Mistakes. Give 'em a Chance:).

My daughter Niamh is very artsy. Sometimes we sit together and just color for an hour. She told me today that, when we move (which we are trying to do), she wants to hang all her artwork on her bedroom walls. It's a funny thing-- I use to do the same thing. Had this little section next to my bed where I had tiny doodled faces thumb-tacked into the paneling. Probably had 50 of them on torn out pieces of paper...different expressions that I liked. They made me feel happy to look at:).

One thing I've tried to teach her lately is that mistakes will happen on paper. Even the best artist will color outside of a line...smudge some ink...try something that really doesn't 'work' on the paper in front of them. I imagine that some of the most famous pieces of art have some of these imperfections deep within their layers. I always tell her, right when she goes into huffing and puffing mode;), that she should learn to incorporate it. Make something beautiful out of it. A mistake should never ruin a whole piece before you at least try to give it a chance! Every once in a while, those mistakes turn into the most beautiful parts of the project. Something you never saw coming.

I actually like imperfections.

It's why a snaggle tooth can make a smile uniquely beautiful. Why a scar becomes a story that makes you tear up. Why a testimony can touch thousands of lives-- even be the catalyst to saving thousands of lives. The imperfections become the different layers that build the beauty into your life. Into your art. Into your craft.

I am a terribly imperfect person. Just a mess sometimes.

My purse is an abyss.

My desk often needs to be dug out.

I've drank four cups of soda tonight. And a huge glass of chocolate milk.

I've made terrible decisions. I've made decisions that still don't make sense.

I drive too fast. I've crashed twice just inside of our own yard.

I know more about ESPN than I do about cooking.

I have four baskets of laundry that just seem to rotate from basket to dirty clothes back to basket. Never actually make it into closets or drawers.

I can't talk about finances and not get snippy.

I can be terribly awkward in conversations. And just in general.

And I am always late. To and for everything. All. The. Time.

And this is just the beginning...:)....

In all my short comings and problems...bad decisions and mistakes...I know there is so much beauty in my life. In my surroundings. I am thankful for where I am right now. And for the choices and decisions that led me here:. Even if I'm not sure why I made some of them:). Sometimes the very thing I thought was a mistake or an imperfection in my day turns out much later in life to be something truly good indeed.

So, I urge you lovely crafters, to give your mistakes a chance. When your copics bleed outside the lines, see where it takes you:). I can't tell you how inspiring all of your beautiful creations are-- and I'm not talking about just the ones with my stamps. I often check out posts that have no trace of my artwork. I just love to see your craftiness. Your own artistic talent!

This is a lovely world of very creative women. I've met so many beautiful people through my shops, stamps, and blog(s). And you are all over the planet:). 12 hours ahead, 2 or 3 hours behind...and everywhere in between. Thank you for your support...and please know that I always comment on your blogs and emails from the bottom of my heart. Even if it takes me a few days. Or a week. (Told ya, I'm a really late person:). I mean every word I say.

I feel like the world of crafting/blogging that I entered a little over a year ago went from this...

To this:).

So thank you sweet girls!...And let's all keep encouraging and building each other up. I imagine that we are all more similar than we think. All have schedules. Some of us (may be most of us?) have messy craft areas:). And for sure, we all have little imperfections. Share a kind word with a new blogger:). Leave a meaningful comment on a favorite blog. Email your fellow crafter. Just to say hi:). And let's all remember that part of the beauty in everything we do and make lies in the imperfections.