The Wall...

My Evening With A Seam Ripper

 

Not that wall. I'm talking about the occasional Creative Wall. You know. The one that just pops up in front of you without warning. The one that completely blocks out your creative light. What do I do to surmount my creative wall?

First, let me tell you how this one popped up. I've been cleaning out non-essential paper(work), fabric scraps, and other things I've been moving around my two rooms for months. That in itself would usually create The Wall, but I simply ignored these things over the holidays and leading up to this month. Rather, it was coming across so many projects I really want to do that slowly erected this latest creative block.

So, what did I actually accomplish yesterday? I did purge a lot of paperwork that's been clogging my workspaces. I also spent more than a little while removing the overlocked stitching on a pair of pajama pants. Don't laugh. I have a lesson here, too.

This pajama set was a favorite set. So favorite, in fact, that I actually never wore them! I bought them in Florida years ago and set them aside. When I opened the box which held these and other special things, I decided not to save them anymore. Instead, I'd wear them. Except I couldn't. The elastic in the waist was no longer stretchy. It was dried out and needed to be replaced. I thought I'd just toss everything out, but remember, they were favorites, so I couldn't bring myself to do it. Hence, the time spent removing the old, dried-out elastic so I can sew in new.

I don't need to tell you the lesson. I think it's obvious. Don't let your elastic dry out. Use it. Enjoy it. Don't wait until your decision is tossing or replacing. 

I can safely say that, at the very least, I'll get new elastic sewn into my jammies. Then, I'm going to wear them tonight! I may even get a little needlework in today. 

I haven't begun my dog embroidery because I've been waiting for a special order to arrive. It shipped from overseas a month ago, before all the drama lit off over there. I actually ordered it from a talented needleworker in Russia. My timing couldn't have been worse, and now I patiently wait while I track my package sitting in the same post office since January 23rd. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it leaves their country soon to come to me.

I'm going to lay out the projects I want to do, and try to prioritize them, and then put on my blinders to climb my wall. Lists have always worked for me, so I think this will lift me out of my creative funk. I'll let you know how it works.