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!

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.