Let the crafty sabbatical commence!

My soon to be complete craft corner.

So it's the first full working week after new year. Usually, I would be sat at work right now counting down the seconds until the weekend. But instead, I'm sat in my new flat looking at my to do list.

Items read as follows:

• Call GP 
• Do budget 
• Email agency about TV signal 

And at the bottom of my list, but by far my favourite item, is "write out sabbatical plans and goals".

Because it's finally finally FINALLY here. The six month sabbatical that I've been dreaming about forever. It's really actually here! It's really happening!

In the last month I have left my job and left Paris and I'm now living in Brighton on the south coast of England. Things are very much all over the place and there is a lot to sort out for the new flat. But my budget is still (pretty much) intact and I am really excited about taking some time out to work on my creative projects.

Next week I start a drawing class, and in the next few weeks I'll be starting the hand embroidery certificate at the Royal School of Needlework. Just typing those words sent a shiver down my spine. After all this dreaming and planning it's finally here!

Time to stitch, time to crochet, time to draw, time to design, and, of course, time to blog!

My Stitchy Sabbatical

In case it's not obvious it's supposed to say 'Yay!'

For a while now I've dreamt of taking some time off work to focus on all the creative things I like to do but never have enough time for. For a long time it was just a dream, but now, it's really happening.

I've handed in my notice. 

I'm leaving Paris.

And in January 2015 I'm going to start my six month stitching sabbatical in Brighton (UK).

There's only one word for it really...WoooooHoooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I've worked hard to save for this so I want to make sure I use my time wisely. Because let's be honest, I'm in no hurry to get back to the nine-five office life, so if I can figure out a way to earn some money from doing what I love then that would be ideal.

The plan so far is as follows:

• 1/2 day spent drawing (I'm going to enrol on a class)
• 1/2 day spent on crochet design
• 2 days spent writing (about arts and crafts, of course)
• 1 day spent learning embroidery (I'm enroling on the Royal School of Needlework Certificate!)
• 1 day spent sewing/learning to dressmake

I'm currently figuring out some achievable goals for this sabbatical so that I have something to work towards and show for my time off. Because despite what some people (even my own boyfriend) may think, this is not going to be six months of bum time. I am going to get creative with military precision and eke out every precious moment to build my skills and hopefully find a new way of making a living.

I just want to get started now. My stitchy fingers are itching, and although I don't believe in wishing one's life away, all I can think is roll on January!

Creative? Not me.

I love making stuff. Have loved it for years. But whenever anyone says that I'm creative I always shake my head.

Just because I love to create, doesn't make me creative, does it?

A little look at dictionary.com shows the meaning of the word 'creative'. Sure, I'm 1 (like everyone, right?), but 2? Hmm I'm not sure about that.

creative[ kree-ey-tiv ]

adjective

1. having the quality or power of creating.

2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing.

3. originative; productive (usually followed byof)

I can follow a pattern and my stitches are quite neat. I can design and even make a quilt (honestly, it's easier than it looks). But my ideas are rarely original, and when faced with a blank canvas, my mind is often just as blank.

I think this comes partly from trying too hard to be 'creative' and different, rather than just doing what I want to do and what I find attractive.

I sometimes wonder if an innate creativity will be unlocked at somepoint. I can't love making stuff so much and have no talent at all for it...can I?

I guess the answer is, who knows. All I can do for now is keep plugging away at making things and at doing what I love. Perhaps, in time, my hands will become skilled enough to produce the creativity I hope is lurking somewhere inside of me.