Life has certainly been crazy since last we met. The truth is I've spent the last month or so doing a lot of soul-searching and writing. The last six months (okay, lets be honest...year) I've been trying to get my footing. I've become a mother, quit my job, started working freelance while trying to balance the full-time care of our daughter and have started writing my novel, Mother Muse. I tried selling cosmetics to make ends meet and decided that just wasn't a good fit for me. But alas, it gave me the courage to leave my full-time job to be home with Ada and focus my energies on the things I'm most passionate about and for that, I'm grateful to MK. While I'm still sort of floundering, I'm really happy (despite the occasional break-down moment that sends my husband into fits of laughter because apparently, I'm a riot when I'm coming undone.) I saw a sign the other day that read "Find the thing you'd die for and live for it" and that pretty much sums up where I am in life right now. Living for the thing I love (writing) and trying not to let it kill me.
Finishing my novel has become the biggest priority but I've finally decided to open an Etsy shop (after much encouragement from you all) so I'm splitting what little free time I have on writing and crafting. The shop will feature some vintage pieces and handmade decor and gifts. I'm most excited about Southern-Say-I, my line of hand-painted signs inspired by the culture of the South. I've always loved repurposing and finishing furniture but with the baby, I just don't have time for that. The signs give me the opportunity to combine my love of painting and faux finishes with words so they are certainly going to be the pride and joy of my shop.
My ultimate goal for the shop is to fund my novel-writing process through the winter and spring so that hopefully (HOPEFULLY) I will have a completed draft by May. The grand opening of the shop is November 18 but you check out the preview sale going on until November 11. I am featuring my hand-painted Thanksgiving plates, which are on the cover of Kentucky Monthly magazine this month.
On the novel front, I've made some great progress over the last few weeks. I'm writing the letter portion of the book first, which means I'm totally immersed in Hazel Greene's story. I have decided to blog about my experiences at my writing website, so stop in from time to time to read all about the process. I could go on and on about the ways this book is writing itself and the things I'm learning about myself through these women. Is it weird that I can't wait to read my own book?! I know once all is said and done, you will fall in love with these characters just as I have.
So I apologize for being so quiet over here. Just know that the longer I go without updating here, the closer I am to having a book to show for it!
You are very inspiring. I wish you well and appreciate your honest posts.
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