Category: Creativity

Creativity, Life Lessons, Quotes, Writing

A Waste of Time or a Lesson?

By

Wasting time comes in many guises. There’s time spent on “frivolous” activities like watching TV or playing games on your phone. There’s time spent on projects that don’t go as planned or have unexpected results (lace shawl I can’t seem to knit, I’m looking at you). There’s time spent mucking about when you are trying to create something new that results in nothing but a stack of awful sketches or pages of writing that you can’t actually use.

Continue reading A Waste of Time or a Lesson? →
Creativity, Textile Arts

The Pull of Creative Rabbit Holes: When Do You Dive In?

By

As a curious person, it’s natural for me to want to learn about things, but sometimes my research can turn into a real rabbit hole. Thanks to the pandemic, I’ve discovered vlogs about sewing historically accurate clothes, and how-to videos for related techniques like finger-braiding and making bobbin lace. These topics combine my interest in fiber arts with my questions about what it was actually like to live in various eras, so this a deep rabbit hole that I’ve fallen down.

Continue reading The Pull of Creative Rabbit Holes: When Do You Dive In? →
Creativity, Spinning

Making Rope Out of Leaves, or Why Simple Projects Are A Must Right Now

By

I love making things, which is probably why I’m so annoyed by all the people who are insisting that the coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity to tackle a big creative project or be more productive. I want to be making things, people, trust me. But these are not the best conditions for creating.

Continue reading Making Rope Out of Leaves, or Why Simple Projects Are A Must Right Now →
Creativity, Knitting

One Way to Unstick a Stalled Project

By

The number one reason I don’t finish projects is that I get stuck. Usually, I don’t know what to do next, like when I put together part of a quilt before I’ve designed all of it (a mistake I have made more than once). Sometimes, I don’t know how to take the next step. Daunted by the unknown, I let the project go fallow instead of tackling the challenge.

Continue reading One Way to Unstick a Stalled Project →
Creativity, Drawing, Life Lessons, Nature Journaling

Nature Journaling: How Doing Less Can Lead to More

By

In my struggle to do more nature journaling, I got some help from a recent episode of The Nature Journal Show by Marley Peifer on burnout. While I’m not burnt out, his advice helps make nature journaling both fun and easy to do. In fact, you can apply most of his advice to any creative activity you enjoy. Two of the eight tips in his 15-minute video have already helped me.

Continue reading Nature Journaling: How Doing Less Can Lead to More →