Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Moving Forward

Hi my blog friends, this is me. I hate having my photo taken but I am putting it out there - this is me:

Taken today - no make-up - but it is me.

I haven't been around as much over the last year. Two years ago my husband lost his management job which left us in a difficult financial situation. He has had a few temporary jobs in the interim but we have been unable to really get ahead. This resulted in us having to sell our house at a large loss last month and we are now living in an old rental property - on the bright side we no longer have a mortgage. Our future is uncertain as my husband is trying to get back into an IT position and we could end up moving at any time. During those two years my Mum also passed away and my father-in-law had a major stroke among other things. It has not been an easy two years but luckily if anything it has brought my husband and I closer together with a focus on trying to map out a good future for ourselves and our 13 year old daughter. One thing that did suffer was my creative endeavours - apart from having a nil budget I found it hard to focus on anything.

However, that is in the past and I am now determined to move forward both creatively and in other areas of our lives. While things are still financially tight I realise I don't need to let that restrict my creativity and I need to challenge myself to create again. I respond to being challenged - it gives me a goal to work towards. I am also focusing on trying to get fit and healthy and move myself from obese to healthy. My gorgeous daughter saved her money and bought me a Fitbit for Christmas which is motivating me to move more, eat more healthily and drink more water.

Speaking of my daughter, Jamie starts High School this year - I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

 Dressed up for her leaving dinner at the end of her Year 8 Intermediate School year.

Ready to go into her dance medal test in October with her proud father in the background. 
(He wants me to note that he has a bit more hair now).

Anyway, while I have done little creatively lately I have given things a lot of thought. I realise that while I love my blog and my blog friends I had got to a stage where I stopped letting myself just do things on a whim because I kept pressuring myself to try and come up with something miniature to put on my blog. I found sometimes I was trying to persevere with things my heart just wasn't in. Unconsciously, I had stopped doing this for me. So while I am looking forward to getting back to blogging there will be changes.

In the past I have explored a number of hobbies - porcelain doll making, teddy bear making including miniature bears, basketry and macrame, book binding and book arts, fabric dolls, a little dabble at felt making, paper making and paper crafts, a bit of embroidery and more lately adult colouring in. I realise I am not good at limiting myself to one thing. While I want to continue in miniatures I do not want to limit myself to only miniatures. I am in the process of teaching myself crochet which has been a goal for quite some time - hopefully I can scale it down to miniatures. I also want to dabble more in embroidery, more book art and doll making in different forms and improve on my wood crafting skills. I am sure there are other crafts out there I will want to explore as well. Of course whatever crafts I do learn and experiment with I will probably want to explore in miniature. I also used to really enjoy photography and want to get back into that as well.

Therefore in the future I am likely to blog about whatever I am doing at any given time. I will be doing things just because I want to do them not because I feel I have to do them.

I am sorry this is a bit long winded but I am getting this down in print as much for myself as to explain to my blog friends where I have been and where I am heading.

I have managed to set up a small work space in the rental and I am ready and rearing to go. Pride of place on my work desk is a gorgeous calendar received from Birgit of BiWuBaren on the Blog.  It will be a pleasure to move on creatively with Flubby and Rosey by my side.


I was very happy and surprised to receive a Christmas package from Birgit in December. As well as the calendar and some marzipan chocolates I received two beautiful decorations to add to my Christmas box.

The gorgeous red and green candle decoration on Edward Elf's table.

The lovely wooden decoration at the back of this shelf. Love it.

Also included were these stars that I can use to make something for the Christmas box.

Finally there was this gorgeous Christmas card. I just love Birgit's work and also her photography.

I love the little characters with Flubby, especially the one on the left as I adore snowdrops.

Anyway that is it from me for today. I will be back soon. It is my last day of the Christmas holidays as I head back to work tomorrow. 

Best wishes to everyone for 2016 - it is going to be a good year.

22 comments:

  1. Sharee, your spirit is an inspiration to all! I was tearing up as I read your post because I was struck by your positivity and your honesty. It is awesome you are so creative and focused on your crafts and minis. Happy new year (and your daughter is gorgeous! ). Keep mini making and being happy

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    1. What a beautiful comment - thank you so much.

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  2. Hi Sharee! No apologies needed in Blogland! You have a beautiful smile! And you have Creativity and Talent in all the different ways you like to make things! You have had a rough few years, and no wonder there has been no time or focus for minis. It is good to hear it has brought your family closer together and now you feel ready to explore again. I look forward to seeing all the projects you will be working on! (I also want to try everything!)
    BTW, your daughter is gorgeous!
    Happy New Year!

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  3. Te deseo cambios positivos Sharee...te los mereces...tienes una hija estupenda y guapisima...y tu eres su ejemplo. Debes estar orgullosa y feliz.
    Siento estos dos años comokicados...oero tu fuerza te gara salir adelante. Tienes muchas ideas y proyectos y seguro consigues muchos exitos.
    Cuidate...alimentate bien que eso es salud...come lo que necesite tu cuerpo, arreglate...pintate.. eso da animo y tu hija y marido se alegraran de verte feliz deseo ver esos nuevos proyectos e ilusiones.... y deseo que este año sea comienzo de felicidad y soluciones.
    Un abrazo y toda mi fuerza
    Maite

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    1. Thank you Maite. I am indeed trying to eat healthily as I am working towards health and happiness. Thank you for your kind wishes.

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  4. Hola Sharee, me alegra saber de ti, deseo que tengas un gran año, un abrazo

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  5. You are solar and beautiful. I really like your creations.
    Beautiful gifts from Birgit.

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    1. Thank you Fabiola. Yes, I am thrilled with Birgit's gifts.

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  6. You are looking lovely, Sharee! So you had to sell your house. Not everybody has a house anyways. I have lived in rentals all my life and I am content with it. You are right in doing what you feel like doing and not just trying to think up of things to put on your blog. That must be very stressful and who needs it. Take care. Nice to hear from you. Oh, and your daughter is a lovely girl!

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    1. Thank you Lucille. I am happy to be renting for a while and not having a mortgage. The only difficulty we have is we have two cats, two dogs, two birds and a fish - it is not easy finding rentals in New Zealand where you can have pets. Luckily for the time being we have found one.

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  7. Te deseo un buen año. Que puedas avanzar en tu vida y con las miniaturas o cualquier otra cosa que te propongas.

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  8. What a beautiful and happy girl you've raised, that took alot creativity, I know :)

    I know you've had a fought last few years and while those times do bog you down, its good to see you keeping a little bit of time for yourself and create, its so important for our minds and hearts!

    I look forward to your new adventures, whatever they may be!

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    1. Thank you Jane. I am looking forward to my new adventures too - whatever they may be!

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  9. I really love your motto for 2016... may I borrow it? ;O) It's so good to see you back in blogland - but no need to apologize for your absence, there was a lot going on in your RL which took all your strength. I hope things will calm down for you three lovely people (btw you can be very proud of your daughter) and that you will find more time to spend with your creativity. We all know that creativity is low when the times are rough... but it's important to keep that up and it's great that you are curious to try many thing, I'm with you, why stick to just one thing? And many crafts are useful for miniatures, that's a nice side effect... *LOL* Here's to 2016 - and thank you for your lovely words and the nice photos... *blush*

    Hugs
    Birgit (and from Fluby and Rosey too... they want me to tell you they like the idea of looking at you while you're working on your lovely stuff)

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    1. You most certainly can borrow my motto Birgit. Best wishes to you Fluby and Rosey for a wonderful 2016.

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  10. Dear Sharee, very best wishes for your goals this year! I look forward to seeing all the ways you creativity blossoms. I'm glad you were able to find a rental home where you can have all your pets, and I hope that continues. I love your photo - and it occurs to me that perhaps I should update my own profile pic!

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    1. Thanks Rebecca. I thought it was about time I updated my profile picture. I usually do everything possible to avoid having my photo taken but I actually asked my husband to take this one.

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  11. I'm so sorry you have had such a difficult 2 years, wonderful you are feeling more free and focused. I just love you Christmas room box. I hope this year will be one of the best years ever for you and your lovely family. Hugs, Jean

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  12. Hi Sharee! I read your post entirely understanding your current feelings and situation and I applaud you for your courage and for your honesty. Like you, I've found that when life throws us a series of curve-balls, sometimes it is best to just step away from the plate, and take a TIME OUT until we feel that we are able to proceed. The time away is different for each of us. Personally, I never thought that I would need time away from blogging but that is what happened, and for me too, it was the right thing to do.
    I have always enjoyed visiting here and so I look forward to seeing the various projects that you are going to introduce us to, including ( I hope) your crochet. :D
    Blessing to you both Big and Small Sharee, and Happy 2016!

    elizabeth

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