This year has been absolutely amazing for me. Obviously moving to Cleveland, getting my own apartment, taking up cycling, making new friends, and challenging myself out of my comfort zone were/are huge HUGE huge things in my life. Most recently though, I feel like I’m finally getting my creative spark back!!!
I’m not sure how many people have been reading long enough to know that a few years back sewing was my main business, blogging was just something I did on the side for fun. I made super cute zipper pouches from adorable fabrics, some of which I even screen printed myself. I sold thousands of them. My work was available in boutiques all over the world. Eventually I just got burned out. I put too much pressure on myself, and killed my drive to do any sewing at all.
Even in the months leading up to that I had gotten into this really awful mindset that if it wasn’t something I could sell, it wasn’t worth my time to do. Taking up new hobbies or learning new skills would involve a great period of time where the results wouldn’t be perfect. I didn’t have time for that. My work was in demand, I wanted to stay ahead so making something for myself just felt wrong. I couldn’t even make things for myself in my off time because there was no off time. I was always working on wholesale orders, new designs, my product photos, etc.
On top of that I wasn’t really in a great place in my life, I guess. I basically just stopped making things completely which I’m just now realizing was incredibly out of character for me. Even as a child I liked to make things. My favorite aisle in the store? The craft aisle. I was always begging my mom to buy me a new craft kit. My favorite class? Art class. I’ve just always loved doing things with my hands.
These last few months the urge to create has been gnawing at all like crazy. Finally, last month, I took up embroidery and have been having a blast just poking around at fabric. I’m not great at it. It’ll take time before my work is awesome. It doesn’t matter though, I’m having fun. I’m enjoying myself. It’s incredibly relaxing.
I’ve finally accepted that it’s okay to make things for no reason. It’s okay to make things no one else will ever see. It’s okay to make things for YOU and you alone. It’s okay to make things that aren’t perfect. It’s okay to try new things for the fun of it. It’s okay to make art that no one else understands. If it makes you happy, inspired, excited, or anything other positive emotion that is all that matters.
I’ve been having lots of fun at the beach lately. It’s where I’ve been feeling the most creative. I’ve always liked picking up the things I find for photos but I’ve been thinking of them on a larger scale these last few weeks. I want to make more permanent things with the items I find.
On another note but still related to beach trash, remember when at the
beginning of summer when I said I was going to collect all the lighters I
found on the beach to see how many I’d have at the end of the year?
Yeah, still going strong on that one. Below is how many I found in less
than an hour. It blows my mind how many there are. I’m getting pretty
pumped to count them all up
Get creating! xoxo