Spin Cycle - I'm a crafty starter, not so much finisher

So, here I was all ready to jump into the Spin Cycle with my room full of unfinished projects, and what to my wondering eyes should appear at the Sushi Bar, but Jan's entry on the very same topic. Oh well, I guess I'll jump in anyway. I'm sure there's plenty of room for all of us non-finishers.

Our house has an extra bedroom on the first floor. I claimed this as my Craft Room. It is also know as the Crap Room. It is where unfinished projects go to die . . . Unfortunately, it is also where all the crap goes when we don't feel like looking at it in the rest of the house anymore.

The Mailman recently straightened up the Crap part of the Craft Room, so currently we have:
On the table -

• partially finished scrapbook from Disney trip in 2005.
• partially started scrapbook from Florida/Disney trip in 2007.
• mostly taken apart old PC and its HUGE monitor (The Mailman's project, he hopes to bring it back to life. It died a horrible death in January of 2008 and was replaced with my beloved iMac)
• lots and lots of envelopes with pictures of who knows what in them

On shelves #1 -

• boxes of old photos, photo albums
• plastic container with stamping supplies
• more envelopes of pictures
• The Girl's barely started baby album (which I really, truly do regret not doing)
• various and sundry pieces of old photo and/or video equipment
• another box with pictures in it

On shelves #2 -

• many, many craft project kits that The Girl has received over the years. Many of them have been started, never finished (I guess it is hereditary, eh?)
• various other crafting supplies belonging to The Girl
• packages of scrapbooking paper
• sewing supplies, fabric, etc.
• a mystery box on the bottom shelf that I'm not going to open today . . .
• two bags with yarn and a Knifty Knitter (love that thing! I did actually finish a bunch of scarves at one point, trying to keep myself busy - not eating - while watching TV)
• some Christmas stuff on the top shelf.

I'm not even going to go into the contents of the floor or the other surfaces in the room . . . it is just too depressing.

I have had some completions.
The Mailman and I had very nice needlepoint stockings by the time we got married.
The Girl's stocking? The one I started when I was pregnant? The Girl was either five or six when I finished. I do have to say, though, it is beautiful!
The window toppers in the family room? Yup, I made those.
Various pairs of shorts made out of obnoxiously patterned fabric for The Mailman for Jimmy Buffett concerts? Check!
Pillow cases for kids? Yup, made a bunch of those over the years.
Last year's Christmas cards met with rave reviews, but they took FOREVER to make and I don't know if I've got that in me again this year.

So I'm not a total non-finisher. I do enjoy being crafty, but I work, I try to keep the house and family running and I guess I'm just tired.

I always think of my Mom as a finisher. I'm the youngest of four, I'm five and a half years younger than my closest sibling. My Mom isn't so much into the "crafty," but man, can that woman sew! She sewed for me when I was young. The Girl now has some beautiful dolls that my Mom made for me. She's been making beautiful things for The Girl her whole life and for The Girl's cousins, too. Smocked dresses, christening gowns, sundresses, jumpers, and two years ago for The Girl, the most perfect First Communion dress and a First Communion dress for her American Girl doll. When I think back, I remember my Mom sewing when I was young, when she was a stay at home mom. She went to work when I was just about The Girls age because my oldest sibling was going to be heading to college. She mostly stopped sewing then, I guess, and really didn't pick it up again until she had grandchildren, or more specifically, granddaughters. I guess she was tired, too.

I've recently started sewing again myself. I got a project into my head for my friend's baby that is due in February (actually, I've had this project in my head for this friend's baby since before there was a baby). I've started on this project, and I'm really happy with the progress. I've got a deadline, so I'm confident that I'll finish (I can't guarantee that the finish won't be on the night before the baby shower, though!) The Girl wants to learn, too, so I gave her a project a few weeks ago, and she did a great job. We'll move up to a pillowcase for her next.

While working on my project two weekends ago, my low-end sewing machine gave up it's last proper stitch, so I found myself what I think is a pretty good deal on a nice, shiny, new sewing machine on Amazon. It came last week, and now I'm feeling extra motivated. It is going to rain on Saturday, so it might turn into a good project weekend. I got The Girl some flannel fabric with cupcakes on it, so I'm sure there will at least be a pillowcase made. Wish us luck!

For more crafty spins, whirl on over to see Sprite's Keeper.