I’m In Love Again, But This Love Will Have To Wait…

Yes, yes, peeps…I’m still totally in love with my husband but I fell in love–again–at the bookstore today. I was casually walking around when my eye-lasers closed in on this little golden nugget:

craft+book

Ponder that title for a minute. Is that not one of the BEST ding-dang book titles you’ve ever seen? It’s short, sweet, and to the point. And I can tell you from seeing this book in person that it is INDEED a Big Ass Book of Crafts.

My attraction to this book, outside of the great title, has roots in my past. Those of you who read the blog regularly know that I am a pretty creative person who comes from a pretty creative family. You may remember that I worked at Leewards Craft Stores for 6 years. You may not know that, even as Jim and I struggled to make ends meet when we were first married and pre-children, I spent much of my paycheck on craft supplies and we even had a room in the house especially for crafting. (Now that I’m old I think to myself, “What a waste of space and money!”)

Ironically, the one tool that I got back then and still have today is something I didn’t even buy for myself. Any guesses? It’s my glue gun! I received it as a Secret Santa gift (yes Virginia, some Jews participate in those Christmas gift exchanges!) during my tenure at the craft store. It cost my co-worker Jessie $17, and that freakin thing from 1987 still works today as if it were brand-new. It is the one “craft supply” that has seen me through thick and thin, through every stinkin’ project for which I’ve needed adhesion. Can you believe it?? Who would have thought a glue gun could last that long?

But I digress. Enough about my favorite little glue gun. As the years went by, I turned my crafting efforts away from homemade gifts and craft shows and towards making really cool stuff for our boys’ birthday parties. When I got into scrapbooking I only did “regular” crafts if I needed something and not so much just to pass the time.

I moved from scrapbooking to making custom invitations, and then I started using my time to work and write and take care of the family and so on and so on.

When I saw this book I got so excited! Flipping through it, I noticed that some of the crafts look a little retro and I thought that was such a cool thing. The idea of having the time to just sit and craft (even without a dedicated room!) sounded so good inside my head. I love being able to just let the creativity flow. Unfortunately, at this moment in my life if I want to do all the things I currently do AND work on the two books I have in the pipeline, casual crafting with no purpose can’t really be in my current agenda.

So, I put the book back down without buying it. Don’t worry though…I’ll get around to it; as soon as I cross some things off my Master To-Do List!

14 Comments

  • Mags

    Wow-that is SOME book! I love books like that-the kind that jump right out at you and get your creative juice flowing. For me, it’s cookbooks, but I’m sure it’s the same feeling.

    Very neat.

  • Melissa

    Who knew there was a Big Ass Craft Book out there.

    Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I think a lady with a big ass should own the Big Ass Craft Book.

    Maybe I’ll pick one up when I buy the fabric for the 3 blankets I have to make…

  • Qweenie

    I was never very “crafty” per say but I used to LOVE to paint…. I haven’t even broken in my new easel and I’ve had it for almost 4 years now.

    ~Q

  • suchsimplepleasures

    i have to check out that book!! in my old age…i’ve suddenly started to try to get in touch with my inner creative-ness…maybe that book will be able to help me!!
    xoxo

  • Flea

    I am so non-crafty, but the book looks like fun. So sad that you can’t pick it up right now, but I understand. I’m the same way with smocking. Drool, drool, but not right now.

  • Melisa

    Mags: I knew it would be cookbooks for you; I bet you’ve got a ton of them!

    Melissa: ROFL…I totally agree that a lady with a big ass should own this book, which is why I will (eventually) get it.

    Qweenie: That was the problem I was starting to have…getting stuff that I didn’t have time to use!

    Sauntering: My pleasure! 🙂

    Melissa: Let that inner-creativeness out, girl!

    Piper: Thanks for visiting! 🙂

    Flea: I LOVE smocking! (I don’t know how to do it but love to look at it.) It’s always intrigued me.

  • Anonymous

    How funny that you posted about crafting! Scott just said yesterday (while eating a Baby Ruth from the 13 yr old’s Bar Mitzvah candybar tree), “Melisa ROCKS when it comes to being crafty!” Yes, honey, she does!

    -Dawn

  • Melisa

    Dawn: I’m quite impressed that you still have candy left! hee hee
    Our family devoured two of those “trees” in about 4 days. Oink Oink! 🙂