Oh! Where did the year go? The next one is just around the corner!
Time marches on, just as it always has, and I don’t want you to put off being creative for another minute.
Why do we stitch?
Why do we stitch? (or follow any creative pursuit, for that matter).
I know from all your lovely emails and comments that one of your favourite ways to spend spare time is being creative with fabric and thread.
We do it because it’s fun, helps us relax, allows us to share what we make with other people and bring smiles to their faces … fundamentally, creative stitching makes us happy.
It doesn’t make any difference whether you’re a professional creative running a business, or one of the (many more) people who gather in groups, or sit at home, and simply stitch for the pure joy of it.
It’s so easy to find excuses not to do something – not to start that new project. To think that next week or next month or (help!) next year, will be the best time to start.
… but … next year is only 6 weeks away.
So no excuse, hey?
Guilt is written all over my face as I write this, as I can be a MASTER PROCRASTINATOR.
If there were a Diploma of Procrastination, I’d have passed with flying colours!
(Thinking about that, a procrastinator would never actually finish a course in Procrastination, would they? ?).
Yet, people see me as always mega-busy.
I guess I am. But what I sometimes fail to do is focus on what’s important.
There are times to be creative, and times to work to earn money, and times when there’s a need to help other people.
But there is always time for what you need or want to do – if you choose to look.
Throughout history, people have needed to be creative – for practical reasons, like making clothing and other ‘household’ items.
(As another aside … the question just occurred to me … should we refer to ancient cave dwellers as making ‘household’ items? Heh! Why not?)
The truth of it is, since time immemorial, people have connected in groups, formed families, and where they lived became their home.
Even nomadic tribes have homes, albeit moveable ones!
And because we humans have evolved with little natural protection to keep us warm – only a fine layer of hair, no fur – we’ve had to learn how to make clothing to keep us warm, and shelters to protect us from the elements.
Both clothing and tents were, initially, made from animal skins fastened or stitched together with crude bone needles or pins.
Over time, as techniques developed, people became interested in creating cloth for clothing, bags, mats, rugs, and eventually works of art.
Creative people moved beyond the purely functional, to the intricate and beautiful artworks we enjoy today.
In ancient China, clothing – even armour – was created from paper. I’m privileged to have seen some of these on display in various museums and galleries across China.
Clothing made from paper stretches as far back as 105 AD. This fact is little short of astonishing!
There is no limit to your creativity, either – it doesn’t matter where you’re starting from.
Young or old or somewhere in between. It’s a matter of tapping into your creative inner self.
Young kids are naturals at this, being some of the most creative little people on the planet.
They have total belief that what they’re drawing or making or stitching is wonderful.
They have no fear of criticism because of this absolute belief that what they’ve made is ‘good’.
We would do well to re-embrace that childhood freedom!
Older people get joy from the creative process, too – hospital patients, residents in aged care homes, and people with disabilities.
Recently, while travelling in Vietnam, it was inspiring to see that the people so unfortunately affected by recent events in world history are not forgotten.
By learning the skills involved in needlework, woodwork, creating lacquered art with shell (sea shell and eggshell) mosaics, many disabled people have the opportunity to create intricate, beautiful art that also brings them income and personal satisfaction.
Of course, the needlework creations in Vietnam caught my eye, too, being a form of thread painting worked entirely by hand.
What are your creative stitching plans for the new year?
With the ‘silly season’ about to descend on us, I wonder what you plan to do in your spare time?
It’s only a few weeks until we say Farewell to the old year and reach out to the new.
Regardless of where you live, there are times when it’s nice to retreat indoors and be creative.
What better, when it’s cold, dark and snowing outside, to surround yourself with fabric and do some stitching?
Where I live in southern Australia, this time of year is hot, so being indoors offers relief from the burning sun, and sewing is a great way to pass some creative time.
You won’t regret it!