Stepping into the forest of my mind

Stepping into the forest of my mind
Just as every journey begins with a first step, every story begins with the first word.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Insecure Writers Want to Know: Besides writing what other creative outlets do you have?


Me, creative? I wish I could say I’m a musician or a painter, but my medium is words. I’m a storyteller just like my father before me. Okay, I specialize in anecdotes—family anecdotes. But something besides storytelling? I really had to think about this question. 
http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com


I’m the keeper of my family’s memories, our treasure, our adventures. I create photo albums for each child with this treasure. Each of my five children receive a life book, I call it, filled to the brim with their personal anecdotes and life treasure. These books take me months and months to create. I fill them with redwood tiny pine cones, elementary reading certificates, small sea shells from Jersey beaches, scouts badges, and zoo pins. Stickers, photos, and snippets of their life memories fill the pages.

I like nothing more than to enjoy a fresh pot of tea in the morning. But I don’t like the teapot to get cold quickly, so I created tea cozies. I ask the children what we should make. We go up into the attic to search for scraps of material. We make a template. And I sew our new creation. Now, I’ve created tea cozies for each of my married children using their favorite clothing growing up. I create a cat using my daughter’s favorite leopard print skirt. I use contrasting fabric for ears and tail. I make dogs or cabins. I offer one of my many teapots and two tea cups to go with each tea cozy.

http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com
Have a hot cup of tea, enjoy the love
and share precious memories.
I was the hospice caregiver for my mother in her last months of life. Once she died. I made “Grandma G” heart pillows out of Mom’s housecoat. I wanted the children to remember that Gram’s love would always be with them. I attached ribbons to the hearts so the children could hang their Grandma G hearts anywhere.

I always enjoyed community theatre. I used to be in shows, but needed to decide if I was going to spend time acting or creating stories to sell. There is only so much time in one day, and my family has always been my priority.

I can’t wait to see how creative you all are. Thanks for visiting! Please follow Adventures in Writing if you haven’t already and connect with me online. Leave your blog link in your comment so I can be sure to do the same for you.

This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We post on the first Wednesday of every month.  To join us, or learn more about the group, click HERE.  


30 comments:

  1. You're preserving memories and that's a very creative talent.

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    1. Thank you so much for your encouraging words, Alex. I truly appreciate them. I think my children will appreciate their memories the older they get. Here's hoping.

      Thanks again for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  2. I agree with Alex. You sound very creative and are saving great memories for your family.

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    1. Thank you, Natalie. I truly appreciate your kind words. The children will look back on their fine adventures and maybe thank us.

      Thanks again for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  3. The pillow gifts is so thoughtful. Warms my heart. I think I'm a lot like you, in that words are where I'm the most creative. Over the years, I've dabbled in lots, but nothing has stuck. :) Happy IWSG Day!

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    1. Thank you, Raimey. I truly appreciate your kind words. The heart pillows will always remind us of my mother.

      Thanks again for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  4. What lovely memories you are creating. Sorry to say, but writing has crowded out all my other creative endeavors. I sort of regret that but don't plan to change.

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    1. Yes, I believe we are always creating memories to cherish. Writing and creating takes up the majority of my time for sure, Diane.

      Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  5. Creating photo albums is a lovely creative outlet and art form. :)

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    1. I think so too, Chrys. Thank you so much for your positive words. And thanks for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  6. The tea cozies sound so precious! I can't put a heart-eyes emoji on with this comment thing, so you'll have to imagine big heart-eyes for such a lovely memory keeper.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kindness, S.E. How wonderful. Yes, I probably drink too much tea, but I love my cozies to keep my pot warm. They're a conversation piece at a party.

      Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  7. I love the tea cozy idea. I'm thinking that knitting some for Xmas might be the ticket for the homemade gift. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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    1. That's a great idea, Anna! I cherish homemade gifts always. Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  8. I'd say for you thinking you aren't creative except with words as stated in the beginning of this blog, you have proved the opposite by the end of this post! You are extremely creative coming up with these personal scrap books and making mementos from scraps and clothing. Pretty awesome, Victoria! And, I agree with you, there is only so much time in one's life. We have to make choices and follow our hearts and passions.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Liesbet. I truly appreciate them more than you realize. Someday, you'll have to make a scrapbook of all your traveling memories once you settle down--if that ever happens.

      Thanks again for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  9. Wow, what a beautiful thing to be, "Keeper of the Memories" Sounds like a novel. What a wonderful thing to do for your family. Happy IWSG!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Juneta. I appreciate them more than you realize. I hope my family appreciates all the work it took to put these memories together.

      Thanks again for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  10. Sounds like more than words-creative, your wonderful tea cozies. Therapeutic too, I imagine having knitted a scarf once.

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    1. Good for you, Roland. I can't knit! I crocheted at one time. I needlepoint, too, come to think of it. I've made wall hangings and Christmas stockings for the children. Thanks for reminding me, Roland!

      Thanks for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  11. You sound very creative to me!

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    1. Thank you so much, Patricia! I appreciate your kind words. Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing. Please stop by again. Have a great weekend!

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  12. The tea cozies seem so amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    www.ficklemillennial.blogspot.com

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  13. Thank you, Gina! I enjoy loose tea rather than tea bags and make a fresh pot almost every day, so tea cozies are a must to keep the pot warm. Thanks so much for visiting Adventures in Writing and leaving a note. Please stop by again. Have a great day!

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  14. Preserving memories and making something useful -- now that's creativity!

    Ronel visiting for Feb's IWSG Day Being an Insecure Writer -- And Happy About It

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  15. Thank you so much, Ronel. I think so, too. I appreciate your kind words. Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a great weekend!

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  16. I enjoy gardening, but am still trying not to kill what I tend. Maybe that's why my protagonist lands in a florist shop.

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  17. My thumb is more black than green, Dawn. But what a great idea to make your protagonist work in a florist shop. You're using what you know. Bravo! Thanks so much for your note here at Adventures in Writing. All the best to you!

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