Just doing it...

Sewing from my studio. I practically had to beat a path through all the things piled up in my space but a power tidy of ten minutes last night and I sat down at my machine this morning to start work on some stitched postcards.

So much time thinking about making is just no replacement for actually making. Especially when in the thinking I create such a definite vision of what the finished thing should be that it starts to become something almost unachievable by normal levels of effort.

It was talking about the thinking that then jumpstarted the making. I guess because the ways out of your head and in to your life are by recognising your limiting behaviours for what they are. Talking, journalling, blogging. Just taking a step back in some way is so helpful. I reframe this version of what 'perfect enough to get started' is so many times that I trick myself I've given up on 'perfect' and yet still I circle around things instead of getting on with them. Afraid that what I make and even where I make it from won't live up to my expectations.

Thank goodness for these quiet days when there is plenty of time to get going through it all to the simple joys on the other side. Thank goodness for great friends and inspiring people that share.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Thank goodness for this amazing year.