May 20, 2010

It's amazing how much year or so of Extreme Real Life can put a hold on one's creativity. By now, many regular visitors to this site are aware of the trials and tribulations that struck me and my family in 2004 -- 2005. After my Dad died less than a month before his birthday in '05, my Muse started to take longer and longer vacations, which became nearly permanent when my younger brother died in '07 (we will not discuss the fact that my other brothers didn't bother to notify me; I found out months later from a friend of the family who, bless her, is still a true friend). I was beginning to think my creative juices had decided to dry up entirely about a year ago -- kinda like the rest of me, as the years start piling up and my bones creak more and more. But it would seem that I was wrong. Just before we went on vacation last spring, I went looking for something to take along to keep myself amused that was new and different. While I've done a lot of needlework in my life, I'd never tried my hand at a style called Charted Canvas Needlepoint. I'd seen examples in shops, but until I went into a local needlecraft store and got a look at an actual chart, I hadn't realized how simple it was (if putsy). After completing several purchased designs, I got it into my head that it wouldn't be hard to make my own designs and patterns -- and thus MJ's Artworx came into being. If you're interested in more information about my patterns and how to purchase them, a new page will be posted soon.

Still hoping for a MUCH brighter future,

Mary Jean Holmes