Thursday, January 17, 2013

NOT A SINGLE SPARK

I didn’t give up my sorting and cleaning after my last post like I had planned on doing. I’d told you the heap blocking the closet door wasn’t a concern but I fibbed. I was just tired of cleaning and thought that since that heap wasn’t in the center of the room I could live with it for a while longer but once I’d acknowledged its existence I found myself becoming obsessed with it. I couldn’t get my mind off of it. That’s what happens to me sometimes. I become obsessed with things. So the mountain went from this



to this.

You’d be amazed by how much lighter it is in here now that the window isn’t being blocked.  
I can actually stand in front of the closet and open the doors which I haven’t been able to do in a very long time. Once I was able to open the doors there was a closet behind them that was begging to be organized and I knew that I wasn’t going to be happy until I did something about bringing order to the ciaos. I even made that trip to drop of all of the junk donations I have been gathering together for the thrift store. I have to admit that I nearly dislocated my shoulder patting myself on the back for finally taking care of that mess.  I’m now way ahead on my spring cleaning.
After all of the work I found myself completely lacking any spark of creativity or desire to do anything artistic. Not even the slightest flicker of inspiration. Nothing, Nada, zilch!!   The whole brain had become one big dead zone! The pile of doll parts didn’t cry out for my attention. The stack of canvases wasn’t calling my name. I’d thought about starting a quilt but couldn’t make up my mind on pattern or fabric. I gave up the quilt idea after spending one whole day cutting up fabric and then deciding I wasn’t feeling in a quilting mood after all.
My next thought was I could start making those beaded ornament covers that I want to decorate my tree with next Christmas and give to some of those special friends but since that would mean a trip to the craft store for supplies I nixed that idea for the time being. One of my goals for the new year is to use up some of the supplies I have on hand before buying anything more. Let's see how long I can do that, shall we?  
Then I considered working on some ACEOs hoping that I would start feeling creative. Even a little spark would be welcome right about now and since they are so small  it wouldn't even have to be that big a spark. Once that was decided I got out the boxes with my pens, pencils, paints and papers and actually managed to do two before deciding that I wasn't feeling it so that was the end of that!


The little bear cub looks a lot like I feel lately. Ho hum....

I guess I’m suffering Christmas withdrawals or maybe it’s just the January blues. Whatever it is, I’m in a slump. To try to get myself out of this slump I told myself I had to pick one thing to work on and then keep working on that thing until I felt like I have gained a mastery of whatever I chose to do.  Sounded like a plan to me but that’s as far as it went until yesterday morning when I talked myself into working on making some of these
 

I know that this makes little or no sense since I have no need for any more heads rolling around waiting for bodies and clothes. Could it be I like working on faces more than I like sewing clothes? Probably. I figure that if I make a head a day by this time next month I’ll have had my fill of them and then I can move on to making something else. I find that working with colored pencils on fabric to be quite challenging and I have no idea why it's taken me this long to discover how well the two work together. Who says old bags can't learn new tricks?
Now that I think about it, last year at this time I was sculpting heads using paper mache clay and didn't get tired of making them until I had about 2 dozen of the darn things. (Five of them still waiting for bodies.) Here I am doing the same thing only now I'm sculpting with fabric.

Am I the only one who is going through a dry spell? Are you feeling creative or are you like me and in need of a little spark? When you get in a slump what do you do to get out of it? I've always said that I never get bored because I never can find enough time to do all of the things I like to do. Maybe this is what it feels like to be bored. Maybe I've got to find something to do that I haven't got around to trying yet just as long as it doesn't require supplies I don't already have.
Take care and be creative if you can and as always, thanks for stopping by.

21 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Maddyrose,

It's the same here, Mom & I look at a project and then walk away. Yesterday we decided that was enough. We started making an Easter tree.

Mom says we need to use up supplies on hand too, so what does she do? A trip to Hobby Lobby. The excuse - "I need Easter minis for the tree". I rest my case. Giggle.

Hugs,
Prudence ♥

We love your snowman picture.

Kays Kids said...

Hi Maddyrose, your spark will come back in time.Some times you need a break. I am over the moon tonight. One of my son in laws came this afternoon and connected a few things to my computer, and I think at last I will be able to blog again. All my time has been trying to work out what cord goes where and it was really all above my head. I'm a happy chappy tonight and now I should be able to get down to sewing.
Hugs Kay

Jan Conwell said...

If you're enjoying making heads, then make heads! There are people who like to make the rest of the doll: maybe you can collaborate? :~)

LLA Creations Art Dolls said...

Love your fabric heads and the detail! The slump thing I'm just now getting over and now I can't get Halloween out of my system! I should be working on other things but I think that's what make it fun!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh I'm totally the same about cleaning things, once I get a bee in my bonnet I can't let it go! I'm envisaging a big kitchen cleaning coming up as I get to reclaim it all as my own...

Happy spark hunting, I have to admit I had had my area cleaned for about a week before anything remotely bit me!

Dianie said...

Hi Maddy,

I love your drawings :)
And those lil' doll heads are cute as can be :)

I go through the same slump several times a year.
It seems I go on this creative binge with all kinds of ideas running through my head, then one day NOTHING... the ol' creative cells have to go on a charger for awhile. But, it always lets me know when it's charged again..lol

It will be back :)

hugs,
~Diane

Love Bears All Things said...

I think we all have SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder caused by the time of the year and the weather or just the lack of sunshine, whatever, it seems to affect so many of us in January.
Hope you're feeling more perky soon.
Mama Bear

Hill Top Post said...

I agree with Love Bears, it seems to me it is the lack of sunshine. And, when I clean and organize, I just don't want to mess up again. A lot of wonderful creations came out of the head sculpted pieces you did last year, so I imagine it may be the same with your cloth sculpted heads, which, by the way, are quite marvelous! Happy slump days...they won't last!

Unknown said...

OMG!! I thought I was the only one who experienced lack of enthusiasm for my crafts. I get in the middle of something and I will change my mind on a dime...then I go on to something else and the same thing happens..it takes me hours to decide on materials...then I'm still not safe from changing my mind...I will plan and dream and when it comes down to actually creating my vision, I have no spark as you say...

Well now I don't feel so alone...lol!!

Here is to a new year hoping that our sparks stay ignited and explode into beautiful creations!!

XOXO
Dessa Rae

Cobblestone Creations said...

You are one multi-talented lady! WOW ~ am I impressed.

I find I usually clean when I'm procrastinating. lol

As for motivation ~ nothing does it for me quite as well as DEADLINES! I've been working like crazy on commissions and an online show I have coming up in March.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Between the phone convo and all the other comments on this blog post....I think I can truly say, I sure am glad I am not the only one with adult ADHD or sit and spin disease. SAD is more than an acronysm right now but then you already knew that.
So there ya go. I'm off to clear out the paper closet, wish me luck, there's probably killer scrapbooking supplies in there and my paper cutter has a dull blade so I'm going in unarmed. S&S Oma Linda

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I am having the same problem. At first I was so busy getting my house in order but then when I got everything cleaned up...I didn't want to make a mess again. I have a stack of fabric on my cutting board but haven't started anything yet. I guess we all just need a break! Sweet hugs to you!

IrelandBrady said...

Oh, Maddy Rose, I love this post! I have been in "funk mode" and barely enthused to do anything, thinking perhaps it is the dark days and darker nights ... not good for creativity or anything else. Some days I get an idea and then by the time I have researched it ... well, let's just say ... the research drained the energy!

The other day I went into my art closet, it was pretty well organized until I started looking for something ... then BAM! The top shelf slipped and stuff started cascading down on top of me! After awhile the hubby finally heard me yelling and came in to see what was going on ... there I was holding up as much of the shelf as I could, fearing the deep fryer was gonna get me for sure! And plastic storage boxes showering down like super huge snow flakes!

He finally got hold of the fryer and moved enough stuff for me to get unburied and off to my dental appointment. I've so upset with the closet for attacking me that I still haven't put it back together
.... *sigh* one of these days I will face my nemesis closet!

Oh! Your heads ... I had a friend years ago who loved to make doll heads so she turned them into wonderful Christmas ornaments, paying attention to headgear and neck wear. She had some gorgeous heads that were perfect for a christmas tree!

Before I go in unarmed to my closet, I want to hear how Linda fares ...

Big hugs!
Karen Anne

Flora said...

MaddyRose for someone who is in a slump you sure are busy creating , the sweet cards and wonderful doll faces look pretty darn good to me!!!
Of course everyone seems to run circles around me when it comes to creating!!!
But now you got me wondering what your table looks like when you're not in a slump...?
Blessings,Flora

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Maddy,
Oh, I am the expert of pushing things in the closet and drawers; sometimes things get stuck and won't open p;)
Same here for the January Blues, as I had a flu from the start of the year(^^;) Much better today.

You still have a creativity, my dear big-sis♬♬♬ Your hads are really lovely and they are the proof of it.

Have a wonderful coming weekend and hope your area isn't too cold.
Sending you lots of love and hugs from your little-sis in Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

obviously your post struck a nerve, look at all those comments :-) I'm thinking all that cleaning and organizing was a use of your creativity and the new fabric faces are just adorable, so it's going to be fun to see you develop those. There is a rhythm to life, we see it all around it, so I guess our creativity has it's rhythms too, including a more dormant winter and yes, I'm there too. Just dabbling but not creating things that really stir me. So I just go with it, trusting that the flow will return when it's ready.

Leny said...

Hi Maddy,

Same here after Christmas...we feel :( in January...

Time for new ideas!!!

Big Hugs,Leny

Boo-Bah AKA Iris said...

I love everything you make and I'm looking forward to see what new things you are going to try. I am impressed that you have organized your craft room. Presently I'm still just thinking about doing mine.

Supplies?? I have so many things that I wont part with because I always think someday maybe I will try that. considering I haven't done much in the last 20 years because I always get mad at my eyes, sometimes I think maybe I'll just pack up all the stuff and give it to my granddaughter who is very crafty. Then again I just dug two of my older sewing machines out and cleaned them up and they are purring like a kitten. Maybe I haven't given up completely!

Hugs
Iris

Magic Love Crow said...

I am sorry you are feeling this way! I find I have been pretty creative ;o) I always say, never force anything. Even if that means, not doing anything for a month. Walk away, and do other things. Your spark will come back ;o) And, when she does, look out! ;o)

Ascension said...

Maddy, me encantan esas cabecitas...son tan bonitas!!!
Seguro que pronto te vuelve a venir la inspiracion.
besitos ascension

Linda said...

I think it's known as the January blahs!! We have been so busy preparing for Christmas so many months ago, now that everything is at a lull we all feel a little blah...
I love your doll heads and have just seen your two new girls.
Now with that said, I'm off to the studio to do some sewing.