“There are no mistakes in creativity…only opportunities for EMBELLISHMENTS”
Truer words were never spoken. Yesterday, I was working on some projects in my studio. Things weren’t going right. It was a creativity nightmare! Time to step away to take Delphi Dog for a walk. Halfway through our walk, we popped in to visit our former neighbours. The first thing Jenny said was, “Oh your ears must have been burning, I was just telling the grandies (grandchildren) that Chrissy tells us in class “there are no mistakes…only opportunities for embellishments or bling“”. (Yes I say it a lot!)
Moments before I arrived, Jenny and the girls were doing school holiday craft which lead to a glitter and bling incident. One of the girls was really upset about “wrecking’ her work. So upset that they had retreated to the garden as diversionary tactic. The “great glitter catastrophe” was easily fixed once the glue dried so a crisis was averted. Until then this poor young primary school lady was almost “beside herself” about her project’s imperfections.
Not long ago, I was so much like her: always striving to deliver perfection to the point that my “perfection quest” made me very sick. Have you heard of the 80/20 rule in business? I struggled with this concept and it was impossible for me to reconcile only delivering something that was 80% correct and fixing the other 20% later. Many years ago after a particularly challenging day, my manager, mentor and trusted friend, Sandra took me aside and shared a story which forever changed my perspective on perfectionism… it seems appropriate to share this story with you.
The Amish Quilts
As you may know, people from all over the world travel to Lancaster Pennsylvania (USA) to purchase beautiful handmade works-of-art in the form of quilts created by Amish and Mennonite women. These Amish quilts are viewed as quintessentially American and are made celebrate marriages and births. Each is created with love and special meticulous attention to detail. The ladies only use the technology that was in use over 150 years ago. No electric sewing machines for them! Their creativity is awe inspiring! Each quilt is “almost” perfect with over 50,000 hand stitches. Only “almost” perfect as, according to legend, tradition dictates that each quilter must make a tiny mistake on their work… it’s not a careless mistake but a deliberate one. (Usually only the quilter will be able to find the mistake.)
Of course, now you are wondering, “Why deliberately create an imperfection?” It’s a simple but beautiful philosophy…Their philosophy is “God didn’t make anything perfect, so we cannot make anything perfect either.”
This makes complete sense! Amazing things happen when you change your focus or goal from “perfection” to doing the best that you can do in that moment with what you have. Go on try it!
My imperfect project
Okay, back to my imperfect project. Before my walk, I was working on a divider for my planner. I was reasonably happy with how it was working out… there was a slight imperfection when using the copper embossing powder but nothing that couldn’t be covered with my new Year of Cheer Specialty Washi Tape. (LOVE this stuff!) Here’s a progress picture:
Anyway, as I went to work out the tab placement, I’d forgotten a rule that has been drummed into me FOREVER by my handyman dad and my Nana, a fabulous dressmaker! I’d forgotten to “Measure TWICE and cut ONCE!” GASP! My divider wasn’t wide enough to enable me to make tabs using my envelope punch board. (To find out how to make tabs using your envelope punch board – visit Pimp My Planner – Part 2)
As you can see the divider on the left it’s way too narrow compared to the tabbed divider (right). It was at this point I threw it aside in frustration and went walking.
Coming back to it this morning, the solution was sitting right on my stamp shelf. The solution? Tabs for Everything! This stamp set and punch bundle offered an easy fix. In the five minutes it took to stamp twice, punch and glue, my divider was back on track!
So what if it isn’t identical to the other tabs? Who really cares if it’s not perfect? Mixing styles makes my planner a little more eclectic. Diversity is always a good thing.
Now I just need to decide whether to add a pale watercolour wash… What do you think?
My Top Tip is don’t get caught up in making a “perfect” project. Enjoy the creative process and remember:
“There are no mistakes in creativity…only opportunities for Embellishments”
To get any of the products used in this divider – click the photo below to go to my online store
