August 2008

you ever learned how to do? For me I would have to say that is sewing!

I remember that day when my mother sat me down, I was about 10, on her Necchi sewing machine and taught me to sew. It was a simple yellow cotton fabric and she taught me to sew my first little summer shift. I remember that feeling of elation on having created my very first thing! I wanted more. I could never get enough.

I started learning and doing anything I could get my fingers on. My grandmother knew how to crochet. She would make those great afghans out of the crocheted squares and she also would sit around crocheting that delicate lace on the edge of table linens. That is one skill I never acquired. I loved watching her do it, but it was much to tedious for me. I wanted to do larger things and get results sooner.

Over the years I kept on sewing, took it in high school as well. I am sure it was my way of not taking something else more academic. I also failed sewing in high school believe it or not. I already knew how to sew and she wanted me to do things the long way that I had shortcuts for…lets just say we never saw eye to eye on that one. It was the only class I ever failed where my mother never got upset. I sewed many of my clothes during that time.

I guess you could say learning to sew gave me a life long passion for creating. I learned how to do many things but the essential basis for all of them that drew me in was the creating. Taking the raw elements and putting them together to make something. That has always fascinated me, even if the process to getting there was a bit bumpy, it never mattered. I taught myself how to do many things and loved them all.

My newest passion is creating jewelry, becoming a metalsmith. I just love it. Its a bit more challenging and expensive to learn, but fun, intriguing and I am loving it. And not being able to hold it in my hands while I craft it , is way different for me.

You could say creating is what I love. Its been a hobby, a passion, my therapy, income and a joy for me thru my entire life. I can’t imagine not creating. I also love sharing what I know and helping others find joy and passion in creating. I am also trying to impart the passion of busying oneself with things to do, crafts to learn on my children. It is not only great fun and good skills but I am never bored. I always have something to do.

So what is the best thing you ever learned how to do?

My daughter and I spend lots of time talking about things and creativity is one of them. She is new to this artist journey and I have been at it for most of my life.

We often try to keep each other energized, give our thoughts on just about everything and help each other when we are stuck. There is always something to learn about your creative process and getting out of your own way can be one of them.

She often prods me for deep thoughts and questions, hoping to glean some understanding of her own process and blocks that keep her from reaching her goals and at the same time teaches me about my own.

Now i must tell you the my daughter and I , while we are different people, we are also very much alike in many ways and so exploring things together often gives both of us better insight into who we are.  She asks questions of me and I find myself coming to realizations I might not have otherwise seen. And in turn she might overcome some hurdles much sooner in her creative pursuits and venture on past the stumbling blocks.

She is currently taking an online course about writing, she has always wanted to write. And she is a good at it , and is learning also to get out of her own way.

One of the things she is learning about that she shared with me are the thoughts “safe never starts and perfect never finishes”.

These two phrases caught my attention!

I can relate to those two things only too well. How many times have I procrastinated on some little detail or went on thinking too long about a project or direction. Found myself saying I’ll do this when all things are in place, or when I have this or I cant do this because…. I am sure you all know, we have all had something we must do or have before we can get started.

This, to me, would be the safe factor, when its all in place, has a purpose and I learned more then I can get started.

There is only one thing wrong with that thought, nothing is ever all the way its suppose to be, that’s our subconscious filling our heads with distractions that keep us from our path. So we never really start or we never really finish.

It’s amazing how little thoughts, things we think we are doing to move us forward are really keeping us from getting there.

Oh what power those little things have! They take our attention away from the process at hand and busy us with thought, preparation, over thought….

It appears that we cant get out of our own way. Have you ever found yourself there? I have, that is why this little phrase rang so true with me!

And while you are busy being safe you may also be concerned about being perfect! Much to my surprise I had that one too in more ways than one. My daughter was all to happy about pointing that out! I never saw myself that way.

That also creeps into so many things we do.

If only the we had the right tool, the right supplies, the time, the money, the desire, the ideas…..it can amount to a long list. If only I knew what I was doing, or I did it better……again another long list.

We can keep adding to this list and then we would be busy making lists and excuses and not art.

Truth is it will never be perfect! And if we dont start how will we learn, grow, get better etc? And it’s ok if it doesn’t come out perfect!

Why does it need to be safe or perfect?  Why cant it just be? Why cant we just do? After all if we are doing, are we not learning, growing and succeeding? Are those goals not beginning to happen and getting closer all the time?

So don’t let those little demons take you from your path, if you want it! DO IT! no matter what. There is always a way! There is always time! You just have to want it enough to go get it.

And its time to get back to business.

The summer started out with me breaking my wrist in 2 places at the beginning of the summer. That kind of gave me a bad start. I was frustrated that I couldn’t do anything. I don’t make a very good patient, just ask my daughter and husband.

Then I realized that life was trying to make me stop and pay attention. Guess I wasn’t listening very well. That is so like me. I had a few personal things I had to tend to.

Now that those things are back on track, its time to get the business of creating and designing back on track.

All these ideas are sitting around in my head and my sketch book clamoring to get out. So today I managed to get some time to get going on the next bag design. It is going to be a market bag, something with a little more pizazz than my  Sew Simle series grocery tote. That is a great design that you can make in about 30 minutes or less but if you knew me you would know that I always like to keep playing with things, just for fun.

Nowadays being GREEN is at the top of many peoples list and I believe in going green with some fun style. With that thought in mind I have some new  market tote designs patterns I will be releasing in the weeks to come.

I could just go out and buy those simple canvas totes for sale at most grocery stores these days but then that would be to easy and so not me. I already have some of the sew simple grocery totes, but the family pretty much claimed those, so now I need ones just for me.

I love to be different, have fun and use my creative energy to make something unique I can carry! And that is the thought I have in mind in designing these new designs. So stay tuned and check back at the blog or the shop, you dont want to miss these they are cute, fun and easy.