Maintaining Momentum on Off the Wall Friday

 I remember the first time I realized that the amazing quilts I saw in quilt magazines and national shows were made by very human women and not some kind of artistic geniuses.  Before that I thought they must have some special gift from God bestowed on them on some higher level  to achieve such masterpieces.  Well,  they did, but it wasn't really what I originally thought. Don't get me wrong though.

These women are all talented artists but their  real "magic"  lies in the fact that they have discipline, patience and perseverance.   Behind every great piece are hours and hours and hours of work.  Not just regular work,but the kind of work that only gets done if you tie yourself to your machine and do it.

This week I was reminded of this fact.  Everyday I would get up with the idea that I would do some chores, work my 9 hr day and get some sewing done.  By the end of the day, my workday got done nicely, chores mostly got done and my studio said, "Nina who?!"  Well to be more accurate I did get a few hours in on my new quilt but  not nearly what I wanted to get done.  The vision of the piece is so clear in my head I really just need to sit down and get it done.  Easy right?!  sigh......I wish.

Tell me if  you think this sounds familiar?  Okay!  Gonna  sew but what I need to do first is  to put in a load of laundry....then the phone rings.....Paul stops me to yell about the latest White House fiasco....ohhh and let me start the roomba....what was I doing again?.....oh right I'll check my email and wouldn't it be nice to take a few minutes to watch Hometown....Erin and Ben are so cute...I wonder what they got new on their website....ohhhh look at those cute candles....do you think my mom would like them?  I'll call my sister.....

You get the idea.  Now it's not that I forgot I was suppose to be sewing. No ... it was just easier to

whittle away my day with little tasks and time wasting amusements....none of which is getting my latest brainstorm done.  

So the truth (because lying to yourself is pointless) is that if I want to create art, I need to put in the work.  A thunderbolt of inspiration is NOT going to replace the actual work I need to put in.  Early this year, I set up a goal and schedule and I found that too rigid. So this week, I am trying some new routines to keep me motivated and working in my studio .....I hope these help you too....

• Internet free hours....no email, no social media, no checking the idea that just popped into my head
• Set an alexa timer and I don't stop working till it goes off.  If I want to work after that fine but at least I know I worked at least 45  minutes.
• Shut my studio door so my family sees not to disturb me unless the blood can not be stopped
• Show off my progress to my family for what I call - Design Wall Validation (they  know to ohhh and ahhhhh)
• Select  a good audio book or catchy music
• Get enough rest and hydration 
• Forgive myself for not being perfect
• Let go of the fear of failure

None of these are earth shattering new ideas.   I'm quite sure that over the last 10 years of blogging I've talked about them before, but since spring is a good time for renewal I thought it a good idea to recommit. Plus it seems that that my day job isn't going to slow down anytime soon (yes ladies are still buying, buying, buying!), I'm just going to have to reprioritize some things so I can actual sew. If I don't make time to create then my days are just get up do chores, do work, read, sleep....repeat.  NOT fun!

With that in mind, I'll end this here by asking....

What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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