Saved by Writing • by Christine Chitnis

Growing up in the beautiful state of Michigan, my childhood was spent running wild and free, skipping Petoskey stones on Torch Lake, scrambling up the slopes of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and kayaking along the slow streams of the Grass River Nature Preserve. My creatively inclined mother instilled in me a strong love of all things crafty, from gardening to cooking, sewing to reading. However, it wouldn’t be until later in my life that I would discover how to make a career out of these passions. In 2001, I left behind the Great Lakes State and ventured west to the majestic mountains of Colorado, specifically the wonderfully funky town of Boulder.

A Move for the Better
After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in environmental studies, I moved to Chicago and began working in the educational non-profit sector, running after-school programming for low-income, inner-city youth. After many years in the non-profit sector, I realized that I was feeling completely burnt out and uninspired. I knew that I needed to change my life and find a career that spoke to my soul. As I reflected back on my childhood, I realized that what I had been missing was that creative release. Shortly after this revelation, I married and moved to Providence, Rhode Island, for my husband’s job. The move gave me a chance to start down a new career path.

Out of pure naivety, I decided that I could make it as a writer ... a non-fiction writer specifically, one who wrote about issues near and dear to her heart! Armed with a stack of how-to books from my local library, I launched my writing career. I quickly found that what I enjoyed most was writing about people who were following a creative, independent path. At the same time, I began to discover the isolation that comes with pursuing an independent career path. It wasn’t until I started a blog and attended my first art retreat (Squam) that I finally met a group of creatively motivated companions. They have changed my life and career for the better. They helped build my confidence as a writer and within a year, my writing had appeared in national publications such as Cookie, Bust, ReadyMade, SewHip!, Time Out New York, and many others. As an artist and crafter, I strive to give a voice to the creative community through my writing. My work has been praised by The Washington Post and I recently appeared on The Today Show to discuss a personal essay I wrote for babble.com. I am currently working on my first book, due out in Summer 2011, tentatively titled Artisan Markets of New England (published by The Little Bookroom), which will explore over 50 farmers and craft markets and discuss why it is so important to support our local craftsmen and women.

Counting my Blessings
I never imagined that I could achieve all of this, but by following my creative passions and sticking to my beliefs, I managed to awaken my soul and tap into my true professional desires. Writing saved me. It opened up a new world of friendships and gave my life a greater purpose. I count my blessings every day that I am able to do what I love ...

To learn more about Christine Chitnis, visit her blog at lavenderlimes.blogspot.com.