I paint. I design. I teach. Repeat. And all in this room! My studio is full of all the artsy chochkies that make hungry eyes jump. I’ve got brushes and paints and papers. I’ve got random rolls of kraft paper for packaging orders as well as fine art paper so expensive I rarely have the gumption to taint it.
This is my inspiring workspace. It lies within the tension of unfinished projects and clean slates. But when that tension gets out of whack and I can’t think clearly as I shift gears between watercolor, laptop, and classroom setup… watch out! My boiling blood pushes through the fog of my cluttered mind because it’s time to get ruthless!
It ain’t easy to purge projects. It’s a little hard on my heart to dump “things that I could use someday.” It’s like giving up. It feels wasteful or un-savvy.
But there’s a greater pay-off to the sadness of a purge. Clearing out your creative would-be projects helps us give up on “hope crafting” and actually be more creative! Creativity’s engine is ingenuity. Ingenuity is the quality of being clever, original, and inventive. Creativity’s catalyst is inspiration or the process of being stimulated to do something. And often the end-goal in mind is beauty. I can tell you from experience that that bag of toilet paper tubes in the closet is quite the opposite of all of the above.
Is it time for you to clear out tupperware boxes of this-n-that’s? Let’s address how to face the hopeful pleas and doubting thoughts that will aim to discourage you.
But it’s so clever! So you saw it on Pinterest and it’s SUCH a cool idea. Sweet! Now—as we move into real life mode—let’s ask the question, is it a useful idea for me? Yes, it’s pretty neat that pool noodles can serve as exposed pipe protectors, but if your pipes are nicely hidden above you, forget it.
But it looks super easy! Being an occasional DIY blogger myself, I can admit that making that craft look easy and approachable is a blogger’s greatest challenge. Someone else can break it up for you in simple parts, but there’s no guarantee that it’s easy-peasy. For instance, I have a black thumb. I don’t know that I can blame genetics, but for whatever reason, I flat out stink at gardening. Whatever the plant, I’ll kill it. (I’m so aware of this that I’ll take a picture of new plants… because I know I won’t be able to gaze on them for long.) And I have to remind myself that gardening ideas are posted by gardeners. If I’m ever going to succeed at it, I’m going to have to take it head-on! So passively saving seed packets aren’t’ going to get me there. When I’m ready, I’ll splurge and buy new packets for pennies.
But it’s so beautiful! You’re so right, little voice in my head. That’s why it’s in a magazine, and that’s why I want it in my home! We all want to be thatmuch closer to having beauty about us. Ironically, though, we end up with piles of junky magazines about us. And we end up with enviable Pinterest boards that clutter our desktops when we’re looking for a go-to recipe. Maybe not so beautiful. Time to make that judgement call. Tear out, photograph, scan whatever ideas seem feasible this year. Throw out the rest.
But I have all the supplies! Then why haven’t you done it? Give yourself a due date for your projects. You can write an expiration date on the ziplock bag of pipe cleaners or plan the craft for a specific holiday—preferably one that’s coming up! Do it, plan it or trash it.
Remember: there is hope! You’re not throwing out creative projects forever. The influx of ideas will not stop. Next year—heck, the next magazine issue or blog roll—will have a new batch of inspiration. Throwing out the ideas that will never be will actually give you the bandwidth to conquer the projects that you love most.
Be brutally honest with yourself for the sake of sharpening your creativity.
Best-
A
