I bought some beads last week for jewellery making. I spread them out in front of me and looked at them. My mind goes blank. I have no idea what to make with them. My son enters the room. 'I don't know why you keep on buying all this crafting stuff, you don't even enjoy craft. Why don't you write or start doing your watercolour painting again?' It really is like having a second husband!
He has got a point though. Each time I 'want' to craft I end up getting exasperated and dissatisfied with what I am making. I also feel guilty and like I should be doing something more laudable. I always want instant, professional results which will only happen if I put the time and effort into honing my crafts.
So, now I find myself in a dilemma. I feel the need to make or do something but don't know what to do. When my mind is left to wander the old negative thoughts wend their way in and I am rendered useless.
I want to create something new and exciting but am lacking the inspiration to get going. Any suggestions to ignite the creative spark are most welcome.
One of the bloggers I used to follow had the idea of a 20 minutes a day project in which anyone joining in had to do 20 minutes of something crafty could be anything and to keep going for 20 minutes even if they didn't like what they had started or it wasn't working out. It works because it is often whilst working on something that inspiration strikes. Try it - string those beads together to make a necklace or maybe stitch them to a piece of cloth. Thread them onto a length of yarn and knit or crochet something or ... it might not work nor be perfect but it just might inspire you to do something else and before you know it you will have more ideas you want to pursue than time to do them. Let us know how you get on.
ReplyDeleteIt also happens to me sometimes: I want to make something, all the material is in front of me, but I have no inspiration. Here's what I do: I let go- without ANY guilt at all- and when I relax it comes back! It may take a few hours, some days or even months.But I'm patient and it happens, I promise!!!
ReplyDeleteI think we all have felt like that at some time it other Simone, I know I have. You just have to keep trying different things until you find 'your' thing!
ReplyDeleteV xxx
Do you have a Pinterest account?
ReplyDeleteA little wander around there and some of the stunning photographic images may spark something off in your mind that you didn't even realise was there!
Lisa x
It sounds a bit like 'writer's block' - an empty page in front of you (or computer screen) pen or mouse in hand and nothing. When I was doing creative writing courses I got most of my inspiration when walking, the rhytham of which would put the rytham of a poem in my head, weather or landscapes or rooftops would inspire as would conversations overheard in the street, in shops and at the bus stop. I know your situation with crafting is different but what I think I'm trying to say is just wait until you have inspiration, usually from the most unlikely source, or as writing courses say - just write anything just to keep writing even if you don't like it - so as Marigold Jam says above just make something doesn't matter what or if you are satisfied with it, you may just get some inspiration from it:)
ReplyDeleteHaving a good sort out of all my craft supplies always helps when I want to make something but can't come up with any ideas. Pinterest is also a good idea as someone has suggested but it's a little addictive, you may find yourself spending too much time looking at stuff people have made instead of using that time to make something yourself. Hope you get your inspiration back soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Simone - just catching up with everyone at the moment and thought I could maybe help you on this one as I went to Art School and my advice is keep a sketch book not just to sketch in but to use as an ideas book. Your sketchbook should be bursting at the seams full of bits and pieces from all sources. If you come across a piece of fabric that you like stick it in your book, tear out interesting pictures, poems, typeface add interesting textures, patterns or colours. Have a really good play about one day without the intention to create anything in particular. Set yourself a project title like 'leaves' or 'glass' even a colour like 'yellow' and use this to fill the pages of your sketchbook with different ideas around the theme. You can sketch, paint, photograph - even potato print - add pattern, texture, words - just experiment with as many ideas as you can then use this as inspiration to make your crafts. Sitting with a blank piece of paper and a load of crafty bits around you trying to think of something to make is the hardest thing. Good luck and let us know how you get along. x
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