Year End Slump or Vacation?

I have not been blogging, or getting much done, for the last month. There were four or five days of ophthalmic migraines that set me back, a lot more than I usually have.

I started a Christmas card (above) in the middle of November, but didn't finish it until around the 10th of December. I enjoy making them, but every year I think "that's the last." I like the process at first, but when I have to make a bunch I get tired of repeating myself. The card is three layers, a kind of pop-up tunnel book. It mails flat. A friend recently said to me "we enjoyed making you and Jim 3-d." I loved that.

(photo above - the book I am currently working on. This is the title page, the book is about 20 inches wide open, and maybe four inches tall. It will be one-of-a-kind, probably never sold. It's called "A Child's Introduction to the Wonders of Space" and features parts of an old book my brother-in-law had as a kid. It was a well-loved book, he drew in it at different stages in his early life. )

Also since the middle of December, I have been feeling like every day is Saturday. It's the old holiday problem, my schedule has changed drastically. In a way I enjoy it, it is nice to laze about the house for a whole day. I have been mostly sticking with my walking schedule, that's good. But I thought I would have a bunch of free time and could make significant progress on my current project. Instead I have only spent 3 or 4 days on it in the last month. Our family Christmas dinner will happen tomorrow (Sunday). And then of course there is New Years, which means more disruption. However, I am thinking the new year will bring a better schedule.

(photo above - same book - I'm trying to solve a problem here. I don't like the composition of this page - it's actually a two page spread, you can't seem much of the left page. I need something that makes a better transition between the two pages. The blue figure isn't glued down. I will try a number of different things here.)

Luckily I don't go out a lot, I have become more and more of a hermit as I age. I do see friends as much as possible, and of course Jim is good company. But noisy parties and big events have never appealed to me. Now I figure I just don't have to do the social stuff that I don't enjoy.

(photo above - I guess I just like photos of my messy workspace. I think I have an inner teenager who doesn't like to clean her room. Progress does get made and it's helpful to have a bunch of options in my line of sight.)

I don't usually make New Years resolutions, they seem to fizzle out with a feeling of defeat by the end of January. But this year I am resolving to spend more time in the studio. I assume that's the most often made resolution for all artists. More time is all I want. I read an article recently saying "don't give up if you don't succeed at first." Good advice, it can take time to readjust to a new habit. Hopefully by spring I will be in a groove.

This post may sound negative, but I have actually been in a good mood for this time of year. And so I hope you have all had a good holiday and will have a spectacular New Year. Thank you for reading my blog. I do appreciate you all.