FabricLady: The Creative Lull

No matter how passionate you are about your craft, there are always periods where life seems to get in the way, and your creative processes go into a self-imposed lull of sorts. It happens to all of us. Our lives are not just one-dimensional, and there are a lot of conflicting desires—things that we'd "rather do" than create. Designing and sewing our wardrobes can be put on the back burner for a brief time, especially when we don't particularly "need" that perfect dress or top to wear to an event.

But for the really Passionate Creatives, it's always there in the background: that desire to hear the hum of the sewing machine, the touch of a new fabric, the dilemma of a "what will I wear?" to that event that is only a month away. The Passionate Creative's brain really never turns off, it just goes into a lull, but all the while, preparing for the "break" to end.

Perhaps they might re-arrange their nest...

Or spend some time gazing at their patterns, looking for inspiration...

Ripping out magazine photos of outfits they would love to "copy" someday...there's a pattern out there that could be used or modified to make the top or pants you like.

Passionate Creatives stare at their fabric stash constantly. "What should I make?

What should I toss? Why did I ever buy that piece?!"

They have dreams (nightmares?) about things they want to make...

They never believe that they will ever go into a lull. They are passionate about their craft, so they prepare well, spending a whole day in a cutting frenzy...

So when it's time to sew, they can JUST sew! Their piles waits patiently by the sewing machine.

Other "would-be, could-have-been" outfits languish on the dress form, waiting for solutions that will fix whatever went wrong. Passionate Creatives don't always get it right, but there's always a way to revive a pretty piece of fabric.

They realize that sometimes the first idea about a lovely fabric may not do it justice after all, especially when they've stared it for a week or two. Going back to the drawing board and getting a new pattern is always the thing to do if it just doesn't feel right.

The moral of the story is that if you are one of those people who is passionate about your sewing, crafting, or quilting, don't beat yourself up if you find yourself going through a lull or a dry period. Creative juices don't flow every day just because you think they should. It doesn't mean that you're not a true artist. Look for inspiration in your everyday life, meanwhile...the smallest things can bring you joy and inspire creativity.

Take time for yourself. Take a walk. Breathe.