I'm going to enter the what?!

Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or maybe I had too much eggnog, but I just had a moment of craziness and ordered the Hoffman 2010 challenge fabric. I went online to check out what the fabric was for curiosity sake only, expecting it to be ugly- but I loved it and decided I HAVE to make something out of it. So, in approximately 7-10 days a yard and a half of the challenge fabric will be mine! If you're going to use the challenge fabric then you may as well enter the challenge too, right? So I printed off the entry form and rules too. Yes, its true. I am going to enter the 2010 Hoffman Challenge. Well, at least I'm going to aim for it.

Now that I've pressed "SEND" on the webstore, a little bit of panic has set in. What have I done? I can't enter this challenge. My work isn't good enough. I remember walking into a room earlier this year filled with some of the 2009 travelling pieces and being absolutely in awe. They were all incredible, beautifully crafted and unique. I remember standing in the middle of the room and thinking, "wow, I wish I could do stuff like this"

For those few crazy moments this morning while adding fabric to my shopping cart I obviously did think that I can do this. My husband was flabbergasted-all he had to say was, "You're going to spend HOW much money entering a competition you can possibly win?" Yes, yes I am. I am because I want to do it. I'm not entering a piece expecting to win. I am entering because at some time I have to have to confidence to say, "Here is my art, this is what I do, and I wish to share it with you". That time may as well be now (and I have until July to fully convince myself of that).

Obviously it would be nice if the show accepts my finished piece, but if they don't, it doesn't matter. I'm going through this process for me, to fulfill my desires, to grow as an artist. I take satisfaction in knowing that this piece, and every other piece of my art, is uniquely mine. If someone else loves the finished piece as much as I do-fabulous.

Now, just to decide what exactly it is I'm going to create....

Pack It Away?

The Christmas season is upon us. I don't know how that happened. Seems like just the other day I was outside doing some sunprinting, and now there's a snowstorm in the forecast. Guess I'd better get together my group of carolers for the play I'm involved in, in-OH NO-3 days!

Stressed out about all the Christmas projects I intended on doing and haven't gotten a start on, and recovering from pneumonia, my son drops another bomb on me the other day. "When are we going to put up the 'crimmas' tree?"

Christmas tree? Christmas tree! I wasn't going to put up the Christmas tree. I was going to do without the stress of pulling up all the boxes of ornaments from the basement. I wasn't going to spend an entire day untangling the lights and replacing the burnt out bulbs. I was going to have a nice peaceful season without having to yell at the cats to get out of the tree, not yell "get your paws off of that!" every couple of minutes, to both the cats and the kid. Besides, where are we even going to put the tree? Does anyone see room for a tree?

So, my son starts crying, because he's convinced that Santa won't have anywhere to put his special present if we don't have a tree. I suggest that maybe we could put decorations on one of the trees outside instead. Got a resounding no to that one too-because the groundhog that lives in the yard might steal the presents, don't I know?

But really, short of hanging it from the ceiling, where's it going to go? Ask a question, and risk getting an answer you don't want to hear, right? I've been told to pack up all my art supplies, including the sewing machine and table, and stuff it all in the basement for the season. NO! I can't. My husband asks, "why not, your class is done, you don't have to do any more sewing?"

With that, I see once more how much he just doesn't get it. I don't do these all these projects and create "weird things" because some lady at the college told me to. I do them because I need to. It's part of me. I love it. I wouldn't be the same without doing them. I have no idea what I'd do with myself if I wasn't creating. Pack it all away? Nope. I can't do that. Not even for a month or so. That would be like stuffing me in a box and packing me away.

A compromise was met. If you come over this holiday season, you'll be greeted by my tree, in the middle of the floor. I've put away the containers of paints and brushes and fabrics and threads and beads and clay. The sewing machine and table are staying put. I'll be sitting, behind that tree sewing like a mad woman, trying to finish some projects-including the giant gingerbread cottage that is in my kitchen waiting to be designed, assembled and decorated. That one's another story all on its own.

May your holidays be beautiful and fun, and far less stressful that mine. Now, bring on the snow!