January 18, 2008

Why Arts & Dafts?

DAFT: informal or slang terms for mentally irregular; also crazy, mad or insane
ART: Well, it's really in the eye of the beholder. Go ahead, decide what your personal definition is.

Daft also happens to be my mother's maiden name. A name I've always felt a close connection too, considering how "mentally irregular" I tend to feel.

It's 2008, and to me that means only one thing. This is the year I turn 30. I welcome it, I look forward to it but I am by no means rushing it. I know this is supposed to be a pretty big deal, especially for a woman, and I can honestly say, i feel it. I feel the desire to change and figure out what it is I want to be when I grow up. The number one answer I've come up with so far, to be happy and content with every single aspect of my life. That's not so hard is it?

Ever since I was a kid, Ive been fixing my toys, drawing, learning new crafts and most of all I have had the most overactive imagination I have ever come to know. I remember quite clearly, as if it happened yesterday, getting a barbie at the store one day. Her head fell off when we got home. Instead of pitching a fit (don't think for even a second that I never pitched fits, on the contrary), I put the barbie's decapitated head on the floor and said "I'm swimming! I'm swimming!" You probably had to be there, but I can still hear my mom cracking up.

Through college and now in my later twenties, I seem to have lost touch with my wild imagination. I've still had outlets (although limited) in my career choice of backstage theatre, however, I couldn't help but notice how mundane my every day thoughts were becoming. Stress was taking over and I was turning into one of those obnoxious, complain all the time adults. Eeeeew!

I had an actual epiphany at work one night. A real live one. One where I got caught up in a stare with a blank wall and I realized "Holy crap! I can't live like this anymore!" I don't thrive on stress anymore, I ache from it. I'm tired from it.

Super long story made a little less long, Ive made some big changes in my life. One of my biggest problems is starting a project and finishing it (any true Geminis out there will understand). Therefore, my new year's resolution (which I never make by the way) was to draw a picture, doodle, painting, whatever, every single day for one year. Drawing, to me, is inspirational and get's that imaginative part of my brain back on track. I am no artist in comparison to my mother, but I think I know my way around a piece of paper and a pen. It has truly opened up my mind to view things, regular every day things, in a brand new light. This excites me to no end and I am terrified of losing this feeling.

Here I will display those every day doodles, my photographs, my crafts, other people's crafts, tutorials, etc etc. Anything that's crafty because if you're daft like me, there's no concentrating on a sole medium or craft. There's too much out there to do and see and I want to see it all.

Current crafting capabilities:
Drawing
Knitting
Crochet
Carpentry
Recycling Crafts
Writing

What I want to learn:
Sewing
Weaving
How to fill a page
How to make a pattern
Glass work
Bead work