my mom never really focused on. I dropped all my other crafting efforts. After I quit being a CTMH consultant last February (can you believe it's been a year already?), I started rediscovering the joy in creating all sorts of different things. It feels like I am honoring her memory and influence now. Plus my girls are getting to the age that I was when I started crafting with my mom. I want them to experience the same joys I did.

Okay...got off on a tangent there, sorry. What prompted this post is a comment I got on my quilled Lavendar  card. A very nice lady named Pat Caputo left a comment and included links to her blog, Quilling With Whimsiquills and online store called Whimsiquills. I checked them out and was completely blown away by the artwork I was seeing. I have just scratched the surface, but I can tell you this, I've added her blog, plus the ones she's linked on her blog to my Google Reader. I never really thought about exploring blogs for Quilling. Oh. My. Goodness! You have to take a peek. I will definitely be exploring (and practicing) for a long time to come. Pat, if you read this, thank YOU for commenting and opening up a whole new avenue for me.

That's what I wanted to share today. Now I really must get some housework done or I will start feeling guilty that it's looking so dirty and cluttered. LOL

Jeanne