Around Here Lately: Living a Holistically Creative Life

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on my last post. I loved hearing from each of you! I even got a letter in the mail from one sweet online friend! I’m so glad we’re all finding a creative community of one sort or another in this virtual world. I hope we can continue to enrich it and the connections we create here. Sending love to you all (how fitting that it’s Valentine’s Day!).

Back in January I wrote a list of intentions for the year. First in my journal. Then in my sketchbook. And again on a separate piece of paper that I hung in my studio. The very first intention on the list: “Live a holistically creative life”.

Most of the other intentions on the list fall under that umbrella. One of them restates it as “be creative — all ways, always”.

Do I really need this reminder? Yes and no. Of course as a professional artist I am constantly being creative. In my free time sometimes I have the energy to work on multiple projects for myself and sometimes I don’t. Creative projects bring me joy, but it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day and not make time for things like sewing and crafting.

Maybe you feel the same way? Maybe you need a reminder to keep going. To not let months go by before you finish a project.

I thought for today’s post I’d share some of what I’ve been working on lately (and what’s been bringing me joy) in case you need some inspiration. (And as a bit of an homage to the “good old days” of blogging).

Before Christmas I was on a sewing roll. I’d finished some sewing projects and had a couple more things cut out. After Jude was diagnosed with cancer (he’s doing great) they got set aside. I’ve been slowing diving back into working on them.

This linen dress is is a modified version of Butterick 6024, the same pattern I used for my butterflies top. I lengthened it to make it dress length, trimmed an inch from the center of each back piece to make it a bit more fitted and used a bias binding for the neck and armholes instead of using the pattern pieces for neck and armhole bindings. I’ll be adding pockets, too. It’s almost finished; all I need to do is hem it and add the pockets. I made a few mistakes along the way, but that’s why they created seam rippers, right?

If you’ve been around a while, you might know that I started out on my creative journey with sewing and crochet. I actually still have my original Etsy shop with a few crochet patterns for sale there. Although I no longer make crocheted items for sale, I still love to crochet.

Right now I’m working on this sweater:

It’s a free pattern that caught my eye on Ravelry. I had to stop, though, because I ran out of yarn. I like how it’s turning out and am looking forward to finishing it. It was quick and easy to crochet, but I’m not sure how the front closure will work. I left out the buttonholes because they didn’t look quite right. I know I’ll figure something out. I’ve noticed that sweater closures are often tricky. Looking through peoples’ Ravelry projects I frequently see multiple variations that look nothing like the original pattern. I guess all of our bodies are different as are our styles of crocheting (or knitting).

I’ll admit that sometimes I obsessively look through Ravelry adding patterns to my favorites or scrolling through Pinterest pinning crochet patterns and sewing patterns without ever deciding which project I want to tackle. But I’ve learned so much, too. I love it when the photos I find are linked to a blog post with lots of photos of the finished piece and lots of feedback about how it went or what modifications they made. Often the blog posts are many years old and the blog now abandoned. But not always. I am delighted whenever I discover someone who’s still blogging and sharing their sewing or other handmade items.

Do you sew or crochet (or knit)? Do you use Pinterest or Ravelry to plan your creative projects?

As I’m waiting to get more yarn for my sweater, I’m working on a shawl:

The pattern is the South Bay Shawlette (free from Lion Brand Yarn. The photo on their site isn’t very inspiring so take a look at people’s Ravelry projects to get a better idea of it). I used this pattern before (I blogged about it here on my old blog). I loved making it and I love wearing it (you can see me wearing the shawl at the opening reception of my show last fall).

This time I’m using a lace-weight yarn and I think it will be even prettier than my first version. It’s such an easy pattern to crochet, too, as the repeat is quick to memorize.

I have yarn for a bunch of other projects (including this beautiful sweater — I’m making mine short sleeved in peach and cream), but I wanted to work on some simple ones first. Do you do this, too, working up to harder projects?

Sewing and crochet are both good wintry activities. And so is garden planning.

My seed orders have been arriving. This is just some of this year’s seeds:

I need to work out a plan for seed starting. Some will need to be started earlier than others (and some will go right into the garden). I’ve been walking around the garden in the snow dreaming of what will go where and which new beds I want to create. It makes me a bit giddy!

I’ve been trying to enjoy the beauties of winter, too. Creating my Winter Sketchbook class for Skillshare has me especially open to and aware of them. Making sure to spend time outside everyday means I don’t miss out on things like spotting an eagle land in my next-door neighbor’s tree.

I see eagles quite often, but every time is awe-inspiring. I’m so grateful I noticed this one. I watched it, first outside until I got too cold and then inside from my kitchen window, until half an hour later it was chased away by crows.

On the business side of things I’m getting into the rhythm of the year. Yesterday my session aired for the Loving Healing Creating Summit (you can still catch it free today and tomorrow).

I want to thank everyone who voted for my design in Spoonflower’s Spring Flora and Fauna challenge.

There were 855 entries. Mine came in at 76th place and is now for sale in my shop. It’s also available as wallpaper! And home decor! I love seeing all the renderings.

I’m working on other designs for the collection and am excited to share them with you. Stay tuned!

I had such fun painting a poinsettia plant this week.

The plant had been in my studio waiting for me to paint it since before Christmas. But other projects cut in line.

It can be so hard to get back to painting after a break from it. At the same time, if I haven’t painted for a while I begin to feel more and more irritable. The only trick I’ve found is to just jump in. Don’t overthink. Don’t worry that your painting isn’t seasonally appropriate (or whatever silly thing you might be worried about). Just DO.

And if what you create flops, make another. Often, though, you’ll wonder what took you so long in the first place. That was the case with this painting. It flowed. It filled me with joy. I’m planning on waiting to offer it for sale until I complete this winter’s series of houseplant portraits. It’s a different way for me to work.

I have lots of other projects in the works. And it feels good. I hope that if your year got off to a slow start you’re finally easing in to a rhythm.

Thanks for being here. Wishing you joy.