Lately I've been in some sort of fog - my motivation to work for my "real" job is nonexistent, and all I want to do is craft - but when I have time to craft, I just sit and daydream about all the potential projects (oh, there are so many!). In the end, I get absolutely nothing done! I'm a list-maker by nature, so I'm trying to turn all this around by making lists of projects and just jumping in. But, I've also set a rule for myself that I must *complete* some projects before I begin new ones... I don't want to have 20 active projects - 4 or 5 is about all I'm allowing myself at the moment. So, the big problem comes when I really need to finish a project, but I just don't want to sit down and do it! N.B. the beautiful olive green sweater (my first knitted garment!) that has been sitting here, completely finished, just waiting for me to do the seaming... what's my problem?!?
So, this may seem totally unrelated, but somehow the changing temperatures and the prospects of summer have given me a jolt. Last weekend I went out to do some shopping. My goal was to find a reasonably priced rash guard to help me avoid a summer full of sunburns (Yes, I do use sunscreen, but I always seem to miss that one tiny spot that gets horribly burned - I am of Irish descent after all!) - I didn't find the rash guard, but I did find a pair of shoes for each of us. I don't normally fixate on shoes and take pictures of them, but something about the thought of new shoes for the family was extremely pleasing.
This picture has now become a symbol for me - new shoes, new season, fresh start for all of us. This summer is going to be fantastic, and I'm going to finish ongoing projects, start new and exciting ones, and take steps toward achieving professional satisfaction. Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to be too manic! There will also be lots of time for dancing in the living room with my family, making sun tea, playing red light/green light with Brynne in the back yard, splashing around in the pool (must find that rash guard!), and eating all the berries I can! I'm so glad I'm not the only one thinking about cleaning up and fresh starts!
new shoes do give new promise, don't they? I fully agree. Here's wishing you a summer full of fun, play, and...finishing of projects!
Posted by: amanda | June 07, 2006 at 05:07 PM
what lovely shoes! And a lovely idea to go with them. Good times ahead, I can feel it :)
Posted by: amanda | June 07, 2006 at 06:22 PM
oh i love this picture! how sweet all of your cute shoes in a line! hooray for summer! and getting projects finished. i need to get mine started before i can even think about putting them off...
Posted by: hannah | June 07, 2006 at 06:44 PM
what fun shoes! and wonderful outlook for summer! here-here to getting things done and dance parties in the living room! (one of my all-time favs)
Posted by: molly | June 08, 2006 at 05:07 AM
Wonderful! You can do it. Looking forward to seeing all your finished projects.
By the way, your shoes are lovely! Which reminds me I need to get new shoes too.
Posted by: Adriana | June 08, 2006 at 07:06 AM
haha! love the shoes photo. summer always makes us think of getting new shoes too. so much more walking turns the thoughts to feet I guess. :)
and i can totally relate to having big intentions with little to show for it -- but i'm trying to set some deadlines for myself to get things done. we'll see how it goes... ;)
Posted by: laurie | June 08, 2006 at 01:46 PM
I trick myself into completeing things I have a list - and then I say to myself I will just do this for 15 minutes or if the time is there half an hour then I can stop. I usually find that I become involved and before I know it I have been doing it for an hour or I am so close to completeing that I say to myself Oh I will just finnish it up!
Posted by: sharonb | June 09, 2006 at 01:41 AM
Great Shoes!
Posted by: Michelle | June 09, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Ah, you sound like me in the day dreaming about crafts instead of making crafts respect! I have exams and essays at the moment so no crafting - but I am writing a list of projects to start on as soon as my last exam is done!
Posted by: Emma | June 09, 2006 at 07:38 PM