I am in a hard place in my life at the moment where I sincerely dislike the work that I am doing. I don’t dislike the skills I have or what it takes to do the work. I don’t dislike the profession or the people in the profession. I am simply astonishingly bored by going into the office and doing the same work day after day. While I struggle through the process of figuring out what to do next, creativity is incredibly important. I have found it difficult to inject much creativity into my life recently as I race around from one task or obligation to the next. I find it difficult when I can’t get to my machine or when I am too tired to be inspired. I have been struggling with visual journaling and trying to squeeze some hand piecing into the spare moments. Nothing is perfect in the creativity department.
As a result, I have, once again, turned back to quilting podcasts. They are a perfect fit at this point in time and space. I can listen in the car, on the train, at the doctor or at swimming.
I have been listening to one podcast for a long time and recently switched to Annie Smith’s Quilt Stash podcast. I immediately felt a great sense of relief and calm. Annie has a wonderful voice and she speaks intelligently. The other podcast host[ess] used some strange grammar, weird words and odd idioms. It began to get on my nerves.
Tonight I listened to podcast #119, a visit with Diane Gaudynski. I always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder about DG for no good reason except jealousy. Bad, Artquiltmaker! Now I am in love with Diane Gaudynski. The interview was so warm and friendly and Diane gave some wonderful tips in a warm and effortless way. I immediately put her book on my Amazon wishlist.
As a result I am back on the quiltmaking podcasts as a way to get some creativity into my life. Try out Annie Smith’s podcasts.
I just listened to that one recently too. I though it was excellent and Diane seems to be a really lovely person. My company has an office near her home. I was working there for 3 months and contacted her to see if she had any local classes going or if she taught private lessons. We emailed several times. The schedule didn’t work out but I realized through that that she really is a generous and kind person. The podcast was wonderful!
so glad you’re finding some way to feed the creativity muse. Hope she springs forth soon and comforts you as you slog through this phase of your life…
Thanks for the tip, I’ll add her to my podcast list.
Sorry to hear about your job, can you get a lateral transfer to another department?
Hi Vicki,
She does seem like a really lovely person and it is so nice to see. I have experienced a lot more lovely quiltmakers lately. I think the famous quiltmakers are starting to understand that they have to be nice and teach well and they can’t be stuck up. I am so thrilled to know that DG emailed back and forth with you. How great! I am sure you will get into class with her sometime.
Quilt Pixie: I know it will all work out eventually. Slogging through the process is the difficult part and not one of my strengths. Annie Smith’s podcasts are a lifesaver.
Hi Anne,
Hope you enjoy the podcast. I really like it. I listened to the one with Mary Lou Weideman this week and just have to take a class from her sometime.
I work in a very specialized field. While the skills are transferable, it isn’t possible in this organization to transfer to another department. Thanks for the idea, though.
And thanks for reading.