In
October 1999, I attended Quilting by the Sound, in Washington. The first two days
were spent in studio time. I could do whatever I wanted. A piece had been floating
around in my head for years and this seemed the perfect opportunity to transfer
it to fabric. I was rather shocked to find I couldn't sew. I shook, I sweat, I
sat there not talking and I'm a rather avid talker if you know me! I turned the
machine on, and then I turned it off. I picked up tools and put them down. It
was all very strange. I didn't recognize myself. Who was this weird person? I
realized that I hadn't slowed down, hadn't done anything purely for fun in over
five years and I simply didn't know how. I was spending more time writing and
talking about rather than doing my art. It was a life altering experience. The
two pieces I completed during that time became the jumping off point for a more
creatively satisfying work life and a better balanced lifestyle overall.
While
I never want to go back and can't ever imagine running my business without the
computer, I knew then that I needed to make some changes. Over the past six months
I have looked at what I am doing and analyzed the why of it. I've asked myself
a lot of questions. The process went something like this - I design a line of
patterns. Why do I design a line of patterns? Is the financial return worth the
time invested? Is it fun? - and so on. I asked myself those questions about every
area of my life and time and time again I eliminated items that were no longer
satisfying. Things I was doing because I thought I should, not because I wanted
to, things that were no longer valuable.
Then, I set limits on my time,
lowered my expectations to a realistic level and gave myself room to be real.
It's been a process. One that will always be a struggle but one that has freed
me to develop new and exciting areas and that has allowed me to put restraints
on others. My type A personality is not likely to change, it will always be there,
but I am the only one with the power to control it. It wasn't my computer, it
was me! That old phrase physician heal thyself comes to mind.
My business
is once again exciting and I am enjoying the freedom of my computer again. Now
I understand how it can simplify my life. Instead of allowing it to control me,
I have made a decision to control it. I'm learning not to tie myself into self-imposed
deadlines. At my site - www.press4success.com
- you'll now see notes like under re-construction - to be completed soon I hope.
Adobe Acrobat has allowed me to put many products into electronic format. Combined
with credit processing companies like clickbank.com, there is no more packaging,
shipping, handling or stocking expenses. Quilt
Pro, CorelDraw and the Electric
Quilt product Stash allow me to produce designs and diagrams using virtual
fabrics that look like real quilts. The result - less sample sewing, less illustrating
and virtually no photography. What a time and money saver! Another product, My
Business Emailer, lets me personally contact all my subscribers in mere minutes.
Wow! And e-mail has let me develop relationships with quilt artist around the
world and submit articles to on-line and print magazines. It's truly exciting.
On the personal side, I'm trading lessons with a friend - teaching her
quilting while she teaches me upholstery. We both get a minimum three hours a
week of fun and entertainment. Each year for the past fifteen years, I have taken
a retreat somewhere in North America with a friend; a break from responsibility
and time shared. Anytime I've needed to learn a new program, I've hired a tutor
to teach me specifics rather than take a general class. It's been great. So, when
I realized I didn't want to travel much anymore, these three activities led me
to offer 1-1 and 1-2 workshops and independent studio time in my studio so clients
can come and have a holiday with me. Workshops are designed around what my clients
want to learn. It's a focused and creatively inspiring time for both of us involving
less pre time for me. Bonus - I still get to enjoy sharing what I know with others
and seeing the wonder of their designs without the traveling. Too fun!
Through
it all I've concluded that life is for living, not for just getting by. It's about
building relationships and memories, about working with your skills and gifts
and touching others lives. It's about having fun. Sure the hard times come but
they are just part of the cycle. So, look at the computers, answering machines,
cell phones, faxes, TV's, CD's and other toys in your life. Have they actually
made life easier or more pressurized? Make them work for you not against you.
When I came to the conclusion I wanted less work, less cleaning, less struggling
and perfectionism and more fun, more art, more relationships, and ultimately more
time with my family, I took the time and energy to work through the questioning
process and make changes. It was worth every minute. It brought my life back into
balance and perspective. I urge you to try it; you just might like it!
Myrna
Giesbrecht is an artist who writes about, teaches, and creates textile art. She
lives in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Visit her website myrnagiesbrecht.com
or email her at mhg@direct.ca
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