A Creative Lull

In the last couple of weeks, my creative energies have fizzled a bit. A mild but long illness, tax time, the kids' Spring Break--all converged to sap my energy. And because of that lull in creative energy, my insecurities about my skills resurfaced in a big way. I started questioning whether I should be focusing my energies on creative endeavors.




So this blog has been a little quiet lately. Fortunately, just today, I've felt a rekindling of that same excitement about writing and making things and that familiar thirst to see and read about what other crafters are creating, such as these embroidered marigold slippers (sorry, I lost the link!).

(Note: These wonderful booties are made from vintage linens by tiny happy. Visit her blog, her Etsy shop, and her Flickr photos.)

Part of this renewed focus has to do with a very productive conversation I had this morning with my designer friend Maya. She encouraged and cajoled me into agreeing to post on the blog even when there's not a whole lot going on creatively for me. She called me a "finder" and encouraged me to keep searching out inspiration from other blogs.

I cannot convey how important that this was for me to hear. It's a difficult business reaching down into oneself and trying to create something unique and meaningful--and to carve out this time in the midst of raising kids and taking care of things around the old homestead. Maya encouraged me to see that although the process is difficult and bumpy, I shouldn't abandon the attempt at maintaining my creative spirit.


I think everyone could use a craft buddy like Maya!