"You know, he was always like a fish out of water around her...poor Lumpers, never mind, I says, plenty more fish in the sea, plenty more."

Friday, October 21, 2011

My Days


"Are you going to be working like this from now on?" asked my husband, the other day.

"What?" I asked, not looking up from my sewing. But I heard him. My glasses are perched on top of my head because lately, I can't focus on near objects with them, things like needlework. I don't have the time (or truth be told, the inclination) to go get a prescription for some needed bi-focals. In front of me on the table are littered scraps of fabric, thread, and wisps of fibrefill. I, too, am covered with scraps of fabric, thread, and wisps of fibrefill. They cling to my clothes, like cat hair.



Behind me, my husband continues to stand there, watching me work.

I look up.


"Well, um, yeah, I guess so, probably-definitely until December."

"Working like this" means right after dropping my son at school, I head home to my "studio" to work on softies, which may include walking to the nearby store to buy fabric, answering e-mails, taking photographs of toys, writing out receipts, wrapping up toys, labelling parcels, and blogging-all day, every day including the week-end. It's been non-stop softie-making for the last couple of months. Sometimes, when I finish an order, I relax a bit and revel in the feeling of a job done before I start looking at the next child's drawing.


But I like it. Every aspect of it. I like working at home, alone, while listening to the radio. I like the projects, each one different, each one with a beginning and an end. I like interacting with people from around the world via e-mail and the Internet. I like looking at the drawings, figuring out how to execute certain details and watching the soft toys take shape. I like making customers happy and I like feeling that I've brought some joy to them. And although I may not like as much softie flops and less-than-satisfied customers, I have come to appreciate these as valuable learning experiences. I like seeing my handiwork get better and faster over the years. I like it all.


My family, on the other hand, is a little concerned. My son worries that I'll get stressed by too many projects or that I'll forget about him. He is right to be worried, because I have forgotten to pick him up from school, a couple of times. But now I set an alarm. Because the day flies by and suddenly it's time for me to go and pick up this smiling boy from school. We chat about our day over a snack or while he works on his homework. And when he goes off to play with his friends, I head back to my studio to resume my softiemaking.


robot and cat drawing by James G.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What more can I say than, 'Wow!' You are so talented. So original too! I'm following your blog now and can't wait to see what else you come up with! @Chaoskay on Twitter. :O)

Shalini said...

Wow, I can't believe just how amazing this is! I can't wait for my daughter to start drawing so I can send in a drawing for a toy.

1 Craaazy Mamma! said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
frannie said...

What lovely little Softies.
Cute and adorable.

Nancy said...

Wow! You are a sewing genius! I wish I lived closer to you, so I could give you a hand (take pictures of softies, post them, run around looking for fabric). I would love to send in drawings by my kids. Perhaps in the new year...
:)

Unknown said...

I felt obliged to comment on the lack of bifocals, on behalf of all the people that love what you do (which I can only assume is everyone, anywhere, ever). If you're working for so many hours up close like you probably are, keeping your eyes healthy is right up there with keeping your fingers nimble.

If not bifocals or reading glasses, there is also the option of a desktop clamp-on magnifier, which can be relatively inexpensive when compared to prescription glasses.

Stay awesome!

said...

My father forgot to pick me up from Safety Patrol so many times the principal started driving me home on the way to his house. My father was a self employed architect when our small town was booming in population. I turned out like a reasonably normal person and I've forgiven him (kind of) :)

It makes for a nice thing to throw out there jokingly when I do something weird. I can blame it on abandonment issues due to the principal having to give me rides home.

I think your son will really enjoy what you do when he is bigger.