Crafty Tuesday: Life, let’s talk about Life

Eight years ago I took, what is so far, my last Wendy Froud doll making class. For three days I did nothing but make a doll that had a critter theme (think Froud goblins). During that time I made some new friends, caught up with old friends, and learned a bunch of different things both from Toby and Wendy and my fellow classmates. I walked out with the doll I am proudest of from all the workshops I have done with Wendy.

That was three creative days without having to worry about anything but making that doll. Fine for a workshop which is a limited amount of time but less likely to happen when one gets home.

I can carve out some time in the day to do nothing but work on my art. This does not happen every day nor can it.

In a workshop, there is not the worry about the dishes in the sink or the laundry that needs to be done or the cat boxes that must be cleaned now. Meals don’t have to be made. You aren’t worry if it is garbage day or recycling day or gym day. The only picking up you are doing is after yourself.

In real life, all these things need to be done and more.

I have a husband and a daughter that need my attention during the day. There are appointments that need to be met like today Caroline has a scheduled Doctor’s appointment. Later in the week Peter has two appointments and I have one.

Right now I am trying to get rid of sugar ants that have invaded my kitchen. I think I am getting on top of it but I am still trying to figure out where they are coming from. So that has been taking time out of my day.

Caroline is home this week from school for her Spring Break which changes how the week works. Her social calendar for the week involved driving her from friend to friend which is a good thing in my book. She has friends and they want to spend time with each other.

Peter just got back from a convention so there are things that need to happen to reintegrate the travel materials.

I also have to clean up from Scruffington and reset for the next set of projects. I need to make bodies. Lots and lots of bodies. I think I am going to do this in lots of six.

So I step back and make a plan that involves my life around me and make time for what else life decided to throw at me (and right after I typed this, one of the cats threw up a huge hairball which I went to clean up before sitting down with this again).

Workshops are fun but the time at them is in a bubble unaffected by life happening around the artist. Life happens and we have to live it. Dealing with the curve balls tossed in one’s direction is something that has to be done. It may take away from what we want to do but that’s life.

I am grateful for my creative time in workshops and my creative time out here in real life.