Confessions of a Crafter

Right now, it looks like a thrift store exploded in my living room. Or like, perhaps a burglar came along rifled through my things, leaving piles of “stuff” strewn everywhere. Or, as if the neighborhood vandal is using my kitchen to store spray paint. But somewhere among this wondrous mess of paint and objects in various states of disarray, you’ll find … me.

In case you’re looking for me, I’ll most likely be wearing a pair of old shorts and a ratty T-shirt, my hair piled in a twisted mess above my head, and an assortment of accidental splashes of color. This, apparently, is the life of an “artisan,” aka a crafter. Apparently, this is difficult and messy work. If only I’d been warned. Then, had I been warned I’d never have embarked on this quest.

I’m trying to spin gold from dust. I’m trying to raise phoenix from ashes. In other words, I’m trying to turn time-worn items into OMG-beautiful works of art. Yet, for some reason it never crossed my mind that this would be HARD. No one warned me that making miraculous metamorphoses might be more than a tad tedious. Then, had someone said that, I’d never have listened.

See, I have this little problem with visions of grandeur.  It happens all the time, I can't seem to stop it.  It starts with this incredible dream and becomes an incredible nightmare.  But then, 25 hours and 14 coats of paint later, I end up with something … pretty darn sweet. Precious … cute – Hell, sometimes I even impress myself. However, whatever I finished is never the same project I began. Usually, the route from start to finish is a series of serendipitous adventures … my problem decoupage that I just can’t properly sand turns into a lovely textured surface that I can never-again duplicate. Like getting lost and stumbling upon a beautiful little-known land, I wander through this sticky world wondering where I’ll end up next. I mean that, literally, as I am currently buried in piles of objects and adornments. If anyone comes looking for me, I was last seen with red sequins, pink jewels, a Marilyn Monroe purse and a can of Robin’s Egg Blue spray paint.
Just follow the trail of paint drops … or grout, or glue ….

Comments

[Meghan]

lol:) That was great!

I always have such grand plans for things that I pick up and the thrift store or yard sales. Unfortunately I never get around to do anything with them:(

[Tonya McDonel TotallyToTheT]

Awesome post. Totally know what you mean about the decoupage thing. Happens to me with clay all the time!