I did think that my February BJP piece would be a little softer and more loving than the January one, after all it does include Valentine's Day! Unfortunately so far it has been a month full of continuing frustration so I chose to use lots of red and orange beads to signify this. The frustration is caused by a number of things. My panic attacks, of course, but a huge chunk of it is to do with Steven's job. He is assistant manager at a local pub but the last few months have been spent with him doing the majority of the work without getting any recognition of the fact that he is spending so many more hours there than he is getting paid for. His contract states that he should do 48 hours but he has been averaging 15.5 more each week. One week he did 76!!! As you can imagine, it is putting an extra strain on our family life that we could well do without and no amount of complaining about it will make it right. It would be a different matter if he got paid for the extra hours but, as he is on a management contract, he doesn't. It is just expected.
This Goddess really lived up to her theme too with me undoing enough of the beadwork for me to start to worry about the backing holding up! Fortunately it did or I fear she would have been consigned to the bin. The eye cabochon is from Liz Reed at
TheCrimsonMoon and is me keeping an eye on his hours, represented by the two opaque red beads that are like the hands of a clock around the eye. The heart has white 'lace' edging for Valentine's Day (had to include it somewhere) and the pink/yellow beads are to signify the clashes we have had over it all. The black spots are, well, black spots and dark times and the crystal on her cheek is perhaps a tear.
Hopefully March will be a better month!
Your piece is beautiful. I wonder if working on her increased or decreased your frustrations....The taking out and starting over...hoping that "today won't be overtime" and in the end it all working out (the back holding up). Such a great piece. I understand the essence of the piece as my husband works a ton of hours too.
ReplyDeleteI love her. She tells a very special story that many of us have experienced... To me, the black spots seem to represent the darkest moments, but even so, the fact that you included a Valentine heart prove that despite (or in spite of) the dark times, you know in your heart that it will all come good in the end... xxx
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing piece, Donna. I love how you have embraced the BJP - visual journaling idea so very well, and so honestly. You've found excellent ways to express your story. I'm sorry it's been a rough time, and hope it gets resolved soon. It can't be easy for anybody, including Steven, to have to work like that.
ReplyDeleteThank you all! Steven has always worked long hours, just not quite as bad as they have been recently. He has been coming home to sleep, that's it. He doesn't even get to spend any time with Kieran other than dropping him at school which is about 5 mins up the road. Hopefully things will change soon and my pieces will be a little happier. :o)
ReplyDeleteI remember, re-reading this this morning, all the time that my husband spent away from home when he was on a fixed salary... I used to find it just as upsetting and frustrating, and it led to a point where I really felt like the job was much more important to him than the family. In the end, it's proved out that the family is more important, but it took a really long time for him to see why I felt the way I did. I think it will work out in the end, and I hope that he can get a new job, in a better place, that has hours that work better for you and Kieran, too. Lots and lots of love - and understanding, too.
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Nancy. You are right, it does feel like work is more important than we are. I know it's not the case, but it's sometimes very hard to see that. I am trying to be more positive though, and hopefully that will become easier as Spring approaches. Who doesn't feel better when the sun is shining? :o)
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