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craftraven
Welcome to The Rookery!
My mental distractions are like a squirrel in the middle of the road, a car barreling down on it, not knowing which direction to run. Here, I try to make sense of what's on my mind and expand on those thoughts to put them to good use. It will be worth it if you find just one thing that helps you in some small way.


A Visual Reset: Cleaning Your Space to Boost Your Mental Health and Focus
Today, I hit the mid-month loss of pep. There appears to be a pattern where I’m full of zest for my new goals and projects for the first part of the month, and then my energy begins to drop off.

The Crafty Raven
May 152 min read


Imperfect Art Is Good, Actually
Perfection can be boring and sterile; sometimes, it can feel like the artistic equivalent of everything is a shade of beige. Imperfect art, on the other hand? That’s where the magic lives.

The Crafty Raven
May 112 min read


Review: Love Your Enemies - Arthur C. Brooks
Arthur Brooks' writing style is much more digestible than I anticipated from the cover of his book.

The Crafty Raven
May 72 min read


April Wrap-Up
Even when it feels like you didn’t accomplish much each day, over the long term, it adds up! It’s the end of the day and the last day of April. I have been considering how to justify my time over the previous 30 days. I’ve been feeling as though I haven’t done enough.

The Crafty Raven
May 32 min read


Coloring for Calm: How Adult Coloring Books Help with Anxiety
Anxiety has become a common struggle for many people. Adult coloring books are an unexpected yet effective tool in this quest for calm.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 293 min read


Seek Joy: Music
Different genres of music can elicit a range of responses—they can help regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and even alleviate depression.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 252 min read


Seek Joy: Spring Garland Craft
This DIY spring garland will brighten your space and bust some of your crafting stash.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 212 min read


Review: Half Arse Human - Leena Norms
I didn’t have much interest in Leena's previous book, “Bargin Bin Rom-Com,” but “Half Arse Human” sounded right up my alley.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 172 min read


Mini Art Haul
The Mister and I needed a day out, and, as spontaneity sometimes does, it took us five hours away from home.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 131 min read


Reflect, Realign, Resume
If you're feeling off track, follow these steps to reflect on what led you astray, realign to your goals, and resume on your path.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 94 min read


Seek Joy: The Little Things
Sometimes, the littlest, silliest things can bring exponential joy.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 51 min read


March Wrap-Up
This month taught me that working 100% of the days in a month isn't the healthiest of goals. It's much better to find a balance.

The Crafty Raven
Apr 12 min read


Visualize: The Space You Want
I have a big “unachievable” goal. I don’t have the means to throw at it and make it happen right now, so let’s call it an aspiration.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 282 min read


Long-term Project Burnout
Sometimes, when we tackle a large project that will take many days or weeks, we can begin to feel burnout.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 242 min read


A Dream with a Date: October 1st, 2024
Early in 2024, I developed severe health problems. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was going on, but I was very sick.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 204 min read


Visualize: The Days You Want
“Build your life around your dreams and watch them come true.”

The Crafty Raven
Mar 163 min read


Mending What Can Be Mended
Sometimes, no matter how much you wish you could, you can’t fix something. But you CAN mend something.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 122 min read


A Dream with a Date: October 1, 2023
I would move my parents into their new house if I had to drag them kicking and screaming.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 82 min read


A New Approach to Time Management
Free yourself from becoming bogged down in negativity, and allow yourself more time and energy for what matters most to you.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 42 min read


February Wrap-Up
January taught me to set more specific goals. I thought I took that lesson to heart for February.

The Crafty Raven
Mar 43 min read
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