Keeping Creativity in Real Life

Real life can become overwhelming.  It can permeate every part of your day and cut you off from time to spend on creative pursuits.  But all artists must remember that creativity exists on many levels.  When I'm not able to sketch or develop in the physical dimension, I envision projects that I want to do or see new things that I want to develop.  After all, aside from helping customers which is my main function at the shop, I am currently counting and packaging jump rings - more than 100,000 of them.  That's a lot of counting and packaging and even though I have it down to a science, I don't have to think with more structure than counting up to four or 20 (I count in groups of five). 

My new machine is on its' way.  My DH
will have a fit - ANOTHER piece of equipment! 
But how kewl is this?!?

Jim (my Manager) and I had a nice talk about creativity, developing projects, and time yesterday.  We would both like to see me as having the opportunity to work on the projects that I have pending in real life and in my mental list of projects.  The hard part is getting the time cleared.  Well, next week I get an extra day off on Thursday.  I'm fairly determined that I will not spend that time cleaning (only one day will be allowed for that), but rather allow myself to have some time at the sewing machine, the sketch book, and maybe caressing my enamels.  In my dreams last night, a use for my new equipment (due for delivery this week) came through.  Now I have to receive the equipment to find out if I can make this work or not.  I'm really looking forward to some play time!