Having one of those days or months!!??

   I feel like I have been struggling to make art this summer. I have never really had an issue of not feeling creative. I allowed myself to just rest after the craziness of getting ready for market at the beginning of the year. I think that just breaking the habit I had of creating art everyday started something, I lost the synergy I had going. I was starting to feel like the baby blues where upon me after the long awaited event is over and you get this let down feeling. I knew I needed a swift kick in the butt to get myself moving again.  I decided to reorganize and as I did I started to remember the how much I love my art supplies, how much I love all that fabric stuck everywhere, how much I love cutting those threads out of my vacuum cleaner roller. I realized how easy it was to slip out of the habit of being creative. How easily it is for other things to crowd their way into my life, screaming their own importance, stopping me from making art happen. Being an artist is a verb, and action word. It isn't going to happen watching art videos or buying art supplies. It only happens when I take that time to get my hands dirty and open myself up to explore.

 I have been back in my studio, working on UFO's, brain storming, and just cleaning and as I mentioned in my last post, finding inspiration in every corner. I love having a space that is mine, messy, cluttered but a buzz of activity! I am thankful everyday that I am able to have an area to shut out the world and make the magic happen. As I look around the room I see half finished projects, fabric lines I have created, my artwork hanging on the walls, my ribbons from shows and I begin to feel that need to get busy with my art. It begins with a pencil or fabric, some fusing, an iron, colored pencils. The ideas begin to swirl around in my head and they force my hands and feet to behave and follow suit. I love the the magic that starts to happen and the joy that follows. Being artistic or creative isn't like taking a magic pill, it isn't going to happen on its own. I have to do my part and show up for the party to begin! Lets Party!!!

Wasted time-getting my mojo back

Since returning from market I have been busy with things but nothing constructive or creative. The paperwork part of business is always a creative killer for me! By nature I am a procrastinator so making list with deadlines is important for me to stay focused and get things done. So the combination of paperwork, housework, the let down after market makes it hard for me to get my momentum back. I find that I know I need to get started but just can't seem to talk myself into action these days. I find other things to waste my time and flit from one to the other without really accomplishing anything. Then if I happen to start a game on an electronic device, forget it, I can loose precious time without noticing. Then there are the excuses of why I can't get to things, always playing in my head, reassuring myself that the reasons are valid and some are but......

It's time to get busy and grab those moments and make each one count! I found that by making a weekly list and revising it each Monday morning was perfect for me. It listed all the things I wanted to do that week with deadlines dates for each. As I finished a project they came off my list and new ones were added. By keeping a list I was able to see my accomplishments and where I needed to work harder. It also made sure that things got finished on time but sadly made me have to let other things go so I could reach my goal. I used to think I could do it all but maybe I can't!? Anyway, by sharing this with you I hope that you can relate a bit and hold me accountable. Do any of you face these issues, the ups and downs of consistently being creative and productive? What things do you use to procrastinate and how do you avoid them? What helps you get your muse back? 

I took a walk which always inspires me, love theses wild thistles!

Lets have a Thumbtack Thursday where we pin up something we got down creatively that week! My creative business thing is adding product to my new website so it can finally launch! Then on a purely creative level I am making a block for a comfort quilt for someone who's sick and I designed a pattern for my new fabric line, what are you guys doing this week!? INSPIRE ME!