Greetings to all of my fellow beaders and jewelry lovers! It has been very quiet here on Inspirational Beading for several weeks, and I need to begin this update by apologizing profusely to anyone who has been waiting patiently for new content to appear. I know it was incredibly rude to wander off without leaving a note, but it couldn’t be helped.
I’ve had a few unexpected absences before, and I always assume that they won’t happen again. I never see them coming. When things were really rolling here on the blog, I was working up to posting nearly every day, and I was really happy with the content. I’d never had so many ideas at once. Things were going great. And then I got sick, and took a few days off, and just never got back on track. There were days when I felt really guilty about having nothing to share, but there were also many days when I just really enjoyed not being tethered to my workspace.
The Oatmeal recently published a comic called Creativity is Like Breathing that explains the creative process really well. Nails it, in fact. If you aren’t familiar with The Oatmeal, please note that the comics are almost always Not Safe For Work. To summarize this one: creating things is like exhaling, and doing it too much can be hazardous. I was exhaling a lot, and it burnt me out so completely that I couldn’t even bring myself to log in to Facebook or compose a farewell Tweet. I checked my emails almost every day, in the same way that one checks on children periodically to make sure that they’re not about to stick something into the light socket. Other than that, I’ve been completely unplugged.
Over that last few weeks I’ve been waiting for inspiration to happen, for something to spark the kindling that makes me want to play with beads, make things, and/or write about it. There were little motes of inspiration here and there: watching Bob Ross on Netflix made me think about making things; I needed something to do while sitting at my laptop binging on Orange is the New Black, so I started a new medallion with my bead helper, and put a few stitches on the coconut dagger necklace. Unfortunately, none of it has started a fire. I don’t even carry my creative journal with my anymore. I’ve mostly just been reading, filling myself up with new words and waiting for beads to be exciting again.
I don’t have a definite plan, but things are going to be very light here on Inspirational Beading over the summer. I don’t have as much free time as I did when I started the schedule that went so far off the rails, so it will be baby steps from here on. It would be a mistake to force the ideas - I want to be sure that what I do post is really good, and not just whatever I had the energy to pull together. I promise that when inspiration strikes, you will be the first to know!
Mortira
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Hope you feel better soon :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to say, Mortira. I just wanted you to know that your words were read and felt. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Mortira, I'm so sorry to read that you've temporarily lost the old 'mojo' - but i'm sure you and it will be back together, weaving your beautiful spells soon. I've been so inspired by you that I've taken up tiny beads myself along with soutache and love to read your blog - good luck and best wishes Neena
ReplyDeleteAs ano t her creative soul I completely understand. Sometimes it helps to go in another direction entirely just to keep your creative juices flowing. Try something different. For me it was wirework. It could be anything cooking, clay, gardening, or just coloring.Keep your spirits up and take your time rest your spirit and one day it will all be restored better than ever.
ReplyDeleteTaking time to take care of yourself is SO important, Mortira. Do not feel guilty. I'm thinking we are all big girls and boys on this blog and will do just fine until you feel up to snuff again. Take care of yourself and rest.
ReplyDeleteTake time to take care of yourself. We'll be here when you come back
ReplyDeleteI would be worried about you if you didn't have times when you needed to go underground to replenish and cleanse your creativity. No one can work at that pace forever. I remember a 16 mo hiatus! That's been the longest. I don't fight it. I try to sink into it and let it just bubble up when 'it' is ready. We won't forget you. We will miss you. And when you do resurface we'll all be here to see what wonderful things you have to share! Safe voyage, My dear. See you anon. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you so much everyone! I'm looking forward to getting back at it. It would take a lot to keep us and beads apart.
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