Someone asked me recently what I love about art so much. My response? I just love making. I’m a maker. I love inspiring others to step into their dreams and passions as well, but with that, I personally have to be making. If I’m not making a part of me shrivels up and dies. A rather big part of me. I’ve had times in my life where I’ve been told to suck it up and accept the fact that I’m not always going to get to make. I’ve had moments of believing with a deep inner regret, maybe this is true. It’s taken me a long time to accept myself as a maker and be okay with that insatiable urge inside of me to make, even when it seems like I’m doing so for no apparent rhyme or reason.
So here’s some of what I’ve been making recently. And here’s a brilliant article on the difference between a manager and a maker.
*Thought to ponder: I wonder, do you think everyone is a maker, but some people stifle that part of themselves? Or do you think there are those made to specifically be managers and those made to specifically be makers?
This little purse was adapted from a pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing. One of my goals for 2010 was to learn how to line something and put a zipper in something. This little purse was perfect to knock out both of those goals. Zippers are not for wimps. Good thing my word for last year was IMPERFECT, because the purse has lots of little quirks to it. But wow, I completed a goal in the first week of January and I made a purse! It fits my iPhone, keys, wallet and lipstick. So it could replace a bigger purse on days that I want to travel light. My favorite part is that it’s totally made from thrifted fabric. Even the zipper was from a thrifted skirt.
My friend Abbi makes books. She’s great at it. She talked me through the process in a quick conversation one day, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I know I should have waited on her to show me how to do it because I’m so visual. Again, an IMPERFECT project. But so fun to take an old thrifted book cover and make it into a new journal. It also gave me a whole new appreciation for Abbi’s art!
I made coffee cozies for my sister and brother-in-law for Christmas. They were given to them along with a Starbucks gift card. I wrote more about the process on the Scrap Girls blog.
(For those of you who know how much the word “Ish” means to me, you’ll really appreciate this photo. I didn’t notice it when I was taking the photo.)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there! Our husbands know each other from LifeChurch.tv, (Kent Shaffer) and he told me about your blog. LOVE IT! I can really relate to you on your thoughts about the “urge to create.” So true! I love those little cozies too.
Love this, Mandy! Maybe because my one word for this year is Make
I, too, struggle with finding the time, but I always feel a little closer to being me when I make something, whether with food, words, paper, fabric, or yarn. And anytime we embrace who God created us to be, that’s a good thing, right?
Mandy, regarding your thought to ponder, I think it is the former. God is a creator, maker, and we are created in his image. I recently accepted that I, too, am a maker. This fall I took on a responsibility that leaves me no “free” time to create, to make. I bought in to the “grown up ” idea that sacrificing what I like (love) to do for a worthy ministry was an acceptable sacrifice, especially since it was for the benefit of my son. Guess what? As a born maker, to deny that God-given part of myself has not made me a better person or Mom. I have less patience and am more stressed because my creative outlet has disappeared. I will finish out my committment because I gave my word, but will happily relinquish my role in May. AND I will do it without guilt! I NEED to make in order to be the person God created me to be.
I love that purse! And journal!
And I LOVE how the Starbucks cup says “Ish”. Such a God thing.
I agree that all people are “makers” in some capacity. We are created in the image of the ulimate Maker, after all, so how could we not be? I love seeing and experiencing how many different kinds of “making” there are. For example, my dad is possibly the least “artsy” person I have ever met, but one of his passions is “making” smoked meats. And let me just say, that is a good passion for your dad to have. Yummy!
Thanks Evie. It’s nice to “meet” you.
Lori, I didn’t realize your word was “make.” What a fun year you are embarking on!
Wow Rebecca. Thanks for sharing that. How many times I’ve I listened to what others thought I needed to be doing instead of listening to my heart and God’s voice telling me to not compare and to do my own thing. It’s a tough lesson you are in the middle of, but now you know what truly breathes life into you. That will help support in future occasions where you question your making.
Thank you Katie. I think us being created in the image of a Creative Father would mean we do all make in some capacity. It’s hard for me when I hear someone say they are not creative, because I believe we all are, it just shows itself in different outlets. And your dad’s passion sounds delicious.
I agree with Katie–”maker” has unlimited definitions and they are dependent on the particular person. Not everyone is a ‘maker’ in the crafty sense, but there are homemakers, men who build businesses, day care workers that make children feel comfortable, teachers that make learning fun, and so forth. It’s just that some makers have something tangible to show at the end of the day.
Love the purse. You did a great job! And the journal is great, too, considering you built the whole thing based only on my random blabbering.
I like this “maker” term a lot! I am not an artist, but I love to be creative and make things. I think you are right that we all have different “maker” avenues, and we probably do stiffle them in our attemps to be responisble adults. I think “managers” are maybe just “makers of function.” The world would not go around very well if everyone was like me! ha ha! It’s good that some people are driven to manage and schedule, probably. It provides some balance. And the maker vs. manager article was very insightful for me. I definitely operate on a maker schedule of just working on something for hours, and now I understand better why trying to work in smaller chunks or just little bits at a time is so hard for me.
Hey! I had time to catch up on some blogs this afternoon and this was the first post I came to. That’s relevant because I’ve been thinking of you and all your MAKINGS because I got a sewing machine for Christmas. Just a little mender and nothing too powerful but it’s a start. I was wondering if you had any advice (or old posts?) for a newbie? I’m betting you’ll tell me not to be too worried about the “ish”
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