Happy New Year to all!
This holiday break I've been systematically going through all the nooks and crannies of the house in an attempt to clean up and throw out. I hope to start the new year off all tidy and bright. But it's odd how nearly every cupboard, closet, and drawer has become a place where abandoned projects go to die. Unfortunately, I've had to come face to face with the myriad of failed crafts that truly did seem like good ideas at the time.
In one kitchen cabinet alone I found no less than fifteen abandoned craft projects. And that's just one of several places where I've managed to shove bags, boxes, and plastic containers full of various bits and bobs required for particular projects. I was distraught to see all this evidence of my crafty hopes and dreams squashed in among their brothers and sisters. I can remember the excitement I felt to plan and begin each project and then the frustration and disappointed with each one that I gave up on and relegated to the closet. Some I wished I had carried on with and others I hope to never try again. But it occurred to me as I pulled project after project out to be remembered and examined, that I should really be celebrating these mini disasters. For it was these broken projects that taught me how to be a better crafter. After all, if I hadn't tried any of these projects I would never have had any successes.
Slashables assisting with the cleanup.
So I've made up my mind not to worried about all these red headed step children projects. I'm no longer sad that I tried them or that they got squashed among the closet clutter. I'm not distraught that they didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped for I'm happy to celebrate the fact that I tried them at all. To not have tried them means they wouldn't have failed, that I wouldn't have failed. But for all of these failures there have been many, many successes and without those, I wouldn't enjoy the challenge of creativity. So, really, I want to celebrate these crafty disasters. I'm grateful that I had the time, money, and energy to give them a try. I'm happy that I gave them up when they became too painful or when I hated doing them. I'm glad for all the crafty mistakes I've made so that I can hone in on those crafty things that I really enjoy doing. In the end they've made me a better crafter and that, my friends, is a wonderful way to start a new year!
"red headed step children projects" - that made me laugh!
And what a pretty kitty :) Wish I had a furry helper too!
Posted by: Robin Lynne | January 05, 2009 at 08:36 AM
omg, I hear you, I need to clean out too. Great blog!
Posted by: Randi | January 05, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Who doesnt have a bin full of disasters? Usually I show them on the blog and then chuck them just to get them out of my head. LOL
Posted by: Sarah | January 05, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Wow, do I relate to the unfinished projects! My word for the year should be"Finish" but I think I will "clean out" instead. Best Wishes for 2009!
Posted by: Mary Lin Huskamp | January 05, 2009 at 10:08 AM
love it, i thought i was the only one with a craft graveyard!
Posted by: lindsey | January 05, 2009 at 10:30 AM
what a great way to look at it! i feel the same way. so many great ideas in my head i wished to try, so many never made it very far! others finished but never turned out as planned! others were mistakes that turned out better than i ever hoped! I think as crafters we are forever tweaking our art and skills! and its that challenge i love too!
Posted by: missknits | January 05, 2009 at 01:11 PM
Thank you for your beautiful and honest post! You've encouraged me to sort through the mess in my own studio (and really, all over the house!)
And know that you are certainly NOT alone in having tons of unfinished, abandoned crafts lying around...
^-^
Posted by: Claire | January 05, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Amen to that! The failed prototypes will now rest in peace:)
Posted by: Barb | January 05, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Thats great. Like the old saying. Try Try Again. Without failure we will never truelly know success.
Posted by: Fred Duggan | January 05, 2009 at 08:45 PM
I've been doing the new year cleanse as well. I could most definitely start a supply store with my bits and bobs. :)
xxx
Posted by: RavenX | January 06, 2009 at 03:19 AM
Happy New Year!!
Posted by: knutsel rein. | January 06, 2009 at 08:11 AM
Oh, Felicia, how I can relate. I celebrate your fantastic attitude and wholeheartedly agree that it's those missteps in crafting that make us better. So with that in mind I guess we could really say that every project is a success, right? ;o)
Happy New Year to you!
Posted by: Katherine | January 06, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Experimentation doesn't always lead to successes. There's lots of disasters along the way. That's how we learn though!
Love the Slashables pics.
Posted by: Jennifer Louie Reinwald | January 06, 2009 at 09:08 PM
I have tons of abandoned projects too..I don't think I could handle it though if mine were like yours and actually had imploring little eyes looking back at me!
Posted by: Laura | January 06, 2009 at 11:16 PM
It may not be spring just yet (we're in the middle of an arctic freeze here in England), but your post has given me the urge to spring clean all the same ;) I have boxes of unfinished projects hiding away in the house too...
Happy New Year ;)
Ali x
Posted by: Alison Perry | January 07, 2009 at 04:49 AM
Oh dear...poor abandoned things! At least you attempted them at one point and made things even better, eh?
Posted by: sadira | January 07, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I love your perspective on things! It's helpful to us all and is a nice way to ring in the year : )
Posted by: Gina | January 09, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Well good for you to clean out and put to rest that which wasn't meant to be. You create so many wonderful things that it was a surprise to read that these 'red heads' existed in your world!!
Onward and upward!
Posted by: Natasha | January 10, 2009 at 01:56 PM
It is good to leave somethings behind sometimes and move on to pastures new ;-)
Posted by: Rachael Rabbit | January 11, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I wish that we lived close enough that all of us could do a dead projects swap. I could use a little of this and some of that and for sure a bunch of those.
Johnnie
Posted by: jonwen | January 12, 2009 at 12:54 AM
It is indeed, and this is a very relevant post for me, right now. I'm struggling. I admit it.
Posted by: Lena | January 14, 2009 at 09:07 PM
Kitchen cabinets? My projects are "well-behaved" and stick to the craft room and living room. Yeah, sometimes you just gotta let go. Once in awhile, I go through and do a big clean up and decide what to let go up and salvage what I can. Donate or reuse. Feels good in the end. Some projects take a couple cleanup cycles before I can let go...
Posted by: KPP | January 23, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Oh, i hear ya on the deserted crafts! I have about the same number of 'failed craft projects' in the corner of the studio/guest room. It's a sad little pile of bags, it's makes me sad to look at it! I think i'd better go through them once more to see if they can be revived, completed and listed in my shop! I do have a new year's resolution now! To give new life to old projects. Maybe i should have a section in my shop for 'half-finished craft projects'..hehe!
Posted by: Tricia | January 28, 2009 at 01:07 PM
That's a great way to think of it. Makes me feel a little less guilty an obligated to finish them.
Posted by: Julie (Knitsational) | February 10, 2009 at 03:09 PM