This is the time of year when I start reflecting on what I have accomplished over the year. I know it is a cliché but time seems to move much faster now that I am a “bit older”. I remember as a child that the summers lasted so long that I got bored and longed to go back to school and Christmas took forever to get here. Now it seems like I turn around, summer is over and Christmas is here and gone. I try not to take any moments of life for granted. There are many reminders that life is short and taking advantage of the time I have is important. One way I try to do that is to take a bit of time every day, even if it is only five minutes, to create something. Whether it be fiber related, art related or just a fun, creative activity, I think it is so important to always take a few minutes in my busy day to be creative.

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The slideshow is some of the pieces that I created in the first half of 2018. Many times, I might only have time to take a few stitches on a piece or draw a quick sketch for a design idea, but just taking those few moments always makes my day more cheerful. I get a little grumpy if I don’t get to “play” each day. One of the ways I am able to be creative every day is I get up 30 minutes early before I’m off to work and use that time to create in my studio. I almost always have something set up to continue working on so that I can just jump in and start.  That time works for me but might not work for someone else. Do you have time to add 5 minutes of creative time to your day? What if you wrote it into your schedule? What if you put down your phone for 5 minutes or got off the internet for 5 minutes? Many times I have heard people complain that they don’t have enough time to do something. I think if you really want to do that activity, you can “make time”. I am busy like everyone else but I do get lots of things done because I take a few “down time” moments throughout my day to create. I have a project in a baggie to take with me in the car for when I’m waiting or I take along a sketchbook to draw or think out new ideas.

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This slideshow is some of what I created in the last half of the year. When I look back at these photos, I think,”that isn’t much” But a lot of my time this year was for the work I did for my Level 3 Art and Design class that I’m taking. I don’t usually show much of that work here but I do share that over on my personal blog, Permutations in Fiber. If you’re interested, you can click on the link and take a look at my posts over there.

Over on our free forum, we do have a section that is called other challenges and there is a “Daily Dose of Fiber” section each month. Would you like to be more creative in 2019? How about joining our “Daily Dose of Fiber” challenge? What did you do today that was creative? Here is a post that I wrote back in 2013 about Making Space for Creativity. It’s hard for me to believe that I have been doing this for five years. I have missed a few days but not many. And I don’t beat myself up if I do miss a day. I just get back into the groove the next day and carry on.

So I am renewing my commitment to keeping creativity an active part of my life. I want to spend time in my studio, make stuff and share it with all you wonderful readers. What do you want to do in 2019?

Here’s wishing everyone a fiber filled, creative year ahead. And do please share with us what you’re creating, we’d love to see. Just join us over on the forum to share, ask questions and meet other like minded folks! And if you have been lurking over there, please join in the conversations. We don’t bite, we’re actually very friendly.