Early opportunities and praise had positive impact on who I am today

I've been extremely lucky. From a very young age I've had my creative talents encouraged. Sure, every kid learns how to finger paint and make Popsicle stick castles, but I had teachers who always took art time to the next level. For example, in the first grade I remember cutting out construction paper cats, attaching spiral tails to the bottoms and then hanging them from the ceiling above my desk. In the third grade I got to make a Christmas tree candy dish out of clay, paint it and then have it fired in a pottery kiln. I still have that candy dish today and proudly put it out every holiday season. In later years I put just as much effort in my school reports, adding illustrations at each opportunity that presented itself. And every teacher I had embraced this expression full throttle. I never got told something I created was ugly, or not good enough. Every piece was worthy of Picasso praise. I know that validation had a major positive impact on the creative person I am today.

Outside of school my creative influence was just as strong. For 12 years I was a Campfire Girl, lead by a woman who put the craft in crafty. Mrs. Graf was super talented in her own right, but perhaps more importantly she had the patience, the thoughfulness, and the generosity to help us girls create something new each and every week. Over the years I learned things I know I never would have otherwise. I learned how to do macrame, cross-stitch, paper mache, paint, sew, embroider, and the list goes on. A lot of those skills stayed in my youth, but I know learning once made a lasting impact on me.

So now I'm not in school or Campfire anymore, but I am reigniting my crafty side by participating in a local Ladies Art Social group. Being exposed to so many different mediums, I've realized that every activity is a new opportunity to grow and express myself in new and unexpected ways. I feel so invigorated by the process and the results.

I think back to even when I was too sick to really be creative. I was recovering from a serious respiratory illness and I was on oxygen for several months. I stayed a majority of my time at home, too tired and weak to be out and about. I asked my mom to bring me home a puzzle to work on. She bought a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that formed a 24 x 36 inch portrait of beautiful sunflowers. I kept and framed that puzzle, and have it hanging in my home office. It is very special to me. Not only does it remind me of a valley in my life of which I climbed out, but it reaffirms that even at my weakest, a fire burns deep inside of me to always keep creating.

LPA Today Magazine

I am a little tardy in getting this week's post published, but with good reason. I just put my 27th issue of LPA Today Magazine to bed. Yes, for the past seven years I have been the editor of the primary publication of Little People of America. If you don't know what LPA is, it is a non-profit organization led by and for short stature individuals of all ages, and their families. LPA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with dwarfism, while celebrating with pride, our contribution to social diversity.

I joined LPA in 2002, and in 2005 I decided I wanted to give back to an organization that I so enjoy being a part of. I came to know that the executive committee was looking for a permanent editor for the publication, so I applied for the job.

LPA Today has served as a great creative outlet as well as a reason to keep my graphic design skills fresh. Since I haven't been freelancing on a professional basis full-time, LPA remained my one client, if you will. In addition to doing the visual graphic elements of the page, I also edited copy and wrote as well. I've always been proud of my journalism and writing skills, and LPA Today facilitated keeping those honed too.

To be honest, LPA Today is the one thing that I have done the longest in my life. I've worked at it longer than I was in college, longer than any 9-5 job I've had, longer than any other creative project I've been in charge of. I'm finding that such commitment has a surprising reward: a volume of content that provides an arc to see how my skills and esthetic has evolved over time.

The next issue is always a mixed blessing. I'm glad there is going to be one, yet challenged to keep the issues fresh, not only for myself, but for the membership. Because we live all over the country, the magazine is something tangible that connects us. Yet I know people have busy lives. My goal is to tell our members' stories in a way that honors them, yet also jumps off the page. To be substantive, yet pleasing to the eye. Full of information, yet quick to read. Sometimes as a designer you can't have it all. But I will never give up trying.

Note: For more information about Little People of America, go to www.lpaonline.org