Well shoot, not only did she steal my title but she also has designs on my life! OTOH it’s good to know I’m not the only one letting these little distractions steal away my life and sap my creative juices.
Yes, procrastination is part of the creative process and we can be very creative in how we go about it. It’s also called a creative block. Which is what I’ve been suffering for months now.
Like Lori, I manage to lose hours every day in front of the computer, visiting forums (thanks for the heads up on TorchBugs, btw! Now I have yet another place to spend my time. 
), playing games, buying stuff I don’t need. ARGH!
I mentioned in a previous post I had joined another group of blocked artists in reading and following The Artist’s Way. Well, wouldn’t you know it I was procrastinating THERE as well. We started week #2 on Sunday and on Tuesday I finally read the intro. haven’t done Chapter one yet but I did start the morning pages which consists of writing 3 pages of whatever first thing in the morning.
I won’t bother you with the gory details but today was day #3 for the mp’s and I uncovered the source of my block and resultant procrastination. As Pooh would say, “Well BOTHER!”
The good news I will share with you is that yesterday I actually went into my little studio and cleaned off my work bench then prepped a bunch of mandrels. After I rehydrated my jug of bead release. Yeah, it’s been long enough it was drying out. Double BOTHER. And I’m ready to go make some beads. Nothing spectacular to start, just some simple little frit beads to warm up then I’m going to practice practice practice by making some of my signature beads.
I haven’t done them in a while and it will take a bit before I can get them back the way I like them. Actually, as you know, I haven’t done ANYthing in quite a while. And that’s become part of the procrastination/block. But the mandrels are waiting, my workbench is clean and ready for me to go create something.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Darleen Michael-Baker is a glass beadmaker who blogs out of her home studio in Sheridan, WY.
Bren Boardman says:
I dont know a thing about your bead world but I love your blogs, all of you are interesting, funny sometimes and write from the heart! I too set aside this week for creating and have done 30 minutes in two days. So many other, so called, priorities!
Bren
http://www.brenboardman.com
February 25th, 2009 at 12:42 am
ruffles-too says:
Darleen, I love the little orange cylindar with the clear purple stringer wrapped around and hardly melted in.
I’m a beginner and it’s encouraging to see that an established glass melter has to warm up to get back to her skill level. My studio is in the garage and it’s been too cold to work; however, I did get out there, clean it up, put away lots of rods I ordered from Frantz and fondle my tools. I’ve spent this winter reading every blog, and site I can find trying to absorb all the knowledge and tips I can from people like you. I’d say I have 15-20 hrs at the torch so you can see I’m a complete newbie. Thank all of you for the ideas, inspration and tips. I look forward to completing something that I wouldn’t be totally embarrased to show you ladies… lolol
Joy Ruff
February 25th, 2009 at 9:28 am