Keeping Creativity Flowing

Life since November

Happy March, and Happy 2024! I have been so lax in my posts it’s ridiculous.

In my last post I talked about not getting very far with NaNoWriMo, and I don’t think I wrote any more words after that. It became a very busy month, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Disclaimer: Links within this post are either to my own products, or products I endorse. I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase through an affiliate link, at no extra cost to you. My blog is supported through commissions and sales of my products. Plus, if you like what you read you can show your support by pinning this post, sharing on social media, or buy me a coffee.  Thank you for your continued support.

I spent several days helping my daughter as her pregnancy was taking its toll on her. I got to spend time with her and my granddaughter while I did the household chores that needed to be done. That’s what grandmas are for, right?

In early December grandbaby #2 arrived; a healthy, happy boy. After a bit of adjusting to a new routine their little family is thriving. As much as I’d like them to be closer, less than an hour away still isn’t all that far.

Christmas came and went even though we didn’t have any snow, which was nice for anyone travelling. We still don’t have a lot of snow which is depressing when you think about it. I hope the spring rains come or that we get some moisture-laden snow later this month or in April. If we don’t the crops, hay fields, and pastures will not do well.

My creative process

The end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 have also been spent creating patterns, working on my Creative Crafters Circle community on Skool, and working on my new paid community, The Craft of Writing.

I love the creative process no matter what I’m doing. It helps me get from idea to product, whether it’s physical or digital. I added a few new crochet patterns to my Etsy shop, crocheted my grandson a blanket (before I knew his gender), recently finished my granddaughter’s C2C blanket (her birthday present), and a few other small projects. I still want to make a blanket for my granddaughter’s “baby” (her doll) that will match hers. She’ll be so excited!

My creative process generally starts out the same whether I’m designing a pattern or writing a book. It involves a pen, some paper, and often a LOT of swearing (especially with patterns when they don’t work out like I envisioned and stitches are ripped out). I’m not sugarcoating it at all…my mouth tends to spit out some very bad things. But for me it works because when all is said and done I have a marketable product.

There were days when I honestly didn’t want to do/create anything. The weather was dreary and my energy levels were non-existent. I learned a little bit about myself as a result.

  1. I’m not immune to feelings of dread, despair, and insecurity. Those are feelings we all have at some point or another. The key is to work through them.
  2. I don’t have to create something new every single day. It’s okay to have days that are spent relaxing. Forcing creativity results in a sub-par product and the potty mouth flows.
  3. I’m not a crier. As much as there were feelings of blah-ness when the sun wasn’t out, I stifled the tears that threatened to escape. I have always considered tears a sign of weakness, but after reading the first 100 pages of “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom 5th Edition by Christiane Northrup, M.D.” I’m beginning to realize I should change my attitude.
  4. I get the best ideas when it’s time for bed. This is simply annoying because I’m too tired to follow through on my ideas. I try to write them down but that always doesn’t happen.
  5. I’m in control of my body, mind, and spirit. That’s a tough thing to remember when the majority of one’s life has been spent living with/meeting the needs of others. And that is why I don’t plan on living with anyone else. Having a male companion to do things/go places with is wonderful, but having my own space to come home to is better. The nice thing about him is he feels the same; he has his own space to go to. (And the fact we’re only a few miles apart is nice because we can see each other more often.)
Keep active to encourage creativity

I have found that if I sit and do nothing it’s hard to feel creative. If I start doing something else, whether it be unloading the dishwasher, laundry, going for a walk, etc., I soon think of something I’d like to be making/writing. Sometimes it’s difficult to stick with the task at hand (especially when it’s housework) instead of heading to my craft area or computer (depending on what I decide I want to make).

I think it’s important to stay active no matter ones age and I do try. I would like nothing more than to go for a nice long walk but the roads are icy and I don’t want to risk a fall. I found a YouTube channel that has some wonderful walking workouts, and I’m going to attempt a 30-day seated exercise challenge I have devised. I have incorporated exercises I’ve seen in different blog posts/exercise videos, so will see if it’s a good combination. Today is Day 1, and so far so good.

Feeling blocked?

Some people say creativity should be forced. I do not agree with that statement. I am a believer you have to feel good in order to create. Your health matters, and the better you feel the easier it is to share your passions with the world.

Something I have also found when I feel blocked is to take a course in something you are interested in but don’t know quite how to get started. Or even take one to hone the skills you already possess. Seeing how others approach a subject could be just what you need to change your perspective.

I haven’t created any printables for my second Etsy shop for several months which has been bad for business. As a result I registered for a course (Creative Cards Design Camp) on making cards (not greeting cards) which starts on Monday March 4. I’m excited to learn the process, and I already have a list of cards I would like to make. I have taken courses from D’vorah before and she has a wonderful way of teaching.

Plus, by watching how others teach classes gives me some ideas on how to present my materials when I take the plunge and add video to my courses. I have the tools, equipment, and know-how; just not the self-confidence to be in front of the video camera.

Wrapping it up.

I tend to get a little long-winded when I haven’t posted in forever, and I apologize for that. I’ll wrap it up for today, and I will try much harder to get back to weekly posts. Just remember: give in to your creative desires no matter what the masses say. And if you’re stuck, go for a walk or start another task. More often than not that’s all it’ll take to kickstart your creativity.

When you have a creative block what do you do? Let me know in the comments below.

NaNoWriMo isn’t getting much of my attention this November

The holiday season is closing in on us, and I find myself wondering just where 2023 went.

My attempt at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is failing but with grandbaby #2 on the way soon, I have been helping my daughter a lot this month. I can write anytime; family comes first.

In addition to that I have been working on increasing the numbers of my free crafting community on Skool. That alone has taken some time.

Disclaimer: Links within this post are either to my own products, or products I endorse. I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase through an affiliate link, at no extra cost to you. My blog is supported through commissions and sales of my products. Plus, if you like what you read you can show your support by pinning this post, sharing on social media, or buy me a coffee.  Thank you for your continued support.

Attempting NaNo this year was not the wisest thing for me to do but it has gotten me to write a little more than I would have otherwise. And being the pantser that I am, I think it’s going alright story-wise. I’ll have some time to write over the next couple of days so I should be able to add a few thousand words to my word count.

Something I have learned other years while doing NaNo is to not try to cram too much writing in all in one day. It can cause temporary burnout, especially if forced.

Something else I have learned is the story flows easier if there’s at least a general plan. This year I had a plan, then switched at the last minute. I know where I want the story to go, but am having a little trouble with the setting. I know it’ll all fall into place as soon as I dedicate some time to it.

I thought NaNo would be a good way to get back into writing fiction. As many of you know, I’ve been at a standstill with it since Ross passed away. I think it’s a combination of things, with one being I had a more regular schedule then. I’d make myself fit in writing time after work or on weekends.

Now that I have more time to write it seems as if I’m writing less. I lost my biggest supporter when he passed, and that is playing a part in it as well. He used to tease me about being a kept man when I became a famous author. Not only have I not reached that point yet, but he is no longer here to enjoy the fame with if it ever happens. (Life has moved forward but the missing him will never stop.)

I used to use Scrivener for my writing but have realized that using Google Docs is more practical. When all I had was a desktop Scrivener was the logical choice. However, now that I use my desktop, laptop, and iPad, Google Docs makes it much easier to get some words in here and there.

Not only is it practical for my books, it’s also perfect for my articles and courses I’m working on for my info product hub. I can brainstorm on my iPad before bed and then sort out the ideas into separate documents the next morning.

Before I go let me recap what I’ve learned by doing NaNo (plus a couple other tips):

  1. Don’t try to write more than your brain can handle in one day.
  2. Use a cloud-based word processor so you can write on the go. Be sure it has the capability to save offline as well.
  3. Have a plan; at least to some degree. Pantsing is okay, but plotting it out is better.
  4. Take breaks when writing. Remember to eat, and have a bottle of water nearby so you stay hydrated.
  5. And last but not least, follow the characters wherever they take you. I have had a lot more fun writing when I let the characters determine where they were going.

If you’re doing NaNoWriMo this year are you ahead, on par, or falling behind (like me)? Let me know in the comments.

The Creative Crafters Circle Community on Skool

Building communities based on mutual interests and not being distracted by all the shiny objects.

I hope you’re having a wonderful fall so far. We have had unseasonably warm temperatures, which has made me happy. Although when it does get cold it’s going to be a shock to our systems.

In my last post I talked about getting back to doing the things that bring me joy. I have been enjoying my time back at the sewing machine, and have picked up my crochet hook again. And today I ordered 3 lbs of alpaca fiber so I can get back to my spinning wheel.

Disclaimer: Links within this post are either to my own products, or products I endorse. I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase through an affiliate link, at no extra cost to you. My blog is supported through commissions and sales of my products. Plus, if you like what you read you can show your support by pinning this post, sharing on social media, or buy me a coffee.  Thank you for your continued support.

September was a busy month with weddings (one being my son’s), taking care of my granddaughter on occasion, and taking advantage of some sewing days with the local quilt guild. Plus the yard and house work never ends, no matter what time of year it is.

I have been doing some soul searching and have realized it’s time to stop chasing the shiny objects and just do what I love to do. I came to the conclusion that the internet can be a wonderful thing, and not so wonderful at the same time.

There are so many people trying to get our attention online at any given moment, it’s hard to stay focused on the task at hand. We’ve all been there: check social media, read a blog post, check our email…all the while getting taken down multiple rabbit holes. And in the end, did we get done what we started to? Chances are not.

Which brings me to my realization:

I’ve been wanting to share what I know about various crafts for some time now and have dug into my memory bank and made a list. I surprised myself when I realized just how many different crafts I have tried over the years. Some were a passing phase while others continue to call me regularly. Even when I wasn’t actively pursuing them, I was thinking about the things I’d make.

Being given the opportunity to attend the quilt retreat brought back the excitement I felt when I’d cut up perfectly good fabric just to sew it back together again.

While having a conversation on the phone with my daughter one day not too long ago, she said Little Missy didn’t have a winter hat. So out came the alpaca yarn and a crochet hook. And because I used the wrong hook initially, my daughter and granddaughter now have Mommy-and-Me hats. It was such a good feeling to turn that skein of yarn into something that would keep heads warm. (I think some matching mittens might be in order as well.)

Which brings me to the reason behind creating a community for crafters.

I’ve designed and written crochet and quilt patterns, taught others how to spin their own yarn, taught others how to crochet and quilt, and have dabbled in a variety of crafts over the years. During the learning stages of some of them it would have been great to log into a community where I could ask questions and get help when I was struggling with a stitch or method.

I have now created the community I longed to have.

In my quest for finding a community-based platform without ads (so members wouldn’t get sucked down yet another rabbit hole) I learned about Skool: the platform that lets creators focus on their niche, build their community, and help others solve problems and learn at the same time. The beauty of it is there’s an option to create courses within the platform, which is another plus.

The beauty of the platform is it’s not only designated to crafts; that’s simply my choice for a community. There are thousands of other communities that focus on business, medicine, pets, trading, sports, and the list goes on. I scrolled through the directory and was amazed at how much variety there is.

A lot of the communities focus on earning money online and many charge a monthly fee. The community (The Creative Crafters Circle) I have created is free for members so they can get answers to the craft-related questions they have. It’s in its early stages and it’s my mission to nurture it to its fullest potential.

I love to see what others are creating, help with problems they may be having with a particular craft, and learn from others who know more than I do. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, so lets have some discussions about the crafts that we enjoy.

And because I consider writing a craft, there’s a category for that within the community as well. It’s not what most would consider a traditional craft, but I have found the two go hand in hand; at least for me. I can come up with story/book ideas while I’m crocheting, which is a form of meditation for me. The repetitive motion of the hook and yarn lets my mind wander and new scenes or characters are born.

I invite you to join me if crafting of any type is what you like to do, or if you have ideas for your own community. I’d love to see you there and find out what you enjoy doing; whether it’s knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, beading, writing, scrapbooking, cardmaking, spinning (yarn), etc.

Have you heard of Skool before? Let me know in the comments.