Creative

Creativity is overflowing, it’s a fire set alight,

burning deep and lasting long.

Well…. That is how it feels when you ARE feeling creative. How about when you are feel stationary, the fire has extinguished and, most feared of all these feelings, you can’t see when it will return?

It is probably the one single feeling that sets hearts racing, gives you the cold sweats and haunts you at night. What happens when you are no longer able to create?

You stare at the paper and notice…. No words.

Touch your sewing machine and see…. Nothing you feel driven to sew.

Your watercolour brushes are dry, you can’t quite find the inspiration to draw.

Creativity needs to be fed to be freed.

Oftentimes we get caught up into work believing we are being creative, when we are just following a flow that was set in motion by previous activities. If we feel so good about something that we didn’t notice was created, can we not trick ourselves into creativity?

When this is not just a hobby but your business and probably your livelihood, it does get scary. When you are relying on your ability to create to put food on the table, you have no other recourse, you must get over the hump.

Sure we can bring sexy back.

While I may be the first to panic at noticing a certain lack of “oomph” I have my tricks to make it come back.

• I take a shower. It is true, best ideas come to people while in the shower!
• I people watch – as a designer of clothing and accessories, I examine how people wear things. Writers may feel more inclined to listen into conversations, or attending free lectures on a completely unrelated topic.
• I organize things – diverting attention from the lack of creativity, I prepare my tools and my space to regain the control.
• I declutter. My recent drive to give yarn to charity was mostly driven by a need to divert attention: I was afraid of a situation, I cleaned my mind and made my choices about said situation.
• I knit. Really. I grab “safe” yarn and “safe” needles and knit. Safe yarn and needles are: the yarn I know I will enjoy and the needles I know don’t drive me mental. I cast on 64 and knit the leg of a sock.

Here is the thing – dont force the creativity. Looking at a blank page will not bring the words back. Forcing yourself to calculate a sweater or charting a new shawl will not result in something beautiful and it will not feel like your usual flow of creativity.

Don’t acknowledge the monster. Show it you’re boss. Refuse to believe the fear of lack of creativity and rejoice in the other aspects of your business.

It comes back. It always does.