gotta start somewhere

found

"Comparison is the thief of joy." "The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt."

Easier pinned than practiced, am I right?

I'm trying to fix that. I've been known to beat myself up for not being creative enough. It's hard when the thing you identify most with (for me, being crafty) is something that takes work. Time. Patience. Kindness to yourself. People start to expect things of you--that everything you wear must be handmade or something. It hurts to say, "No..." Because to be honest, I rarely have the time and courage to take on a big sewing project. I know I am capable of making cool things. I made a duffle bag for Ted last holiday season, for goodness sake! And I'm incredibly proud of that. However, the things I find the most joy in making are smaller, more frivolous items. Things that aren't necessary for anything other than to make someone smile or perhaps giggle. Like an avocado brooch.

Sometimes a bad joke flits across my mind when I'm feeling particularly inadequate: "Crafts are just crappy art."

It's hard to look at a beautiful minimalist charcoal drawing framed pristinely and not think my work is worthless. The truth is that COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY, PEOPLE! So you have to keep on trucking along, making your felt bits and bobs, and share your light because it's your own, and not anyone else's.

One of the reasons I started an Etsy recently was to start thinking more business-like. One day I hope to open a craft store that will house beautiful odds and ends that will inspire others to MAKE. I want them to find treasures, cozy up into a couch, and sip some tea while they dream up their next project. I want them to have a thirst for new knowledge that can only be learned with their hands. I want someone who has spent their whole life saying "I could never do that" to DO THAT. Because creating something with your own hands builds confidence. It's tangible evidence that you have learned a valuable new skill. And whether that value is as a piece of artwork or a pillowcase, it's all valuable. And hey, YOU made it. So that's cool.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that you GOTTA START SOMEWHERE. If it's with avocado brooches and dog banners, so be it. It's a step in the right direction.