This week the hubby and I worked on making frames for my artwork because I want my final framed pieces to look how I want them to look.

Except they don’t quite yet, because I’m still not that good at it.

So this first frame will require lots of sanding along with some wood filler to compensate as I learn to use the tools better.

But that’s what it’s all about right? You can’t expect the first one, two, three of anything you make to be perfect.

(Although I did think buying the right power tools, like a miter saw, would eliminate some problems. Turns out that it doesn’t preclude actually being good at using the tool itself. Oh, that.)

And, as is true with art supplies, I’ve been wondering how much easier it would be and how much better it might look if I were using top-of-the-line equipment instead of the cheapest ones I could find.)

And, as is true with art supplies, I’m thinking…hmm, probably a lot.

But, as is true with art supplies, sometimes you just have to buy what you can afford and make what you want to make anyway. So that’s what I’m doing.

And it’s good. I like learning new things and I like that it requires that I pay attention in new ways.

And we worked in short (20 minute-ish) chunks which made the discomfort of not-knowing-what-I’m-doing easier.

Self-Appreciations

(If you want to find time to nurture your creative soul by making things, it helps a lot to honor the process. To respect everything you ARE doing about making that happen because it’s so easy to discount your efforts or not notice them, which, well, doesn’t help your creativity at all.)

Appreciating yourself is an important part of the weekly 20 Minute Club Minutes.

Here’s mine for this week:

1. I really really appreciate that I allowed myself some much needed time off last week, along with injections of fun and frivolity. My productivity shot up as a result. (Note to self: Inject more fun and frivolity on a regular basis and justify with reminders of productivity improvement.)
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2. I appreciate that I honored my thinking/ruminating process as legitimate work for my business, even though it’s invisible and sometimes involves lying on the bed. Good ideas fulminated as a result.
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3. I appreciate that I worked through the discomfort of making these frames when most of the time I didn’t know what I was doing. (I also really appreciate my husband’s wonderful help and optimistic inventiveness as we soldiered along.)
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4. I appreciate how much I learn by continuing to engage with pieces that I’m pretty convinced are only “okay” and might never be “good”…but by resolving them, I learn so much artistically.
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5. I appreciate every time that I’m patient with myself, including be patient that I still get impatient so often.

Your Turn

Can’t wait to hear about your creative week or to read your self appreciations. And don’t forget–it’s all good to share, even the frustrations or when you’re still searching for ways of making that 20 Minutes happen.