Creative Minimalism

I recently was asked to repair a bracelet for someone. It was a simple fix, all I needed were a pair of gold jump rings.

Finding them, however, meant excavating the ever-growing hoard that is my craft corner. While searching for my jewelry findings, I had to dig through patterns and supplies for dozens of different crafts and techniques. Everything from quilting and sewing, to paper crafts and calligraphy, to candle-making, glass-etching and ribbon wreaths.

Not to mention a few things that I couldn’t explain the purpose of if my life depended on it.

Eventually, I found my jewelry stuff.

Of course, after all that, I discovered I only had silver jump rings.

As I tried to put everything back in some kind of order, I thought about how much I’d always loved the creative outlet crafting gave me. It’s a wonderful way to regularly “refill the creative well,” as they say. And that is something I need more of.

Because, as passionate as I am about writing, pursuing it as a full-time career drains that well faster than I can replenish it.

Lately, though, I’ve been avoiding the craft corner and finding other ways to fill my spare time.

And it occurred to me that all that stuff was the reason why. Most of it was for things I’d tried once and never worked on again. Or worse, never even tried at all. But the sheer number of options was overwhelming.

Don’t get me wrong. I am extremely grateful I have the opportunity and resources to explore a variety of creative interests.

But on the flip side of that opportunity is what Barry Schwartz calls the paradox of choice. There are so many possibilities, it’s paralyzing.

I end up just walking away without working on anything at all. Even something I’m really excited about, like the dragon cross stitch I started back in May and haven’t touched since.

So I have decided to try something new for the next few months. I’m boxing up everything but my favorite two crafts. The ones that always bring joy and that I find myself coming back to again and again.

Needle arts and jewelry making.

This is an experiment in creative minimalism. To see if I can rekindle my enthusiasm and excitement.

I’ll let you know how it goes in six months or so.

In the meantime, if you had to pick only a couple of crafts or hobbies, what would they be?