grrlTravels

Hobbies 101

There are times where I feel like an artist trapped in the body of a color-blind mitten-wearing troglodyte whose cave paintings resemble the end result in a paint-with-water coloring book mishap. (Did you ever paint with water as a child? And did you ever manage to paint even one page without either ripping the paper or putting on so much water that the paper never really did dry? Me either.) I have tried at various times in my life to paint and draw, and the results are just short of ridiculous. I have no sense of color. I can't do anything original and haven't any truly creative thoughts in my head.

I like art and I have strong opinions about things, so this becomes a problem for me from time to time. I can visualize the perfect color in my head, but I can't describe it, create it, or find it. I can look at something and instantly know if the creator has any sense of color, but I have no sense of color myself. I can't carry a tune, clap in rhythm, do anything in front of an audience, play a musical instrument, nothing. For a while I thought photography was going to save me, but I don't really have the time to sort out the f/stops and apertures and actually the digital camera is just too easy for lazy old me.

Which leads me to crafts. For myself, I see crafts as a way to get out some creative energy without really being creative. Don't feel insulted—I am not implying that everyone who does crafts is not creative. There is a lot of really creative crafty stuff out there. Unfortunately, someone has to have the brilliant idea first, and then I can come along and copy it. So I am reasonably competent at crocheting, embroidery, and following the instructions in Martha Stewart Living sometimes. (Did you notice that the magazine formerly known as Martha Stewart Kids is now just called Kids? I don't care what they call it because the photography and layout is gorgeous and they have some good creative ideas. Unlike yours truly.) (I know I'm lame, but I subscribe to Living, Kids, and Food. I can't help it--the magazines are so attractive and represent some undiscovered part of my fantasy world, a world where I am an artist! And I know how to clean everything under the sun the best possible way and I care.)

So to celebrate this Halloween, my least favorite holiday of the year, coming in behind both St. Patrick's Day and Columbus Day (really, why are we bothering to celebrate this any more? We know he didn't "discover" America so what's left? CC Ruthless and Greedy Imperialist Day?) I am going to attempt to crochet these for everyone we work with. (You know, K. works with them and I pretend that I use my office for more than an extended play area for E. on the days when we manage to make it into the office.)