![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
...whether it is nobler to use up craft supplies in making of things for others,
or to just make crap for myself.
(Sorry, I make a craptastic Shakespeare)
Here's the thing. Craft swaps motivate me in a way nothing else does. Because there's a deadline. Yes, yes, you can try top self-impose deadlines, but... you know they're not real. So of course I blow them off. And while, yes, technically it would be better to make things for myself (and others - I know I still owe a few people things, really I haven't forgotten!) that I have queued, I just... don't. And, admittedly, the swaps offer a level of challenge that is frustrating, but rewarding at the same time.
Remember the Three Tiny Movie Things swap I signed up for, when I was so depressed about the movie choices? If you recall... actually, if you recall I don't have to tell you, so really, this is more 'if you don't remember', and why would you? Anyway, the movies were: Pan's Labyrinth, Amile (specified NO GNOMES, though), Moulin Rouge and/or Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Princess Mononoke.
Re-watching them didn't make me like any of them any more than I did the first time, and the only one I hadn't seen - Princess Mononoke - is not something I liked, either.
I was particularly surprised by my problems with Beauty and the Beast, which I didn't recall disliking, per se, I just knew it wasn't in my top 10 Disney movies*. I don't have a problem with love stories, and the bit about her being kinda like property is historically accurate so, eh. The biggest problem I had was with the Beast. You see, he was turned into a beast because he was handsome and arrogant and cruel, but even from the beginning he wasn't a mean person. And don't tell me that living in isolation for... what, a few years? changed him that much. Arrogant jackasses are arrogant jackasses, and the hate he would have festering in him over what he'd perceive as an unjust action (the crone daring to turn him into a beast!) probably wouldn't have made him any better. I just don't see how he basically turned into the insecure, lovable nerd even before he met Belle. Yes, it's a kid's movie, and I suppose it'd be hard for them to show a total jerkwad, but then for the love of characterization, change the beginning of the movie! Give a different reason he turned into a beast. Say, if he'd been the nerdy kid that was teased and picked on on he wished to be big and strong and something twisted the wish.... that I would buy. But then Belle probably wouldn't have had to teach him how to read.
And, you know, I think he was better looking as the beast than he was as the prince at the end.
So I couldn't do anything with that movie, because Belle was her favorite character and I just couldn't muster up enough energy to care. I probably could have done something if she'd loved the teapot, or Chip.
Amile was problematic because of the 'No Gnomes clause', and I thought I could do some paper crafts with torn photos, but didn't love the idea enough. I can see how the movie would appeal to some people, but Amile annoyed me and while I enjoyed the mystery of the bald man, it wasn't enough to merit subtitles.
Moulin Rouge is a movie I remember despising, and it wasn't any better the second time (I did not watch Chicago, as I recall liking that one even less). I do not like musicals, and I was never hugely fond of the fad of incorporating modern things (esp music) into historical settings (or worse, that version of Romeo and Juliet where they made the model of his gun a 'sword' so the lines worked?). Plus it's a damn depressing movie. BUT! I did think of a craft for it:
It's supposed to be typewriter keys, since he typed out his story... about love. A little cheesy, but she said she wanted wall art.
Pan's Labyrinth wasn't that bad, though again with the subtitles! Last round I also got two subtitled movies. I hate not being able to do things while I watch (in this case read) movies. Anyway, gory and depressing as it was, I did find a craft idea - and one I'd already started... shhhhhh....
Her first task, the dead tree and the frog. I'd already made the tree as an attempt as one of those tree-of-life pendants, which are really hard, by the way, and I - strangely enough - had a frog bead. Done and done.
Princess Mononoke was disturbing on SO MANY levels and while I can watch a lot of gross things (surgery, etc) the tentacle/wormy monster thing creeped me right out. Do not like. ANd, frankly, those tree spirits were beyond freaky. So, of course, I made one.
His head swivels on a snap and it rattles. It has a plastic bottle cap with cherry pits inside (I thought it was all appropriate, considering... seeds, trees... don't worry, they were cleaned and dried!) and it sounds very very very much like the movie.
Anyway, that package has been on its way to Canada since the postal strike ended.
But that brings me back to the problem about if I should sign up for another swap, which will now sadly have to wait for another post, because James May Drinks to Britain is about to start.
*Which, if you are curious, include The Great Mouse Detective, The Fox and the Hound, Lady and the Tramp, The Sword and the Stone, Up, Howl's Moving Castle, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc, Pete's Dragon, and Fantasia, though not necessarily in that order.
or to just make crap for myself.
(Sorry, I make a craptastic Shakespeare)
Here's the thing. Craft swaps motivate me in a way nothing else does. Because there's a deadline. Yes, yes, you can try top self-impose deadlines, but... you know they're not real. So of course I blow them off. And while, yes, technically it would be better to make things for myself (and others - I know I still owe a few people things, really I haven't forgotten!) that I have queued, I just... don't. And, admittedly, the swaps offer a level of challenge that is frustrating, but rewarding at the same time.
Remember the Three Tiny Movie Things swap I signed up for, when I was so depressed about the movie choices? If you recall... actually, if you recall I don't have to tell you, so really, this is more 'if you don't remember', and why would you? Anyway, the movies were: Pan's Labyrinth, Amile (specified NO GNOMES, though), Moulin Rouge and/or Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Princess Mononoke.
Re-watching them didn't make me like any of them any more than I did the first time, and the only one I hadn't seen - Princess Mononoke - is not something I liked, either.
I was particularly surprised by my problems with Beauty and the Beast, which I didn't recall disliking, per se, I just knew it wasn't in my top 10 Disney movies*. I don't have a problem with love stories, and the bit about her being kinda like property is historically accurate so, eh. The biggest problem I had was with the Beast. You see, he was turned into a beast because he was handsome and arrogant and cruel, but even from the beginning he wasn't a mean person. And don't tell me that living in isolation for... what, a few years? changed him that much. Arrogant jackasses are arrogant jackasses, and the hate he would have festering in him over what he'd perceive as an unjust action (the crone daring to turn him into a beast!) probably wouldn't have made him any better. I just don't see how he basically turned into the insecure, lovable nerd even before he met Belle. Yes, it's a kid's movie, and I suppose it'd be hard for them to show a total jerkwad, but then for the love of characterization, change the beginning of the movie! Give a different reason he turned into a beast. Say, if he'd been the nerdy kid that was teased and picked on on he wished to be big and strong and something twisted the wish.... that I would buy. But then Belle probably wouldn't have had to teach him how to read.
And, you know, I think he was better looking as the beast than he was as the prince at the end.
So I couldn't do anything with that movie, because Belle was her favorite character and I just couldn't muster up enough energy to care. I probably could have done something if she'd loved the teapot, or Chip.
Amile was problematic because of the 'No Gnomes clause', and I thought I could do some paper crafts with torn photos, but didn't love the idea enough. I can see how the movie would appeal to some people, but Amile annoyed me and while I enjoyed the mystery of the bald man, it wasn't enough to merit subtitles.
Moulin Rouge is a movie I remember despising, and it wasn't any better the second time (I did not watch Chicago, as I recall liking that one even less). I do not like musicals, and I was never hugely fond of the fad of incorporating modern things (esp music) into historical settings (or worse, that version of Romeo and Juliet where they made the model of his gun a 'sword' so the lines worked?). Plus it's a damn depressing movie. BUT! I did think of a craft for it:
It's supposed to be typewriter keys, since he typed out his story... about love. A little cheesy, but she said she wanted wall art.
Pan's Labyrinth wasn't that bad, though again with the subtitles! Last round I also got two subtitled movies. I hate not being able to do things while I watch (in this case read) movies. Anyway, gory and depressing as it was, I did find a craft idea - and one I'd already started... shhhhhh....
Her first task, the dead tree and the frog. I'd already made the tree as an attempt as one of those tree-of-life pendants, which are really hard, by the way, and I - strangely enough - had a frog bead. Done and done.
Princess Mononoke was disturbing on SO MANY levels and while I can watch a lot of gross things (surgery, etc) the tentacle/wormy monster thing creeped me right out. Do not like. ANd, frankly, those tree spirits were beyond freaky. So, of course, I made one.
His head swivels on a snap and it rattles. It has a plastic bottle cap with cherry pits inside (I thought it was all appropriate, considering... seeds, trees... don't worry, they were cleaned and dried!) and it sounds very very very much like the movie.
Anyway, that package has been on its way to Canada since the postal strike ended.
But that brings me back to the problem about if I should sign up for another swap, which will now sadly have to wait for another post, because James May Drinks to Britain is about to start.
*Which, if you are curious, include The Great Mouse Detective, The Fox and the Hound, Lady and the Tramp, The Sword and the Stone, Up, Howl's Moving Castle, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc, Pete's Dragon, and Fantasia, though not necessarily in that order.
Tags:
no subject
Sometimes I have so many projects on the go that I have to do deadlines a month or two in advance so that I can be sure to have EVERYTHING finished for a certain date. And things still get skipped or not done.
good luck with your decision.
no subject
no subject
Still haven't done anythign where I can actually do a craft swap, sadly, and I don't know that I'd be able to get them done in time.
no subject
That's why I like the OTT (One Tiny Thing) swaps. It's just one very small thing. Probably the best kind of swap to start with, honestly. But... considering some of the stuff I get in swap return, I do wonder if it's worth the postage (considering the cost of postage!).
(You are one of the people I haven't forgotten about! I am just slow, so very slow these days...)
no subject
I don't like subtitles. Like you, I prefer to be doing other things while I watch things.
What is it I have to do to be eligible for swaps again? *memory lapse* I could do something small. Reminds me--I need to take pics and post stuff about the weaving blanket I'm making. I just don't know if I have enough variety in what I do to make a swap feasible.
(oh don't worry! I'd forgotten you owed me anything, honestly, lol)
no subject
Stalk some of the swap galleries (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=84.0), it'll give you an idea about the kinds of things people swap. Like, you could totally have made the button 'Love' sign. SOOOOOO easy. A lot of people do paper crafts, which are pretty versatile. Mostly the key is signing up for a swap you think you'll be able to manage - like, awhile back I think they had a Dishcloth swap, which would be right up your alley! You just have to keep an eye on the swap boards and see what comes up.
(I haven't forgotten, and some day it will be done!)
no subject
Egh... I couldn't swing 5 at a time. No way. I would try with one or two small ones. I know I could be more versatile in my crafts someday... but for now, I'm constrained by where I live and space and all.
Dish cloth. That would certainly be interesting...
no subject
Odzywki
What do you thing about below diet supplement? I'm going to buy something good for muscle growth. Please give me a piece of advice.
[url=http://www.suplementy.odzywki-dla-sportowcow.com.pl]suplementy[/url]