The Projects

For the past two hours I've been sitting and looking at eBay, trying to find the ideal mixed lot of Victorian-era drawer pulls to install in a future closet as a way to organize my somewhat vast collection of scarves. This is the kind of thing I do on a typical early-summer day. Sometimes, I wonder about myself...

I feel an enormous pressure on me right now to take advantage of these next couple weeks (week and a half?) I have off, but it's as if, when presented with free time, I find I suddenly become lethargic and unmotivated. I have things I want to do and the weather is lovely for being outdoors, but my capacity for laziness is overwhelming. With the coming of summer, I immediately forget the things that I was always aching to do when school was keeping me from pursuing my other passions. Maybe I just need to become more disciplined and force myself to tackle one project a day. Here are a list of The Projects I've been wanting to work on.

1. Finish crocheting that lacy bolero and simple drawstring skirt.

I have this problem with crochet projects. I devote a lot of time to working on them and then I start to wonder, "Am I really going to wear this thing?" and I get all anxious and eventually lose interest. Right now I'm almost done with this forest green bolero worked in a complex and lacy pattern. I'm almost done and it's ridiculous that I haven't finished it yet. I should just do it, and if it really ends up being "not me" I can give it to someone else.

2. Start keeping a scrap book.

I'm still not entirely sure I'm even really interested in doing this one, but my mom kept a scrap book and I always loved to look at it when I was young. I at least want to work on some kind of picture album, which would require getting all my pictures printed out at long last.

3. Finish decopauging storage cubes.

I've finished one completely and just need to varnish it. Only two more to go! Decopauging is so meditative and satisfying. I remember Marly's excellent desk she decopauged with vintage ads. I'd still like to do that to some small piece of furniture someday.

4. Sell/donate old clothes, books, and other items to avoid having to pack them and move them to a new apartment.

Participating in the CARAG Super Sale was kind of pointless. I guess I made about $40, which I spent on booze and food almost immediately. Better than nothing, I suppose, but not entirely worth the effort. I think garage sales are best reserved for times when you need to get rid of larger stuff that doesn't require trying on. Donating to Arc's Value Village seems like a better idea for clothing.

5. Practice belly dancing and yoga.

I was so good about this two weeks ago! I gotta kick it back into gear.

6. Work on songs with Travis.

Of course, this requires that Travis be home and ready to participate.

7. Practice mandolin.

I need to find a better method for learning. Maybe today I'll email Nick and see if he wants to offer any advice.

8. Mixed-media animation piece.

The project to end all projects: I want to create a set, posable characters, backgrounds, etc. to make a tiny mini-film incorporating elements of photography, hand-drawing and painting, model-building, photo-editing and story-telling. I feel like I've finally thought of a project that encompasses some of my nerdiest passions: dolls, miniatures, stop-motion animation, dioramas and photoshop. The plan is to create an actual set and take still digital photos of a character or characters interacting with the set, then edit each of the individual photos on my computer using photoshop. I also want to scan in hand-drawn images and incorporate them into the shots. Then, each picture can be strung together into a little piece of footage (probably not more than a minute, maybe even less) using iMovie or some such program.

Well, right now it's time for me to get off my ass and do something. I think I'm going to pack up my crocheting and bike down to Caffetto to see if I can't finish that lacy bolero once and for all.