Creative Influences and Favorite Reads

I would have to say that my Mom is an influence. She loves to sew and design quilts. She won't actually quilt them herself, but she has designed and made some wonderful quilts over the years. And you have to give the woman credit for tenacity when she started designing a quilt about 30 years ago and finally finished it about 3 years ago. It moved across the country and had been pulled out countless times. She is a perfectionist to the MAX.

Mom not only quilts, but she likes to crochet and knit. Now she tryed to show me how to do all of that over the years. Crocheting is definitly not my thing, never could get it right. Knitting is okay, but I get bored with it tooo fast. Sewing is fun but not so fun for me that I have to have a machine. Mom has at least 5 set up in her sewing room.

Another crafty influence is my Aunt. She will never admit to it, but she really has a knack for color. She is also a sewer and can arrange flowers in no time. She is just one of those people that makes everything she does look sooo easy. I have always admired Patsy and am lucky to call her my friend as well as family. She has been a shoulder to lean on countless times and she is a rock. I love her to death.

None family influences are great in number. I love my scrapbooking magazines that I get each month, and I love that all my favorite peoples have blogs that I haunt. Ali Edwards is one of those people that I would love to spend about a month with just watching work. I was lucky enough to meet and chat with her in Nashville last year and she is so down to earth and genuine. Stacy Julien, Cathy Z, Donna Downey and just about everyone else that scrapbooks is someone I admire and learn from. I know that I am a better person today than I was 5 years ago due this wonderful hobby.

Now on to favorite reads. I cannot honestly say that I have one particularly favorite book that I would want to take with me if I was to lock out the world. I have favorite authors that I pounce on every new book they put out and then wish they would hurry up and write faster, but not an absolute favorite book. Some of my favs are: Nora Roberts as herself and as JD Robb, James Patterson, John Sandford, Jodi Picoult, Nicholaus Sparks, and Janet Evanovich. I read everything they put out and have expanded my outlook to others as I quickly run out of reading material. Currently I have a stack of 6 books on my nightstand waiting and another 4 I picked up on Saturday to read. I am definitly a reader and must have a book at all times. I pack a book and a pop with me wherever I go so that I am prepared for any thing.

In other news: School starts tomorrow!!!!!!! As a parent I sometimes get pangs of guilt for feeling so utterly estatic about them heading back so early when there is still so much summer left to enjoy, but the other part of me that is tired of having to repeatedly ask for things to get done or being asked repeatedly for things is ready for the peace and quiet that the days bring while they are at school. Now don't get me wrong, I love my girls totally, but when they are ready to see their friends and get out of the house I am ready for it too! Being bored was not in my childhood vocabulary, but in the last 20 years it has crept into our society big time.

Kevin is still living with us, but we have made some arrangements. Over the weekend they cleaned up the basement and set up a bedroom for Emily so that she can quit sleeping with Tori and Kevin set up his room to his liking. Everyone seems to be happy with the arrangements including us parents. Kids are minding the rules and we are not having to stress about it. Makes momma happy!

Well, off to face the day. No telling what the day will bring. Have a good one!