We’ve all been there. You’ve set aside time from your busy schedule and you think about how much you’re finally going to be able to get done only to blank out or even worse you have an amazing idea but no matter how hard you try it just doesn’t pan out. I spent 4 hours the day before yesterday and all I have to show for it are a pair of half done earrings. It took a whole lot of self restraint not throw my pliers across the room in frustration. Once I reminded myself that (a) just how much I paid for the 2 pairs I had in my hand at the moment and (b) I’d be whole lot more frustrated if I sent one of the 4 pair at my disposal through the tv screen.
So what do you do? I wish I had a magic answer to the question. I’m trying to learn to brush it off and go with the flow. Just because I want to create doesn’t mean I can snap my fingers and make it happen. Not every brilliant idea I dream up is going to work in the real world and sometimes I just need to accept it instead of beating a dead horse when I know deep down it just isn’t going to happen. The most important being don’t be afraid to put a project away for awhile when you just can’t find the answer to the only thing that isn’t working in an otherwise good idea.
The one good thing that came from that experience is yesterday I went to my happy place with all my shiny tools. When I get really frustrated with a particular project or the muse has taken a vacation I often head out to my jeweler’s bench and make the things I always need – basic toggle clasps, ear wires, jump rings, etc… If I’m really frustrated I can always taking out some of that aggression while texturing some metal with a hammer. As I’m working on these more mundane tasks my brain is free to go wherever it wants and more often than not a good solid idea can be found.
This time I remember the bracelet I started at the beginning of the summer and my brain starts to churn on how to complete it. It’s about an inch wide and a regular toggle or even a focal toggle were not going to work with it so I was completely stumped with how to finish it off. As I was sawing I realized what I needed to do was create a full on sheet metal clasp with a slot and a hook. I pulled out my trusty ruler, pencil and index card and starting work on plotting out the female end of the clasp. I’m not done yet but I have a solid design for at least half of it and so far the metal version is coming along exactly as planned. And you know what, I didn’t create a slew of products like I wanted but I felt a huge sense of accomplishment because I’d actually tackled something that had been hanging out there for awhile even if I didn’t finish it.
Now the other side of that clasp, well that’s going to take some more thinking to get all the clearances just right. Thank goodness there are always more jump rings to saw.
How do you deal with your creative slumps and misses? I’d love to hear about it.
Im with you on this Tracy. I keep all my “failed” pieces and often find that weeks, months or even years later, a rescue solution pops into my head. Inevitably it is sooooo simply I can’t believe Ive not thought of it before! My “failures” are just further opportunities to learn!!