Saturday, November 03, 2007

Childish

I wrote earlier in the week about getting my workspace spruced up. At first I was focused on making things cozy and pleasant. Now I'm working on function--getting the lighting right, storing works in progress in a way that allows me to pick up where I left off . I'm so thrilled that I can run downstairs and get to work rather than having to move things, dig things out, and remove kid debris but I'm feeling very possessive of my space, perhaps too much so.

I had a minor tantrum tonight when The Princess moved in and began spreading glitter all over while working on a collage. I wasn't very gracious at all. I already had MonkeyBoy on the other end of the room working on a new stop motion movie which meant the lights had to be just so. Too much overhead lighting makes me cranky and after I gave in on that one I noticed the glitter and kind of lost it at my poor daughter who was just trying to enjoy making things with me.

The Dark Lord was, as usual, up in his room. When he has his computer he has little use for the rest of us so we haven't exchanged more than a few words all day. But I had my other kids hanging around with me and I should have been enjoying that, not snapping about how things should have been going my way. Sometimes I wonder why my kids are as nice as they are given they've grown up with me as a role model.

I managed four quilt squares and a little tote bag to hold a gift for the birthday party The Princess is attending tomorrow. For the last few months small fabric bags have been my birthday gift of choice. Once I wrapped my mind around the mystery of lined bags there was no stopping me and I've actually made a dent in my considerable fabric stash. I dug deep today and unearthed some fabulous Kaffe Fassett fabric I'd completely forgotten about, a wild floral print that makes me think of Yellow Submarine, my favorite childhood movie. A little accent fabric, some jaunty yellow rickrack and soon I had a bag that was so fabulous I really didn't want to give it up. But I will. Really. I don't want to be childish.

6 comments:

shula said...

Kaffe.

Dontcha just love him?

ps. I can get a bit territorial about my studio, too.

Girl's gotta have some private space somewhere.

Colleen said...

Fabulous bag! Thought of you yesterday, you'll see why soon ;-)

I should take some before and after pics of my "art space slash office". Small. Ouch.

Elisheva Hannah Levin said...

I don't know it it's so childish to be protective of your work space. Most women do not ever get their own space and yet it is so important for anyone to have. Perhaps you can set up areas where the kids can work with you but protect your own corner. And some ground rules about your space might be in order as well.

Maybe the kids would get into having a corner of their own?

And the bad is so cool! Vintage 19867!

Anonymous said...

Ohhh, it looks like the perfect knitting project bag! Would love to learn how to stitch one up but since I'm barely able to sew buttons on........

Magpie Ima said...

Thanks for the kind comments, folks. It kind of makes up for my typical stressful session with the sewing machine. I have yet to convince that thing that I'm the boss!

Tikkunknitter said...

I've nearly given up trying to have a space of my own, and now have my projects absolutely everywhere in the house. There are some concentrations in corners, but otherwise, general disaster. So bravo to you for trying to stake out some coherent space in the face of your fabulous brood!
The bag is cute, but what about those quilt squares? I need some encouragement to tackle my mountain of tops and bits and pieces.