I thought I would toot my own horn for a bit.  That's what a blog is, right?  Lots of horns blaring!  In honor of my new craft ebook, I am posting a little something something on finding time for crafts - and it goes like this:

Do you love crafts, but never have time to do craft projects? Has that partially crocheted scarf gone out of style because you started it 15 years ago? Do you own lots of craft supplies that never get used?

Finding time for crafts is important for your own fulfillment and mental well being. There are key steps you can take to get back to enjoying crafts on a regular basis.

The first step to finding time for crafts may surprise you, but it is the most important step.

Decide you are worthy.

It's true. If you want to find time for crafts, you must first decide you are worthy of your own attention!
Women, especially, have fallen into the habit of taking care of others before taking care of themselves. You've decided others are worthy of your time and attention. Now decide that you are worthy too.

Complete this quick exercise (you have time!).

1.    Find a pen and paper.
2.    Quickly list five reasons why you love to make craft projects. Don't think about it too much.
3.    Review your list. Rank each reason 1-5 with 1 being the most important reason you love crafting.
4.    Now review your reasons and really think about them. If a loved one - partner, child, best friend - gave a similar list to you and asked for help in pursuing something they loved, would you not see the heartfelt feeling and value behind it? Why not help yourself?

If you are having trouble with your "Why I Love Crafts" list, take a look at mine:

1.    I love to craft because it is highly fulfilling for me to be creative.
2.    I love working on craft projects because it takes my mind off everyday problems, worries, and to-do lists.
3.    I love making crafts because I love seeing friends and family light up when they receive a hand-crafted item I made just for them.
4.    I love crafting because I love accomplishing something no matter how small or big. Seeing a finished project is the best.
5.    I love to craft because I love color and form, I love expressing myself, I LOVE honoring the artist within, and I love how relaxed I am in the rest of my life when I give myself time for crafts. (Okay, that's more than one, but hey...I'm worth it!)

When the "I don't have time for making crafts" blues strike, read your list. Consider posting your list where you can read it every day.

You've now completed your first key step to finding time for making crafts. That scarf may not be a lost cause after all.

For more key steps on how to find time for craft projects, read Melody Jones' The Craft Lover's Success Guide: Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creativity and Actually Finish Your Projects available at www.mycraftebooks.com. When you buy the success guide, you also receive a free bonus ebook entitled Simple Craft Projects to Get You Started.

Not only will you learn simple steps for finding more time, you'll also learn how to organize your craft supplies and stay organized even if you are a pack rat, how to craft on a budget, ways to find new craft project ideas and inspiration, and resources and ideas for learning new crafts.

More musings...

I'm a craft ebook author - oh yeah!

You might be a crafter if...

My shiny new freelance life

Copyright 2010 Melody Jones - for more information, please see footer

Hello to my loyal readers.

One of the reasons I've been absent a bit from this blog is that I was putting the finishing touches on my ebook.  And then on my sales page.  And then on PayPal.  Because truthfully, I knew how to do none of it! That's okay, I figure a big learning curve is good for my brain.

Since I am an avid crafter, I know that craft books are a saturated market right now, but this is what I love and what I know.  I finally realized that I could focus on helping craft lovers nurture the right mindset and environment, find more time, get and stay organized, and focus on nurturing themselves and their crafts.

Thus the birth of my craft ebook titled The Craft Lover's Success Guide: Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creativity and Actually Finish Your Projects.  I also wrote a free companion ebook called Simple Craft Projects to Get You Started because, well... there have to be actual craft projects involved somehow! Both are available on www.mycraftebooks.com.

I'm very excited and plan to write more craft ebooks.

Thank you...and tell all your friends to buy it.

Otherwise, I may be forced to decoupage your car with neon tissue paper or break out the glue gun and fix up your drab window shutters with some fabulous plastic flowers.

Don't think I won't.

You’ve ever frantically yelled “Don’t throw that away! I can make something out of it.”

You spend an undisclosed amount of money every month on all things crafty.  To disclose it might give your spouse a heart attack.

You know precisely where the clearance wall is in Hobby Lobby and how long it takes you to walk back there.

Every piece of cardboard, old jewelry, and old clothing sets your mind ablaze with possibilities.

You’ve gone crazy with the glue gun and glued stuff to picture frames, cupboard doors, desks, planters, mirrors, your dog’s collar and computer monitors.

You cut buttons off all clothing bound for the trash can.

Large bags and boxes of miscellaneous items frequently appear on your doorstep. Everyone knows where the crazy craft lady lives.

You think nothing of going in to work with paint under your fingernails and glue on your elbow.

Every time you decide to clean and organize, you discover items you didn’t know you owned.

You don’t mind when you spill paint. It’s like floor art.

All folding tables in the house become permanent craft room additions.

Your spouse learns not to ask when how long you’ll be gone when it’s craft fair season.

Anything is fair game to become a piece of jewelry: bottle tops, tire rims, twist ties.

Others don’t understand why you need 15 different types of glue.

Your husband buys you a 100 pack of gel pens complete with stand, without batting an eye.  You’ve trained him well.

There are more musings. Oh yes.

Do what your dog does and you'll feel better

Home improvement vs. a sharp stick in the eye

(Glue gun photo by Eric Marttinen via wikimediacommons.org)

Copyright 2010 Melody Jones - see footer for more information or if you would like to request to use this or any material on www.melodyjonesonline.com