I have been struggling on how to maintain creativity amongst all the things that happen in a day to distract. We have all the simple ways to make life simpler, we can get practically anything by mail and order what ever the latest “thing” we need may be. BUT I spend lots of time wondering do I really need said “thing.” Recently I saw the difference between a “Consumer mindset” and an “Owner mindset” and I liked this as a way to think through or navigate the idea of need and how to ensure that a product that comes into my home serves our household not just becomes a thing that we added to the list.
Collecting hand made objects has been an important thing to me and has found its way into my everyday artmaking as well. Making or repairing or caring for these objects has also lent itself to my creative practice. I desire to keep old skills/old ways alive and so it is that I guide myself through my textiles at home. An example of this is my mending. Typically as I do laundry I inspect clothing for needed repairs. This Christmas I received a speed weave to aid in some of these repairs. I credit my wool socks with my success of surviving winters in WI. I maintain these with patches and repairs as they have slowly formed holes through time. They have served me well and so it is important that I help them to keep up the great work. The speed weave is a newer form of patch but I am liking how it looks and will be interested to see how these patches hold up through this winter and into many more.
It is this mending metaphor that seems to lend itself to the owner mindset. I have found the socks are important, it is important to keep them and have them in the best shape possible. Could I purchase more, perhaps. BUT buying new is not the same as maintaining a good quality item. Diverting these textiles from a landfill or even just treating them as “fast” fashion is not the same as wanting to keep and maintain a good item that still has much warmth left. There is also something very soothing to my mind as I work the mend. I am able to slow/be thoughtful/ and think of the basics. Over, under, repeat. Breathe in, breathe out, repeat. It becomes a meditation. Once the socks return to my feet, they ground me.
Sock meditation in process.
