Serenity Now

 BEFORE

 AFTER

My wonderfully patient sister/therapist came over yesterday and tried to help me begin the process of cleaning up my workshop.  It's taken on a life of its own and spawned countless piles where scary spiders can lie in wait for me. 

Basically, her job entailed actually sorting things and moving them around while I sighed.  Then she'd tell me it was alright.  Or to just throw it out.  Or that it really would be okay.  You get the idea.

So here's the problem:  I feel like the Before picture doesn't look dramatically different than the After picture.  (Sidenote:  This is in no way a reflection on her near-heroic efforts and saint-like patience.)  I know it truly is better because I saw her take boxes out to car and I can see the air hockey table and I can get to the all-important drill press without high-stepping over something.  But there's a lot of work left.

Why must my creative genius result in such inevitable, unbridled chaos?

And why can't we all learn to be so relaxed in the midst of utter disorganization?

(No, I will not be taking this opportunity to also address the laundry issue that has vomited all over my bed.  My advice:  Look away.  Just look away.)

Danger! Danger!

Our house has been under quarantine.  Last week, my little assistant contracted a cold, which he, in turn, shared with the 3-month-old baby, who was quickly diagnosed with RSV.  Then Jedi-9 went down, and through my certain ingestion of baby snot, I have also succombed.  I have a crackly cough and endless drainage.  My husband is currently teetering on the edge and chugging Airborne fizzy drinks like I chug Coke.  Only rail-thin Jedi-8 has remained unscathed.  Either his immunity system is near-invincible, or he just really never spends time with any of us.

(If we could figure out a way to harvest snot and turn a profit on it, we'd be millionaires.  Millionaires, I tell you!)

Meanwhile, I'm living in a pit of chaos and accomplishing exactly nothing.  Day in and day out.

Life is grand.

Distractions Abound

Just when I think I'm getting close to finishing something, little Jedi-0 clamours for attention.

He better be thankful he's so cute.

Warmth in a Snow-Covered World

Maybe it's cold outside.  Maybe the first legitimate snowfall of the season has slushified your driveway.  Maybe you lost your gloves sometime last winter and your frozen fingers are suddenly angry about it.

But . . . [dramatic pause]

. . . None of that matters anymore.  Not since that small drop of sunlight lit up the face of your newest robot friend, dangling from the rearview mirror. 

His jaunty little legs and round belly are ready to break into an unihibited dance, perfectly in tune with you as you shift into reverse.  It's as if the bitterly cold, soggy world has faded to black, and the spotlight of robotic joy has illuminated your entire day.

Aren't you glad you added a little robot bling to your car?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92926500/a-little-steampunk-robot-bling-for-your

Made entirely from watch/clock parts.

Enzo the AcroBOTic

Meet Enzo

I've been working on this little fella for a while.  Enzo is made completely from clock parts, even the swing tethers are cuckoo clock chains and his arms are clock hands.  The vintage brass Gimbal was originally used on a ship to carry a compass, but now has a much more interesting life as a circus-training aparatus. 

I think I've finally got him so that he can flip and flop on the two different axes without falling off.

Available on my Etsy site . . . with more new projects to follow.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/92942631/enzo-the-acrobot-a-steampunk-robotic

Greasy Hands

I've got some new ideas a'brewin'.  Pictures to come . . .

The Times, They Are A-Changing

My husband kept part of the paper for me because he knew I'd appreciate this girl's workspace:

The addition of little Jedi-0 has resulted in some changes to my routine.  

(By the way, this is a shot of him smiling at the light fixture in our bedroom. He's having a love affair with that light.)

 
Thus, my current workspace:

Not that my little assistant seems to care.  He's become a big boy and only cares about video games.  Quote:  "This guy's AWE-some!"

Production just isn't quite what it used to be.