I've made a lot of bad art recently

And that's OK!!

I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist. More than a bit if I’m honest. But recently I’ve been trying to let go of that feeling, not just embracing flaws, but welcoming them … which is not not hard.

Despite being my own worst critic, I’m proud of the weird little things I’ve made. They are a result of my chaotic and forever unfocussed creative energy.

I have many hobbies and still will never hesitate to pick up a new one because I love finding ways to let that little art freak inside of me out.

Finally, a very important note: I’m calling all of this art because 1) I don’t really know what else to call it and 2) art doesn’t have to be good to be art!

I do some ~arting~ in my junk journal. I’m still getting the hang of it, mostly because I forget to save cool napkins or cute receipts but these spreads are fun and chaotic and I love that for me. Also I loved my lil sheer NYE top and my high-pony/post-party bathroom selfie also deserves its day in the sun.

Sometimes, I get invited to random crafty things like porcelain plate painting parties and I’m reminded I’ve never been able to draw a straight line—so my plan to cover this plate in perfectly aligned rows of tulips should have been nipped in the bud. I like the pop of blue, though, and the wide stripes are cool in a wonky kinda way, so at the very least it’s one of a kind.

And when I’m asked to decorate a wine glass for an after work craft event, I default to Harry Styles lyrics because I’m a millennial! The bubble letters are cute and the big star reminds me of the doodles I used to draw all over my folders. Nostalgia!

Other things I’ve made from scratch. Like this spoon rest, which is made of air dry clay and took me about eight months to finish because I couldn’t commit to a paint color. It turned out pretty sturdy in the end, probably because of the 15 coats (approx.) of resin I sealed it with. I also made it “food safe” with some varnish, which seems to be doing its job.

There are other projects I can’t call “bad” or take credit for because they’re almost foolproof. Almost. Like this cute needlepoint canvas and tote made out of scrap fabrics. I’ve always loved the idea of sewing and embroidering but haven’t taken the time to develop those skills. And while my greatest enemy—the straight line—tortured me once again, both are pretty good for a first-timer. There is no way to make room for a sewing machine in our apartment but I think maybe I need one.