I am FINALLY back to the crafting/blogging world!
For those of you that didn't hear where I went or why I was gone- I had to leave spur of the moment and unplanned due to my little brother passing away.
I am so grateful to you guys for sticking around, even though I took a month off to be with my family. Lucky for me, I have a fabulous friend named Rach that took over the reins of my blog and lined up some great guest posts from my favorite bloggers to keep things moving with my blog. So thank you to everyone that helped guest post! You guys are the best!!
And a HUGE thank you to you guys.... I got so many wonderful emails, comments, etc- that really helped me and made me feel ok about taking this big leave. Thanks so much for your support and understanding! I love you all and am so grateful to get to know you a little bit through this blog! You guys are the best!!
I pulled back into town last night so I have a month worth of everything to catch back up on, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am back on board with blogging and crafting and have some fun projects and tutorials up my sleeves- headed your way soon!! Thanks for hanging around!!
In the mean time, I am going to share a little bit of behind the blog scenes... WHAT MY HOUSE LOOKS LIKE WHEN I AM MID-CRAFTING... brace yourselves! ha ha
(this is a guest post I wrote for My Hand Crafted Home)
Have you ever felt worthless after spending hours(or even minutes) looking at blogs because in blogland everyones house is perfectly kept, kids are perfectly dressed, projects are always completed, pictures have perfect lighting, and meals are artfully prepared and served on color coordinating dishes, etc?
For those of you that didn't hear where I went or why I was gone- I had to leave spur of the moment and unplanned due to my little brother passing away.
I am so grateful to you guys for sticking around, even though I took a month off to be with my family. Lucky for me, I have a fabulous friend named Rach that took over the reins of my blog and lined up some great guest posts from my favorite bloggers to keep things moving with my blog. So thank you to everyone that helped guest post! You guys are the best!!
And a HUGE thank you to you guys.... I got so many wonderful emails, comments, etc- that really helped me and made me feel ok about taking this big leave. Thanks so much for your support and understanding! I love you all and am so grateful to get to know you a little bit through this blog! You guys are the best!!
I pulled back into town last night so I have a month worth of everything to catch back up on, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am back on board with blogging and crafting and have some fun projects and tutorials up my sleeves- headed your way soon!! Thanks for hanging around!!
In the mean time, I am going to share a little bit of behind the blog scenes... WHAT MY HOUSE LOOKS LIKE WHEN I AM MID-CRAFTING... brace yourselves! ha ha
(this is a guest post I wrote for My Hand Crafted Home)
Have you ever felt worthless after spending hours(or even minutes) looking at blogs because in blogland everyones house is perfectly kept, kids are perfectly dressed, projects are always completed, pictures have perfect lighting, and meals are artfully prepared and served on color coordinating dishes, etc?
Then you aren't alone! I have spent many a night feeling like I am not as orderly, crafty, talented, etc as other bloggers out there!
But I have a newsflash for you... blogging is an optical illusion. You see what bloggers want you to see. The picture of the perfect chocolate cake doesn't show the kitchen in the other room that was torn apart making it! The picture of an intricate quilt doesn't show the number of seams that were ripped out while making it. The picture of a perfectly fitted pencil skirt doesn't show the safety pin in the back holding the skirt shut cuz the button popped off while taking pictures! Get what I mean?
Pretty much 100% of the time that I blog, I am sitting in my pajamas with a house in need of some sort of attention! (to my defense, I mainly blog at night so pajamas are fitting- but that is no excuse for my house! ha ha)
Of course we want everyone to see the "perfect side" not the side that has let the laundry pile up and go unfolded for weeks while working on sewing projects. {Of course that has never happened to me- just giving an example- wink wink}
So today I thought I would let you in on a little bit of the behind the scenes in my neck of the woods. Brace yourselves... it isn't pretty!
I live in an apartment and have limited space. I don't have a cute craft room {that will be the day}- so my dining room doubles as a sewing/laundry room. Here is what is was looking like last night amid-sewing...
Across the room lies a space full of disorder!! (un pictured in the corner is a sink full of dirty dishes and an empty pizza box cuz mommy didn't have time to make dinner! ha)
I guess what I am trying to say is that blogging is awesome in a lot of ways- but just keep in mind that what you see isn't always the whole picture! :)










I'm so sorry for your loss! On the other hand - this post is great :-) I actually had a big rant about the perfection of everyone's house except mine - I'm glad you use your dining room too! I had so much stuff in my dining room, hubby finally helped me get an attic room cleaned up so I can craft upstairs (and out of the way). I'm a new follower! Welcome back :-)
ReplyDeletewww.onedogwoof.blogspot.com
SO glad you are back to blogging. I can't even imagine what you've gone through over the last month but I hope you know how much you are loved and how much people were praying for you and your family. Can't wait to spend time with you at SNAP. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back!!
ReplyDeleteOH. My gosh. That is one thing I didn't know about you. We are fellow freebird crafters! LOL!!! We should start a club. Hahahahaha! I can't wait to see what you've got up your sleeves!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI agree - Free the Birds :)
ReplyDeleteI just gotta say I love the bra hanging from the chair shot. This is often how I am whilst sewing. Glad to know I'm not the only one.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of you loss. On another note, thanks for keeping it real on your blog, love the bra shot!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your loss. Very happy to see you back :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so gla you're back! I've really missed you blogging. I'm so sorry about your loss, though.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for this post. I so often feel like I din't measure up to other bloggers, but yiu're right. So often readers only see what the writer wants them too. I am constantly trying to become more apparent with my blog. Thanks for being open with yours. =)
Alesha <3
Hello Ashley! I am so glad you are back. I know the last month has been a really trying time for your family, and all of us has thought about you so much. I hope you were able to find comfort in the midst of everything that was going on. We've definitely missed you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're back, I've missed all the fun stuff you do! I am so very sorry for your loss--I almost lost my sister at Christmas, and I thank God that I had family and friends to help me through it. It's wonderful that you were able to spend so much time with your family at such a difficult time. I will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, thank you for this post because I feel like this most of the time! Especially when I take pictures of projects and notice the background...oh boy ;) And the bra is great--at my house it's usually me asking my husband while he's taking pictures, "You can't tell I don't have a bra on, right?" LOL, there's just something about crafting and being free. Yay for being back to the blogging world!
thanks for sharing, it's nice to see the real world ;-)
ReplyDeleteShirley says:
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have kept you and your family in our prayers. I too am a freebird sewer.
Yay!!!! Your back!!! So fun to see this post today. Ash, you crack me up. Can't wait to see all you have in store. Love you so much!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post, your enthusiasm, your positive attitude, your love for blogging, and your honesty. Welcome back! I can't even imagine what you've gone through, but with that wonderful outlook on life that you have, I'm sure you will do just fine. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back - love the honesty of your post! Keep your head up as you greive your loss. Keep sewing and crafting for therapy! Good job! You are a great example! We all need each other! :)
ReplyDeleteCome visit if you like - LoveItSewMuch.blogspot.com
Welcome back, I'm so sorry to hear about your little brother, I hope you and your family can recover tform this loss very soon.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are back Ashley. Been checking to see when you were coming back. Can't wait to see the new fun stuff your have going on. Love all your ideas:>
ReplyDeletegood to have you back! I also want to thank you for the "real" shots! I sometimes feel like when other bloggers "keep it real" they still are holding back! You gave us a "true" glimpse of the "real" you :-) bra and all! Thanks! We all need to know we have "real" life moments in our days! May you still feel uplifted and strengthened in the upcoming days, weeks and years! Much love
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Ashley. Sorry to hear the news about your brother's passing. Great post, it's very true - there is a reason why there are never pictures of my house on my blog! xx
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Ashley! I don't think I could show photos of my mess. Good on you for a great post. Take care of yourself...
ReplyDeleteYou are the real deal girl!! Nothing phony or pretentious!! We love you and your family:)
ReplyDeleteClearly the bra shot is the favorite, but you had me smiling along when you mentioned the laundry piling up. I may or may not be guilty of that.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back and blogging, and glad you could take the month off to be with your family. Take care of yourself, but you are awesome for keeping it real. We should have some sort of linky party for KIR shots. Hmmmmm.
Welcome back, Ashley! I sure hope blogging and crafting again is bringing you joy :) LOVE that comment- "Blogging is an optical illusion." Thinking that might need to be a word art in my sidebar! :)
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies on your loss, Ashley.
ReplyDeleteOn a happier vein, I just looooove your sewing area! That's cos mine is always as messy and I wish it wasn't so. Every morning there are pieces of fabric strewn across the floor and bags of my scrap material popping out of the bookcase I keep them on. I try to clean it up, after each project, but it doesn't get better cos then I go and start on a new one.
Anyways, thanks so for this back to earth kind of post.
Hi Ashley, continued prayers for you and your family...
ReplyDeleteBut it's really nice to have you back! :-) Thanks for sharing your "real life" pictures with us! You just gave me a great idea for a blog post of my own...
Hope the transition back into daily routine goes smoothly for you and you don't get too bogged down with trying to catch up.
Blessings,
Malaika.
Welcome back! That bra on the chair is hilarious!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your brother, Ashley. So glad to have you back. Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteWellllllllllcome back, Ash! So glad you could spend some time with the fam :) We missed you!
ReplyDeletePS: Love the bra shot! lol
xoxoxo
Welcome back Ashley, we missed you and have been thinking about you. What a fun and honest post, I totally understand the free bird while crafting!
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