Day 67: Down 100 times, up 101 times, I hope

Summary of the last few months:  my job ends, Mark's job ends, life turns upside down

Result: creativity tanks.

After months of dithering around, I managed to hold a full day workshop with 7 kids on Friday.  I organized a day full of wax based projects; batik, candlemaking, wax resist paintings.  It felt awesome to finally being doing SOMETHING.  So, why blog about this now?  Other than feeling awesome?

2 days without any weight on the foot.  6-8 weeks recovery.  Bad sprain.  And guess what?  You're going to enjoy the boredom with me!  So far?  I've knit part of a scarf, and made 8 little tam brooches for Mom and the Warblers.  They are quite cute, actually.  I was wondering what they might look like if I made them half that size...



I just noticed that the tassels are too big for the hats.  Boy, am I glad I published this picture... More blogs to follow, I hope.

Take this job and ...

So, the result of months of job dithering is that I quit or at least send in my notice of termination.

The upshot?

First, I feel hugely better.  The anxiety about the money will, no doubt, kick in but for now I feel liberated.  I hadn't realized what a soul damaging predicament I was in.

Second, after a few days of rest, the creativity is starting to spring back.  Thank the universe.  I'm never in my right mind when I can't create stuff.

The result?

The craft from Sparks and Brownies last night.  They are about 2" tall and magnetized (they are stuck to the radiator in the gym).

Day 66: Inside, outside, upside down

I'm sure there are thousands of you out there wondering where I've been - all silently waiting in suspense for me to return :).  I've just reached the bottom of the creative well for a moment.

One of the great challenges in my life is that I'm an introvert and Emily is an extrovert.  By the end of the summer of us being together, I'm almost incapable of thinking and she is going into hyperdrive for lack of stimulation.

It took me a while but I started to unravel this problem a week ago.  The Artist's Way talks about two techniques to 'fill the well':  writing 3 pages a day in a journal and the artist's date  (where you go out alone to somewhere artistically interesting).  I don't get a lot of time in the summer to take myself anywhere alone but I've been working on it.

This week is Vacation Bible School.  I'm doing the craft section: 2 crafts a day for 17 kids.  Whew.  Hopefully pictures to follow.

Day 65: Another boring post

Today's creative work?  Updating my resume and writing a cover letter.  Definitely creative.

Day 64: Stuff you probably don't need to see

I spent the day creating (or at least pulling together some writers' bits and pieces) a liturgy for an alternative worship service on Sunday night.  I expect most of you don't need to know what it's all about but it was my creative work for the day.

I based part of it on this YouTube video.  Have a look.

Day 63: Clink...

That sound you just heard may be my future finally starting to come together.

For nine years, I've been praying about what to do next.  The answer has always been 'not yet'.

In the last couple of months, things have started to become clear.  Thank God.

More to follow, I hope.

Day 62: I only have one thing to say

When a resume is supposed to be a summation of your best accomplishments thus making you proud of yourself, why does it make you feel just the opposite?