It's Okay....On Off the Wall Friday

Something like this

This piece needs a Crop 

Let's face it ... most pastimes come with a lot of rules.  Name a hobby, I'm sure we could name the rules that go along with it.  It's no different for quilting.  Really that has suited me just fine for 35 years since I'm a anal natural rule follower. Then there's the saying we've all heard .."You gotta learn the rules, to break the rules".  This week, it dawned on me that nobody said how well you needed to learn said rules.  Also, I'm an adult now and can't get in trouble for breaking the rules.

As I am stumbling through my ReSet of the year of our Lord 2026...I've learned that there are some rules that need to broken ...Sooooooooooo

it's okay....

1. 

   Not Perfect

    To change the goal - I started the BOM with intention of honing up on skills that have gone rusty or were never really perfected.  The new goal is to finish.  Finished is better than perfect. REPEAT AFTER ME...Finished is better than perfect.  
2. To cross train into different artistic media - cross training will relieve boredom, improve productivity and enhance creativity.  It's good to use different mental muscles as well as physical muscles.  So quilt a little  - Rug Hook a little - Work on my new puzzle book a little.
3. To Destroy - My journey has always been about creating, but it's okay to destroy as well.  Just because you made it doesn't mean you need to keep it and cherish it ...forever.  Some projects are meant to go unfinished, some ideas need to be trashed and some designs need a good crop.  I really been meaning to take out that Christmas piece to give the cropping it deserves

   

   My latest distraction a puzzle mystery book 

4. To start over - restarting is not about failure, it's about renewal - Leaving the opinion of the critic committee in my head on mute is a good idea.  Just because you are resetting doesn't mean you were a big fat loser to begin with.  

Yep Calvin you said it! That's enough self-reflection for a post...I just feel that it's important to stay mentally strong if you are going to tackle the challenges of this crazy world.

Is there anything you want to say "It's Okay" to?

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Off the Wall Friday

 I'm struggling with a cold this week, so I'll keep this short.  You all sure know how to make a girl smile.  Just when I needed a little encouragement, you're there to answer the call.  Nothing makes me happier than to see a post spark a conversation in the comment section like last week.  

I think we can all agree to coin  Julierose's phrase, "Wordy Person".  I 100% represent that.  If it has words involved, I'm in. I grew up playing word games, writing pretend newspapers and creating poetry.   Not to mention I'm the mother of a published author.   Blogging has just continued that trend of words in my life.  

Plus, I totally agree with Sara. It's a great way to journal your creative journey and find your people! As Margaret said, "Bloggers Unite!"

So thanks for the encouraging words....with that I'm going to go put my stuffy head in a steam tent and just ask....

 What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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The Word of the Year...Reset on Off the Wall Friday

2023 Block of the Month Club
Where I left it

 Here I am!  WoW, its hard to get back to the normal routine after all the hoopla of the holidays.  I hope everyone found peace and happiness as 2025 ended.  Our family was blessed for sure.  Just getting a break in the winter weather to celebrate Christmas was amazing.  Spending some quiet time with my inner circle was a gift too.  It seems that lately, I'm getting less and less time to do that.  

Maybe with getting some well-deserved rest, has me wondering....what comes next?  I won't lie.  The last 10 years has been hard.  So much change...change of jobs, change of family dynamics, change of life! I never found my groove living in a state of flux.  Just in the last year, I am beginning to see the light at the end of a long tunnel....finally.

2026 has me looking at my studio again...if I could find it under all that stuff in there.  It has me feeling like sewing again....there are at least three projects I want to work on this year...my 2023 Block of the
month, my mosiac sunflower girl and finish quilting my Rain, Rain quilt.  It has me looking forward to a week at John C Campbell's to learn how to make a textile doll. And of course...continuing on my rug hooking journey.  

All these feelings help me choose my word of the year....Reset.  Honestly I think that's what I need...a total reset of my creative life.  2026 is about leaving the personal condemnation of the last decade behind, giving myself some grace and a big reset. 

I'm not quite sure where 2026 is going to lead...but with writing this all out...at least I have an idea.

Thank you for listening.  

What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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Let's Talk Gatekeeping on Off the Wall Friday

Ain't THAT the truth!

It's an odd place to be.. .a 35 year veteran of one craft .... quilting and a rank amateur of another... rug hooking.  After doing something for 30 years, you get to know most of the answers.  Diving in deep on rug hooking, the more I know, the more I realize I don't know.  Luckily, I've found a circle of ladies that are happy to share their opinions on things (and let me tell you, rug hookers are strong in their opinions).  One of my favorite 90 minutes of the week is the Saturday rug hook-in sessions, Cindi Gay hosts.  There anybody can bring their project and just hook and listen and

Psalm 12, Nina-Marie Sayre, 2001

chat...and it's free.    It's amazing what you can learn when you listen in on one of these hook-in's.  They are so free with their knowledge.

Recently, I heard the story about how when a new hooker asked another hooker if she could try her hook to see if she liked that kind....the lady promptly said no.  As you can imagine, the asker was taken aback and embarrassed.  The story brought back memories of older more experienced quilters being "mean girl" cruel to me.  It also brought memories of the class 25 years ago where fellow classmates Phillipa Naylor and Christine Fries generously filled in the gaps of my limited knowledge, so I was able to make my first art quilt.  Not for the first time, do I wonder, where would I be if they hadn't helped me that year.  That quilt gave me hope that I too, could maybe become an artist.  

That's why gatekeeping really boils my blood.  For those of you not up on the latest slag:

I don't think we find it so much in quilting, but I have heard of it more in rug hooking.  There are teachers who are afraid to teach too much worrying that a student won't return if they've learned too much.  There are people who will call copyright on the simplest designs.  For that matter, in the world of rug hooking, if you buy a pattern, you are only allowed to make one rug from that pattern.  I could go on, but I don't want to malign all rug hookers under this rant because there many, many generous ladies...  But still, I've seen it enough where it makes me do a double take...like What did they just say?

I find the whole idea of gatekeeping foolish and counterproductive.  In the words of Mother Teresa, "As we serve others we are working on ourselves; every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts".  You never know what you'll learn by helping someone else, but you do know you will learn.  Gatekeeping your knowledge will just end up with you creating in a little box of your own making.  

Not to mention, why do Gatekeepers think they know so much and only they are entitled to that knowledge.  Like everyone knows there is nothing truly original in this world.  I mean how did they learn it?  Someone - somewhere had to open a gate to teach them right?

From How to Steal like an Artist, by  Austin Kleon

Like I said, annoying!  I could rant some more, but I'm choosing to be the kind of rug hooker that lays it all out there for the world and to that end....

On this week's

Rug Watch....I finished the Melon and now it's on to more grapes.  This time I got smart and am doing all the same value grapes at once which makes gradating them easier.  Looking at my progress, I'm noticing that I should start designing my next.  I have a good idea what it's going to be but I'll save that for another post.

So, What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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We Do Not Care Club - Off the Wall Friday Edition

We interrupt your regular scheduled programming to bring you the Off the Wall Friday's 

We Do Not Care Club

Quilter's Edition 

Founded by Melani Sanders for perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women 

Our Founder, Melani Sanders 

Today's Announcements:

As quilters, we do not care if you feel we already have enough fabric; we will buy as much as we like, with no particular purpose in mind. It's our money.  We will spend it anyway we want.  (That goes for thread and notions as well.)

We do not care if you don't want the quilt we made for you.  We spent hundreds of hours and dollars on it.  Take the damn quilt.

We do not care if a quilt at Walmart is a lot cheaper.  We don't sleep well under things made by cheap Pan-Asian labor. For that matter, we don't sleep well period.

We do not care if our scissors are the only ones you can find in the house.  Make your will before touching our fabric scissors.  No really we're serious...make...your...will.

We do not care if we haven't finished our last quilt before we started a new one.  We like starting new projects and this isn't a sprint... it's a marathon.

We do not care if quilting is considered an old lady's hobby.  Age is state of mind, not a number and we are Creatives, not geriatrics. Show some respect.

We do not care if we bought our fabric at a quilt shop, a box store, thrift store or yard sale.  It's pretty.  We like it.  It sews.

We do not care if you think our quilt is not art. Art is not always framed and you are not as smart as you look. 

We do not care if you want us to hem your pants.  We do quilting, not alterations.

We do not care how traditionally we are supposed to be creating our quilts.  It's our quilt; we will make it any damn way we want. 

We do not care if you think our new sewing room made a better guest bedroom.  We do not want guests.  We want a nice quiet place to sew.  

We do not care if you walk in while we are sewing in our bras.  We are hot whether you think so or not. 

We do not care if you don't like the colors in our latest quilt.  If we wanted your opinion, we would have asked for it.  We are no longer taking comments from the peanut gallery.   If you don't know what a peanut gallery is - google it.

And finally, for my bloggers who have stuck with me through thick and thin over the last 16 years...

We do not care if nobody is blogging anymore.  We like blogging since it creates a sense of community and connection.  We will keep blogging until it doesn't give us joy.  Then we'll stop. 

That concludes this session of the We Do Not Care Club, Quilter's Edition.  Since, I have many, many more rants in me, I am sure it won't be the last.  

So, What Do You Not Care About?

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Off the Wall Friday

 

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Why Quilt on Off the Wall Friday

 The last 10 months my life has been consumed by a new job which while not earth shattering has been super fun.  And my studio has sat empty.  I work all day creatively problem solving my way through customer service.  And my studio sits empty.   I wake up in the morning, thinking of ways to be more productive at my desk.  And my studio still sits empty.

It's been very fulfilling, and a pleasure and the months have flown by.  The work week is filled with one challenge after another.  The weekends are time for sleep and recharging.  It actually gave me pause when I glanced in my empty studio (all clean btw), to think do I really want to keep quilting?  It's been a nice 30 year run - shrug -I could just give it up.  

Then, I stopped myself and had a real Moonstruck Cher Moment 

This year while amazing can't be sustained.  Soon...and it's already starting to happen...I'll get things so together at work that it will start being...ya know...work.

Quilting isn't like that.  Art isn't like that.  Every piece whether a masterpiece or dog is a new bit of you.  There is always something new to learn  - to touch - to express.  Quilting is a challenge, a lesson in perseverance as well as many moments of quiet.  It makes old things new and ties us to many generations of needles and thread.  Quilts will last.

I am always very thankful that I got to start when I was 26 and could weather these cycles of creativity.  I've learn to give myself grace when I spend months away from my sewing machine.  But this grace is starting to turn into season of inertia.  It needs to stop.

I'm writing this all, not only to journal it for the future Nina, but for anybody else going through it. I'm hoping this spring will renew my energy and revitalize my passion.  It's still there.  And so is my studio.

So enough about me....What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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Word of the Year: Quilt on Off the Wall Friday

The Crosses II, Nina-Marie Sayre

This week I was reminded by Jenny Lyon that I used to a write a  Word of the Year the first post of January.  The ritual started on our Art Quilt email list of the 2000's. (Sigh, I miss that list.  Reddit is just not the same...just sayin')  The members of the list would choose a word and write their meaning why.  It was inspiring to hear the different words from so many diverse voices chiming in from around the country and world.  

Mine always were normally words that represented an aim or a purpose that I probably thought I was lacking in at that moment. Of course, writing a blog post about that aspect I wanted to inspire to do better in was a lot easier than actually doing better in it.  

So, I thought this year, I would aim a little lower and a little closer to home.  I chose

Quilt 

I'm a firm believer that when things get tough, it's time to take a breathe and go back to the beginning.  For me that is just quilting. I'm always the one that has the big ideas, that more is more and who doesn't want it to be more?  The last few years, I've been failing miserably at that.  So why not try less is more this year and just 

Quilt

I'm thinking smaller projects - nothing innovative, nothing taxing...just basic quilting.  

Proverbs 4:18, Nina-Marie Sayre

To start with I'll need to clean my studio, get it back to rights and pick a project.  That's my homework for the week.

Now onto...

Things I Like...

Don't you love when people give you just the right gift?  My sister this year gave me fat quarters of custom printed Spoonflower fabric.  She gave me a little of her taste and a little of mine which is thoughtful.  Here is the stash....

Like how can one fat quarter spark so many possibilities??

Then my sister-in-law who had me in our Secret Santa got me a rug hooking kit from Loop by Loop by Haley Perry.  My obsession with hooking rugs I fear has only begun.  There is something really satisfying about running little loops up and down through a mesh background.  Then if you don't like them, just pull it out with one tug.  Haley is brillant enough to design kits for the beginning to intermediate hooker that have a bit of a more modern twist.  I got the School of Fish and since it's was a busy social time, only have just begun.  

This is what it's suppose to look like

This is reality - LOL!

Did you get Anything Good this Holiday Season?

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Creativity in the Face of Adversity on Off the Wall Friday

 For all my US readers...well it's been a week, hasn't it?  No matter what your political views, I'm sure
I'm not alone to say, this week has been A LOT.  Raise your hand, if you've had enough politics to last you four years?  Living in Pennsylvania, it's been kinda like being the most popular girl at the dance.  THEN living in Erie County, just doubles that.  Apparently, unbeknownst to me, the saying goes in the political world...the way Erie County goes is the way the country will go.  We've picked the winner for the last 36 years.  Who knew?  All I can say is that when you drive down any street and see opposing political yard signs on every other yard, well, let's just say, "We take this $#@! seriously".  

And I've had enough.

But it got me thinking, with all this going on how does one keep creating?  How does one stay grounded in the here and now so not to get caught up in the drama and the rhetoric that seems to be the Special of the Day?  I don't know about you but when I'm not creating, it really effects the quality of my life.  

So for you that are hurting this week, I offer up some ways to create in adversity...

• Embrace the Chaos.  I really think the scariest part of adversity is the loss of control and certainty.  Use that emotion, to step out of your comfort zone and explore what it feels like.  How?  Use colors you hate, try new techniques, explore avenues you never even thought to go down.  If it doesn't work out you can always just say - well ya know, it was 2024

• 

  Order Through Chaos by Robert Ball 

  
  
• Seek Unity.  OMG, how many times have I heard that come from both sides this week.  I mean, they just spent all year tearing the country apart and NOW you say seek unity.  But I really mean it.  One of the best ways to discover a new creative path, is to explore other ideas and cultures.  Why do you think one way and they think another.  The word diversity has gotten a total bad rap.  I think it's because it's not often paired with commonality.  When you bring the two things together, great things can happen.  That's a lot of words to say this - don't be afraid to step out of your bubble  - invite someone into your bubble and find something in common.

  

  Harmony by Alima Newton

  
  
• Calm Down.  Once again, the internet - a blessing and a curse.  The 24 hr news cycle has made things look worse than they are.  Stay grounded in the things that really matter.  Quietness is not the enemy here.  Peaceful music  - maybe a walk - browsing through your favorite art book.  Silence can lead to new ideas - away from craziness.  
• 
  
  

Rant over.  I know it's easy for me to say because I've always been pretty pragmatic and a middle ground kind of chick. But truly...

Elections come and go.

But art is here forever.  

So What Have You've Been Up to Creatively?

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No You Don't Suck on Off the Wall Friday

 

Okay, since I've had a big day that started at about 3:45 am...I'll make this short and sweet.  You do not suck.  You only think you suck, but trust me, you don't.  

As in most things, the internet is a blessing and a curse.  It brings us together as "makers".  It helps us connect and finally we feel like we fit in.  It's like we're with a tribe that understands why we take $300 in fabric, spend hours cutting it all up, only to take hours to sew it all back together. You get me and I get you.  It's wonderful.  

Until it's not. With the internet comes a plethora of images to gaze upon.  Every "maker" loves to take their best work, photograph it in its best light, then digitally edit so it looks even better. This is what they post on Facebook, Instagram and gasp! Twitter.   Most never show you the flaws and especially the failures.

It leaves you feeling that you can't ever make something that amazing, so why even try?  I mean you suck, right?!  

No, you do not suck.  You only think you suck, but - I repeat - trust me you don't.  

So, stop reading this and go sew - your work is amazing!

Lecture over ...What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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Learning to Fail on Off the Wall Friday

 

So last week, I was talking to a friend of mine and she said, "Ohhhh I don't have a creative bone in my body."  If I only I had a dime for every time I heard that.  I do believe people are born with strengths and weaknesses and there is no reason that you need to be strong in everything.  HOWEVER...I believe that everyone can enjoy the joy of "making" no matter what their talents.  I mean think about it.  How many kids don't like to color and draw?  Hardly any.  It's only when they hit about age 8 do they let the world's perception of their art affect them.  

It's all about silencing your inner critic and being willing to fail.  It's scary for sure but I feel like it's the secret to being a creative success.  

Since we're in the middle of spring rush at work, I'll leave it there - but you get what I mean....

So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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Build Your Own World on Off the Wall Friday

(The following post comes with a "My Opinion Only" Warning and you are more than welcome to disagree)

Look, I know artwork like everything else goes in and out of fashion.  But lately, I've noticed a LOT of art quilt work that is more derived from rather than inspired by another artist.  Now, I'm not talking about direct copying and using for profit as this article shows.   More like I see art quilts that look more like they were done by the same artist when they haven't been.

You can see where this can easily and innocently happen.  For instance, many famous art quilters are now giving classes online.  People take their classes because they admire their teacher's work. Now the student's work starts down the same creative path as the teacher.  It feels very derived.

The problem I have with that is that's where it ends.  The student doesn't grow.  I remember Timna Tarr saying (and I'm paraphrasing so forgive me Timna!), "The most enjoyment I get from teaching this class is seeing what my students do with it.  I hope you all come back with new ways to use what you learn this week."  I thought she pretty much said what all teachers hope. 

For the record, this rant isn't just directed toward art quilters but also traditional quilters!  Just because you're a traditional quilter doesn't mean you have to always follow the pattern of another designer.  (Of course, there is nothing wrong with that if that is what you want to do - revel in the craft of quilting.)  Still, as a traditional quilter, you too can develop a unique voice.

That said.....

 There is a lot of value in copying.

Wait!  What?!?

Yep, it's a great way to learn a technique or learn how to create different effects in your art.  Not to mention to gain confidence to move forward. So copy one.   But then what do you do?

Take what you made and play "What If"

• cut it apart and rearrange it
• change the values
• crop out small sections and change the scale of them
• keep the composition but use a new technique
• keep the technique but use a new composition  

You get the idea.  These are just a few....but the piece may still seem derived.  Now what?  Take the element you really like the most from your second piece and use THAT as the jumping-off place for your new piece.  Not only will your quilt feel more like you but it will be more fun to work on because it was your "favorite" part of the last two pieces.  

This is not the first time I've had this rant on this blog, it's just that after seeing the work that is being made out there, I thought was a good time to revisit the concept of developing your own style from what you have learned.  I know its harder.  I know you have to be braver.  But it will be well worth it!!

You find more posts on this subject under the tag "Steal Like an Artist"

This is what I've been thinking about as I spend hours hand appliquing...

What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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Do You Need a Website? on Off the Wall Friday

Paul's latest coffee Table

 Shhhhhhh, can you keep a secret? My husband, Paul is turning 58 this week and I decided it was

The man, the myth

high time he got his own website.  You see he became a full-time artesian woodworker when he retired a couple of years ago and he really needs an online presence.  So with a lot of help from my daughter, Tessa, we put together a portfolio site.  A portfolio website is a site that is primarily there to showcase you and what you create.  Not only can it include a gallery of your work but also a resume and even a blog.

So all of this got me thinking.  I've been writing this blog for 13 years (that's a bit scary!) and I never felt the need for a website.  On the other hand, I never felt the need to market myself and I definitely never felt the need to bolster my brand.  (I mean do I even have a brand?)  But you might!!  I mean do you want to sell your work?  Teach nationally?  Build a fan base?  Or just have a place to direct family and friends to what work you've been up to.  There are several host websites that can teach you how to build your own website and cost about $100-$150 dollars a year.

Sound daunting?  Well like anything, according to Tessa, it's an acquired skill!  Since I'm the one that will have to fine-tune and maintain Paul's site, I'll let you know how big the learning curve is. Things to think about as you design it:

• Curate:  Use the best of your work.  Not everything needs to be on there
• Simplify:  Make it easy to navigate and read.  Remember less is more
• Modify: Update and grow the site as you grow 
• Promote: Add links to your social media accounts, exhibits, and ways to contact you

Need further inspiration?  Here are some sites I thought were amazing!!

• Adam Halls
• Shivani Aggarwal
• Saskia Wassing
• Hannah Lamb 
• Sara Leighton
• Dorothy Russell

So remember, Paul's new website is a secret!  I promise you that I'll add a link as soon as we've fine tuned it!

Got a Website?  Let me know your experience with it

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8 Not Sew Good Habits on Off the Wall Friday

 All this back-to-basics sewing around here lately, has got me thinking about when I was a beginner quilter.  I began quilting on a fluke, not because someone I loved taught me.  So it was kinda doing whatever works at the moment kind of thing.  Along that journey, bad habits were formed.  So the first step to improvement is realizing there is a problem, right?  Some of these are practical, some are mental, and some are just, "I should have known better".  So if you recognize some of these, shhhhhh it's okay, your secret is safe with me!

8 Not Sew Good Habits

• Not practicing good sewing machine maintenance.  This includes changing the needle when it gets dull (you'll hear the thud, thud, thud sound).  Not cleaning your machine properly (I do it every bobbin or two).  Not unthreading your machine properly (thread only runs ONE way through your machine).  Not taking your machine for its annual check-up at your local shop.  You're sewing machine is your best friend.  Treat it that way.

  

  (I found this online ... is this crazy or what?)

  
  
• Letting comparison steal your joy.  Honestly, I have a love/hate relationship with the internet.
  
  
  It's truly a wealth of information and connection.  It also can be a big source of quilt-envy.  How many times have you seen an image of a quilt and thought, "Oh I'll never be that good?"  I mean, I even have a Pinterest board called, "Art Quilts I wished I made".  This is the kind of thing that can rob you of your creativity as well as still the happiness you have in quilting.  Sometimes it's good to say to yourself, "Self, step away from the internet"
• 
  
  
  
  Not being organized.  Let me preface this with that everyone has a level of organization that is right for them.  Saying that, it's good to stay at that level.  It really is the small things that will help.  Picking up your area after a sewing session.  Keeping your tools in their rightful place (I just want to put a plug for the idea I came up with at QBL 2001...having mugs on my sewing table.  You always know where your scissors, seam ripper, rotary cutter, marker, etc are and they move easily where you need them). Also, keeping things that aren't essential to your sewing out of your area.
• Not paying attention to safety.  Sewing can be dangerous.  Let me repeat that, sewing can be dangerous.  So make sure you close your rotary cutter (that's why I use Kai rotary cutters, they self-close)...turn off your iron...don't let your pins end up on the floor or in the couch's arm...don't use dull scissors or rotary blades....maintain proper posture...and most importantly don't sew when distracted or tired.  I found out this last one after a 14 hr day of creating at Arrowmont when I literally sewed right through my finger.  Thank God, a nurse was in the class and she just handled the whole thing.  I just stood there with my finger out trying not to cry.  I'm still not quite sure how I sewed through it since I was so tired!
• Not maintaining your stash of fabric and thread properly.  If your sewing machine is your best friend, your fabric and thread are your peeps.  When I say "maintaining" I mean stop buying what you want but don't need and start buying what you actually need.  Keep your stash organized so you know what you have.  Take proper care of your scraps, getting rid of ones you won't use, and organize the ones you have so you can use them.  Buy quality but don't let marketing influence your buying choices. (yes this is coming from a woman who recently gave 8 13gal bags of quilt fabric to a local charity)
• 
  

  

  My friend's Toni's stash...Amazing right?

  
  
• 
  
  Not learning how to press properly.
  
    Press every seam as you go.  Press (instead of iron).  Learn when to press an open seam and when to press to the dark side.  (this falls under the category of "the little things"
• Not having the right tool for the project.  Let's face it, there are a lot of tools, gadgets, and
  notions out there.  It's a good idea to take a moment and think of the ones you like the best, then make sure you can readily get to them and are stocked up.  Living in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, I learned this the hard way.  Nothing is worse than needing something and not being able to get to easily.  It's funny, although online shopping and Amazon have helped, they also have initiated the demise of the local quilt shop.  (Retailing is a bitch!)
• Not staying focused.  This is not about starting a project and working on it to the end. (but it could be)  This is more about deciding what you want to do and actually doing it.  I could easily be called the "squirrel" of quilters.  A bunch of ideas jump into my head and I want to explore them all.  This is a great way to get nothing done.  Staying focused can also mean knowing when to let an idea or project go.  Not all UFO's are meant to be finished.  Some need to be divorced, some need to be reworked and a few need to be stored for another time.  The idea is to set a goal and stick to it.

Lord, writing out this list just emphasizes  I have some work to do!  Probably the last is my worst though.  The others little by little, I've conquered.  Staying focused is just so hard!

So 'fess up!!  What is your worse bad habit?! 

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7 Ways to Create in Happiness on Off the Wall Friday

 This week I read an emotional social media post made by a friend of mine from high school.  They are and always have been a truly unique, special individual.  I knew that from the moment I met them when we both were 14 and I said, "Hey, you want a Pez?" The post spoke finally of their acceptance of the fact that they did their art for the love of it.  Not for the money...not for the accolades...not for the "likes".  

I read it and I thought FINALLY!

I knew from the start that their art wasn't for everyone even though it was brilliant.  I mean really, what does"everyone" know anyways? I mean,  Everyone thinks it's a good idea to pay pro athletes millions of dollars a year while asking teachers to spend their own money on school supplies.  Oops...sorry...that's a rant for another day.

This whole line of thinking brought to mind my "Things Mentally Strong Women Don't Do" series found Here, Here, Here, and Here.  That series started a new theme for this blog...the idea that it's super important to keep yourself mentally strong if you are going to continue to create for a lifetime.  

Ways to Create in Happiness

GRASP THAT YOU ARE ENOUGH

That's right ...repeat after me..."I am MORE than enough".  You have everything you need to succeed in you and you don't need to go magically looking for it.  Now, this is not to say that you don't need to study and practice more.  It means that you have it inside yourself to do that. I love the quote, "Comparison is the thief of joy."  Of course it is!  Your inner critic is always going to be there to tell you that you suck!  It's NOT true!!   Ultimately, whatever you decide to study and practice and create is ENOUGH.  Say it again..I am enough!

CREATE WHAT YOU WANT TO CREATE

Stop making what you think you should make and start making what you want to make.  This is not supposed to be a job.  It's supposed to be your passion.  It's supposed to be fun.  For me personally, most of the things the world thinks are fun, I personally don't.  I like to do what I like to do.  So do you!  So create what you want to create, not what the latest trends tell you.

STOP SAYING SORRY

You do not have to make excuses about why you spend a lot of money on perfectly good fabric, cut it

up and spend hours sewing it back together.  You do not have to feel guilty that you'd rather spend your vacation at a quilt retreat than on a beach.  The hours you spend creating are productive and just as worthy as anything else you do in your life.  Create guilt and apology free.

ACCEPT YOUR ART

Accept your art as a part of you..the good..the bad...the ugly.  (Yes, I'm sorry. I'm a lifelong Eastwood fan).  If you are looking for validation from outside yourself, you have a long wait.  I remember someone saying to me that once she got into Quilt National she thought it would change how her work was perceived.  That it would mean she had  "made it".  Since I thought she was joking, I laughed.  I felt terrible for her when I realized she wasn't.  Accept your art...it is truly amazing because it came from you!

Okay, that's this week's hug to you !!

So under this week's likes...

I got my tickets to hear Fran Lebowitz talk in the fall.  Fran, if you don't know is an author/social commentator from New York City.  I love how she's unapologetically outspoken on all sorts of topics.  I love her insights on today's culture as well as yesterday's. It's not that we always agree, but I love how she takes the whole "Freedom of Speech" wholeheartedly. I highly recommend her Netflix DocuSeries, Pretend It's a City.  It's hysterical as well as enlightening!

So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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