Clouds in my crafting paradise

Hello crafters, friends, family and otherwise curious pals! I hope you are all enjoying the cooler, crisp air we've been feeling in my slice of the world. I don't know about you but I am so ready for fall!! Don't get me wrong, I love summer!! I really do! But after all the 90+ days the last few months I'm looking forward to cuddling up in front of my Cricut and my Mac and finding my happy place.  

Here we are, in the middle of a Pandemic, trying to navigate this very new, very strange world we are all living in, approaching the cooler weather and trying to figure out how we are going to thrive in such a challenging life. One of the things that has helped me keep on trucking and not let fear, stress, worry and doubt take over, is crafting. I still work my regular job. I still have routines to maintain. I still stress and worry.  But I also know that I can't give in to these things.  And while the pressure is mounting with all the craziness in the world, I find myself struggling to stay motivated. 

Back in April I got this crazy idea that I was going to start crafting more, share those crafts and all that inspiration with the world and try to figure out how to make that crafting adventure into something much more in a years time, or less.  That was the goal. I was diving in head first with no regrets.  I still have no regrets.  But I'm kind of in a funk and not sure what to do about it.  

They say we are our own worst critic, and I know you've heard me say that a dozen times in my live videos, blog posts and on my Facebook Craft Page. Well today, I woke up and felt the weight of the crafting world upon my shoulders.  Maybe it's compounded by other things, like the pandemic, online schooling challenges for my 7 year old, guilt about not being able to be there with him as he navigates that brand new world, worrying about my stressed out husband, wanting more than anything to get out of our current living situation and move out to a more country atmosphere, dwelling on my 21+ year career that I fear is holding me back more than helping me, and so many other worrisome thoughts.  Or maybe it's because I haven't taken a big enough leap.  Whatever the culprit, I'm all up in it today, folks. 

I went back through all of my blog posts about the crafts I've done, all the way back to April when I decided to dive right in.  I even re-read my first few posts from many years ago.  Maybe I thought I'd be somewhere else at this point, 5 months later.  I don't know. But I can't help but feel like I'm wasting my time lately.  I love to craft. I will always love to craft. And part of me STILL wishes I could craft all day every day because I love it so much.  But reality is biting hard today.  I love every single crafty thing I've created.  I can look at them and remember the feeling I had while I was crafting it.  And for me, that's where 1/2 of my love of crafts lies, in the making. Not necessarily in the results. I went into this thinking I could teach other people something, inspire people, open hearts and minds.  And in the meantime I'd be creating not just cute little crafts but pieces of my heart that I could share with others who were looking for some crafty inspiration. When I looked back at the crafts I've done in the last 5 months, I smiled at every single photo and relived the moments as I read my entries about how I made them.  I LOVE crafting, guys!! So why do I feel like my crafts have been so mediocre?  People who love me and encourage me regularly tell me how cute they are and how I should sell them.  And ultimately, that's what I want to do.  But the goal for this particular juncture in crafty time was to hone my craft, figure out what direction I wanted to go, what I'm really good at and take THAT to the bank. I look at my crafts with my uber critical eyeball and find every single flaw, every mistake, every embarrassing moment I encountered while making it and hammer my crafty hopes and dreams right into the ground. Why do I do that to myself?? 

I think I need to drink less coffee, if I'm being honest.  

I'm going to work really hard this week to get out of this funk and draw up some plans.  I've not yet found my niche and by no means is this me giving up. I'm going to spend the next couple months coming up with some ideas and I will undoubtedly call on my crafty pals for some encouragement, ideas, support and critique. So buckle up, crafty capers! This girls on a mission!! I'm going to draft some ideas for Sambo's Crafts as well as researching how to get an Etsy page started. I don't know if Etsy is the way I want to go.  In fact, I have no idea what I'm doing, if you haven't figured that out yet. What I do know is that I need to figure out where my passion really lies and THAT is going to take a LOT more adventure!!  

Garage sale season is upon us as well so I'll be looking for things I can use, like old windows, glass bottles, and other useful crafty materials.  If you're the adventurous type, watch for posts about dates to go sale-ing and maybe we can go together! I'll be inquiring about your crafty adventures more too!  As always, please comment, like, and share my blog posts and my Facebook Craft Group page, Sambo's Crafts with your crafty pals as well! I'm so, so grateful for all of your kind words, encouragement and support!!! 

The crazy universe and chaotic world we live in will not stop my crafting adventures! But I can't promise they won't catapult me right into some shenanigans!! Thank you for being you and for supporting me!! I really need to get out of this funk!!! 

Sambo's Crafting adventure begins!

Hello, friends!! Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I cannot wait to tell you what is in store for Sambo!!  It's been a hot minute since I blogged about arts and crafts.  Like, seriously.....2012!! Well it's 2020 and being in quarantine for over a month I've had a lot of time to think about what really makes me happy.  Aside from the obvious, family and friends, arts and crafts are my passion.  I could craft ALL stinkin' day! And I have!! I love to paint, craft, sew.....no, not sew. I have a sewing machine....but I have never used it.  My mother in law bought it for me in 2003.  Yes, 17 years ago.  Wow.  Look, I don't even know how to sew, ok? But crafting is in my soul.  I craft everywhere with everything!! I love to make things.  I craft in the kitchen!! Some of you have seen my cake adventures.  I'm a wing-it kinda girl so whatever happens, happens! Ya know?! I love to decorate for parties, make gifts for people around the holidays, put together baskets, create masterpieces whether it's on canvas, paper, wood or in a frying pan! Now, I'm not the best cook and I'm not always neat and tidy.  But I let my heart flow into everything I put my hands on and most importantly, I HAVE FUN!!!  I want YOU to have fun too!  I hope that you will join me on this adventure because without you, I'm just passing time. 

For those of you that don't know me, let me give you a little insight into the world of Sami.  I am a 44 year old mother of 4, 3 amazing boys aged 25, 18 and 6 and a beautiful 26 year old step daughter. I'm married to my very best friend, partner in crime and soul mate and I've been an office manager in a small criminal law office for the last 21 years. I am sarcastic, goofy, slightly crazy, wear my heart on my sleeve (that means I cry a lot so don't be surprised if you see me cry over some glue mishap!), a bit scatterbrained (ok, a lot!), determined and ready to share and learn with you!!!

I craft. It's what brings me joy.  I don't like to spend money so my crafts are frugal crafts. A lot of times I use what I have, which is mostly, my imagination! I guess I'm kind of like my dad that way.  He loved starting projects, big and small.  I don't remember a time when he didn't have at least 5 different projects going at once.  He liked to stay busy. And so do I. Idle hands and minds are recipes for danger! My mother was a crafter too.  She loved to crochet, paint on fabric, macrame.  She was a busy body too.  And sarcastic. Thanks, mom. <3 I have always been a soft hearted, deep thinking, over analytical, idea brewing, motormouth.  That's me, in a nutshell.

It's amazing how quickly time flies.  I've gotten so used to the day-to-day in my life that every day feels the same.  And I'm not necessarily complaining. I  mean, I have so many blessings in my life, and I know it.  Maybe I'm approaching mid-life and well on my way to crisis, I don't know.  What I do know is that it's time.  Time to start a new journey.  So here I am, folks.  And this is what I am going to do.

I am going to craft, paint, cook, sew, and create and I'm going to share it all with you!  I'll post some stories on here with some pictures and eventually some step by step directions to recreate some of the things I do.  I'm going to vlog...posting videos of the processes and I'm sure there will be bloopers!  I'm going to go live!!!  I am going to start a FB page for my crafts so that you can interact there as well.  I might invite someone to come on my live with me so we can create together! I may do giveaways so you can have the chance to win one of my crafts or paintings and at some point, maybe I'll give away other things, like crafting tools, goody bags or CASH!  Ha ha....yeah, that might not happen for a while.  I told you, I'm frugal. But it's a possibility and I'm SO all about the possibilities right now!!!  My ultimate goal is not just to get this blog up and running, get crafty and have fun...I want to create a place where you can have fun too! You can learn just how crafty YOU are.  You can laugh (and possibly cry) with me while we explore all the possibilities in the crafting realm. I might take you shopping with me.  I might need to ask you for advice.  When I paint, a lot of the time I feel like my paintings were done by a child.  And that's ok....because children are amazing and have super creative minds.  But I realize it's kind of my style.  I want to know what your style is. I want to help you find YOUR creative side. 

So join me by following my story in this blog.  I'll keep you posted about upcoming live events and future craft projects.  Invite your friends to follow along too!  This is an adventure.  The more the merrier!  Whether your creative genius is not much bigger than coloring in a coloring book or you hold the title of master crafter, all are welcome!  I'm so excited to start this journey and I hope you will all join me for some super fun, entertaining and much needed love and laughter!  See you all soon!!!