to create

I am involved in many different creative activities during most weeks.  I create the ocassional ad at work, design packaging, update the company website mostly at my whim, design invitations, take photographs.  All of those things have their less desigable aspects - working with ad agencies, packaging middlemen and The Powers That BE (the many and varied bits of management I find myself under).  Away from work I have been known to make costumes and props for pirate and renaissance faires, do a touch of graphics work, create my own recipes, write, make wearable masks and make both pottery and ceramic sculpture.  Obviously not all at once.  Of course, all of these away from work activities must happen in between or at the expense of all the cooking, housework, pet care and oh so many family matters.

I love to create and I like it best when I have something tangible to show for it, especially if that thing is practical.  For all the whimsey floating about in my head, I can only live with practical. 

Something I know about myself is that I work well under pressure (I know I used to anyway) and really prefer to work on a project basis, at least one type of project at a time.  That is one of the reasons I haven't touched clay in several months and have at least 5 very large female forms sitting unfinished at the studio.  Clay is the thing I find hardest to give up.  My fingers are nearly itching to shape and form again - in that respect tapping at my keyboard is not satifying. 

I feel fragmented; perhaps I have too many interests?  No, I don't need to sew.  I would give that up in a heartbeat (I lack the patience for the details), but I find myself making 2 corsets and my own bridesmaid dress for my best friend's wedding, so at least not until that is done. 

What I need to do is go to school; in fact I've been saying that for so long that I could have finished my degree several times over.  One of the things stopping me is that I feel I need to give up most activities to focus on school (and sharing the housework would be helpful).  I've already stopped the clay (that makes it sound like an addiction, doesn't it?), but ceramics is one of the most peaceful, best things I know.  Is it just me, or do "modern" people try to do too many things?  I am certain that we all fritter away too much time browsing the internet, then I try to do things like cook from scratch...  What's a girl to do?