My Journey As A Scroll Saw Pattern Designer #855: Time Warp

The warm summer days are definitely behind us. I sit her this morning writing with a cat at my side and another on my lap, enjoying the warmth of the blanket I am tucked under. It’s cool in here today, but that is just how I like it. Somehow it makes the coffee taste even better.

I truly enjoy the autumn. I wish it would last forever. But then, as with anything I think that I may begin to take it for granted. We all tend to do that. We become so familiar with things around us that we begin to look right through them and forget the special feelings that they used to bring.

I used to marvel at the ocean. The thoughts of all the unseen life that lived beneath the crashing waves intrigued me. While I still find it fascinating, after eight years of living seaside, I admit that sometimes I drive along the road with the ocean just a few feet away and hardly give it a thought. I am too consumed with the tasks at hand to allow my mind to drift. And I begin to wonder. Is it becoming too familiar?

I think it is so important to stop and take note of our surroundings from time to time. As much as I enjoy music, there are times when I prefer silence. The quiet allows me to tune my senses in to my surroundings better without cluttering up my mind. Maybe it’s an age thing.

I am thinking of all these things today because on Monday the realization came to me that my next project was due for the magazine. It seemed that I had just finishing one not too long ago, but it has been a busy month and the time has been passing quickly even by my own standards.

As I looked through the editorial forecast, I saw that this next issue was to focus on late spring and early summer. It was hard to believe that in the publishing world, we had already had our winter and holiday and winter snow, and were presenting projects for spring and summer. No wonder I feel like life is fast-forwarding!

I realized just then that I am constantly fighting a time-warp syndrome. Whatever the season may be, part of me is somewhere completely different. I remember that hot day in July that I took off to the beach and drew my little crackled snowmen. It seemed like forever ago, but in actuality, the catalog that I submitted them to didn’t even come out yet. There is such a long lag time that it sometimes takes the luster away from doing projects. By the time we are able to share them with others, they have already been collecting dust on the back shelf of our minds for several months, and we have moved on to several other new projects and creations.

I think that is why I took so much pleasure in creating my hollowed out pumpkin diorama. For once I was able to create and enjoy something in the right season. Not only did I have the joy of making something really fun, but I also had the satisfaction of sharing it immediately with everyone.

But that is the life of a designer. Part of it is give and take with your time and after going through over 15 years of this cycle, we come to accept it as part of life. But it does make me stop and think sometimes when I take the time out to take a breath, and it does help me to appreciate the moment. For living like this reminds me how fleeting those moments of serenity and beauty are. And when they arrive, we learn to sometimes put everything else on hold so that we can fully enjoy them for what they are – even if it is for only a minute or two.

The sun is up now and my Google reminder just told me that it is garbage day. That means that I have to get my butt out there and take it to the curb before the truck arrives. My moment of clam has played out and it is time to start my day. I hate to disturb the cats, but life must be lived. (A confession – I didn’t make the bed yesterday because every time I went to do so, there was one or two cats very comfortably curled up in the blankets. I didn’t have the heart to move them!) Yes, I spoil them. But what does it harm?

I have a little peek of what I cut yesterday:

It doesn’t take Einstein to figure out that it is for something Irish for the March issue. But that is all I will show for now, as I want it to be a surprise for later on closer to its publication date. Something to look forward to for you.

Living in a time warp is an odd mix of emotions. While it does seem to rush us though life, in other ways, it can comfort us and remind us of what is to come. For me who loves autumn and winter, sitting on the beach and drawing snowmen reminded me of the cool and crisp days to come. Even now, with my favorite seasons ahead of me, I can still look forward to the warmth of spring and all it brings too. Perhaps that is why I am always content, no matter what time of year it is.

I wish you all a wonderful day.

-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"