Ha! That's a bit how I feel right now. "Turn off the computer -- make art!" A little something I stumbled over on Pinterest one day and which is usually so true. Through, I like to make digital art so it's partially not relevant to me -- and sometimes it's rather "stop re-reading that magazine for the fourteenth time and go create".
And then there's the times when you're on the computer and lack the energy to take care of the stuff you should take care of, like replying to e-mails, and end up doing other things and perhaps even use the "get off the computer and to something useful" exhortation to procrastinate all those online chores.
Then I get off the computer and can't get anything started. Perhaps end up on the bed re-reading something as I've felt I didn't have the money to get something new to read (and can't get to the library, which doesn't have the books I want to read anyway). Which is pretty useless and I keep feeling that's precious time I should make better use of -- reading new books or creating something.
I know I've blogged about that before, how I keep losing that important start button. That I love sketching and planning, love creating and love being in the "embroidery flow". But that I'm rubbish at starting. Especially without deadlines. There are many reasons: feeling stuck in life, lacking the right spark (e.g. goals), frustrations as some ideas doesn't work out once beginning to realise them, getting ideas that require buying supplies I can't afford, wanting to keep certain supplies for "that special project" (not using them as they'll run out) -- and despite not feeling at all creative lately there's still a bit of Buridan's ass issues.
But, hey, I'm not totally useless -- I just made that digital image above. The text isn't brilliant, the way it's added, but I sort of like the rest. And with creating, especially when in a rut or feeling rusty, it's more about producing that about the final product.
It does, by the way, show how I've started to more and more embrace blue -- a colours I've never really liked to work with before. I recently shocked my sis by having bought beads in several blue shades. She didn't expect that! (It's really thanks to my favourite colours purple, green and copper, which all works so well with many blues.)
You know what? I'm getting off the computer now. To go make something? Maybe, maybe not. But doing something else is always a step in the right direction. Moving slowly might seem useless, close to doing nothing, but you will eventually reach your goal. That's a big difference from standing still once you've come far enough to look back!
I really love that and think it will be my motto this weekend... Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you! You too (or well, a wonderful week then as the weekend is already over)!
DeleteIt"s a pity your blog is yours. I mean for you. When I feel that lack of energy and start procrastinating...I go to the Web and start reading interesting blogs. Like yours. I learn a lot, get inspired and feel I'm doing something really useful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your compliment! I'm glad to hear you find my blog inspiring!
DeleteI too enjoy blogs -- and Pinterest of cause, though the risk with the latter is that you get sucked into it and when you look up its hours later. Ooops...
A couple of weeks ago you told us that you didn't get as much paid for your work as usual, due to a foreigner who is able to do the work much cheaper. You must be disappointed, because your possibilities to buy material and books has much to do with your earnings from your seasonal work. I still hope that you'll be able to buy the things you really really want. There are so many interesting new beads to try. Anna
ReplyDeleteAs for new beads I can't wait to order som of the Miyuki Baroque seeds and just have to see the new Toho Reflections (and could use some Toho Takumi too, especially in crystal clear if anyone's going to stock such a plain colour). Must make sure to have money for that. I actually spent a bit of the tax return on the Panduro sale (my sis is picking up the parcel as we speak) and while I didn't buy much there's at least some new things to play with. Hopefully that can spark something -- especially since I bought a little fabric to bead on, I'm always lacking fabric to embroider. Plus I recently got a eBook to review so I've got a nice book to read (though of cause a bookaholic prefers printed books, especially bookaholics without laptops or surf pads).
DeleteYeah, losing a chunk of the planned income wasn't fun, but I try not to thing about it. Nothing to be done. But of cause I wish I had some other source of income to rely on too (preferably not blog ads, it's nice to be ad free). Sometimes I've played with the idea of creating handmade jewellery components for sale, but first I need to think about something unique to offer a market filled with creative and talented bead artists and component makers.
I'm glad you are testing blue. I'm sure you'll be happy to incorporate something blue in your works. Beautiful reminder, non-aggressive. Like saying: Just relax and start creating! Looks like you used pics of the old windows you found in the barn. Or a pic of your greenhouse. Or both? I like it. Milka
ReplyDeleteThose are old narrow windows that have been reused as hotbed covers (or, well, it more cold frames than hotbeds, but I usually can just remember what the latter are called in english). Now that it's warm, they've been stacked against a decaying old wooden chair in the garden under a big bush. For the pic I used a texture made from a photo of weeds seen through the greenhouse glass so there's actually two types of glass even though one can't really see the latter.
DeleteWell, fingers crossed I can do something with blues. It's not that I've ever hated it or anything, I've just found it a hard colour to work with (partially perhaps because it was my sis' favourite colours when we were competing siblings who couldn't like the same thing -- except for cats). I'm especially interested in working with deeper blues like swarovski's dark indigo and hues like in the photo above, working with more or less saturated cool colour schemes. And try not to just be a coward and stick to lavender blues (which are almost purple). Now I just need the supplies for it as most of my blue beads are either greyish (montana, opal apollo), greenish (teal, picasso or gilded turquoise, aqua) or both (picasso finishes). Very rarely just blue or saturated, clear hues.
You promised us a new tutorial. Why not make yourself a deadline for it, telling us when it'll be out. Maybe that could help you getting started?
ReplyDeleteGood idea! I've been postponing it a tad due to work this week, hoping to have more time after midsummer's day, but I should be sketching and planning as that can be done in between the workloads. Or else who knows what unplanned things turn up after the weekend, preventing me from getting things ready in time for the first?
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