"I'm Not Creative"

Yellow-orange flower in a blue ceramic pot. Image Source: S. Laderoute

“I’m not creative.”

That phrase always makes me sad.

Everyone is creative; it’s in our DNA. Some of us just haven’t found that outlet that sparks creativity for us yet.

To me, creativity is Passion in Action.

It is the expression of something that moves us, whether that is baking a cake, cooking a meal, bricklaying, painting, crochet, farming, gardening, raising orchids, teaching children, building cars, making music or pottery, and so very much more.

I hear a lot of people say that because they see what someone else has made, either a piece of artwork or a craft, and decide “Oh, I could never do that.”

Of course you can!

Have you tried?

True, it won’t look the same at first, but that’s not their first attempt, either. Almost all of the things above start with instructions. They start with something guiding us on how things need to be made. Someone has taken the time to list the process, from the materials you need to the steps needed to create it. Almost like a flat-pack furniture company with less annoying little pieces. And probably less swearing.

Okay, not always less swearing.

For example, when I was learning how to knit as a young teenager, my Mum and Granny were giving me instructions and showing me how to use the needles and how to read a pattern. I was able to do basic stitches without too much trouble; there was only knit, purl, and a few versions of skipping / adding stitches. However, manually manipulating the needles took muscle memory. Was the tension on the thread too tight? Good luck getting the needles into the next stitch. Too loose? Everything would fall apart. Or, if you dropped your needle partway and the stitches slipped off the needle?? Okay, trying to recapture those would end up in way too many swear words.

I started one project in the 80s, and held on to that thing until about 10 years ago, when I finally let it go. I was never going to go back to finish that knitted mohair vest — nor do I recommend someone try a beginner project with such a tricky yarn!

About 10 years after learning (and abandoning) basic knit stitches, I saw my Mum crochet for the first time. One needle, one stitch at a time. I could do that. And I did; less swearing and more flexibility later (and no more dropped stitches… except when frogging … more about that later) I could crochet up a storm. You name it I could make it.

It wasn’t about creativity or not being creative, it was about what would work better for me.

What craft would you really like to learn about? If you could try any craft or art form without fear, what would you try? What inspires you and really makes you happy when you look at it? Stained glass? Watercolour paintings? Abstract acrylics? Chocolate art?

What is holding you back from giving that a try?

The only thing that keeps “I’m not creative” from becoming “I AM creative” is trying.

Like I said before, Creativity is Passion in Action.

Where does your passion live, and how are you going to embrace it? Drop a line in the “contact me” section and let me know what will make you say “Yes! I Am Creative!”