The Screaming Muse

For quite a while now I’ve had trouble crafting. I’d be full of vigor to start a project, get in the middle of it, and just run out of steam. I’d look at the craft with a mixture of resentment and disgust, and have to absolutely force myself to put time in on it.
The result? About 1,000 WIPs and a completely dissatisfied crafter.
Then came Stola mit arabesker Borte und Mitte. I got in touch with an incredible fan artist in September and asked her if she’d be interested in trading one of her drawings for a knit or crocheted piece from me. She looked over my work and agreed. Yeah. I was SO excited! We discussed colors, styles, etc., and I got started. I got part way into the scarf that we had agreed on and ran into the same old problem – I just didn’t like what I was doing! I forced myself for a week, then I gave up. I went on a pattern search over at Ravelry, which is where I found the gem I mentioned above.
As soon as I saw the pattern my Muse, so long on sabbatical, started jumping and screaming…pounding on my heart and making my hands tingle to pick up my needles. It had been so long since I had heard from her that I listened without question. 4 days later I had completed an entire stole! Not the scarf that we had agreed on, but a lovely, lush, stole.
I’ve learned a lesson, peeps. I’ve learned to craft less and craft what I love, rather than trying to pile my nearest and dearest with quantity. From now on I will wait for my Muse to let me know what SHE wants. From now on…SHE is the boss.