Today I’m really excited to tell you about a project I’ve been working on recently – a new series of books called the Creative Textile Arts: Weekend Workshops. That’s right, not just one – a series! And I’m publishing these books with a very specific purpose in mind.

Over the years I’ve attended a lot of online classes and workshops, and I’ve also bought a lot of craft and quilt books full of fabulous and inspiring techniques and ideas. I know you can relate to this when I say that I always have good intentions of following the lessons and learning some new wonderful technique or project, but somehow I always seem to get sidetracked by other more important things that are happening in my life and in my business.

Subsequently, the online class files are lost somewhere on my computer desktop in the black hole that I call my Personal Folder. And the books sit lonely on my bookshelf as fresh and new as the day I bought them with that “new book” smell. I pick them up from time to time, blow off the dust and flip through the pages, but there’s too much information, too many supplies I have to gather, and I really don’t have time right now, I’ll just put the book back and look at it another time (sigh).

If only I had time

Wasn’t that a song way back in the dark ages of my youth? These days, “if only I had time” is a phrase I hear a lot, particularly when it comes to our creative aspirations.

I believe that as inherently creative beings we need to be creative on a regular basis. It’s not only good for our soul, it’s good for our health as well – they’ve done studies! I believe we need to set aside time time every day or every week on a regular basis, to follow our creative vision whatever that is, and if you’re a reader of my blog then it’s probably some form of textile art. And we need to make time to do this, not use time as an excuse to avoid it.

This is how I do it

You would think having a business that revolves around textile art would guarantee that I would get lots of creative playtime. Sadly not so much. Some days from beginning to end I’m on the computer, or have meetings, or have other business stuff that keeps me from my one true love – my sewing machine.

So this is how I do it; this is the way that I fit creativity into every day. I do it in time chunks. Some days it’s only 15 minutes. Other days it’s a little longer. And some days I actually get to spend the whole day at it.

And the secret is – I schedule my creative playtime in my day planner and I use a timer (yes a timer) and I’m very disciplined about doing it every day.

Each day I schedule an appointment with myself for at least 15 minutes of playtime, or more if time allows. Then when I’m ready to begin, I set the timer. My playtime could be just doodling around with some free motion, or it could be preparing the supplies for a new project. At the end of 15 minutes when the timer goes off, I feel great! I feel great because this is how being creative on a daily basis makes me feel. And I also feel a sense of completion, because I can cross one small task of my list.

I can’t tell you what a difference it has made in my life to be able to connect with my creative source on a regular basis.

Find what works for you

Everyone is a little different, and what works for me might not work for you, but the day planner/timer is such a beautifully simple solution, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it years ago.

Until very recently, I used to schedule my creative time in my head and tell myself I’ll fit it in when I get a free hour or so. But days and often weeks would pass and I had nothing to show for it. Creative playtime, scheduled in my head, somehow kept getting bumped further and further down the list. I’m sure that sounds familiar.

And so as a teacher I’ve pondering for a while about introducing some sort of program to help my students understand how important it is to nurture and sustain their creative spirit on a regular basis, as well as support and encourage their efforts to turn this into a regular habit. And well “duh”, what better program is there than the one I use myself? It’s simple, seamless and it works!

Creative Textile Arts: Weekend Workshops

The “Creative Textile Arts: Weekend Workshop” series of instructional books are fun, focused and fabulous and are designed to help you fit creative playtime into your life with easy and simplicity.

The first book in the “Titivations Series” is Machine Wrapped Cording. I’ve offered the instructions for the Machine Wrapped Cording technique in various forms over the years as a tutorial and online class, and I’ve taught it to hundreds of students over the years. Now the information has been completely updated and revised for the new book which will be available mid June.

I’m excited about this project and I hope you will be too! I’m very passionate about teaching and I’m also very passionate about motivating and inspiring my students in order that they get the most from their lessons.

You can find additional information about the book here and you’ll be hearing more about this series as the weeks progress.

Photos courtesy Helga Weber,ellie, soartsyithurts

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