Give yourself permission to try something new. Pursue the new. Or revisit something you used to do, but check out the new techniques. Do it for yourself.

You are the only one who can please you.

Waiting for others to show interest or adoration for what interests you is not important. Work with the art that caught your eye.

Give yourself the time to investigate. Going to a Show or a class to get the details.

It is * Not * so much about doing the craft for another person, if that is what gets you started, ok but do it for that inner smile, that inner glow of " I DID THIS " !!

Your first try is allowed to be less than stellar. That is ok. The more you work in the medium, the  more you will  get comfortable. Inspiration happens, you create, Play, grow, enjoy.

Get comfortable in the technique. Carve out a niche of space to work in. Restrain the impulse to buy all the neat tools and gadgets. For now,  start out with the basics, try, dabble, learn, grow!

The end result is to learn how, Read the accepted guidelines as they apply to the medium you are going for.

If it is paint,  taking a moment to check out COLOR THEORY would be more satisfying, than painting and finding for some reason you cannot pin down it is not right.....

Color theory is also helpful when working with fabrics, beads, and yarns.  No one wants to spend hours on end making something that turns out less appealing because of the color choices.

In the process of creating, there is no rule stating you must complete that which displeases you.... Give yourself permission to set it aside for a time and come back to it later. or toss it in the corner to sit and rot!

There is something cathartic in tossing the offending article against the wall. Take care if your workspace is shared though. Pins in the carpet are the bane of Feet <apologies to Dear Husband>

In my early days of sewing, I did so for others, and not having control over fabrics or color choices frustrated me some, but I was getting paid after a fashion so I only took on what I could perform, and bit my tongue about fabrics and colors.

While in this phase, I sewed on the dining room table when I could but, more often, I squeezed My son over and sewed in his room. He was too little to complain. and I was always having to pack up parts and they would leave the machine alone right? heh wrong. I have photos.

I did however lamentably let the pursuit of cash get in the way of growing in skill.... I got so wrapped up in the doing, that I was not pursuing knowledge of new and better ways of creating.   Sure I learned the basics and enough to get by.  After many years I have looked back on that time and mourned the loss of the muse.

What got me into sewing in the first place. The zen like qualities of stitching. Working on what pleased me. Feeding my need to solve the strange geometric of those side triangles in the process of putting a quilt block together.

Making a quilt top necessitates the cutting apart of beautiful pieces of fabric and sewing it all back together in different ways.

Two of My favorite Sites are www.equilter.com and www.quilterscache.com

Even when I could not sew that day, wandering through thier site was a good way to relax. Or Inspire. When I used to work in a high stress job, on the way home I would go to the fabric or craft store and take 15-20 minutes just to wander the fabrics aisle. The tactile pleasure of the prints and colors.

I have the hugest box of cross stitch patterns and Stencils. Recently I found where the stash of quilting stencils had been hidden in the garage when we moved into Our house.

I really have to get busy honing my machine quilting skills.   I DO NOT have the time to use most of this... unless I hike up the stairs and get busy!

Once you get the rules of the medium down technique and inspiration will lead you to that creative space.. ... Listen to your inner muse.. Time to dance to the inner music of creation.

Let go of the tensions of the day for the fine tranquility of crafting,, sewing, painting, creating.

The more complex the day... The more there is need of the simplicity of Play.