Embellished Gloves!

Embellished Gloves tutorial!

All done by hand, no sewing machine.

Required: Gloves, hoop, tulle/illusion, needle, thread, paper, pen, pins, scissors/embroidery snips
Optional: sequins, beads, tambour hook, etc.

 

 

Creative Burnout

A big part of being an artist that apparently not all creatives know about (yet) is creative burnout. If you haven’t encountered this, high five! However, I’ve seen a few of my sweet artist friends blindsided by burnout over the past year. I have been quick to reassure them that it is totally normal, and that all they need is rest and recovery. They were overcome with real fear that they had made a mistake with their chosen calling, that they would never have a good idea again, that they weren’t cut out for this lifestyle, etc.

All of these thoughts are normal.

And more importantly, they are *temporary*.

After doing my job for as long as I have, I deal with creative burnout on a regular basis. In fact, it’s so predictable that we plan around it. We always know that when we go to our cottage in the summer, I will spend half the time there asleep. And a lot of the rest of it watching Family Feud, because apparently in Bobcaygeon, Family Feud is on tv 24 hours a day.

There is a book that I recommend to creatives struggling with on-going blocks called The Artist’s Way. It’s not woo-hoo-y or religious at all, which is helpful for secular babes like me. It talks about drawing on our creative pools, and how, once we’ve taken a heap load of water out of it for whatever project, the well needs a bit of time to replenish. It is an apt metaphor. In those low moments, everything can look negative – we are depleted both physically and mentally, so even though we just birthed this gorgeous, amazing art baby, once that elation dies down a bit, we often only see the flaws. In the work, in ourselves, in our industry, etc.

Again – normal. Panicking can trick us into feeling like we’re doing something, but it’s not actually helpful for our little fragile, sensitive minds.

When I talk to other creatives around me, we all have different methods for coping. For me, video games are the way to go. They engage my mind pretty thoroughly, but my body isn’t actually doing anything, and there are zero stakes. So both my body and brain are technically resting, but my antsy, over-driven self isn’t bored. Finding something that strikes that balance for you might not be easy, but books, bingeing a tv show, going on vacation – anything that distracts you. And proper sleep is important. Proper sleep is crucial.

I have had days were I was sure I’d never have the energy to make another thing in my life. And then I wake up the next day after a good ten hour of sleep, and I’m already elbows deep in a new project before I even remember I had felt that way the previous day.

Not all times will be like that. I’m currently recovering both this bridal season, and ten cumulative years of over-extending myself mentally, physically and emotionally. I just teared up on Kristian and said, “This is gonna go away, right?”

He laughed at me. We’ve been through it. He knows. It will go away and I’ll be as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as ever. Probably more so. Never doubt the importance of experience. Everytime you go though it, you’ll learn more about yourself and your process.
It’s really comforting the way we say we’re going “through” something. It absolutely implies that this is just a patch. We’re moving – through – and we’ll come out on the other side.

You are amazing.

I’m gonna go play some video games and make banana bread. xo