Something to Show For My Time, or Keeping my Sanity Through Art

Back before my first pregnancy I was a fairly busy lady. I was running my own small business selling vintage toys online.  I sold vintage toys and kids books on eBay and via  a website I had made from scratch in html. I also occasionally sold art made from destroyed vintage kids books. I was going to University part time, finishing up my honours degree in Classical Civ, and I was working part time at the local Arts Council.The house didn’t always look perfect, but it was passably clean and dinner was on the table.  I kept weird hours and slept in pretty much whenever I wanted to.

Now I get up at 6 in the morning with my baby. I muddle through the day in a sort of sleepwalking zombie haze.  I spend the day taking care of my girls. The house is a sty.  Getting dinner onto the table is usually my sole noticeable achievement for the day. 

I want something to show for my time.  Yes, I’m engaged in the most important job in the world, that of trying to raise two little minds into something resembling civilized behavior.   But when they go to bed at the end of the day I want to tackle something more meaningful then the mountain of dishes in my kitchen.

Now that Baby-G is getting a little older, I actually tend to have both girls in bed and asleep by 8:30ish.   Most evenings once the girls are asleep I spend time with my husband.  This usually means one of two things, sitting on the couch watching TV, or sitting in the computer room looking over his shoulder while he surfs the internet.  I feel like I have so little free time.  That it’s a really precious commodity right now.  I hate to waste it sitting in front of the TV. 

Back before I had any babies, when I had this wacky thing called free time, I used to make art.  To be specific, I used to dissect abused children’s books and turn them into block puzzles and keepsake boxes. Yeah, so I used to make things which people often bought for kids, and now that I have my own I’ve stopped. The irony isn’t lost on me.

Our computer room doubles as the crafting room, where my husband sometimes works on painting miniatures.  There’s a large L-shaped desk in the corner where I can sit and make art, while my husband sits four feet away doing his computer thing.  About a month ago I challenged myself to start making art again.  I’m trying to find the time to make Recycled Fairytales boxes again.  I told myself I would make one a week from now until Christmas.  That was several weeks ago, and I’m only almost done one.  Still, it’s something.

Anyroad I felt like bragging a bit that I actually managed to make something. So here’s some pics of my latest creation, It’s Jolly as Jolly to Live in a Shoe: I made this with a vintage cedar box and a destroyed copy of The Children that Lived in a Shoe, a Rand McNally “Start Right Elf” picture book, copyright 1951.

It’s not quite finished. It still needs a top coat of varnish and some felt on the base.  I haven’t decided if I’ll keep it, gift it or sell it. Still, I’m happy to have something concrete to show for my time.