why I like contributing on Design*Sponge
For about a year now, I have been a monthly diy contributor on Design*Sponge. I mentioned how much I enjoy it last week. For those still looking for that hanging shelf tutorial, it got bumped to this week, so it should be posted sometime today. If you have ever spent a little time on Design*Sponge, you (like me) are probably blown away by the featured creative geniuses and their work. I am honored to be a part of the team, but to be honest feel way out of my league.
As a mom, I feel like I am constantly re-evaluating where I spend my time. I am endlessly removing things from my schedule and saying “no” to things when I’d really like to say “yes”. Yes, I’d love to meet you for coffee and flea market shopping at 2:00pm, oh wait that is in the middle of naptime. If things (even really great things) don’t line up with what I have deemed as the top priorities in this phase of life, they get nixed. There are things, like laundry & cooking, I’d like to say “no” to, but I don’t have that option. There are other things, like making felt Ewoks, that I say “yes” to, not because I love crafting weird little creatures, but because I love creating with my own four weird little creatures.
Design*Sponge is seemingly more ‘odd’ thing in my monthly calendar. In an odd way, it is like going to the gym for me. I love it, but it can be so HARD. Going to the gym pushes me physically. It challenges me when I feel like I can’t do something and it constantly forces my body to try new things. After being gone for the hospital stay, cast, and summer….I am determined to get back into the routine. I’m a better mom when I am taking care of myself in that way.
Design*Sponge challenges me creatively. It pushes me to try new things and refine ideas to make them better. For most areas of my life, I do my own thing. I’m my own boss in many ways. When I post tutorials or ideas here, you guys are always so encouraging and kind in your comments. Design*Sponge exists to promote great design, so the ideas shared are by nature supposed to be of great design (and readers let you know if they don’t think your idea falls in that “great” category). Being a part of that site means I get to work with Kate Pruitt (the senior DIY editor). Many of Kate’s projects are what first drew me to D*S. Kate is also the online editor of Anthology magazine.
Working with Kate has been challenging in the best sense of the word. She both encourages my ideas, but helps me to brainstorm and find ways to make them better. That doesn’t sound like it helps me in my day to day priorities of being a mom, but it does. In a funny kind of way, I am placing my creative side under the authority of someone else. That someone else challenges me and pushes me to grow as an artist & maker. Writing for D*S also gives me a great excuse to try new things. For the hanging shelf project, I used a new saw and leather punch for the first time. For the etched map, I used etching cream for the first time. In day to day life with 4 small kids, I probably would not have taken the time to learn those skills. I welcome the challenge to learn new things, even when it means it might hurt a little (as in not so encouraging comments from others or a minor flesh wound).
You can click here to see some of my past Design*Sponge posts (not all show up for some reason)
I don’t have a lot of extra time to push myself to grow in many areas. I am learning science again by helping my 7 year old with his homework. I am reminded of proper sentence structure when we read his english lessons. It is embarrassing how much school knowledge I lose with each addition to my family, but I’m growing in other areas. You may silently be correcting my grammar each time you read my blog (love you pinterest). I’m okay with that. For now, I am going to focus on raising 4 (and then 5) little ones to become responsible, compassionate and gracious adults. I’m going to challenge myself to grow as an artist/crafter/maker. And I am going to try to remember to use more commas when I write. Try.
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