When I’m in a creative funk, I take a break from the activity that’s giving me trouble, and I try out something else creative or another way to unwind, like reading. I think it’s really important to not place too many expectations on our creativity, an idea that Elizabeth Gilbert has written extensively about. A couple of years ago, after a personally stressful year and a busy photography season, photography lost the joy for me. So, I didn’t push myself. Once my commitments were fulfilled, I put my camera aside for a couple of months and focused on other things. I came back to it when I felt the desire spark again.

Creating is part of my identity—it’s been part of my life since my childhood. It helps me to feel like myself and brings me joy. I was talking to a friend a couple of weeks ago about creative hobbies and why I think they’re so important to me. As a mostly stay-at-home mom, a lot of my work is consistently un-done and needs re-doing daily (or hourly). Diapers are always needing changed, food gets eaten and more needs to be purchased and prepared, laundry gets dirty, etc. Creating is more permanent. Once I’ve made a picture or a dress or hand-lettered a quote, it’s there and I can see it. Even when I’m participating in less tangible or consumable creative activities, such as singing in a choir or baking muffins, it bolsters my confidence and feelings of accomplishment. Creativity is a huge part of how I take care of myself and feed my soul.

Like I mentioned, I’ve been creating since childhood. I credit my parents with fostering that creativity by providing the materials, space, and inspiration to create. My mom was always doing crafts with us, and I don’t remember her ever saying no when I wanted to try something new. My dad is a great woodworker and a DIY type, and I remember many hours spent alongside him in his shop making things or watching him. I think it’s so important to provide this for our children, even though I see with my own that it’s not always easy. As a child, I loved to draw, craft, and make little polymer clay figures. I often used my allowance to purchase clay, sketchbooks, and pencils. I have always had a camera since about age 8, when I started with a little point-and-shoot film camera. I made my little sister pose for my photo shoots around the neighborhood.

Eventually, I was making my college roommates my subjects and within my first year of marriage, I was gifted an old DSLR (a Canon 20D). I took online workshops in photography and devoured as many free web resources as I could. I think overall I’ve developed my creativity by staying curious. If something seems interesting to me, I try it out (like the time I took a jewelry and metalsmithing class in college). I’m rarely very good at first, but if I like it enough, I keep practicing.

I have so many creative interests that it’s difficult to choose a favorite! I also seem to have seasons where one interest is more predominant than the others. Currently, sewing clothing is one of my favorite creative activities. I’m known for my photography and it’s where I’ve established a business, so sewing is something that is just for me. I love knowing that I can make something so useful and being able to make something I know will last and fit well.

“Most individuals never have enough time, and they’ve never had enough resources, and they’ve never had enough support or patronage or reward…and yet still they persist in creating. They persist because they are called to be makers, by any means necessary.” Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic