Hello! Um. I lose things. Especially when I am busy. Today I have lost a laundry marker, a Clover transfer pencil and some hot glue gun bullets. I really, really needed these things. I have searched high and low for them and I know that the second I go and buy replacements the originals will make themselves known. What the HECK is that all about?! Does that happen to you?
This week I have been finishing off all the final projects for Book 3. It has been really fun, actually, trying to make sure things are the way that I want in time for the shoot. I still have loose ends to tie up and a few more props to gather. Our shoot begins on Tuesday and runs through to Friday of next week. Exciting. Three days at a lovely inner city house and one day in the outdoors.
Do you know what? Um. I get a bit nervous at this stage. Even though the aim of my books is to make people happy… to get newbies crafting… to ignite a creative spark in all that happen to pick it up and to put my own Pip-spin on making things… well… I know that there is a Crafty Guard out there who will be waiting to critique the book. Gulp. That make me nervous. Eep.
In my humble opinion, making things makes everyone happier. That is why I write books. I want people to not just BUY things or ADMIRE people who make stuff. I want more than that. I want everyone to have a go at making things themselves. I am careful to have lots of beginner projects in each book. BUT I also make sure that there are cute and clever projects for more experienced crafters… as well as lots of ideas and inspirations and other things to keep the very-crafty interested. My books are sold at regular book shops and crafty shops as well as at non-crafty shops like Sportsgirl and Urban Outfitters. Lots of people buy them as their first foray into being creative. I am really proud of that. They start with me and then they move on to other great people like Amy Karol, Anna Maria Horner, Soulemama, Purl Bee (and soon Nicole Mallalieu : she has a new book!) Often they still have a soft spot for me, but they branch out further and get a bit craft-crazy. I really like that. It is rad.
You know, I think I am really lucky to be able to write books. I really do. I guess a part of making a book is knowing that when you put something out there, you have to brace yourself for criticism. Ugh. That is the tough part. Being on show and facing the music. Argh. BUT. Let’s not think about that part, hey? I am going to do my best and that is all I can do. And I hope you like it! Because I know that I will be sure to like it a very large extreme lot before it gets the final heave-ho off to the printers. (And if you don’t like it, well… maybe you will like the next one… or the previous ones…. or maybe I am not your cup of tea at all… and that is okay too. No hard feelings!)
xx pip
I lose things when I am busy too. In fact I suggested to a darling friend of mine yesterday that maybe I was losing my mind. She said she was losing hers too, so at least I have company in crazy town. I lost a pair of prescription sunglasses I'd had only a week. So much money. So sad. So cranky with myself. And still, three weeks later, I can't fathom how I did it.