![](<img src="http://www.myscrapworks.com/mswdigi/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/winddancer.jpg" alt="wind dancer" />)
I have neglected my creative personal projects for the last six months – my scrapbooking (digital and paper), my personal websites (I have 6 for my various interests but run about 24 sites for clients) and my supposed to be 2009 calendar that remains unfinished so the “gallery” launch and printing for the beneft of my favorite “green” NGO would have to be put on hold for a while.
I’m sorry but my work and my clients left little time for me to breathe. My national ads, my event staging, the websites I had to develop both here and outside the country and the two clients I have to consult overseas all demanded a bit of me and I never even stopped to wonder if there was still some of “me” left to give. I just kept saying “yes.”
Too much work to do. Not that I am complaining at a time when friends and colleagues are closing shop or losing clients, I have expanded my client base to two countries and counting. My work is now transmitted digitally to other countries where they “see” print in local languages. That gives you an idea of how little time I have for the basic stuff like sleeping and quietly spending some “me” time in a corner to read my tons of books and mags that have started gathering dust shrink-wrapped.
I am not and will not complain over the loss of my personal creative time. I’d like to think that all the work that surrounds me now helps me become better equipped to pursue my personal passions when I do start having the time. I DO love what I do tremendously and will never consider it “work” but one of life’s greatest blessings – doing what you love and getting decent compensation for it. I consider this extremely busy period simply as my “training.”
My Flower Fairies – my “calendar” work on hold aimed at making people SEE the beauty and “magic” of nature and its seasons – have been making the loudest call for attention. All 10 “fairies” with two more that have been stagnating in their “unfinished” forms.
I have received sooooo many emails and communications from all of you that I know I would have to make a much more decent mention of it with my deepest thanks in a better way than this. But for now, do know I have received ALL your emails and I would like to “hug” you all for it.
Thank you. I hope I am forgiven for not posting for the last SIX MONTHS.
***
February 28, 2009 8:42 pm
It’s so nice to hear from you. Glad that all’s well and that, in this economy, you are busy work-wise. Take care!
March 1, 2009 1:21 pm
Hi Mabelle,
It is great to hear from you. You are forgiven for not posting for such a long time. Hey live happens.
It’s good that you have work that you love to do. Thanks for the wallpaper. It’s stunning as is all of your work.
Best Wishes
March 1, 2009 1:24 pm
Forgiveness given! Absolutely! I’m just so glad to learn that you are OK. In this cyber world, one just never knows what may have happened. So happy for you that you are doing so well. Hopefully you can find your way back to your personal creative work someday and we can all rejoice! Many hugs for you, Nancy
March 1, 2009 1:30 pm
So glad you checked in!!! I’ve been hoping that it was “only” work that was keeping you from us and nothing serious. So glad you have plenty of work to keep you busy. Hopefully you will be able to find some time for you… and you’re forgiven! Thank you for the gorgeous wallpaper. It is beautiful as is all of your work.
March 1, 2009 1:45 pm
ms mabelle!!!! so glad to hear from you again
March 1, 2009 1:47 pm
I have recieved so much from you that I would never complain about what I have not. I would be the last to want yet more from you, but I was so worried! I asked another faithful blog reader, and she said she hadn’t heard either. So now I can rest easier knowing that you are drained, and super busy, but OK. Thank God.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to see mydigiSTYLE in my inbox! Thank you thank you.
Many Hugs!
Janine
March 1, 2009 1:51 pm
Mabelle, it is so good to hear from you. It is wonderful that you are so busy doing work you love. Life just can’t get better than that!
Please keep us posted. I was beginning to worry about you! (OK, it is hard to keep the “mother” instinct down!) LOL.
Hugs,
Sharon
March 1, 2009 2:01 pm
I’m a newbie here and am sorry that I have been missing your creativity for this long! Your Wind Dancer Fairy is beautiful. You are incredibly kind to share your creations for no charge.
I send you wishes for strength to endure the busy schedule. (being careful not to hope that slow down for you.) In this economy busy, busy is a good thing to be. I hope you can find time to take care of yourself however. Perhaps an assistant would be in order?!
Best of luck to you for continued success and never-ending creativity.
Sue in St Louis
March 1, 2009 2:29 pm
Mabelle, I am so glad to hear from you- I was just here yesterday or the day before looking to see where you were! Now don’t go thinking you have to spend all kinds of time on us- but sheesh, stop in and say hi! just to let us know you are alive and kickin’.
Donna
March 1, 2009 2:31 pm
Mabelle! I´m so glad to hear from you again, I´ve missed you very much and you are forgiven not posting for a long time. Thank you so much for this wonderful wallpaper. Big hugs to you.
March 1, 2009 3:08 pm
What a wonderful surprise it was to find your blog update (and freebie fairy!) in my inbox tonight, Mabelle! I’ve missed you so much, but it’s good to hear that all is well, if not overly busy.
Peace & Blessings to you, dear one. Remember to breathe and find the magic in little moments.
March 1, 2009 3:43 pm
Mabelle,
I stopped by here last week wondering how you were. I am so glad that you are busy & that life has got in the way of letting us hear from you.
Thanks so much for the stunning wallpaper
March 1, 2009 4:58 pm
Thank Goodness it is “only” work that has made you “disappear”. It is good to hear you have work, although it makes you so busy. We will wait til you have inspiration and time to continue spoiling us with your creations.
Thanks for the wallpapers.
Hugs and take care
Carola
March 1, 2009 5:46 pm
yay!! mabelle is back!! =) you’re forgiven — after all you were enjoying what kept you away from your fans. hehe! btw im following you on twitter. are you still active there?
and thanks so much for the pretty wallpaper! =) god bless wherever you are and whatever you’re doing! hehe
March 1, 2009 9:03 pm
MaBelle, it was just wonderful to hear from you. I did not think something bad had happened – just knew that once people got to see your work they would be enthralled. Enjoy what you are doing – don’t add any pressure from yourself. You talk about “personal creative time” = you are using your gift and in the end, your personal creative abilities can only benefit and blossom. Sooo good to hear from you!
March 1, 2009 9:28 pm
Mabelle, thank you so much for checking in and letting us know you’re okay! I start to get really worried when someone whose blog I read regularly just stops posting suddenly, especially if they’re gone a long time. I’m so glad your job is going well! And thanks for the lovely wallpaper, too.
March 1, 2009 9:49 pm
Mabelle,
I was so happy to see you in my inbox this AM….it was a sigh of relief that everything was ok and nothing bad had happened.
I am so glad that you are busy and of course we forgive you….just checking in every now and then until you get some breathing time is enough for me.
Thank you for the gift, it was very thoughtful of you and just know that we adore you and miss you!
Hugs,
Tammy & Shelby
March 2, 2009 12:16 am
Oh MaBelle, I’m just glad you are okay. I didn’t come here fore the freebies anyway. They were just a nice addition.
Besides having pretty much been offline myself since last August, I can certainly understand. Just check in from time to time, okay?
March 2, 2009 12:52 am
I am so happy to hear that you have been thriving in this time away from us. I know we all wish for jobs that are our work and our joy, and i for one cannot for an instant think that you should have chosen a different path in the last six months or ever, for that matter. We DID miss you, though, and as you have said, many, i among them, sent you hugs and kisses and love to speed you lovingly on your way. Thanks for dropping in to say “hi” and relieve us of our worries.
The wind dancer wallpaper is lovely. I already installed it, and will think loving thoughts your way whenever it catches my eye.
I hope that with all this you are well, keeping your weight up, finding a little bit of time for you and he. Be well.
March 2, 2009 1:33 am
Glad to hear that all is well. Don’t ever feel guilty for not being everywhere and everyplace all the time.Taking care of yourself and your family are first priority. If it means you have to work in order to do that it then family and work come first.
I find that occasional time “away” from my two biggest passions (scrapping and genealogy) are good for me. I find that if I try to work on both of them at the same time I’m not happy with the results. I also find that I dont’ get burnt out as much. When I reach a brick wall in my genealogy I go back to scrapping and I find myself re-energized and ready to tackle it. When I the scrappers block I go back to my genealogy. Since I seem to find genealogy a “feast or famine” search for info the famine time turns into scrapping time and the feast time is when I get the most research done and information inputted.
Those of us who are here for the friendship and support will always be here. The time you have been away just sorts out who is here “just for freebies” and who comes here because of you personally. Think of it as sorting the wheat from the chaff time.
Focus on whats important first!! I’m glad to hear that all is well with you….don’t forget to take care of yourself too. We will be patiently awaiting your next post and know that it will come in good time and that all good things will come in time.
March 2, 2009 2:31 am
So glad to hear that you’re doing well and prospering in these difficult times. Just know that we’re out here waiting for you to come out and play again… one day! For now, take care of yourself… we’re not going anywhere!
March 2, 2009 7:21 am
Dearest Mabelle,
I was so please to find an update in my box from you…I know you have been extremely busy with your work and I am so glad you find so much satisfaction in it…What better way to make a living then doing something you truly love!
While I ws getting worried because it had been so long since hearing from you, I didn’t want to add to your work by adding more mail to your box…I am glad that your alright and everything is going so well for you…Anytime you can pop in like this and give us a small update, we will keep hanging on waiting for you…
Take care my friend and be happy!
:::hugs:::
Angela in NC
March 2, 2009 7:24 am
Wooo i thought you had really dropped off the planet! Glad to know you were just busy and had paying clients! Glad to hear the news and have a bit of a catch-up with your doings. Thanks for the beautiful wallpaper.
March 2, 2009 10:54 am
Hi Mabelle, I missed you. it’s good to hear from you again. Take care and God Bless dear!
March 2, 2009 11:20 am
Was shocked when I received a email from ya!! I’m glad your still breathing and kicking!! Missed ya lots!!
March 2, 2009 11:35 am
Mabelle….so happy to hear your are well. I missed your inspiring words.
March 2, 2009 11:37 am
You certainly should not feel you need to apologize. I am so thankful just to know you are alright and business is flowing!
Just absolutely lovely work!!!!!! I am so glad you are alright…I was getting worried, it was such a joy to see your post my friend!
Love!!!
March 2, 2009 1:51 pm
Like everyone else, so glad to see your email in my Inbox. Lots of hugs to you too.
Yeah, I’m posting my real name this time before anyone else does. I’m not the only one with this name, you know.
March 3, 2009 12:38 pm
Oh, Mabelle, it is SO GOOD to hear from you! I have thought about you, prayed for you, and hoped that sooner or later, you would come up for air. I was afraid you’d taken on more than you should have, and would end up in hospital, before we’d hear from you again. Welcome back! So much happening in all our lives… Just glad to see you and hear from you, dear friend! Sending love and hugs…
March 4, 2009 5:47 am
Glad to hear from you, isn’t it great to be so busy? We have really missed you and your wonderful blog posts.
March 5, 2009 10:10 pm
It’s so good to hear from you. I have missed your blogs, but totally understand that “real life” comes first! I’m happy that you are well.
March 13, 2009 9:33 pm
Mabelle, truly it is not necessary to give a gift every time you post! Although we do love your work, we also want to know your life is balanced and you are taking care of yourself. Please continue on your good path!
Best,
Lori