Another Aspiration for 2013

Another ongoing project that I hope to continue this year is the Iron Craft 2013 Challenge. The Iron Craft Challenges are the brainchild of Kat and Susi over at Just Crafty Enough. This is a series of bi-weekly (twice a month) challenges that does actually that--challenges you to think creatively.

There are themes for every challenge which are based on color, craft, concept, or any other type of motivation. The group is a collective of people from all over the world who are a supportive group of fellow crafters and artisans.

The beauty of the program is that it lets you participate when you can, allows you to share projects and ideas, and generally support each other through sharing and positive reinforcement. I have delved into projects that I would never have done on my own and have taken risks (creatively) that I wouldn't have thought imaginable.  What I appreciate the most about the group is that it is so supportive of the individual effort. We share our projects--warts and all--and there isn't a shred of negativity from anyone.

On my own, I am the most self-damaging perfectionist. Because I am a retailer, I have to think about imperfections and how they might affect the costs of items being sold. At times, I have paralyzed myself and have kept items from sale that didn't fit my criteria. Friends would come over to my studio and buys things that I deemed "imperfect." They would be shocked by what I considered "imperfect" for sale.

In the Iron Craft Challenges, I have learned to share my projects and acknowledge openly what did and did not work and why. With the support system provided by fellow members, I didn't feel self-conscious if something wasn't perfect, didn't work, or was just plain ugly. In the process, I have grown creatively because I no longer feel as paralyzed by a failed project, or an unfinished project. There are two lessons that I have learned that I would love to share.

LESSON ONE: More importantly, one lesson that I learned that I really appreciated was this--you can stop at any point if you don't like the way the project is turning out. A half-finished project that was attempted in good faith that just doesn't work can be stopped or put aside. If it doesn't work--it doesn't work. Move on. Sometimes, there just isn't saving a project.

LESSON TWO: Sometimes life gets in the way. Sometimes you just have to take a break from the stuff you want to do and deal with the stuff that you HAVE to do. It doesn't mean that you aren't going to get back to the stuff you want to do. Most importantly, don't beat yourself up over the fact that Life.Got.In.The.Way. Take care of business and the other stuff will fall back into place. And when it does, you will enjoy it more.

LESSON THREE: (I know that I only promised two but I am on a roll). Enjoy creativity in all its forms. The love and support that I have received through the Iron Craft Challenges has lifted my spirits and renewed the love for all things crafty, artsy, and just fun, in general. The liberating nature of failing at projects have really loosened up the shackles that I have placed on myself to create. It has rejuvenated a childhood in the arts that I was never allowed or had access to.

And now, I am off to make a dinosaur, hooded towel--only because, Susi showed us how and because I CAN.