Crafte's Inferno
July 30th, 2008 in sewing, other crafts, fashion, home decorating
Michaela Murphy, editor
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Prairie girl, Jennifer Worick proudly displays her first Quick Stuff to Sew project; a pair of pajama bottoms.
Photo: Michaela Murphy
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DIGGLast week I had dinner with a few of my friends here in Seattle. They were all excited about my job on Craftstylish and one of my friends looked at me wistfully and said "Oh, you're so lucky! You must be in heaven making all of this cool stuff." I looked at her sort of dumbstruck with craft shame: I hadn't made anything at all since the site went live. The next day I was sitting here at my desk going over all of these fabulous projects, idea submissions, and plans for the future on Craftstylish when suddenly I realized that if I had to look at one more fabulous project, post another terrific how-to, or hear about the crafty exploits of some talented DIY all-star I was going to stick a fork in my thigh. I was in Craft Hell.
My craft hell realization might have been confusing had I not been across this River Styx before. How many times have I vowed 'never again' over a seemingly simple how-to? How many 'quick-to-make' tutorials have taken me six months to execute? How many times have the words 'How hard can it be?' led to tears and PHD candidate applications that never get filled out? How many? Well, lets just say a lot.
The difference this time was that I wasn't cursing the project at hand, I was upset that there wasn't anything in my hands.
Really, the big surprise was that I was surprised at all. This is, after all, a dream job for me, I love to make things. In fact, my favorite recreation is to either make something myself or cruise the real and virtual worlds and see what other people are making. But now that my recreation had become a full time job I had been neglecting my own creative endeavors. I was now a DIY Tantalus with a glorious feast of fabulous projects just outside of my reach.
I had unwittingly stumbled upon a new circle of Craft Hell: The Work-for-a-Fabulous-Craft-Site-and-Never-Craft-Again Circle
Happily, my Inner-Virgil (IV) came to the rescue and I came up with a how-to-get-out-of-craft-hell tutorial of my own. "Call Jennifer Worick" My IV commanded, and so I did. I actually met Jennifer via Craftstylish and she lives right here in Seattle. Jennifer is the kind of crafty pal who you can call and say "Hi, I am in craft hell." and she instantly knows what you are talking about (that's why she is the author of many best selling craft books--she too has learned the hard way) "Let's have a crafternoon' Jen said and that is what we did.
Crafte Paradiso
I picked up Jennifer and her brand new Brother 6000 sewing machine and brought them both over to my house (after a quick stop at the Pacific Fabric Outlet where we drooled over all the Amy Butler prints and recently expanded crafts section). Jennifer is a sewing newbie and she made some awesome pajamas from the CraftStylish Quick Stuff to Sew issue. I dragged out my fabric stash uncertain of where to start and then suddenly went on a tear and whipped up seven pillows!
After Jennifer went home I sat here in my living room hand watching a Law & Order rerun and handstitching up the last of my new home decor creations thinking," I wonder what we can make from the site next week" At last, crafting paradise regained.
Next week, I will write about the second circle of Craft Hell: Heavenly Aspirations meet Hellish Skills.
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Comments (8)
Thanks for your comment and story. I am a big believer in the power of shaking things out and starting fresh--I just have to be reminded about it all of the time. I just got back from traveling and have two new Crafte posts in the works, one will go up later this week.
BTW, love the embroidered place-mats that you have posted in the gallery--thanks for writing.
Posted: 3:32 pm on September 13th
I loved this article and will be looking for the other updates. I think there are many of us who can relate to the feelings you have experienced. My fulltime job is not in the craft industry, but I do love to sew, crafts and quilt. However, I do a lot of craft shows. It seems that I spend most of my "crafting time" getting ready for shows and very little on myself. And, then there are always the projects everyone else wants me to do for them -- mend this, can you make that, will you do this, blah, blah, blah. Well, I got in a crafting/sewing funk and let me sewing room go to pot for months -- never getting anything done except keeping up on the computer groups and looking at other people's projects. Finally, I thought, "What am I going to have to do to break out of this!" So, Labor Day weekend I bought some paint, had my husband pack up my sewing room (and no, I didn't care how he packed it -- it was a mess already), and then I commenced to an update. I just felt I needed to do something for myself. Everything got a good washing, some new paint, updated window treatments (made with fabric I had on hand), changed up some door and drawer knobs and handles (luckily with some that were being stored in the garage), and a bit of artwork (which was also being stored -- intended for another room that never got done). For the cost of 2 gallons of paint, some elbow grease and a weekend, I got a refreshed sewing/crafting area to jump start my creative juices. Since the update just a week or so ago, I've gotten 5 simple projects finished and am excited to do more. They are lined up. These items are also for my craft shows, but I don't feel like I'm pulling my teeth out to do them for a show. I'm doing them because I feel like being creative again.
I guess, to sum it all up, sometimes revamping our surroundings can help us out of a crafting funk. I love your "Crafternoon" idea too. Now that I'm revamped, reorganized and reenergized, I may just invite a friend or two over for a Crafternoon too!
BTW, great pillows and love Jennifer's quirky PJ pants! Posted: 1:01 pm on September 13th
I just made something for fun for the first time in six months yesterday. So exciting. I must be on your Crafte Inferno parallel... :)
Here's my sewing project, at last:
http://westcoastcrafty.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/sewing-for-fun/ Posted: 3:50 pm on July 31st
Anyway, the pillows are cute! And I can just imagine all the nice textures. Posted: 10:13 pm on July 30th