Here at Chez Magpie life goes on with nary a blip in the creative radar. I'm boring myself. I love making landscapes but I'm in a rut and fear that I'm backing myself into a creative corner with much of what I'm doing being the same ol' thing. I've always tried to challenge myself with a new technique somewhere on each landscape but they still come out looking much the same as the others. Yawn-worthy to the extreme.
The pile grows ever higher and, after over two years of not a single sale, makes me truly wonder if what I'm doing is worthwhile. Over the past year I've done a number of trunk shows and some teaching gigs and there IS money to be had there...but....the necessary travel to get to the various locations is not something I'm able to do at this stage in my life. And...before you say it....no, teaching online is NOT something I'm even remotely willing to consider.
Bottom line is - if I don't do landscapes, what should I do instead. Quilts are not something I have the space to either do...or store. Wallhangings, although doable size-wise, are just going to pile up on top of the landscapes. I'm not a painter so that's not on my radar either. I don't have room to add more stash so can't consider getting into something like rug hooking or anything done with wool. Perhaps I need to consider making smaller landscapes.
Yep, Magpie is in a funk.
The Resident Chef, however, is having fun
playing with jigsaw puzzles. Our oldest 'grandie'
gave him this one for Christmas...
- Some of you might find THIS block-of-the-month to be a fun project to undertake for 2025.
- HERE is something that looks like it would be fun to make.
- Have a peek at the incredible work of THIS artist!
- I'm sorry I can't find the origin of THIS but I think it's a great use for old books.
Today's quote..."There is not enough room in your mind for both worry and faith. You must decide which one gets to live there"
You must have fallen into the January funk !! I am still trying hard to climb out of it!! i did a lot of reading and am re-organizing stuff to work my way through it...I feel that I have enough quilts personally to last a lifetime...
ReplyDeleteWe have just begun working on the "exact same" puzzle this week--it is a doozy!!
Hugs Juierose
Hmmm - January funk that normally doesn't hit me until February...hmmm, maybe.
DeleteYes, the puzzle wasn't an easy one with all the weird-ly shaped pieces but it's pretty when it's done.
One: it's January! I feel much the same way, no enthusiasm. Two: sales aren't why we make art. Three: January may be a month to lie fallow. Four: this is why I do the knitting and crochet ministries. There's a destination for everything, and it satisfies the need to make. Five: I'll shut up now before you block me permanently and the sermon I rode in on.
ReplyDeleteHey I LIKE your sermon so no danger of me blocking you! I agree that sales aren't why we create but on the other hand an ever-growing pile gives pause for contemplation. There's only so many I can give away to good causes (several have been used for fundraisers). Sadly my hands will only allow me to do so much crochet and knitting so I have to keep myself in check. I knitted 17 hats for donation so hats are out for awhile. I do have a request for 4 pairs of socks which should keep me knitting for several months.
DeleteI have been in almost the same quandary since I took a break from making dolls. I had every intention to begin Jan. 1 on my new thing (whatever that might be), but I seem to be even more unsure of the direction I want to go. A couple of days ago, I cut out a new doll from a different pattern. And, I brought downstairs six pairs of old pants that I have always wanted to make something from. I also love books made from cloth and/or paper.
ReplyDeleteYes - a quandary is a good way to put it! I'm very happy that you're doing another doll though because I am always blown away by the ones you've already made. The pants could turn into a jacket??
DeletePlease at least keep finding us inspiring websites. Consider it's just time to take a craft sabbatical. At first when I went to Fl, I drug my sewing machine. That eventually became a lot of work at our age. I quickly found out it was less stressful to not take a carload. I started just finding books at the second hand store to read and spent time reading and going over websites and you tubes. While at the second hand store, I enjoyed finding bargains on more fabric and tools. By the end of the 2 months, I was eager to go home and get back to creating. So, take a sabbatical and relax a minute.
ReplyDeleteOh, there's no worries about me continuing to find links - that's something that I really enjoy doing. I'm not a sit and do nothing person so I need to have something to occupy myself but right now I'm not sure that 20" (or thereabouts) landscapes are it. I'm toying with attempting a smaller format but not sure how that will work overall. I'm sure I'll come up with something!
DeleteI enjoy making my cards, but not sure there is a market for that, especially if you put a ton of time into it.
DeleteThat's just it - we certainly don't get paid for the time we put into making things.
DeleteHello MA: Where do you sell your quilts? I do not believe I know of the site that you sell on.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what I would do if I change to anther craft.
I love the links especially the ribbon design.
Catherine❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
My work gets mostly sold via word-of-mouth and a few have sold privately through my blog. I don't have a 'store' of any nature because when I looked into it the costs for shipping varied so greatly and it was pretty much impossible to set a price that included that in a fair manner to both the buyer and myself. I'm not tech-savvy enough to know how to set up an online shop either, so there's that.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the links!
I have started to only make items to give away, or that I know will be leaving the house. Sorry to read that you are in a funk.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That's the problem - I love making the landscapes but they are just piling up with no purpose in mind. There's only so many I can donate to organizations willing to use them for their fundraising and my family and friends certainly don't want any more. I guess I need to come up with something more useful that my family might want to take off my hands after it's done.
DeleteI feel your funk. I know these times are normal, and the reflection you're doing is important, but it doesn't feel good in the moment. I'm not sure I'm in a creative funk, as much as I'm feeling other things are more important to do right now, and I can feel the draw away from things like crochet. Yeah, I'm doing a bit of soul searching about my creative pursuits. I hope I don't do something I'll later regret, but I also hope I don't sit too long in the land of Not Sure What To Do.
ReplyDeleteI have to say it's nice to know I have company in that land of NSWTD. I know I need to branch off in a different direction but can't seem to come up with what that might be.
DeleteI took up drinking as a hobby until I figure out my next step.
ReplyDeleteHah - maybe it's a good thing that I don't appreciate drinking!
DeleteI'm sorry you are in a creative funk. I can certainly relate. Sometimes, I feel like everything I do is just busywork in a way, not meaningful enough. But if like me, this mood is temporary and will move off. I mostly content myself with projects that take a lot of time before completed like the cross stitching so I don't have that much finished stuff. Perhaps bigger, more intricate landscapes...just thinking out loud here. Fingers crossed you will get your stitchy vibe back stronger than every. Take Care, J
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should take up cross stitching again, although if I do I would have to invest in a better form of lighting so I can see what I'm doing. Doing bigger landscapes would be lovely but not having space to store them is the issue. I'm thinking that I might try doing them much smaller - perhaps in a 12x12" size - but not sure how much detail I could include if I did.
DeleteSorry about your downturn. Hope the muse will come to visit again. Have you thought about an Etsy shop?
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems my muse has gone walk-about and I sure do hope she returns soon! As for an Etsy shop, yes I did do some research on it but it was more work than I wanted to undertake and opened up a whole bunch of issues that were beyond my limited capabilities to solve. Thanks for the suggestion though!
DeleteSherry of createology: Hello My Sweet Mary Anne. I am so sorry you are in a creative funk. I understand your plight with not selling any landscapes especially after all the time and work you put into them. I have never had any success selling anything I create so I am no help. I don’t even know what to suggest to you to help satisfy your creative talents. I think your Muse must be hibernating for this season. I would love to commission you to make me a Hussef using a man’s tie in shades of blue. I loved the ones you made and of course always planned on making one for myself…you know how that goes. If you are so inclined…please let me know if you would be willing to make one for me. Thank You My Friend. XOXO
ReplyDeleteCreative funks come and go and I'm aware of that so I'm not too alarmed. I'm not a winter person either so that doesn't help. I hate being cold!
DeleteAs for the hussif question - I'd be more than happy to make you one if you'd like me to. I assume you have a tie/ties you would want me to use? Contact me off-blog if you want to talk further (for some reason the email addy I have for you doesn't seem to be working...??)
I've lost my stitching mojo before, very frustrating! If you can, I think making smaller ones would be interesting, I just hope it's not harder. You really have created so many beautiful pieces. ❤
ReplyDeleteAnd there's always cross stitching!
I agree that it's frustrating. I'm really toying with attempting to try doing a landscape in a 12x12" format just to see how it turns out. Could be a complete lesson in frustration.
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