It’s the time of year when hours (and hours) of preparation in the studio crash into looming holiday show deadlines. Choosing what to create, how much to make, facing self-doubt, and emboldened by manic inspiration — this is a familiar scenario. Make, sell, repeat.
This pre-holiday crunch is not unique to me; all types of craft artists I know experience this creative clash around now. Good organization skills and attention to the realities of my creative process (how much time it takes to make…) have taught me and helped diminish potential disasters. Also, learning to say no and understand my own creative limits have aided in successfully steering me through this busy season.
My Holiday Open Studio this year will benefit the Frederick chapter of Mom’s Demand Action For Gun Sense In America. Stay tuned for dates and further details!
As daylight hours shorten and the winter holiday season beckons, it’s easy to burn out from internal pressures to perfect each celebration. Maybe it’s best to ease up on our unattainable expectations; pick the festivities, traditions, recipes and people we’d like to focus on and just concentrate on that. Note to self: Instead of making holiday activities a showdown, concentrate on forging a memorable event that is personally attainable.