What does the Government Shut down and Martha Stewart have in common?
Well, they both are disappointing the people who support them.
Or do I dare say, “Biting the hand that feeds them.”
We elect our representatives ,state by state.
We trust them to listen to our needs as a state and a country, then do what is right.
Well, sometimes that means there will be disagreements and a shut down was the consequence but it is hard not to feel like they are not listening!
Same thing with Martha. Oh Martha!
Dissing “those very bloggers” that squeal when you come out with a new products was a mistake.
“Those bloggers” that promote your products and send traffic to your website by showing what they created using your products, have looked up to you.
They have wished and have said, “I could be on her show one day.”
Maybe Martha just needs a lesson in choosing her words.
Martha, your words are like toothpaste. Once they come out, you can’t put them back in. So, think, then speak!
Anyhow, how are we now supposed to feel after hearing this:
“Who are those bloggers? They’re not trained editors at Vogue Magazine.
Writing recipes that aren’t tested, that aren’t necessarily very good. Or are copies of everything that really good editors have created and done.
Bloggers create a popularity but they are not the experts.”
Bloggers, we must look at this objectively.
What is the definition of an expert?
That is hard to define and crafting, creating is an art form.
So, in reality, the expert title is hard to define but I don’t even think Martha is an expert because WHO really is?
In every field there are many people claiming to be experts but it depends on what you think an expert is.
Martha was self taught like us and just followed her passion.
She was like us.
I say “WAS” because I don’t think she can relate to us now but at one time she was like us.
I always say, we can never forget where we come from.
We can never forget that dream that was born in us and fostered by our spirits so that one day we could live that dream.
Martha, I think you have forgotten that feeling but I haven’t.
I still hold on tight to the reasons I love to craft, create and why I choose to blog.
I still choose to live my dream of creating a community for crafters where they feel challenged and leave inspired!
The mission of The CSI Project is still the same.
To Create, Share and Inspire!
And I will defend this mission everyday.
I think Martha has mixed this up.
She creates.…well her team does.
She Shares…..well, again her team does by magazine, tv, and her website.
She Inspires…….Well, I think her crafts and ideas still do that but how much is that HER!
Actually HER!
After thinking and marinating on her comments, I decided that they aren’t worth getting our crafting panties in a wod.
First of all, we know where we come from and we still live the dream!
No one can keep you from doing that, so keep dreaming, creating and blogging until your heart is content.
Second, she complimented bloggers by saying “we are popular.”
You bet ya, we are!
And we know our influence and we know that our crafty voices are heard.
She will see that now because bloggers will stop pushing her products and sharing her crafts.
I say, let her see just how popular WE ARE!
Third, Martha did pave a way for crafters but she wasn’t the only one.
You may say, “WHAT?”
But hear me out. Because of her, crafting became mainstream on televison and that turned into the internet.
There was a time before HGTV and all of the blogs we enjoy.
And before all of that there was my mom teaching me to cook and how to run a home, my Home Ec. teacher teaching sewing and cooking, Martha Stewart and others sharing their crafts, their cooking and gardening on TV and in magazines. It goes way back and Ms. Martha wasn’t the only one!
I personally enjoyed watching Carol Duval.
I loved these 2 back in the day. They are still crafting giants and I still love what they do!
Cathie and Steve from Creative Juice.
And who can forget the guy who painted on PBS.
Bob Ross
He might have been my first inspiration, although I still could never paint like him.
So, as much as we want to dislike Martha right now, we have to look at how far crafting and DIY has come and she and many others played a role in this.
But this still doesn’t excuse her comments.
Just remember that Martha Stewart is a brand. She is a company and she is a celebrity.
She may have started out like you, creating and sharing but she built a crafting empire.
I love blogging. Coming from a journalism background, I love writing and combining my love for crafting is the perfect fit.
You probably love blogging too or reading blogs and having a crafting outlet, so just take what she said and let it roll off your back.
You should be proud of what you have done and continue doing it because it is your craft journey not Martha Stewart’s.
So, you may feel discouraged by the actions or words of others like Martha Stewart and YES even our government
but never forget that YOU have a voice!
So use it!
Write your state’s representatives and vote!
Stop promoting and using Martha Stewart’s products if you so wish.
Write a blog post expressing your disapproval.
Never ever forget that YOU matter!
Your family matters!
Never forget that YOUR dream matters and makes a difference in lives that you may never know.
When you share your creations, your recipes that are family favorites or even your homes on your blog, YOU are inspiring others!
The CSI Project was founded on 3 principles.
Create, Share and Inspire!
That is the dream of this blog and at the end of the day, if you are inspired by a project linked up, tutorial or a guest judge that you see on here,
THEN we have done what we set out to do!
That is all. Simple as that!
Martha Stewart may not think you are an “expert,”
but we think that you are amazing because you are just doing what you love and that means everything to us!
Keep Creating, Sharing and Inspiring.
You always have a craft home here where you aren’t just one of “those” bloggers.
Instead you are celebrated, featured and we loved your crafty spirits!
Bless your crafty hearts!
Much love from the girl that proudly uses a glue gun and blogs to tell the tale,
Your CSI Girl, Dee!
XOXOXO