What's in a name??

You might be thinking "What's with the name of the blog?"  Well, luckily, I have already been planning to tell you.

It's funny to me how some things can just come to you from the neatest places.  In my first post, I told you that I attribute my mother with sparking the flames.  Today, I would like to tell you that I wouldn't be as crafty as I am without picking up some of my father's traits.  He can build things, fix my car...you name it.  I tend to take on his mentality about fixing things.  Take it apart, figure it out.  End of story.  If it's awful, ask for help or buy a new one :).  My dad is a very neat guy.
Having said all of that, I will continue with my story.  I was eating dinner with my mom and dad not too long ago after spending the day working on making some baby bedding.  We started to talk about how many projects I have been taking on, and how I'm always wishing I was better at things.  I was telling them that I think I seem to be above average in many different areas.  I can do lots of things well, but I enjoy doing SO many things well that I don't concentrate on one and become REALLY exceptional at one thing.

*Secret time - I seem to be pretty good at everything I do, but this is a bit of an illusion.  The secret is, I refuse to do things I'm not good at.  Like, I was always good at sports, but very VERY few people have ever seen my play basketball.  That is not a coincidence.  Feel free to utilize this secret*

After admitting that I'm not exceptional at any one thing, I said "I guess I might not ever be considered an artist, but I'll settle for crafty."  My dad's response to this was so wonderful.  He shared THE PERFECT quote that he knew from St. Francis.  What I love more about this moment, is that I had the opportunity to sing in St. Francis' Basilica in Assisi, Italy a few years ago.  That experience is probably one of the most amazing things I will cherish in my lifetime, and it was there that I first learned about St. Francis, and how neat he was.  *You should Google St. Francis of Assisi after reading.*  The quote my dad shared was this:

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. 
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. 
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist." 
— St. Francis of Assisi

It was at this moment, sitting at the dinner table with my parents, that I first thought....maybe I AM an artist.

In the following days, I started to think more seriously about sewing and baking more often and attempting to sell some items and do more custom work.  Well, if I am going to dive into this, I want a good name for the project.  I even posted a status on Facebook asking for ideas.  While I saw some creative uses of my name (thank you to anybody who threw something out there), I wasn't finding the name I was looking for.
Then it hit me!  Our power went out during a storm last week, and while I wasn't quite ready to lay down and try to go to sleep, there was NOTHING else to do.  So, while I was in bed, WIDE AWAKE listening to a completely silent house with no buzz of electricity, it hit me.  So, here we are.
I'm going to try it out.

...with hands, head, and heart.

Thanks Daddy.

....and St. Francis...