Jen in Fairfield, Iowa is making 365 Monsters...
Why did you decide to do this project? When I found the 365 book in the middle of January, my job had become more stressful than I ever dreamed it would be. It occurred to me that I would need something reliable and consistent to distract myself in the evenings so I wouldn't obsess over work in the evenings, so I decided to start this project. The idea of making monsters really appealed to me because they can range from truly scary to deceptively adorable, and so I could use that to get my frustrations out for the day should the need arise.
How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I like to knit and crochet, but often stop myself from making things because I don't have a need for the finished product, and I used to draw all the time, but the habit of doodling was lost when I grew up and became a "practical adult." Doing a little something every day has definitely helped me feel more creative and balanced (and thankfully distracted from my day job). In a world of instant gratification, it's really nice to end the day with something that I made all by myself, that didn't take a whole lot of time, yet still has heart in it. I've even surprised myself: in the description for my very first monster, I stated that I hadn't had much success with polymer clay in the past, but I haven't had problems with any of the clay pieces since I started this project! Not to mention the revival of my poor neglected blog. Overall, this project just makes me feel good.
See all of Jen's monsters HERE.
Why did you decide to do this project? When I found the 365 book in the middle of January, my job had become more stressful than I ever dreamed it would be. It occurred to me that I would need something reliable and consistent to distract myself in the evenings so I wouldn't obsess over work in the evenings, so I decided to start this project. The idea of making monsters really appealed to me because they can range from truly scary to deceptively adorable, and so I could use that to get my frustrations out for the day should the need arise.
How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I like to knit and crochet, but often stop myself from making things because I don't have a need for the finished product, and I used to draw all the time, but the habit of doodling was lost when I grew up and became a "practical adult." Doing a little something every day has definitely helped me feel more creative and balanced (and thankfully distracted from my day job). In a world of instant gratification, it's really nice to end the day with something that I made all by myself, that didn't take a whole lot of time, yet still has heart in it. I've even surprised myself: in the description for my very first monster, I stated that I hadn't had much success with polymer clay in the past, but I haven't had problems with any of the clay pieces since I started this project! Not to mention the revival of my poor neglected blog. Overall, this project just makes me feel good.
See all of Jen's monsters HERE.
