It's back to school season.  And even for those of us without school in our lives, this month is the bookend for the summer.  A season of frivolity (or moments of it) has finished.  It's back to the grindstone, or at least time to start thinking about the season ahead. 

I like this fortune, another from my friend Robyn as a reminder at times we face challenges.

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

You can find this in my Etsy store.

I have to admit I'm really enjoying this project.  There are two reasons why.  First, there are the fortunes themselves.  Sometimes stating the obvious, sometimes stating the ridiculous, I find myself ruminating over these little gems.  Secondly, I love the sharing they encourage. 

My lastest fortune cookie card was shared with me indirectly.  Knowing I collect the fortunes, my friend Kelly emailed me the day her entire office ordered Chinese take-out.  Her office-mates announced what they each received from their little cookies. She then passed them on to me.

"There is no mistake so great as that of always being right."

Indeed!

You can find this, along with the rest of the Fortune Cookie Wisdom collection at  my Etsy store.

My friend Robyn sent a couple of fortunes she and her Mother shared at dinner.  One of them was "Discipline is the refining fire by which talent becomes ability."  This couldn't have come at a better time.  I was looking for my next snippet of wisdom to stitch.  But also, I've been experiencing some discipline problems of my own. 

The holiday season is right around the corner, and with the biggest selling season.  In order to get in the running, I need to think about craft fairs and inventory ... now.  I need to have a plan and know how I'm going to tackle this.  Merchandise lines need to be finished, plans need to be made.  However, with the summer coming to end, my brain is stuck on day-dreaming.

I have several ideas, knowing what I want to make, but the list grows. I want to make everything now! Realistically, that just isn't possible, I only have tow hands.  The challenge comes in balancing the creative fire without overwhelming myself into inactivity.  And the answer, as the cookie so prophetically told, lies in discipline. 

How perfect.

This card can be purchased at my Etsy store.  A wonderful greeting card on it's own,  the photo frame also makes for a great display.  It can be put into a 4"x6" frame, or it can be displayed as is on a desk. 

If I haven't already mentioned, I love this fortune cookie project.  There's a real element of sharing as I get ideas.  One day I put the call out to friends that I was looking for fortunes.  It just so happened that was the day my friend Kelly's office ordered take-out.  I was given a whole new slew of material.  It started a dialogue with people about their favorite and most memorable fortunes.  Kelly offered this one for the memorable pile: "How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand"

It sometimes takes a moment, but always illicits a chuckle.

You can buy this at my Etsy store.

I've thankful for many things (I can't put a number on it, for fear of sounding like the Spanish Inquisition from that Monte Python sketch).  Among the awesome things in my life are cross-stitching and the radical crafts community. 

I've been making things for ages, in a bit of a vacuum.  Friends are supportive and inspirational, but for years I felt like I was alone in my interests.

But the Internet doesn't allow lonliness for long.  Crafting communities like Made It Myself, the American Craft Guild and Craftster offer forums and information for crafters.  I've met so many people with AMAZING creations through these sites.  Building my own business, I am no longer alone with my questions and issues. It's also great to share tips with others.

My absolute favorite on the Internet for sharing has to be Flickr.  Because I express myself mostly in visuals (though I seem to have developed a voice as a writer), it acts as my photo diary.  I'm able to share the pictures I snap around my neighborhood and in my travels.  By joining groups I'm also able to get feedback on my creations.  This has proved invaluable. Flickr also hosts an amazingly robust needlework and embroidery community.  I'm constantly amazed finding new artists and what they make. 

Yellow Springs Arts is part of this stitching community.  They're hosting a Radical Craft Show in September and feature one of my Fortune Cookie Designs on their blog.  No longer in a vacuum, I've reconnected with old friends, maintain established ones and have found some very cool new people.