Category: Creativity

Art, Creativity, Drawing, Knitting, Quilting, Sewing, Spinning, Writing

Getting Started: 5 Ways to Overcome Creative Resistance

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When I read Rachel Mankowitz’s blog post about struggling to write music for some lyrics she’d heard, I could relate. How often have I had a spark of inspiration, a desire to do something, but never managed to follow through? Even when it’s something I really care about, resistance to working on the project is always there. In fact, the more I care, the harder it is to start. Why is that?

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Creativity, Life Lessons, Quotes, Writing

A Waste of Time or a Lesson?

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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.

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Creativity, Textile Arts

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

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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.

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Creativity, Spinning

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

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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.

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