See, That Other Door Did Open Up!

The last few weeks have been....less than stellar. 

I've been creating. Not every day, but most days. But there hasn't been much joy involved.

I haven't felt like posting; well, not exactly, it's more like I haven't wanted to take the time to post. But things are turning around for me. I was offered a new job! I interviewed at Norcostco two weeks ago (August 2nd, to be exact), and had hoped to hear back the next week. But nothing. 

UPDATE: After my interview, I had lunch with Dear director friend - we were supposed to go to a movie (but it wasn't a date! No! Couldn't have that now, could we?), but the interview went long, so when I got to his place, we decided to stay in, have lunch - and then we had sex. So much for monogamy!  He didn't feel all that remorseful, either. I was feeling so positive about the interview, he couldn't resist that energy. Or my body.
The following week, we did get to a movie, while my oldest was out with friends in Minneapolis. And he would have loved more than a movie date, but I had to pick up R. So we made plans to see each other the next week.
Thursdays have always been a particularly good day for us to meet, and evenings were now an option as well. And we had a lovely Thursday evening romp at his place; I wasn't there ten minutes before he was removing my clothes! The man can't resist me. But later, I told him how worried I was, about finding a job. Other than my time with him, I felt like I was nothing.

Which led to the sadness, tiredness, lack of positivity I've been feeling. I was so right for this job! Really! Not to mention I needed a job, and was starting to look farther afield - some bakeries are hiring for early-morning shifts (really early-morning, like 4 a.m. early) which would be doable for me, but not ideal. Especially with getting kids to school. And more especially with evening rehearsals.

But luck (i.e., hard work and a good attitude) was with me, and I will be the new sales floor associate for Norcostco's Minneapolis location, dealing with costume rentals, make-up, wigs, and accessories. Life is good.

Speaking of costumes, here are some of the items I built for Cymbeline earlier this summer.

Zoe in the awesome bodice I built

The Evil Queen with her headcovering

And this is the back of my head, in a cool braid/bun creation I did a couple of weeks ago.

this is actually my hair

UPDATE #2: We were both at a wedding reception/party the following Monday, and even though he was still dating Horse Teeth girl, he didn't bring her to the reception. It's too hard for him to put on his Handsome Act when he has a date. He wouldn't have been able to sit with me and introduce me to some friends, if she had been there. This was why I thought we had a relationship, not just sex. He wanted to be with me. But he didn't want her to find out. It got complicated.

Attack of the Garden Gnomes

This project is not at all how I thought it was going to be.

I'm only 11 days in, so who knows how it will evolve over the next 355 days.   Holidays will certainly influence some of my creations; in a few months, there will be outdoor projects for my garden; costume and theater work will be taking more of my time, starting right about....NOW.   And my kids will always influence my time, and my ideas. 

It's the spontaneity of the last few designs that's surprised me the most.  I really thought I would be planning out my daily creations, plotting out several days' worth of sewing and craftwork (and maybe cleaning and organizing my workroom and costume storage as I went; hasn't happened yet!), not waiting until 8 or 9 p.m. to come up with something.

And yet, by waiting, by searching across the interwebs for inspiration, by letting the "aha" moments happen, I've produced some pieces that I never would have planned to make.  I haven't had to buy anything, I'm using supplies I have on hand - which was part of the inspiration for this year-long goal anyway.   I'd like that aspect of this project to continue, at least until spring; I'll have to buy supplies for some of my garden and outdoor creations that I am planning out now.  (Dreaming about garden and outdoor projects is very common during Minnesota winters; though I haven't heard as much of this from friends this winter, we're not suffering through snow and cold as we normally do.)  And there will be garden gnomes. 

Which brings me to Tuesday's creation.  It came from, and was for, my youngest.  She had her first band concert last night, and wanted a new hairstyle.   Luckily, what she wanted was a fancy variation on a french braid, which was easy to accomplish after dinner and before we had to leave.

   

She called it a "crown french braid", in which the braid wrapped around the front of her head to give a tiara or crown effect.   The braid was finished in a pony tail holder below her left ear, and the rest of her hair hung down in a side pony tail.   Creating hairstyles is part of my work as a costume designer; I've had to help a lot of actors, especially with period hairstyles.  But I've never done a french braid this way before, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out.  I'm happy to say, she looked lovely.

In J.'s words - "It's exactly what I wanted."  Music to my ears.  And the band concert was a big success as well.  (One of the songs they played was "Attack of the Garden Gnomes" by Timothy Loest).