box of inspiration

Earlier this year I reconnected with an old friend of mine.  It had been over ten years since I had seen or  talked to her.  In the intricately wonderful way blogs work she found me through a comment and link I had left on Amanda Soule's blog in the spring.

What a fantastically small world, I say.

Recently when I shared with her the many exciting changes that are happening in our family: new job for hubby, staying at home full time for me, baby number four on the way; she insisted that I needed some inspiration as I journey into this new time of creativity and homemaking.

Last week I received a whole box of inspiration.  Twenty-nine, yes 29, sewing, knitting, paper-making, crafting and homemaking books arrived for me in the mail.  There was much squealing and cheering and jumping around our house for quite some time.  I squealed over the books.  The kids squealed over the bubble wrap the books came wrapped in.

I've been slowly making my way through the stack, book by book, soaking in the lovely pictures and projects, scheming what I might make first.  Oh so much to choose from!

Big Brother on the other hand selected a book right away and within an hour of opening the box was well into a project.  My young artist was following the templates free-hand to create these delightful paper animals.  Munchkin, as he does most days right now, wanted to do exactly the same.  Pretty good I think.

My friend included a book I've been wanting for a long, long time, unbeknown to her.  I figure if any book can, Keeping Chickens by Ashley English will convince me 100% that I do want to keep chickens, and the knowledge will help me convince Honey that he wants me to too.  (Or, it will give me just enough reality to know that perhaps I don't.)

I am still a bit overwhelmed by my re-found friend's sweet generosity, and her wanting to recognize this special time in my life.  I can't think of a better start to my pursuit of homemade creativity than having a personal library of books all for creating.  Especially when the usual routine was a handful of books from the public library in three-week increments. 

Inspiration indeed.