Camera Shy_June 2011

For the life of me, I cannot understand why I continue to pay the fees for Craft Shows when I barely make table.  (That's the cost you've got to pay just to be AT the show.)

The reason for wanting to work with my hands is because I believe my writing isn't 'good enough' for publication.  I've been writing my entire life, mostly in personal journals no one ever sees.  In those rare instances I've allowed a piece of me to escape, many are impressed.

A friend once said, "I love the way you write; it's like you were standing in the same room with me."  I haven't see her in over 30 years; we met up again last Summer; I told her I was seriously considering writing to supplement my income.  She asked what I was going to write about?  "My experiences of course."  Her comment?  "How boring!"  Hmmmm .  . . .

Since her comment, I've tried a zillion different things to do with my hands creatively, to sell, none of which have come to fruition AND the supplies are expensive.  My mother recently said, "Why don't you make jewelry?"  My thought?  "Great!  Another endeavor I can spend more money on.  And isn't everyone doing jewelry these days?"  Of course my jewelry would have to super special because I just wouldn't be satisfied with the ho-hum norm I see at those craft shows.  Oh no!  MY jewelry would require more than wire and crystals or things you can purchase from the craft shops.  Why just the other day I did a show; the woman sitting next to me said, "Look!  $4.00 for a pair of earrings, $6.00 for a necklace and I can't give them away."  I'm glad I didn't wear any of my jewelry that day; just a pair of store bought gold-tone earrings.  Even I wouldn't have purchased the jewelry she was selling.

Back to the proverbial drawing board . . . .  I keep saying it's time to start (writing), yet am camera shy when it comes time to actually do it.