Life is happening
What do we do when life throws us curve balls? What do we do when things happen beyond our control? What do we do when our efforts can do nothing to change the inevitable outcome of a situation?
I don’t know about you, but when the season of life seems to be changing, the only thing that’s gets me through is my creative spirit.
Friends, life has really been HAPPENING to me lately
I know….life is always happening, but between family changes, work stress, and the world on fire, life seems to be bigger than me right now. My creative brain usually gives me enough serotonin to keep the train moving forward, but I am a bit stuck at present.
My usual creative distractions include things like:
Sewing
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Sewing 〰️
(Obviously the one I turn to most often!): Garment sewing is typically my refuge from the storm of life; it’s the practice that serves the practical purpose of building a wardrobe, but it also builds my creative muscles and self confidence.
Spinning
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Spinning 〰️
There’s something about the timing of the twist, hold, and release that helps calm and organize any anxieties swirling in my brain. I love that the action of spinning results in a beautiful and personal product that I can use for another creative passion.
Yes I also spin fiber!
I don’t talk a lot about that in this space, but it’s an action that in and of itself creates a rhythm that calms my heart.
Knitting / Crochet
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Knitting / Crochet 〰️
You knew that was coming after reading the spinning section, right?! Crochet is the craft I’ve been doing longest, with knitting at a close second. Another repetitive and tactile craft, it helps align my senses and ends in beautiful pieces for myself or others that have my soul spread through them.
Creating For Another
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Creating For Another 〰️
This one is perhaps the most fulfilling because not only does it force me to stop thinking about stresses in my life; it also funnels my energies into working for a purpose that benefits someone else. (trust me - it’s impossible to think about the swirling dervish of anxiety when you’re counting knit stitches!).
I know a lot of us spend the majority of our creative time making for others, and I think there’s no better way to treat our own anxieties than to focus on bringing love and joy to someone else.
But friends, let me also plant the seed that it’s okay to see yourself as a person that needs a handmade gift; you are the person that values your work the most, so feel free to make something to show yourself the love that you deserve :)
What happens when that doesn’t work?
Even though I’ve been practicing all my usual creative distractions, I find myself needing something more; some sort of bigger shift to compensate for all the life happenings going on around me.
The simplest thing to do would be to step away from my creative work and focus on the fires popping up everywhere. Doing that would certainly give me the TIME to dedicate to those issues. But depriving myself of the creative community and relationships I’ve spent years to cultivate will undoubtedly become another fire that will take extinguishing in the future. So what to do?
I’ve decided to do the scary thing and shift (or PIVOT as Ross would say….”Friends” lovers will know the exact tone in which I'm saying that word, and if you don’t know just google Friends and Pivot for a giggle).
But what is that shift going to look like?
First and foremost, it means a BREAK
As much as I love sewing with you all, in-person sewing events have become too stressful and time consuming for my current situation. Teaching you all new things and watching you achieve sewing success is one of the greatest joys of my life, so believe me when I say that stopping it altogether is a very difficult decision for me. But I know that shifting both what events I offer, as well as where I host them will alleviate a lot of that stress and will allow for both your and my greater enjoyment in our sewing time together.
I will be taking the next few months to set up a new class structure, with a specific focus on creating events that line up with topics that you all have expressed to me you want to work on:
Retreats where we sew an entire project together from start to finish. (oh boy do I have some exciting plans for this one!)
Local crafty networking events where we meet up around the Stl area to do things like thrift for materials, visit local community spaces, meet to discuss crafting publications, plan our sewing projects, and more.
Events where we practice a wider variety of creative projects. (like cross stitch, knitting, hand sewing & quilting, and others!)
And finally, this is the one that’s the biggest pivot for me……..take our community deeper into the online space. I will be working on the format and location in the coming months, but I am planning to create an online space where I can share tutorials, personal makes, project ideas, and a look into what I’m making and how I navigate my crafty life. It will take me awhile to get right, but you all have been asking for more personal content from me and I’m here for it.
(Friends - there will be videos and reels I promise. I’ve heard you loud and clear!)
So YES, I will be quieter than normal for a few months, but I am excited for the next chapter to come. The next few months will be a time of personal healing, but also a time of discomfort and growth (which sounds super scary to my anxious heart!). But life has taught me that growth is where I ultimately find the most peace, so I’m full steam ahead. Thank you all SO much for your love and support in everything I do, and I can’t wait for the things to come.
XOXO
Allison