Is there such a thing as craft discipline? I have heard tell of those strange creatures who never start a new project until they have finished what they are working on.........unbelievable.......Personally I have at least a million things on the go at any one time. Lets see, at the moment there are 2 knitted blankets, 1 appliqued quilt and too many cross stitch pictures to count. Not to mention the ideas that are percolating away in the back of my mind.
There are probably lots of reasons for this. If it's a big project it is easy to get disenchanted with the time it is taking....so that is the boredom factor. Then there is the need for fresh inspiration, and having things bubbling away is an inspiring thing for me. Also there is the fact that you might be making something as a gift so it has a 'date due'. You might be addicted to many different crafts and you have to spend time with the craft that is exerting a pull on you at that moment.
But what would it be like to finish one thing before you start the next? Would I actually have a lot more finished projects? Or would it just take a lot longer to finish each project? I know not. The other version of this type of discipline I have heard of is having two projects on the go at any given time. One long term project and a quick one that would give you a sense of satisfaction.
I guess the bottom line is that craft is about creativity and enjoyment, so as far as I am concerned you should do whatever you want to do. After all, there are not many other things in life that this is true about. =^..^=
Hmmmm, craft discipline. I struggle with this too, but maybe that's ok. I also have 2 unfinished quilts, Xmas cards I have promised my mother I'd gift her in plety of time to send out, cross stitch sampler and countless kits and patterns etc. but want to do another million things instead. Discipline would be great and normally I'm pretty good at that but not in the creative area - maybe this is because creativity is not usually a linear thing - it ebbs and flows as does our passion in a project. Maybe it's ok to be all over the shop as long as you're still creating. It's like that gorgeous card trick quilt you had stashed away under the bed for years - you knew when it was just the right time to complete it. From my experience, most crafters have many irons in the fire - that's why there are UFO classes! One thing I have learnt while travelling in Vietnam, we live and function in a very structured, orderly, left-brained way - let's remember that there are other ways of living that are just as productive and satisfying to the soul. K
ReplyDeleteK, I think you are spot on about creativity not being a linear thing. It does ebb and flow, and sometimes I don't feel the creative passion at all. And maybe having many things on the 'creative go' helps keep that creative passion burning. But sometimes when I am feeling bogged down in the general messiness of life the UFOs feel like one more thing to feel guilty or bad about. Which is totally crazy I know!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to think about the truth of the fact that we do live in a fairly structured way which tends to ignore a natural ebb and flow of life itself. Maybe letting creativity be acknowledged in that way in our lives can give us some balance. Lots to ponder.....
Funny thing about the card trick quilt - I think I feel more attached to it (or proud?) of it than I would have if the blocks hadn't languished away in the cupboard for more than 15 years before they were sewn into a completed quilt. Who knows?