Saturday 14 July 2007

concentration

Thinking about it, it's actually been ages since I've really got into a project. You know that feeling when you can't stop and you almost forget where you are and you loose all sense of time? I love that, when all other thoughts go from my mind and it's absolute concentration.


It doesn't happen very often these days, there always seems to be a distraction. Sometimes it's in my head 'this is rubbish' 'what am I actually trying to do?' doubts seem to creep in and slow me down, bring me back to reality. Sometimes it's my environment; the scissors have been moved, the paper I'm after is upstairs behind a load of junk, not enough room on the table, haven't got a table etc etc. All little things, but things that conspire to disrupt. I suppose that's why I moan on about not having a studio all the time...


But yesterday it happened. I got home from work, picked up the material and just started to cut (I didn't even have a cup of tea which is very unusual!) And time just flew, now that's what I'm talking about!


Perhaps it's because it's a present for my best friend (and I found out yesterday her boyfriend proposed to her in Paris, she's getting married!!) and I want to make it extra well, although expectation usually makes things worse in my experience... I think it's partly because the pattern was quite complicated, and it became like solving a big puzzle, cutting the pieces the right shape, sewing them the right way up and working it all out. I let myself be not too worried about perfectly straight edges or perfect sewing, and just kind of got along with it. It's the first time I've sewn something and not had that niggling doubt at the back of my mind about it not being quite right. And I 'm liking it.


So I'm off to finish it...

3 comments:

Riverlark said...

Sarah, that's flow!
http://riverlark.blogspot.com/2007/06/flow.html

paper. string. cloth said...

I know exactly what you mean, I read something recently, I think by Amy Karol, about how she sews best when she doesn't think about it too much, and doesn't set her expectations too high.... then you can just do it and not freak out about every little detail...
The bag looks great to me - can't wait to see it finished!
Thanks for your well wishes - I'm feeling loads better today...
Leah xx

Sarah said...

Hmmm, that book about flow may have to be purchased (you'll have me spending a fortune on amazon!) Sounds like an interesting read... thanks riverlark!

And Leah, I think it is definitely about expectations too, because I thought the bag would be too hard for me and turn out wonky it actually ended up turning out ok! Glad you're feeling better :)