I haven’t done “crafts” per se in many years. Now I remember why. Good grief. Everything takes 5 times longer than you planned and costs 10 times more than you expected. On my best day, I don’t have patience for learning new things. I am a perfectionist that hopes to do everything I tackle right on the first try. How unrealistic. People who like crafts are a different bunch. They don’t mind making mistakes, tearing things out and redoing them. Doing practice versions of the final product. I wish I was crafty. I appreciate anything handmade, homemade, made from scratch, etc. I understand the time involved and just the ability to finish what you start is impressive to me. All my life, I’ve never lacked for enthusiasm. I can get excited about any project. AT FIRST. Then once I start and it becomes difficult, I’m ready to throw in the towel. I’ve never had someone standing by ready to say they’ll help me through it and make sure I finish. People have always allowed me to quit, give in, give up. I don’t blame them. Maybe my whining got to be too much.
Every few years I’ve gotten the itch to try something that takes skill and perserverence (of which I have none) so I can show off “something I made”. This never ends well. You’d think I would learn eventually, wouldn’t you?! But no. The time before Mom & I went on a Carribean cruise and I got the idea 6-8 weeks beforehand to make my own clothes. The horror. I was working nights (full time plus overtime) with not a second to spare. I didn’t let that stop me. I bought the patterns, fabric and whatnot, only to maybe cut out one outfit. I don’t even remember getting to the actual sewing part. My mom has always been a prolific sewer. I somehow expected to inheirit this by osmosis. I had a basic sewing class for one quarter of Home Economics in 7th grade. That doesn’t provide anyone the ability to produce a whole wardrobe.
Then there was the time I got on a knitting kick. I can knit like nobody’s business as long as I don’t wait more than a day or two in between picking up the needles. If I do, I immediately come down with a case of crafter’s amnesia and can’t remember ANYTHING I’ve learned. Unless I have someone at the ready every minute to help me out when I truly “get in a bind” or “come unraveled”, it’s not going to work. I had high hopes of making my favorite band mittens with the band name on the back of the hand (grey with white/black lettering). I’m getting a thrill just thinking about them. IT WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA. I’m just full of good ideas. I’ve always said, I should come up with the ideas and someone else should implement them and give me credit. That sounds fair. Anyway, the mittens? SUCH A BAD IDEA. I may or may not have finished knitting one mitten, minus a thumb.
Now I’ve undertaken this Family Birthdays Calendar (mentioned in my last post with a link to tutorial) and I’m already so frightened and I haven’t even started. Hubby talked me into using real wood for the plaque so we picked out some poplar. Then he said we (meaning he) should cut out square blocks for the days and names instead of circles. Also out of the wood. That part is all done. I’m sure this crafting thing would be easier if I had supplies. I had NO stencils so went to Hobby Lobby and they didn’t have the right size lettering so just got 2 different Celtic Knots to paint on the sides of the board. They were too big but I liked them anyway so we got them. They didn’t have them smaller. Also got 2 colors of paints, red and green. Now I’m wondering if I’ll need more than one coat. Then we drove by a Michael’s on the way to somewhere else and I got the 2 sizes of letter stencils I need. Plus some hooks to hang them. I’m already exhausted and the “crafting” hasn’t officially started yet. There’s still measuring to do and the writing of the months and names and dates. Hubby called his brother and asked him to send a list of everyone’s birthdays. I have this dreaded feeling that it will not be forthcoming. If he forgets, I’ll have to call every member of hubby’s family to get their birthdate. I’m already in for more than I bargained for.
Then hubby makes a crack that I shouldn’t worry about it. It’ll probably just end up thrown in a closet somewhere. So that’s the true purpose of my husband, to bring me back to reality. Too bad he didn’t say that when I first suggested making it. Not after I got all the stuff. I’ve got a little over 2 months to make it so that doesn’t sound too impossible. I’m just afraid that it’ll look like a kindergartener made it. Maybe I’ll have to say that the dogs made it. 😉 And to think, originally I was going to make SEVERAL of them. Even one for us. That way I could look back and remember all the anguish I went through.
Crafting…it’s fun, yes? 😉
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I got hooked as soon as I started reading: your description fits me perfectly. I can succeed only with small crafty things, quick and easy projects, one at a time.
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I see so many on Instagram showing things they’re making on a daily basis: quilts, hats, scarves, etc. I think I was behind the door when the crafting gene was given out! Thanks for the comment. 🙂
Oh no. I feel your pain. I am mildly artistic and can put together a half decent craft project, but I have the terrible knitting amnesia you speak of. I guess I never made a serious practice of it (maybe if I did it every day for 40 days I would remember? I don’t know but I’d probably have to have it retaught every day of those 40 days) but yeah, it was always a bust.
You strike me as very creative. It surprises me that you have the knitting amnesia like me when your sister looks like she could knit in her sleep! 🙂 I guess it’s safe to say that our talents lie in other areas! Thanks for commenting, S.