When nothing goes right, go left.

I have been feeling out of sorts and dead tired this last week. I keep working myself up into a frenzy about all the stuff I have/want to do so that I am too strung out to get anything done. I then proceed to sleep for 10-24hrs and wake up feeling guilty for wasting so much time sleeping.  One would think that in all my 37 years I would have learned better by now, but one would be incorrect.

This phrase has been with me for years as I struggle to keep things in balance. For those of you who know the song, I know is it kind of cheese ball but it helps to sing it. If you are unfamiliar with the song, take a minute and find it on you tube. It is a lovely old gospely song that is fun to sing at the top of your lungs in your car or when cleaning the house.

So that is what I am trying to do now. Find balance one day at a time.



My Etsy shop is no longer barren. Come check out the fun new bracelets that I made. I want to make a few more by the end of May. I have been ordering beads like crazy and go to Joann's and Michaels every week trolling for new stuff. Here is the link to my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RenegadeLily


I still want to start making more of my own beads too. I took some books out of the library on polymer clay and read them at night before bed. Sometimes it is hard going to sleep because I want to try all the cool things they have talked about in the books. My two favorite so far are:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7476977-the-complete-book-of-polymer-clay

and

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17659891-the-polymer-clay-artist-s-guide

They are very practical and explain techniques in a step by step manner. Lots of pictures for the visual leaner. And some beautiful inspirational project photos too.

I also started reading this book:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18210768-the-lost-art-of-dress?from_search=true

It is a history of what the author calls the "dress doctors" of America. What fascinates me is how these women used the principles of art and applied it to dress. I am in the section where she discusses proportion and color balance. I have been reading about these same rules or guidelines in other books about color and painting. I never really had a vocabulary for describing what I find appealing about certain clothes or styles that I have worn, but these ladies sure do. I am now analyzing all my clothes to see if they would approve.

Last few things to wrap up this post.

It has been sunny and nice here for a couple of days and my sister as been tirelessly working on fixing up the backyard/pool area. It is beginning to look so nice. I'll post pics when it is all done. It will be fantastic to sit out there relaxing after a swim on those hot summer days. I tell you this because I made her take a picture of me outside with this new purse she got me from her homeschooling convention.

You can kind of see the flowers around me. I love this new bag. It is handmade by someone in Swaziland. Her first name is Lindwe. You can go to the website and find out about the person who made your bag. How cool is that? Here is the website. http://timbalicrafts.org It obvious a women made it because it has good deep pockets on the inside and outside. I recommend checking them out.

While I was outside waiting for her to be ready to take the picture, I happened to look down at the new hose she bought.

It has ladybugs on it! I have never seen something so picking cute. It totally made me get out of my crabby mood.

I think I am going to call it quits for this week. I think I have covered all that is happening in Lily land. Have a good week and remember one day at a time.