No magic in our mess

This morning was unproductive mess.

A friend asked how bloggers like Soulemama can do it all - have four kids and everyday show something lovely, creative, and photogenic. It's both inspiring and demoralizing to glimpse into her world. I'm sure there is a less picturesque and multi-faceted reality behind the lovely photos. There always is. The question is whether we write those stories for our adoring public or edit it all to look peachy-keen. Regardless, the result is a love-hate relationship with bloggers like Soulemama or Knitting Iris. Mostly love, except when my day is below any inspiration.

They say each day counts. Please, say that isn't true. Some days just shouldn't count. Grace days, do-overs, days to just let go of trying to get ahead or stay on top and to just give up and read your book while the messes accumulate. Some days are all mess. An unholy ungodly mess.

I've made a promise to myself that I won't start any new projects and am instead trying to finish up long-standing and neglected projects. In order to tackle anything, I wait for WeeC to crash for a nap and then I set WeeE up with a project and cross my fingers for some cooperative time.

This morning we tried the stamps with washable tempura (rec'd from a preschool art teacher). I covered her table with newsprint (so no worries about spills or clean-up), put only a dab of color in the egg-carton top and gave her the simple designs to print herself. I drew some landscapes (ex: water for the ducks, or tractors, if that's your speed) and then I bounced back and forth from her project to mine just a few feet away in the bathroom.

While she was stamping I was cursing contractors and poorly made (but still expensive) bathroom hardware, digging in a sloppy cluttered half stained shed for WD-40 and in my cluttered disorganized office for teeny tiny screws... all in an attempt to, finally, six months later hang a toilet paper holder.

11:30 am and all I could count as progress today was one toilet paper holder and some folded dish towels. Anyone want pictures of those?

::deep breath:::

My life is not like Soulemama's. My house is cute. My kids are cute. But the messes are real and frustrating. WD-40 and crappy kids art. The things I work on are not a dainty, cute, handmade accoutrement to my thrifted furniture. Instead I have uninspired brand new things break or do not fit. Instead I resort to Mary Poppins on the TV so I can organize the craft stuff because it's all so messy that we don't do any crafts.

Oh and Mary Poppins is part of the problem too! Don't we all wish we were magical and could bring carousel horses to life? Although if she were really magical, she'd fix Dick Van Dyke's British accent. Ouch!

Comments

[Mati]

But I didn't ask how she does it! I asked where she PUTS all the stuff she makes! Srsly, the quantity... and she's all about recycling... does she just donate it when it gets tatty?

Yk, part of her secret is her kids are a bit older and she has a large, safe yard. Hugey mchugester, that. And she's such an awesome knitter that she can do it with the babe on her knees, too...