Friday, May 7, 2010

When creativity gets away from you


image courtesy of photobucket.com

Yesterday I posted several pictures here. For those of you who are still wondering, yes, all those projects were done by yours truly, and no, I have no formal training. Just sort of figured things out as I went along. I tend to throw myself head first into anything that fuels my creative spirit. There is an energy and a spark when you take an idea in your head and it transfers well to a final result. That goes for anything. Not just the creative arts.

Then there are times when my big plans and lack of planning get me into messes. Case in point. While turning what once was the kids playroom into a studio/office, I decided that the windowsills were cumbersome and were taking up too much space. (They protruded a whopping 2 inches.) Had my husband been in town, he would have talked me out of it. Temporarily, anyway. But when I get something in my head, I'm pretty determined to see it through. This can be very good. It can also be very bad. Here's a post from last year. A cautionary tale:

The New Math:

Well, it's Saturday and I am hard at work in my soon-to-be uber fantastical studio/escape from the world. I am taking a brief respite from the task at hand to give you a brief peek into the glamorous life of me. (Sure, don't mention it.)

Here's a new mathematical equation to ponder:


Impulsive, impatient Katdish



- methodical, practical husband



+high powered reciprocal saw



=Uh, oh...Sorry. My bad







Okee, dokey! Well, I gotta got figure out how I'm going to fix this before my DH gets home. Oh, wait...he reads my blog...DANG! So, how's your day going?

For the record, I did fix the damage (all by myself thankyouverymuch) and the windowsills now only protrude one inch. So there...

This is also where I came up with the quote,
"The creative spirit cannot be enslaved by the oppressive chains of reason and logical thinking" when Texas Shawn asked me: "Um, what did you set out to do?"

Also the first and only time my husband commented on my blog:

"I guess I should look at the bright side and be grateful that I learned of your handy work via your blog and not a call from the hospital.Curious to learn what your a sculpting."

So menfolk, the next time your wife complains about you leaving your dirty socks on the floor, look on the bright side, you could be married to me.

16 comments:

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Beautiful view. Not the ding, the yard. And hey, I married one of those too and I'm one of those too. So it makes for lots of fun "conversations". ;)

Your crafts you posted pictures of yesterday were impressive. I love stuff like that!
~ Wendy

~*Michelle*~ said...

You made me laugh (once again) this morning. We are very much alike in the "impulsive, impatient" category....usually mine involves some sort of power tool, lots of spackle and paint (and def. some sort of first aid)

That room does look awesome though.....YAY for you!

oh, and Happy Mother's Day, Kathy! :)

Jay said...

This must be the place for the story of myself, Mary, coffee, Bailey's Irish Creme, a chain saw, and a door that drug over the carpet. I feel you.

Kathleen Overby said...

Sticking out is what window sills do. You don't like window sills? Did you do away with all of them in the house or just this room? Cool room with a view. Mangled sill adds texture and.....let's your personality shine through? :)

Sandra Heska King said...

I love it. Being married to you must be a little like living with my son when he was still home--never knew when I'd find him on the roof or in a tree, rearranging my kitchen--or chopping up my lilacs.

He did teach me a lot about not procrastinating.

Louise Gallagher said...

Oh goodie, a laughing moment to start my day!

Scary thing is... I understand your logic of wanting to be rid of the protruding 2 inches. And I completely get why you set to work doing it!

Helen said...

Funny. I don't have windowsills in this house, and I miss them. They are a great place to put a vase or statue, but alas, no protrusion.

Also, your hubby is lucky you fix your own messes. Last year I moved the couch to look for my driver's license renewal letter (it said I must bring it with), then after cleaning and vaccuuming behind the couch I couldn't lift it to put it back, which is strange, because it weighed the same each time, I am sure. So I waited outside to tell Bob he had to move the couch back. He was okay with that.... I'm just saying that your DH is lucky that you fix the problems you create yourself.

Robin Arnold said...

You at least have power tools. I decided a closet door wasn't wide enough and hand sawed it wider. That turned out fine. I did call in man help when I took apart the vacuum cleaner. I ended up with too many screws and a belt. My Dad told me this was not women's work (I called him first)which is surprising since he taught us to use tools. I think curious and fearless is the way to be. Good job.

Heather Sunseri said...

That reminds me of the time I deciced to surprise my husband by painting our entire kitchen, including cabinets in one weekend by myself while he was out of town. And I had to start by stripping the wallpaper from the walls. He came home to a surprise alright - a giant mess. It was beautiful, eventually.

Kelly Sauer said...

lol - oh dear, my husband would be horrified! I can't wait to see the finished view of your studio!

jasonS said...

This sounds more like me than my wife! I'm bad at household projects because I a) lack the skills necessary or b) lack the patience to do all it takes to do it right the first time. I'm learning slowly but surely and I get a lot of help!

Wendy said...

You finished the project? Why would you do that? Or is it only me that starts a project then just leaves it for a year (or longer)?

Tony C said...

You are too funny! How could he be mad at you when you find such creative ways to say 'oops'.

I'm so jealous. Since we're adding yet another living tax deduction to our family...I don't see my own private space for many more years.

I guess I could start mowing the lawn in the winter too.

Sarah Salter said...

Oh, Katdish, you are SO SPECIAL! I love you, girl! (By the way, I need some work done on my windowsills. Are you available some weekend soon?)

Stephanie Wetzel said...

I loved this the first time I read it. It gave me another reason to believe that you and I were somehow twins separated at birth. (And that, frankly, so were our husbands.)

Today what struck me was the artistic curve the reciprocating saw created in the sill. Cuz if you're gonna shred your windowsill, you should always do it with FLAIR.

(In my case, Charlie has learned to never let me near trimmers and loppers and outdoor vegetation. Hilarity... or something ... always ensues.)

Jake said...

"So menfolk, the next time your wife complains about you leaving your dirty socks on the floor, look on the bright side, you could be married to me."

Nice, Kathy. Really nice. :)