A Choice of Priorities

[erulissedances]

 We are approaching the end of July and I am still uninspired with my project for Beading for a Cure.  I made glass for it, worked the arrangement out, and started the beadwork while at Bead & Button in June.  Since I returned from Milwaukee, I have picked it out of its bag several times, looked at it, and put it back. 


I have illustrations still to do for Darth, and I have weekly writing, beta work, and other projects in my mind.  I asked, several weeks ago, what we had managed to raise for dollars from the autions earlier this year, and still have not received an answer, and I fear that BFAC could go along treading water for a long time, but never really get very far in raising money for colorectal cancer research. 

I love BFAC.  As a charity, I have helped with it and supported it since the 2nd year of its inception.  I served on the Board of Directors for several years, handled the incorporation and the application for non-profit status with the IRS, and served as its Treasurer and its Secretary at various times.  I supplied beads for the challenges on alternate years for eight years.  But, when I look at my time and where I want to spend it over the next month, it isn't with this project.  I'll make a project with the glass that I made, but not for BFAC.  I'm officially pulling out of the Challenge and will no longer participate.  It's time to move on.  If I decide that there are finished projects that I would like to bid on, I can support the charity through my bids, but I will no longer make beading projects for BFAC.  

Comments

[aearwen]

I can certainly feel for you.

I am putting my little choir on indefinite hiatus after this Sunday's doings, and that is also a hard thing to do. I have put at least eight years into it as accompanist, the last six as choirmaster. We are a group of friends who truly enjoy getting together to make music. But right now, everybody's life seems to be moving in directions that lead away from choir practices; and it's time for me to simply let go.

Like you, I will find other ways to bring vocal music about - maybe form a small madrigal group with five voices who aren't afraid to stand alone in a part. We have a nice group of folks who haven't been able to do choir who like to sing that kind of music - maybe I'll tap them on the shoulders and ask them from what evenings they'd be willing to sacrifice an hour of their time. I'm also a fairly committed (or I should be committed, not sure which yet) member of the players who put on musical programs once or twice a year, so there's more vocal music...

I think of that lovely jewelry box you made for last year's BFAC, and I'm glad you did what you did for as long as you did. But yes, the only thing in life that never changes is that EVERYTHING changes eventually. We all have to know when to let go.

{{hugs}}

[erulissedances]

There comes a time for all good things to end. I've done BFAC for many, many years, but when it seems like an obligation instead of a joy, it's time to step back. As it turns out, one of my other good friends had also decided to pull back from the challenge this year. It means we won't be invited to participate in the future. I can live with that.

I know that I want to concentrate on my writing, which is bringing me much joy, and my illustration and enamel work instead of beadwork right now, so that's the direction I'll allow myself to go. Beadwork will always be there, I've done it for more than 40 years so I'm not worried about losing skills, but the joy is temporarily gone.

I think a smaller group might be just the ticket for you, Aearwen. So many times group dynamics can leach strength over time, and I think you've certainly put in your time. {{{ hugs back at you }}}

- Erulisse (one L)

[just_ann_now]

I feel for you in your disappointment in having to give up BFAC, but I'm tremendously grateful that I had the opportunity to bring your magnificent piece of artwork into my home.

And I'm really, really looking forward to seeing your Big Bang artwork! Your updates continually intrigued me.

[erulissedances]

I'm delighted that you ended up with my final BFAC project. As for my Big Bang artwork, I still want to take one more group of shots, but I do have the preliminary photos. Feel free to take a look since I've been told we can post our artwork separately on MPTT (I won't do that until Monday night, but you can take a peek at the one cover piece).

http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad214/Engarian/Big%20Bang%20Illustrations/DarthFinalcopy.jpg

Let me know if you can't access the view from the link, it probably would be good to know that - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[just_ann_now]

Oh, that's gorgeous! The colors are so vivid! It just brims with light!

[erulissedances]

Oh thanks. The three elves are enamel on copper, the center figure is Erestor, the one in blue is Elrond and the one in green with the silver hair is Oropher. They are walking through a field of iris flowers which are collaged onto the wood and over the bottom edge of the enamel, and behind them I painted an arched tree on an airbrushed background. It was a challenging and fun project.

- Erulisse (one L)
Of course I photoshopped some chapter heads for him also, but the enamel was the focus of my efforts.