If you are a crafter you have a stash. Somewhere there are piles of material, shelves of bric-a-brac, plans and patterns. Not to mention a Pinterest account. And a brain filled with ideas and endless things you'll get to "someday".

The way I've been collecting treasures, I must think I'll be here crafting forever. But as each year passes, I realize that I need to start fulfilling my ideas, finish those projects and even (gasp) share the items in my stash with others. And I find this shift in thinking joyful. I no longer reserve craft supplies like a lone hoarder. I pull them out and survey my treasures and use them with freedom. And I've been making some beautiful things -- creating  smiles and laughter. Allowing snippets of my stash out into the world instead of piling them in a cabinet. I always thought I enjoyed the shopping, collecting and finding. But I'm discovering the distribution of my beautiful things is even better.

So, I'm not "cashing it in", I'm "stashing it in". Making a point to utilize what I've had hidden for so long. From making presents to letting the grandkids explore my craft corner to designing new items to sell. It's all going to go out into the world. Because that is really where it belongs.