Sunday, September 07, 2008

"Have You Ever Discovered Another Kindred Spirit?"

I'm a bit of an oddball in real life. I don't know anyone that crafts the way I do...obsessively. My sister quilts, my neighbor knits, I have a friend that can do amazing things with puff paint (*wink- Hey Lindsey!), but it's just not the same, you know? I get made fun of a bit too. I probably deserve it when I bring my sewing machine on vacation! When someone is crafty, around here it is called "pulling a Meredith." One friend choked on her drink as I was talking to her...I asked what was wrong and she said, "Sorry, I just never thought I would hear "So I was making 10 detective capes when..." in my life." In this respect, I stand out around here with no one to relate to.

That's why I love blogland so much.

It didn't hit me until I saw this:
Two marvelous paintings of Anne and Diana...the famous kindred spirits.

"I've always dreamed of having a "bosom" friend...a true kindred spirit"~Anne

So here I am thinking, first "I LOVE that book/movie!" Practically grew up on the series and SERIOUSLY thought I had to have a ton of doilies ready before I got married just like them! What I would not give to live on PEI and walk along the Lake of Shining Waters.

Secondly, how glad I was to find someone who loves Anne of Green Gables so much that they would paint them like this! This person, who is by the way, the very talented Lisa Lectura of ll*creations, gets me. I get her. Here, in blogland, we are kindred spirits of sorts.

This led me to think about all the other blogs I read. How happy I am to see people who have so many craft supplies that they need their own rooms...just like me! That thrive on imagination and creativity, and frankly, can't live properly without making something on a regular basis. That understand the joy it is to just sit down and create and see where the process takes you. You are a kindred spirit too!

This community that I have found supports its members, providing encouragement, friendship, and sharing knowledge.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" -Anne

You all have shown me wonderful things. My blogroll is full of positivity and focusing on the joys of life, big and small. All this optimism has affected my daily life and the inconvenient, frustrating parts of it seem a lot smaller in comparison.

“Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. Its splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” - Anne

I have created an award, inspired by Lisa Lectura's paintings, to give to you. If you are on my blogroll, this award is for YOU. If you read my blog, this IS for you. Our common love for creating has made us kindred spirits and I am thankful for you. Please accept this badge:


Take it, save it, place it with your other awards. Pass it on if you like, but only if you want to, no pressure. It is a gift, not a tag. All I ask is this, have a glass of raspberry cordial on me.

"I love bright red drinks, don't you? They taste twice as good as any other color." -Anne

You can find the recipe here.

"That's awfully nice raspberry cordial, Anne," she said. "I didn't know raspberry cordial was so nice." -Diana

Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me, and thank you for allowing me to share mine.

P.S. Let me know how you like the cordial! :)



14 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh, what a beautiful post! and, mere, i AM one of your kindred spirits. my husband is finbally beginning to understand that i MUST have some sort of creative outlet daily or i eventually explode! thanks so much for the encouraging gift.

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

Aah Mere! This post is beautiful! We truly are kindred spirits here in blogland! I'm so glad that we have this common interest in art, creativity, and most of all Anne of Green Gables. I am so honored to be one of the lucky people to receive this lovely award! Thank you so much Mere! You just inpired me to create and you also inpired me to pop in my Anne of Green Gables dvd and drink some of that yummy raspberry cordial!

Big *H*U*G*S*,
Lisa :)

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

Hi again Mere! I left you a message on my blog. Come see!

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

What a wonderful post and I just might collect me that award,I think its darling. Marie Antionette

Anonymous said...

What a great post. I feel the same way. Having a blog makes me feel less like an outcast. There are people out there like me.
xo
lisa

Kristen Beason said...

Hi Mere,
How sweet of you! Thanks for the wonderful gift and I will proudly display it on my blog!

Happy creating,
Kristen

Adriana Whitney said...

I love this post! It is so true to me too. I will take this award and I will display it too.
Love you.
Adri

oops I almost let you the message with my husband ID, hehe (who's this Eric?)

Heather said...

Thanks so much!~ :D
I always LOVED when Anne would come on tv (that week we got a free trial of the Disney channel, lol) and read all the books. PEI seemed like such a magical, good place. I would love to visit too!
And its always so heartwarming when you find a kindred spirit!~

Candace said...

How cool is this post! Just found you thru Lani's blog Healing Expressions. Kindred Spirits are found in the fun places as well between a rock and a hard place sometime.

I'll check you weekly as I do Lani. I love/d Anne of Green Gables too. Also Little Women and other stories like that. Thought the show AoGG was really very well done.

Have a good rest of week!

Fantastic Figments said...

Really lovely honestly struck a chord in me. Most of my life I have gone through feeling like an old ball NEVER having that one really awesome best friend who 'get me' .. people my age tell me I act too old as I sit at their house with my knitting or sketch pad. I accepted being 'this kind of different' took mean 23 year to harness and now everday I HAVE TO CREATE just like you. When I found blogging I stopped feeling odd becuase there are so many of 'me' out there. Another thing I have noticed is that I never thought that anyone felt like me (or the ability to feel so deeply) but countless women are out there who are some of the most caring and loving women ever. Really what we have here is a real blessing and I am more than grateful. Thank you for writing this post it was something that really need to be said!

Smooches,
Steph


Oh and yes I have my own crafting space too .. TOTAL MESSSSS

The Polka Dot Pixie said...

How sweet! I am a kindred spirit as well! Love all things Anne!!!

Suzanne said...

Wonderful post! I'm feelin' the "kindred spirit" vibe too, :)

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

Hi Mere! Anne of Green Gables was on tv last night and I thought of you! Thanks again for such a lovely award!

Creative Blessings,
Lisa :)

Fannie said...

Amen! I love Anne and Diana and the entire series too. "Kindred Spirits" is a part of my vocab because of it.

Great post!

A kindred spirit.