Way back when I started this blog, I told ya’ll that being creative seemed to be my coping mechanism of choice. Life had been dealing me one upheaval after another and by the time we moved to Ohio, I found that being creative helped me deal with the aftermath of all the changes.
While I was trying to deal with my separation anxiety from moving 2,000 miles away from my 18-year-old Baby Girl, I made the following:
Don’t get me wrong. Life does not have to be chaotic in order for me to produce something crafty. When the waters of life are as calm as glass, I still feel the need to create.
When things are not so troubled, I come up with things like this:
However, when the storms of life start raging, my desire to create becomes an OVERWHELMING need. I HAVE to create something. If you thwart me in this desire, things are going to get ugly. It’s in these moments when I tend to fixate on a project and I can’t stop until I’ve figured it out or I completed the project.
I came up with the idea for the pipe-strapping basket during such a moment.
Maybe I’m trying to escape. Maybe the act of creating something useful or beautiful is a balm of sorts for me. Whatever the deeper meaning, the impact is still the same. There are simply times I NEED to create.
For example, I have this dresser. I’m not even sure it can be called a dresser. Perhaps Massive Double Chest of Drawers, or MDCOD for short, would be a better description. (Excuse the crappy phone picture. It’s the best I can find right now).
This is another one of the things we inherited from Hub’s folks. It used to be in Kiddo’s room, but we moved it out of there when we rearranged the rooms. One of the handles broke off the drawer and while I have the handle to fix it, I could never bring myself to do it. Why throw good effort after Ugly? It chafes me like a metaphorical pair of too-tight Big Girl Panties to put energy, time and money into something I don’t like to begin with.
This MDCOD resides in my office and holds craft supplies. It’s a really great use for the MDCOD. BUT. It seriously needs to be froufed up, dontcha think? The 1950’s faux cedar finish has Got.To.Go. I want to take off the bar pulls and do something different. I’m thinking of a mash-up of these ideas.
Source: nester.tumblr.com via Sarah on Pinterest
Despite my BURNING DESIRE to get to work on this project, Hubs refuses, REFUSES! to let me start another project right now. While he’s probably right, it makes me seriously want to face punch Life right about now for getting between me and this project. Life is keeping me from my therapy.
Before you get your feminine-rights hackles all raised up in my defense, let me remind you that I’m supposed to be moving. In three weeks. To a new house. And I may, or may not, have started packing. Anything. At all.
Also, I have be on Buddy like a politician on a donation to make sure he finishes up his Advanced English homework for the summer. While this may not sound like work to you, trust me. It is W.O.R.K. to make sure he’s not “forgetting” about this responsibility.
We also are in the process of doing in-take evaluations for my sister-in-law, Katie, so she can participate in the local day programs. We (mostly me) are helping her establish a routine and trying to figure out how much help and assistance she needs on a daily basis.
Those things that are not physical work, are emotional work. I swear, the emotional stuff is more tiring. I know I could do a smaller scale project, but I really don’t have the energy to think up a smaller project. I know. That makes no sense at all. But, I already know how I want to do all of the projects on my list. I just need life to cooperate so I can actually do them.
Everything I want to work on right now is big.
Paint the dining room table and reupholster the chairs:
Refinish the piano to an aged silver finish:
Plus, there’s all my fun Door Projects.
I have a couple of other smaller furniture projects I want to get done before the weather gets too cold, not to mention what I’ll want/need to do in the new home.
Gah! All this creativity with no where to go can make a gal twitchy. And Grumpy. And seriously wanting to face punch something. Life better get out of my way, toot sweet, or I may not be liable for my actions.
“You hear me, Life? Back Off, already! You do NOT want to mess with me!” *Finger Snap. Finger Snap. Finger Snap.* “Mmmmm hmmmmm. You heard me.”
Did I sound scary enough? Do you think Life heard me? I bet Life is runnin’ scared now!
Suesan
Hold on tight and remember to enjoy the ride!! {Yes, I know, easier said than done...} --
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the packing and moving And English, AND Katie. If I could help from afar, I would. Isn't it nice to know your cyber-friends would if they could. I can offer prayers in your direction :)
Oh, I'm SURE life felt it...right in the teeth and if it's SMART...it will lay off, 'cause you had me running scared!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dana. I'm trying to be patient, but it's so hard when there's beauty just waiting to be created!
ReplyDelete@Esther, good to know I can scare someone. I'm pretty sure Life is quivering in his proverbial boots.
Holy crap I think I'm obsessed with your doors!!!
ReplyDeleteOh shoot! You just had to remind me that I have some doors to do, didn't you! Like I don't have many other things to do...Ha! See...life is after me too!!
ReplyDeleteSo I am sure if we gang up on it; it will head for the hills!!
Love the idea you have for the piano!! Very cool!
Hugs
SueAnn
Ha! That sounds like me! Sometimes, even if I know my husband is right (usually about something I ought to be starting, or, ya know, not starting) it just makes me so *mad* that he's right! And it's easier to argue with him-- even if I'm not winning, having a person to argue with at least lets me put it off a little longer! Sounds like you have plenty to finish right now, but I'm sure you'll have some great projects going again soon enough! Good luck! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOH man...I can relate...I have so many awesome ideas, but with three boys under the age of 5, not many are coming to fruition right now and it can be FRUSTRATING! Especially with large painting projects, the clock is certainly ticking--everything has to go on hold over the winter!! I don't even have time to update my blog...sigh--I'm in my busy season, I guess... hahah...btw, what are you gonna do with your dining room set? I have a similar table, with fully upholstered high-back chairs...I was imagining doing it totally shiny silver, but then I couldn't figure out how to keep it from getting all scratched up...and I wanted to slipcover my chairs with pure white slipcovers...
ReplyDeleteChapman-I'm thinking of biting the bullet and buying some Chalk paint and painting everything but the top. I plan to paint it a dark gray. I plan to refinish that to a mahogany or pecan finish. The chairs will probably be done in a faux grain sack with ruffled skirts ala Miss Mustard Seed. I have all boys, though, so I'm not sure if I'm going to girl up the set with the ruffles yet or not.
ReplyDeleteSuesan, When you get moved and settled and find your way to the chest of drawers remake I will be very excited to see what you do! I have my own U.G.L.Y. dresser that I want to 'make over' out in my garage and I seriously need some hints! Good luck with all your challenges and the move. You will be fine I just know it!
ReplyDelete~ Lynda on the Farmlet ~
Hang in there, you have life on the run after that rant.... Something that helps me when I NEED to create and life gets in the way, sounds lame, but I try to find really creative solutions to the issues. Being a care-giver, house-wife, full-time employee, fiend, mother, grandmother, etc."... Nlife really does get in the way of our creating!
ReplyDeleteI lOVE your site and I love your stuff! Keep it up.
ReplyDelete