Confections: August 2010

Not sure how to go about it, but I have a couple things to share for those of you that stop by and "know" me a bit. You might have put two and two together but in case you haven't, I'm gonna give this a shot. Feels a little odd, but seems important, too. Have I scared you yet??? :)

O.k. so I noticed an old post from last Fall and it was one when I mentioned that I was going through a divorce and making a home for my kids and I. So here's the deal. I was going through a divorce, but now I'm not. My husband and I are happily back together. Of course there's a long story I am not going to go into, but there's the facts of it.

So why am I blogging about it? I am pretty private these days. This is sort of strange for me and I don't feel entirely comfortable with it. But I feel MORE uncomfortable about not writing this. Well there's a couple reasons.

One, I feel strange that there is a blog saying I'm going through a divorce...when I am not anymore. I thought about deleting that post, rather than writing this one. But that didn't feel right. The only other solution seemed to be what I'm doing right now!

Two, I'm an honest, what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of gal. I'm NOT at ALL interested in projecting an image of myself or my life that is "all pink and blue," as the saying goes. I'm a real woman with a real life. The times I've blogged from that real-woman-heart are the posts that my readers seemed to connect with most. It's fun to show pics of pretty stuff. It's a way to show what I'm making/selling. But there's also THIS...the intersections of our lives...the passing one another and rubbing shoulders....the connections we form, even virtually.

Three, and sort of related to Two but worth its own paragraph...I just want you to know that my life isn't just cupcakey and pretty and sweet. It's ugly, hard, messy, dirty and full of mistakes. Just like yours. We aren't that different, you and I...not really. This last year was the hardest, most emotionally volatile, most painful year of my life, and it seems right that I put this out there with the cupcakes and the frou-frou. It's part of ME.

So there we go...I'm at home, I'm actually home with 3-year-old Andrew and I am happy. Playing baseball, even though I'm terrible at pitching to him...he says, "You can do it, Mama!" :) Working. Writing. Trying to get back into running again. Taking care of my beautiful family. I am where I am supposed to be. Where I want to be. And that's really, really good. I'd rather not answer questions about details. This is all I want to say about it. However, if you are someone who has gone through something similar, are in the middle of painful marital issues or are just in PAIN, and want to chat, heart-to-heart and down-to-earth with someone who really GETS it, please email me. It's cherylensomdack@gmail.com. I'd love to talk with you.

In keeping with the self-revealing nature of this post, I have a confession to make: I have another blog. Yes. I know. You feel like I've been keeping this from you. :) Well, I have! I don't link to the other blog here. If someone wanted to, they could find it through my name, but other than that, only a few people know about it. It's a more "me" blog...less about business and more about personal stuff. In addition to sewing/running my fabric store, I write. A lot. I'm the guest-editor of a website. I talk about pretty honest, gut level stuff going on in my head and heart. When I do talk about business/art stuff it's the "other" side of me that isn't pink and cupcakey at all. It's more ivory-vintage stuff. Some of that I've shown you here, as well.

So anyway, I'm inviting you (if you wish) to visit my other blog: www.livinginabeautifulmess.blogspot.com

And lastly, as long as I'm being honest, I ALSO didn't tell you (I know, I know) that I got a tattoo a little over a year ago. Now I'm being kind of silly. I didn't even realize until today that I had blogged about my tattoo on the other blog but not on this one and wanted to share it with my fellow all-things-vintage-lovers. Don't worry there's no skulls or dripping blood or anything. It's actually based on a vintage embroidery pattern and I LOVE it. I've never had a tattoo. Never thought I'd want one. Never even CONSIDERED it. But the idea for this one got in my head and wouldn't leave and I've not regretted it one single bit. It's so ME. Here's a post about it: http://livinginabeautifulmess.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-vintage-tattoo.html

So that's it. :)

"She unwrapped the brown paper parcel, beautifully tied with pink velvet ribbon and smiled at her friend. "I'm so excited!" she said as she set the paper and ribbon aside.

She pulled layers of peach pink tissue paper and tuling aside until the gift lay on her lap. She gasped and tears filled her eyes. "

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This fabric book started as a simple canvas "book" altered by hand to be a special heirloom honoring the beauty of friendship. Details abound..."pockets" for tucking special photos, letters or keepsakes into, pretty vintage and new papers, antique lace, vintage millinery, a vintage ad, rhinestone earring, vintage sheet music, an old key and so much more. The perfect gift for a dear friend. You can write something on every page or you can leave it blank for her to write in.

You will also receive a "tea"-colored fabric pen for writing directly on the fabric, if you desire.

The book is approximately 6x7" and has 10 pages. If you are interested in purchasing this book, please go HERE.