Samantha Walker's Imaginary World

After coming off a HUGE string of deadlines...I've finally come to the eye of the storm where there is a calm before the next string of deadlines. Don't get me wrong...there is plenty of stuff to do on my "to do" list--even in the eye of the storm...but this week, I am taking a little break from design work and just doing the minimum...but I'm maximizing on Family time.

On Sunday, I went for a walk with my kids, then visited my parents, then went to a family dinner at my in laws. On Monday I painted my daughters toe nails and organized her room while searching for my wedding ring (that's the last place I remember seeing it 2 weeks ago, but I didn't find it...sniff sniff.) Yesterday I volunteered at my 8 year olds school and then perused through the book fair and brought home way more books than I care to admit (hey, it was buy on get one free...and for a great cause!) Then in the afternoon, I read books to the kids--almost all of them that I purchased, but not the chapter books. I've also started studying scriptures at night before bedtime with my 8 year old son. I made dinner from scratch three nights in a row...and I contemplated organizing my pantry--it's evolved into one of those cartoon scenes where the character quickly opens the door, grabs what they need, then shuts it before the whole closet comes down on them...(I'm not there yet with organizing the pantry...but the idea is heavily brewing.)

The start of this week has been full...but I have only worked a few hours...so it makes me wonder...how do I get it all done on weeks where I work 40-70 hours. One thing's for sure...I've learned that sleep is overrated...I do some of my best work between the hours of 9pm and 2am. I've reinvented what the word weekend means...my husband usually works weekends, so I kind of forget it's the weekend until I wake up Sunday morning and frantically realize that I need to get moving if I want to get to church on time with the kids. Today...I got my hair done--it hadn't been cut or colored since January...I think that may be a new record for me for shortest time between beauty shop visits--I typically put it off until the very last possible minute (usually the day before CHA, and I look in the mirror and realize that I'm a little too grey and shaggy.) Then I browsed on e-bay for a new purse (typically, I only do shopping on line unless it's groceries, Costco, or my favorite thrift store) My current purse is so gross...let's just say my kids have lived in it with their banana peels and snacks, and diapers, and candy wrappers, and mystery items that need not be discussed. It's been nice to unwind a little.

In my unwinding, I also perused through the Silhouette Flikr group and found some wonderful creations using my designs. It's designs like this one by Eva Dobilas that motivate me to design. She made this amazing little birdhouse using my Silhouette birdhouse die, and Ippity stamps. The detail on this project just amazes me! That's why I have to share it with all of you! I love seeing what people do with my designs. It motivates me to make more stuff. The thing that thrills me is that 3 crafters can use the same fabric, paper, die, or whatever, and come up with a totally different project than the other crafters. The possibilities of what to do with the designs is virtually endless, and in turn...so inspiring.