I have had a very creative few weeks. My right brain is well stimulated by the new stuff I'm making in pottery. I have made some lovely organic vessels that are both useful and sculptural. I decided that though I'm not a potter, the medium does suggest some utilitarian objective for my sculpture so I'm making sculptural vessels. It's an interesting process and I'll see where it leads me.
I have also been making an art calendar, using the Staples templates and my own art and photography. It has been very challenging because I was pushing the boundaries of the template. Eventually we arrived at a very acceptable proof and I had the job printed. I was called today to advise me that my job is ready. I'll pick the calendars up tomorrow. So everyone is getting a calendar for Christmas. It's an expensive process but once I figured how much my gift buying costs, plus the wrapping and postage etc. I decided that this was no more expensive, and a much more personal gift. I hope my friends like them.
I have also designed and written my Christmas letter this year. It complements the calendar.
It is a photo collage of friends, pets, places and good memories - 2010's high points, with the message on the back. The copy centre manager, was so taken with it, she plans to copy the idea for her Christmas letter. I've done all the shopping for the children in my life so basically I'm done. I just have to address stuff and mail it.
I wish I could say that having everything done protects me from being sucked into the Christmas consumerist vortex, but alas, it only marginally protects me. As long as I stay away from the shops, I'm safe. But when Christmas draws near, I get swept up too and buy last minute items we don't need. Maybe it will be better this year. I just need to keep repeating "I don't need anything" to myself.
We have too much.
It is satisfying to make things for people and the process has been exciting. It was particularly gratifying to hear the Staples technician say how great the calendar looked after our struggles. She was impressed and so was I. She was great, because she never urged me to compromise my concept to make it technically easier. She kept saying we'll make it work. That, dear reader, is good customer service.
I'm also pleased with my growth in computer savvy. I'm doing things now that I never dreamed possible a few short years ago. I actually love my laptop now. Since I discovered creative applications I slowly came to embracing it in my life. It truly is a most remarkable device. Yes, I am old, but not so old that I can't learn a few new tricks. My little gray cells are still working, Im glad to report.
