The Journey

Guest post from Antonious Maximus

Yea,  though I walk through the shadow of 2019, I will fear no crafting…

Dressed in the official uniform of crafting (pajamas and some form of slip-on footwear), sipping my morning elixir (java, java, java), my mellow meditation brings me to the ultimate question – what do I want to make next? This glimmers of an insatiable desire to create and achieve some semblance of accomplishment in between the insanity of life (probably due to the copious amounts of no-shedding glitter products and metallic media). Knowing that happy hours have turned into nappy hours, I will rest deeply on this thought soon. 

Looking back on the past year from the plateau I am on, it’s amazing how far I’ve come in my crafty journey. Creativation is always exciting to watch. Discovering more from those I know, and finding more that I don’t, but I have a new found confidence that these creators will keep me up to date with the latest and greatest throughout the year. The retreats and class room experiences beckon with and undeniable siren song, feeding my artistic soul in ways I didn’t know was possible, sitting at the feet of masters with other enthusiastic pupils.

The pursuit of becoming a triple black belt crafty ninja has manifested in a quest to understand multiple disciplines and secret ancient arts. Shopping, organization, art history, social media, techniques, tool selection, self expression, magic, psychology, science, and so much more are used to earn my belts as I try to move up the ranks. As the products fill my studio, a living breathing organism is created. A simple, yet complex, testament to my ability to express myself in an artful manner. It fosters the tingles and twinges of creativity that is so satisfying. It’s funny how a lifestyle that many consider a “hobby with sanctuary escapism” is a full contact obsession for me with olympic level disciplines. But still offers a safe zone to let my mind and soul run. Enough is never enough and there’s always room for more, even if purging is required to create it. It’s bled into my regular existence as it’s almost all I think about right down to my friends, what I wear, and what I watch these days (crafty videos are an endorphin spike unto itself).

The nice thing is the journey never ends, figuratively keeping me disappearing into the furniture even though I sit on it to pursue it. Being well rounded in life has left me well…round, but satisfied by a life well lived. Engaging with the community is an opportunity to bask in the weather on the way to an event and be around, heaven forbid, people oddly happy like me (it’s the excitement of playing with new goodies). Inky fingers should be a fashion statement, right up there with manicures.

With a smile and a wave back to the path, I go glowing from the sense of growth. May your journey be enjoyable, challenging, and gratifying.

Ant Max

13 thoughts on “The Journey

  1. Ant, I always enjoy reading your musings. This is spot on crafty goodness at it’s literary finest.

  2. I am brand new to your blog (through The Rabbit Hole Designs), so I don’t know who Ant Max is….I guess I should look it up? But I like the clever references…I am reading about the Roman Empire right now, AND watching a Netflix “documentary” about it (I put it in quotes because they include a dramatization with the experts speaking about it). You would love the show, I’m sure. (There is another Netflix show about Rome that is just horrible–I don’t know if I even watched the full first episode). ANYWAY, clever, entertaining post…

    • Thanks Sharon! (Amanda here) You’ll find Ant Max in many online forums; he’s a great guy and his writing always makes me smile so I love when he guests posts here.

      I’ll have to check out the new documentary on Rome. My husband and I went to Italy for our honeymoon and I was listening to Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast on the fall of ancient Rome while we were there. (It’s a pretty epic series, at least 15 hours long.) It was amazing to be standing in the ruins of Julius Caesar’s home and listening to the story of his life.

    • Antonious Maximus says:

      Thank you ? I really try to my heart into it ?

  3. Great post for the new year!

  4. Katrina L Bertelsen says:

    I needed this satisfying post of the journey ahead! Thanks!

  5. Cindyellen Robinson says:

    Ant Max!! Who knew you were a bard??? i’ve been getting to know you on youtube and someone else’s channel – now i don’t remember who (the problem with chronic illness). just know i am enjoying getting to know you! (ps. i’m tiggermama on youtube. i have GOT to figure out how to change my name. . .)

  6. Antonious Maximus says:

    I’ve been known to scratch down though on a page occasionally . A bard…Thank you ? I have several things that are described as chronic illnesses but I find a way to channel the energy left into things like this and cardmaking . I appreciate you taking the time to get to know me .

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