When I see the quality and quantity of work produced by other needleartists such as Allie, Annie, Debra, Beth, Elizabeth, Kay, Vero, Nancilyn, Acey, Sequana/Annie, Mary, and so many others, I get discouraged and dissatisfied with my own work. I have come to needlework so late in life and I am so slow. Partly, it’s because of ME-CFS, which prevents me from working more than an hour or so a day, and sometimes from working at all. But partly it’s because my process is so slow. I spend days thinking about a design, trying out alternative ideas, playing with various materials, and working practice cloths before I even start to stitch on a project. I wish I could be more productive. I wish I could develop skills more quickly.
When I’m actually working on something, though, I don’t think at all about what other people are doing. I just enjoy stitching! At the moment, I’m between projects and undecided what to do next. I envy people who just pick up needle and thread and go at it.
Much as I enjoy seeing other people’s work, maybe I should not spend so much time looking at their blogs! (I have 66 stitchers’ blogs in my Google Reader and the number keeps growing.)
I’m making slow progress toward recovery from the flare caused by being hit by three trucks in the past two weeks. Still resting four hours during the day instead of the usual three. Feeling better, I should be able to get back to work.
You’re right abt one thing — quit reading others blogs!! š It does make us tend to compare and you are incomparable, my dear. Other folks may do needlework that you wish you had the skills to do, but you have developed the skill of living in serenity — which is the hardest skill of all.
Monks spend lifetimes trying to attain the wisdom that flows from you to everyone who knows you or sees your work. You have your own unique artistic vision and it comes from your soul. We all cherish it and respect the birthing process you go thru for each piece.
JoWynn,
You should re-read the first lesson of Sharon’s course, about concept, design, etc… You are the one who is right.
You should also re-read the part about not comparing yourself to others. You are yourself, and your projects are a part of you. It does not matter how long it takes to make them. As long as you enjoy doing them, and I’m sure you do. And your work is perfect.
For the moment, I would not do the kind of projects you do, because I would not find enough time. Time is a major element of my choices. I prefer techniques that are quick. You have the opportunity to think over what you are going to do, so take advantage of it. And it shows in your projects, it gives them their quality.
And I hope you will be better soon.
Hugs
Vero
Art should not be competition, but tool to appreciate all the good things in our lives. Techniques and speed only matter when you are in competition. I would take a long breath out, and when you breath in next, new inspiration would come with the air. (I have a feeling you already know these, anyway. š )
I don’t think there’s nothing wrong with reading blogs. In a way, it is our way of being in tune with general public. I’m sure you also get inspirations from others, and at the same time, you are inspiring others.
I like your stiching work, colours you use, and best of all, every work have loving messages and meanings.
Hugs and smiles. š
Your work sets some beautiful standard – I can appreciate the human mechanism but I don’t think it’s a justified state of mind for you. Plus I think it’s funny you put me on the “overwhelming” list because I feel that I am the slowest person around – and I usually am!!
Oh, how I know the frustration of having to work so slowly. I’ve been wanting to start painting the silk flad of the bodhi tree that I’m making for my new granddaughter, Camden Bodhi, but I’ve been working just on the drawing of it for weeks now. I haven’t touched my silk paint for that long and it’s the putting paint to silk that makes the art form so pleasureable for me. Part of the reason I’m slow is that I work meticulously; that’s easy for me to accept. The part that is hard to accept is that I can only work for such short periods of time due to ME/CFS. I agree with Nina’s comments about blogs. I think that spending too much time on them not only wears us out, but leads to the oh-so-not-fruitful “comparing mind.” The disclipline is to take that middle path — to use the blogs for inspiration but not at the expense of the energy we have to use to be creative ourselves.
Jo Wynn I was amazed to read you have only started the needlework late in your life. I was convinced that you had created these wonderful works over many many years.
Your work is inspirational and I agree that it is not necessary to view blogs, though there is always a mind tickling bit of inspiration that draws us back to some blogs. I have lessened my long list but your’s will remain well fixed.
Do only what pleases you, even if that means you blog your own work less regularly. Be happy, Maureen
Being in between projects is hard. It’s a limbo I do my best to avoid!
I remember early on in my quilting “career”, I went to a conference called the “Quilt Surface Design Symposium” for a whole week. I was surrounded by at least a hundred art quilters, which was a new genre to me. I felt extremely inhibited, inadequate, and just unhappy! They were all so far along in their work and I was practically brought to a standstill by that. (I’m not saying you feel that way of course.)
In retrospect, I think I was just overloaded by so much new stimulation so quickly, that I was overwhelmed. Over the months and years that followed I found my own way, gradually discovering what was my own, enriched by all I had taken in from others.
You now are taking in so much so quickly via the blogs that maybe you feel a bit overloaded too.
But never doubt the integrity and beauty of what you are doing with your stitching!!! We who follow your work are very lucky to do so.