Wednesday, January 26, 2011

do it for me

First things first: check out this awesome full page spread of nation-wide press glory:Those of you who know me or read this blog and know what a vain bitch I am know I am loving this because I actually look damn cute. This is the first time I've looked cute in any press I've gotten, I usually look awful. It's amazing what soft lights, a clean outfit, and some make-up will do for you. Oh and yes, lots of people will see my pottery too, which is a pretty nice way to start the new year.

The slightly ironic thing about this press is that it is in this magazine called "DIY" which we all know means "do it yourself". I've been taking the last month off from making pottery and while I've been noodling around with my papercut projects and other little things, I've been realizing what an un-DIY person I am. I bought fabric to make new curtains for my bedroom and recognized immediately that my vision of curtains will never match my ability, so I sent them to my mother-- a master seamstress who made her own Calvin Klein knock-off jeans back in the 80's-- to make them for me. More evidence: I recently bought new sheets that came in this amazing, squared-off, un-recyclable, thick clear plastic bag that had a snap, and I'm looking at this thing thinking, "I could cover this with cute fabric and make this into the neatest little waterproof purse to carry my paintbrushes!" But I already know I will not get past the idea part. Even my papercut stuff, which I would love to frame and put up on my apartment walls, will probably end up getting dropped off at a professional framers because I won't get around to doing it myself, even though framing stuff is so easy.

People think because I'm an artist I would easily fit into the DIY ethos, but really, I'm all about DIFM, or "do it for me". I thought about how fun it would be to start a website where I could put up my DIFM projects, like this beautiful wood-framed stained glass bay window I want turned into a cabinet, which is what I think I had in mind when I bought the damn thing 14 years ago. People could apply to do the job, and I could choose people to make my projects for me. Perfect, right?

Just looking through this DIY magazine made me jealous and exhausted: create a pretty floor mat from linoleum, etch glassware to make them look frosty cold even when the liquid inside is not, paint your own headboard on the wall so it's not really a headboard, it just looks like one. All of these peppy people with these cute freakin' houses and all the special touches they did themselves, I could have that too, I just need somebody else to... DIFM! Then I could start a DIFM magazine and from there a whole movement could be born, with me at the top, filing my nails and checking my makeup for the next press shoot while someone creates a lampshade for me out of re-purposed vintage wallpaper and embroidery hoops. Sounds like DIY heaven for somebody else. I've never been short on ideas, only the drive to actually get them done.

13 comments:

  1. Congrats, you do look cute, and I hear you about the DIFM, I always have lots of ideas and not enough time to do them, one can only spread themselves so thin. I have stacks of fabric and stuff for othe projects and I am slowly letting them go as I realize I'll never get to them.

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  2. Hey- crazier ideas have made millions...like the singing bass, for example.
    Go For It!

    Congratulations on the mag. spread-it is beautiful (and so are you!)

    :)

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  3. you looked cute in the other article as well, I think. and, hey, I'm with you on the DIFM project!

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  4. Great post Whitney but I think MARTHA already beat you to the DIFM concept.

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  5. wouldn't be the fist time Martha beat me to a genius idea.

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  6. I'm an ideas person myself.

    Congratulations on the press!

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  7. First, you are a great writer, Whitney. I always have ideas sparking in my brain after reading your posts.

    Secondly, I think you looked really nice in the CH+D article, hardworking and darling.

    Thirdly, congrats on a bit of press that you feel really good about. That's an awesome feeling. :)

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  8. Hey thanks Jesse, on all counts! I think the issue I had with the CHD shot is that I look exactly how I felt-- exasperated at getting my picture taken for like an hour. I like to look perkier in pictures but the sad fact is, I often look annoyed. It's from trying too hard to look cute.

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  9. Thats such a cute feature! Congratulations :)

    Regards to DIYing there are only so many hours in the day unfortunately and although I'm a very crafty person time is limited sadly!

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  10. I know what you mean about all those great project ideas. What bothers me is that I can't let go of the thought that I will make "that really cool thing" someday, so I hold on to the materials till my spaces get too cluttered to work in! It would be great if there were some sort of factory where you could drop off your stuff and your idea and they would make it for you. It could be staffed with seamstresses, welders, carpenters, etc.

    Till that happens, I should resign myself to just saying no to DIY and do what I do best - paint!

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  11. congratulations on the spread - looks great and ya gotta love free publicity!

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  12. Anonymous11:42 PM

    Congratualtions on the press freature. You look cute and so does your pottery.

    I can never follow DIY instructions and my end-results are always devastating :) But if I start off without planning how it should turn out to be, I always end up with beautiful DIY creations... :)

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  13. Yay! Great publicity and a great photo! Can't ask for more than that. Who cares about DIY if you have someone to DIFY!

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