Well look who sucks at blogging these days. That would be me. And my Aunt Susan, but I'm mostly just talking about me right now. And don't ask about the title for this post, we've just been watching a bit too much Toy Story 2 around here lately.
I've always appreciated getting the business end of current events out in the open before moving on to lighter topics. So let's get on with it:
Effective today, on its first birthday, I've stepped down from my role at www.writeclickscrapbook.com and have handed over the reigns to the very capable and very creative Elizabeth and Marnie and the rest of the growing WCS editorial team. This was a very emotional, hugely tough decision to make but it needed to be done. I'm very proud of what our entire team has accomplished and I'm honored to have been part of such an amazing adventure. The three of us took an idea and made it happen and watched it grow, and, well, it's not every day you get to say that about an idea. Thank you, Marnie and Elizabeth, for everything.
And if you've been a reader of mine for a while, you might have noticed a pattern over the last year or so. I closed my photography business, I stepped down from the Studio Calico design team, I've left WCS, and now I'm signing off here for an indefinite long while. The pattern is time with my family, my three kids who never stop growing and changing and surprising me with their wit and wonder. One day, not long ago, I realized that so much of their growth the past several years was captured in photos and the random scrapbook page, but not in my own personal memory bank. Maybe it's just that I'm over 40 and my brain capacity is maxed out, or maybe it's just how things are with three kids and constant chaos. Or maybe it's that I haven't really been fully present in my family, distracted by the computer and various deadlines. If I can't remember so much of their toddlerhoods, do they remember me being a part of it?
I'm going to step away from the computer - an e-break - and get down on the floor with my kids and suck up every last drop of their youth while I can. I will still scrapbook and photograph and quilt, but at my own pace and without anyone's expectations but my own. I'm looking forward to working much harder on being the wife and mother I desire to be and that my family deserves.
My first post here was on November 8, 2005. So much has changed in my life since then and so much of that has been documented here. And I'm thankful for that. Thankful for your kind words when times were tough, for your support and encouragement in the things I've accomplished, and for your laughing at all the right times. Thank you, friends and family, for everything.
So this is sort of an open-ended so long, a good-bye without the bye, just the good. And a few photos of the quilt I recently finished for my brother who continues to struggle in his own life. I hope that when he receives this quilt and wraps it around himself that he feels the love and caring that his stupidhead big sister put into making it and then washing it free of cooties:
For the front, I was inspired by this quilt which is made with 5x5 charm squares, with half of them cut in half. I pulled all the blues from my stash and cut them into 5" strips and then into either 5" or 2.5" lengths and sewed them together in coin-like strips with grey sashing (Kona Ash). The binding is strips of the blue fabrics from the quilt and I did straight-line quilting on either side of the vertical seams. The whole thing came together quite easily and it has turned out to be the largest quilt I've made to date. I love how it turned out and I think my brother will, too.
Here's a close-up of the front and then a photo of the back for which I used a queen-sized flat sheet from IKEA in a solid dark blue. No fancy piecing on the back this time around:
Peace out, dear friends, and God bless.
You are now, and will continue to be, a hero to me. I just think you are the wisest, funniest, coolest person in the world. Meanwhile, there's a life waiting to be lived -- get to it!
Posted by: Cindy Drennan | June 01, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Good for you. Hard choice, but you do what's best, right? You'll be missed! Have fun with your new adventures of being totally present :)
I get it. My four have me on the go all the time and more as they get older.
Posted by: Lee | June 02, 2010 at 05:07 AM
good for you! i hope i see you and the kids around town.
xoxo,
tram
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1385756789 | June 02, 2010 at 05:46 AM
I will miss your blogging, but am so proud of you for doing what's best for you and your family. Just pop a pic up every once-in-a-while, to keep us happy! ;)
Posted by: Amy Coose | June 02, 2010 at 06:01 AM
Good on you Tina. Brava for being so wonderfully decisive on what is good for you and your life. It gives me pause about mine. and Enjoy Life!
Posted by: yvonne | June 02, 2010 at 07:45 AM
Totally respect your decision! Keep in touch, I will miss you! Give those munchkins big hugs, okay?
Posted by: Kim | June 02, 2010 at 08:13 AM
oh, please don't go entirely! once in every while, please do a post with whatever wonderful quilt or crafty endeavour you;ve come up with - you make me want to dust off my sewing machine with your gorgeous but simple quilts, and I love seeing what you;ve made.
But do enjoy getting on the floor with your kids...mind you, your 40 y.o back might not like it as much as you would like! ;-)
Posted by: Sharon | June 02, 2010 at 06:18 PM
:::sniff:::
Not goodbye...but see ya later :)
(Gorgeous quilt!)
Posted by: Jody | June 03, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Oh, Tina! I think this is so great! Of course, you will be missed, but you know?! It takes so much strength and courage to do what you're doing!
I've been spending *much* less time on the computer lately, and you know?! It feels SO good! Makes me want to take an indefinite break too. *sigh* Not that I have *that* many "obligations" online. But you know the feeling... hard to step away.
We don't have children, but I still feel like I'm missing out on so much with this online "thing" taking so much of our time. I miss my husband. I miss our pets. I miss ME. And "me," ironically, is my "one word" for 2010. Tee hee.
I have quit my job. I have stepped down from Craft Critique. I have stepped down from several other websites... turning things over to new people.
Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement you always give... to live life... and not always an "online" life, but the real life with relationships and people and fun that doesn't involve a glowing screen.
Thank you. :-)
Posted by: reyanna | June 03, 2010 at 12:41 PM
So sad to see you go but I also have three kids who are growing up sooo fast. Be there now when they still think you are cool and can help them solve all their problems. I have one 13, 12 and 9 and who knew time would fly and we would lose our coolness. Wish I could freeze them. Enjoy your time at home and feel blessed every single moment-even when things seem crazy!!!
Posted by: Joyce | June 06, 2010 at 07:32 PM
Like Jordan, I really liked this blog, very well prepared and with good topic of discussion. ???????
Okay, seriously, I was going to rave on about the quilt, but instead I want to borrow it to wipe the snot and tears. YOU CAN'T LEAVE!!! I NEEEED YOU. *pout*
Posted by: Sharyn | June 07, 2010 at 01:56 PM
Good luck to you. I will certainly miss your updates, photographs, layouts & quilts but greatly admire you for doing what it takes to be the mama & wife you know yourself to be.
Posted by: Monica McNeill | June 10, 2010 at 11:44 AM
I haven't been the most faithful visitor lately but I am a faithful fan. I love that you post the most poignant simple touching layouts and great photos, and that you've always been a well of inspiration just by being you.
Thank you for all these years. Until we meet again, Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | June 10, 2010 at 04:39 PM
Here's how much I suck at blogging: I didn't realize until almost A MONTH later that you'd tweaked me about my lack of blogging! Selfishly I'm sad to think of you not enriching us with your wit, your photos, your creative output; but as a mom and aunt and great-aunt, I so understand your need to be there. Give big kisses to the kiddos for me, and to the big male kiddo in your life. And don't forget you, too. xoxo
Posted by: Susan Champlin | June 27, 2010 at 07:37 PM
This is beautiful... This is beyond awesome... wooow it is just stunning and I LOVE IT !!
Posted by: news games | September 08, 2010 at 08:26 AM
This is a good piece of art.I love the color plus cleaning it is not that hard. Quilts, rugs or carpets are the things that really fascinate me especially if it is made with personal touch. Thanks a lot for featuring this article. More power.
Posted by: carpet cleaning smyrna ga | January 28, 2011 at 01:28 AM
Wow. I never thought that you're gonna stop from blogging your works. They're all good. It might be a great idea to put up your own website whenever you decide to come back. NJ website designers, as I have noticed today, are considered by business owners. I think it's a great way of promoting business. I am really hoping to see your own website one day where we can get to see your works.
- Hillary Carter
Posted by: NJ website designers | January 31, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Merci Aymeric tu me donnes une idée pour mon prochain billet: "faut il avoir peur de google ?"...
Sauf que ce sujet a du être étudié de fonds en comble par la blogosphère....
Il faut que je trouve quelque chose d'autres....voyons.....:
Je l'ai: Faut il avoir peur d'AYMERIC qui avec Google est en mesure de "retracer toutes les traces laissées par une personne sur internet"
Posted by: calvin klein pull | October 26, 2011 at 02:00 AM