History of a Blog, Part Two

In yesterday's post, I looked back at how Mary Rose's Cafe began, from its humble beginnings to its humble middle. LOL! No meteoric rise to fame here! Of course, what blogger doesn't begin a blog in the hopes of having a huge number of subscribers?

But truly, I was different. I never wanted a vast number of daily readers. I just wanted one reader who happened to be a book publisher with a five- book contract. And maybe one more reader who happened to be an executive director and producer of blockbuster movies.

Alas, not every blogger gets to grow up and become Rhee Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) one day.

But bloggers are hopeful creatures. We're constantly trying to change and evolve for our readers.

I've got it! I'm going to spend a year making every recipe from Julia Child's cookbook! And then I'm going to blog about it! And then some young, up and coming Hollywood actress will play the part of me!

What? That's already been done?

Well, drat!

And that, my friends, is the problem with this little blog. It's already been done.

There are some truly gifted paper crafters in the field today. Give them stamps and ink and glue and paper, and they'll create a work of art. They have fantastically popular blogs and galleries that inspire the rest of us to buy more and craft more and surf the web more. Let's face it. If you are on a design team, your sole purpose is to be amazing so that others will purchase stuff in the hopes of one day being amazing, too.

I'm older and wiser now. I know my strengths and my weaknesses.

My strength is not in the things I create with my hands.

My strength has always been in the thoughts I think in my caffeine-riddled pea brain, thoughts that sometimes come together in a cohesive manner to form something original, something that is completely and honestly me.

Where do I go from here?

Well, let me tell you what Mary Rose's Cafe will not be. It will not be the place you will visit to see the newest product being used for some card or paper craft creation. I'll probably still be making cards, but I'm not posting them here. I will still have a gallery at Splitcoast Stampers (under the screen name "maryrose"), but the truth is that I'll only make cards when I want to and when I need to. I'm perilously close to reaching the saturation point with this craft, and I don't want to totally burn myself out...again.

Mary Rose's Cafe will also not be a lifestyle blog. No recipes, no artful photography. Been there, tried that, not trying any more.

This blog will not be my public journal. In this regard, I'm blogging to the Lord now, and that will suffice.

So, I've taken away the cards. I've taken away the recipes. I've taken away the photographs. What's left?

To be completely honest here, not much. Words on a screen. Thoughts. Time and space to clear out some mental clutter, time to find focus and purpose.

I'm taking the time to pursue my writing goals now. I'll occasionally pop in to the cafe to let you know how that's going. And if I have some brilliant thought that needs to be shared, I may share it here.

Today, I feel nothing but thankfulness in my heart for all of you! You have been there at a tumultuous time in my life, and I am so grateful. You befriended this poor friendless soul, and you encouraged me on a daily basis. You sent me cards and notes and gifts, and you offered me fellowship when I so desperately needed it. Bless you!

From humble beginnings to just plain humbled.

From the bottom of my heart...Thank you!