WIP: Work in Progress

For me being creative can be a bit of a roller-coaster.

One moment I'm fully inspired and I want to immediately set out to do whatever project I have concocted, but then a few days, weeks, or months later I've lost my drive and all those ideas fall by the wayside.

Sadly, I've dropped a few very promising ideas in this manner.

What I think the situation requires is "conscious creativity." What I mean by this is setting aside time to pursue my various ideas – with proper research for those projects that require it – though I have to watch how much time I put into research. I've found that I love to read up on topics related to whatever new idea or skill I want to engage in, and sometimes that can override the actual project itself. I even wrote about this problem previously.

Whew!

How do I accomplish this? By purposefully setting aside a specific amount of time on a specific day, and actual focus solely on that project. For me, the best time would be Sunday. I've got a full day to myself to do whatever I want... which tends to end up being not much!

I'm suggesting to myself to take one or two hours and focus on a creative goal. Don't fiddle on any of the distracting websites I usually frequent, but take a focused set of time to make my goals happen. My current goal is to update my resume, portfolio, and a few other social media items to allow me to buff up my online presence and find a new job. VERY IMPORTANT I'D SAY!

And even if the block of time doesn't yield particular results for my personal media bundling, I can at least tend to my blog more frequently. So many things have happened since my last update, I hardly know where to begin! I'd rather share as they happen, rather than months later in a "wrap-up post."

Time to pull my agenda out and get organized!


Creativity Christine

Pobody's Nerfect

I often approach projects with a lot of research and planning. I do this because I want to understand the topic or project as best I can, in the hopes of getting the best outcome - the first time. I'm so excited to be learning something new - it's like I give myself information overload!

That's a lot of stress to put on oneself - especially considering that usually when we do something for the first time, we are prone to make missteps, and mistakes resulting in a less than satisfactory outcome.

From there many people get discouraged, and often quit whatever pursuit they were striving for.

I have no idea what he's looking for. Can he even smell anything under all that snow? I'm asking the hard questions here.

I try to remind myself - again and again, as many times as needed - that this is all a process. One step at a time, one post at a time. I don't have to be creative EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I know some people can, I know that others plan projects and posts weeks in advance - but I have to also remember that this is new for me. I need to give myself the room to make mistakes, go long periods without posting - and to remember that it's all okay. Before I know it, I'll look back and I will have found my stride.

Are you just out here to eat snow? You made a fuss just to get outside and eat the fluffy white stuff, didn't you.

In the last few months, I've tried my hands at pickling, watercolour painting, drawing (I'm slowing get back into it), knitting and embroidery. I even want to try and make quilt-inspired items!

That sounds like a lot, huh?

Instead of being disappointed over a handful of in-progress project or items, I'm trying to change my perspective on the whole thing. Though some projects take longer than others (watercolour is a whole new mindset from the way I've painted in the past), and others are finished in 2 days (I knitted my mom's scarf so quickly and relentlessly that I had to take a break for a whole 24 hours - my hands were so cramped!) there is STILL progress being made. I'm still finding those moments for creativity, which have always been very important to me.

I'd call that a win, or at the very least, another point for the positive side.

Believe it or not, we've lost the family dog in the snow before, but he always wanders back.

So even if I get lost along the way, I try to refocus and remind myself that it's all part of the creative journey - it has it's ups and downs - but eventually you will find own unique rhythm.

Creatively Christine

Off Off and Away!

Last week Wednesday, I was feeling pretty good. Why? I finished putting the last touches on my Christmas cards on December 17th - but better late than never! I've wanted to do this many times in years past, but I would get started too late, be uninspired for a design, and eventually we would have steamrolled right into the new year with another Christmas passing by in a blur.

Check out that stack!

This year I have at least a dozen cards going out today (I'm glad I had enough money for postage - some of these are international) and each time I sat down to write another card, I was reminded of how I met that person. Some were friends I met in college, some I met because we shared similar tastes in movies, and some because we were involved in the same hobby at that time. Others make up family that I'm keeping in contact with, and others I'd just like to send a warm thank you for supporting me.

This year's card: Season's Greetings! Festive in red!

It made me think about, well, me. (I know that sounds a little funny to read - trust me, it felt that way to write it!) I always hoped I'd get the chance to know people who lived in different places, and now as I look back, that desire has come true. I've got people in my hometown, folks just across the border, and even a few overseas.

An inside view, with plenty of room for a personal message.

Sometimes I get down on myself for feeling as if I haven't grown in the ways I wanted to, but making and writing these cards has reminded me how much of an impact these people have made in my life, and the positive impact I've made on their lives.

You don't have to be sending dozens of cards during the holiday season, or even have your mailbox full of letters. Just as long as you can call, email, text, or write one person and tell them how much they mean to you makes all the difference to them... and for you.

Happy Holidays :)

Creatively Christine