Monday, August 29, 2016

45 Reasons I Haven't Written in a Million Years.

I haven't written in a long long time.  Perhaps the longest time yet. ONE WHOLE YEAR.

I am constantly saying to myself, "I should write about that."  But then I don't.

Reasons I tell myself I haven't been writing:
  1. I don't know where to start. 
  2. I'm should be more protective of my personal life.  
  3. I'm trying to figure my life out.
  4. I'm just not a writer.
  5. I need to stop thinking that I'm a writer.
  6.  Oversharing is no longer trendy.
  7. But I LOVE oversharing.
  8.  I need to make more art.
  9. I'm not making enough art.
  10. I don't want to be a complainer.
  11. I don't want to pretend my life is perfect.
  12. TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME.
  13. No one wants to read what I have to say.
  14. People will talk about about how they don't want to read what I have to say.
  15. My kids deserve to not have their lives slathered all over the internet. 
  16. I'm lazy.
  17. I can either eat breakfast or write.  Breakfast always wins.
  18. I can either eat a snack or write. Snacking always wins.
  19. I can either binge watch old episodes of Brothers and Sisters or write. Guess which one wins.
  20. Work always gets in the way.
  21. Life is pretty crappy right now and I don't want to be a downer.
  22. Life is pretty awesome right now and I don't want to brag.
  23. What if this is my last day on earth - do I want to spend it at my computer?
  24. What if this is my last day on earth and these are the last words I put on the interwebs?
  25. What if this is my last day on earth and I HAVEN'T WRITTEN ON HERE FOR A YEAR?
  26. Maybe I should vacuum my house.
  27. Cleaning is for suckers - so is sitting at a computer.
  28. Ugh. SO. MUCH. WORK.
  29. So much chaos and noise - can't think straight. 
  30. The weeds in my flowerbed are knee-high.
  31. The neighbors might find out about me. 
  32. The neighbors might find out what all the yelling is about.
  33. My kids already watch too much t.v. by most social media standards. 
  34. Sometimes I say too much.
  35. What if the mailman reads it?
  36. I'm just not very funny.
  37. Shut up, I'm hilarious. 
  38. What if my pastor reads it?
  39. What if my aunts read it?
  40. My parents probably should not read this.
  41. Someday my kids will be able to read it.
  42. I'm on a year-long kick about not doing things - disguised as "slowing down." 
  43.  Sometimes my kids need snacks and things, and it is just TOO MUCH WORK.
  44. I have to can these FREAKING TOMATOES before they start rotting in my fridge.
  45. Life dude. 

Saturday, August 6, 2016

I made a thing called Go. Do. Be.


I made a drawing of Mussenden Temple...

...and Google (like magic) knew what the heck I was talking about even though I completed butchered the spelling.  Go clever search engines!

I made a thing.




Wednesday, April 6, 2016

I made a thing with my six year old...

...and isn't it just the best darn Easter Egg with eyelashes you've ever seen in your entire art loving life?

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Making things over spring break.

Making things everyday has gotten harder lately, which is silly, because the whole point of this is to make something everyday...even if it is tiny and takes five minutes. Two weeks ago my parents gave up their spring break to come out and simultaneously remodel our house, cook us dinner, clean things that I didn't think could be cleaned, and babysit our children.  It was as magical as it sounds. Last week was my spring break and I used it to tackle my boring to-do list, work in the classroom, and spend too much time on social media.  Do they give out spring break do-overs?

I made this little guy on my first day of spring break when I got the clay out for my kids to play with.   M made an impressive airplane with wings that just kept going.  L made an incredibly detailed lion that was in turn destroyed by O. O made a ball.  He'll get there.

Yesterday was my first day back at school.  It was horrible and exciting in only the way the first day back can be after a substantial and productive break.  Now off to the second day back - where everything starts to fall in to place and become magically perfect and smooth.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

I made things. Days 11-15.


My goodness I have fallen behind!  Here are the five I owe myself. :)
I
 

I am in the depths of Spring Break here - which hasn't really begun to feel like a break at all because an entire "to-do" list awaits me every morning.

But I am finding ways to have fun here and there.  And a little bit of creativity along the way.

 On today's list: Painting our upstairs apartment - do you know anyone that wants to live in a lovely space above a loud (but trying hard not to be) family of five?  Free wake up calls!

Also on the books - raised garden beds.  Is there such a thing as planning to do too much?  The answer is "yes, but how do you resist?"

Enjoy your day! Hopefully the weather where you are is as beautiful as the sun shining is here.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

I made a thing. Day 10.

My favorite sitting place.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

I made a thing. Day 9.

My favorite chair.

I'm still here. :)  I have been busy getting geared up and excited about teaching art the next generation for an entire weekend.  I feel revved up and a little on fire.  I have also still be drawing and creating everyday, but this little blog has gotten away from me.  I have a lot on my mind and so much to say, but I'm trying hard not to overwhelm myself with expectations that I can't meet at this very crazy time in my teaching/mothering/art-making life.  Thanks for sticking around and following along.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

I made a thing. Day 7


Real talk for my introverted home-body self.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Friday, March 11, 2016

I made a thing. Day 5 and the reason I'm making things again.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” -Ira Glass

This is me beginning again.  Reinventing myself as an artist.  I hope you'll be patient with me.  My taste as Glass puts it is what has held me back all these years.  The experience of rejection and failure keep my dreams at bay.  This is the beginning of me trying to break from from these limitations.  It is humiliating and vulnerable.  It is exciting and energizing.  It is all the things I've been okay not feeling for years. 

Please bear with me.  

Thursday, March 10, 2016

I made a thing. Day 4



Once my daily walk.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

I made a thing. Day 2

Pregnant with Ollie. :)

Monday, March 7, 2016

I made a thing...numero uno.

Miniature art.  3.5"x3.5"