Finding Your Creative Genius

“I quit!”, “I’m no good at this!”, “This isn’t fun!”

Those were some things I would tell myself after my mother first taught me and my sisters to crochet. I didn’t pick up on the craft naturally, I was sloppy with my stitches and too slow at it for me to feel excited about making something. It was especially disheartening for me to see my sister, Megan, take to the craft so well. She was the opposite of me: a natural! Everything she made was neat, pretty, and done in a short time. As this comparison continued, I grabbed the scissors and snipped the yarn from the little patch I had started. I told myself crocheting wasn’t for me before I gave it a chance.

What is crochet? A handcraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric (ex. sweaters, blankets, scarves...) by looping the yarn with a hooked needle.

Some years went by as I watched my sister enjoy her crochet success, and I realized if I would’ve kept up crocheting, there was a possibility that by that time I could’ve learned a lot more and increased my skill. I missed out on the experience because I wouldn’t toughen through the process of learning. I eventually came to decide that my joy for crafting shouldn’t be based on how successful I am, but instead on how fulfilled I am. It should be about the beautiful process of learning, not the completion of a task. Finally, I chose that for myself. I chose to set myself free from comparison and my harsh inner critic. I chose to be myself in crocheting and enjoy it. I started crocheting, and crocheting, and crocheting! I began watching crochet videos and getting crochet books to figure out things I didn’t understand. I was now getting pretty into this! The next issue that came up for me was: what was I going to do with all the stuff I make? Just to make things for the sake of making things didn’t seem fun to me. It didn’t make me come alive inside. I wanted--craved-- a purpose. I have always liked things with meaning and crafting was no exception.

That same year, I was putting together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (OCC), a mission to bless children living in poverty in countries around the world with shoeboxes full of gifts/toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. While I was scrolling social media one day, OCC had shared about people hand-making items for the shoeboxes they were putting together. There were many people sewing clothes for the little children, sewing dolls with doll clothes, and knitting things too. Suddenly, it was like someone flipped a switch and the light came on inside my mind--my heart--my very being. I had a craft skill and I had a passion to help others; it was a perfect match. I came alive inside for crochet, and have been since! I became obsessed with making things for my shoeboxes. I even started designing my own headband patterns for the young girls.

How to find purpose in art or crafting? Find a skill/craft you enjoy and marry that with a passion you have. This is the crafting genius zone--the place creatives come alive.

This was only the beginning, however, and it took some time for me to realize that I didn’t have to just stick to making things for the shoeboxes. I learned it could go so much further than that. Covid-19 last year caused me to begin thinking of ways I can serve my family and my community with crafting. It was a big opportunity for me to further learn: I can use my skills to help people, and so can you!

It is now my belief that any gifts, talents, and skills we may have are given to us to make a difference in this world (even if that difference is merely expressing our true selves). Creativity is meant to encourage, inspire, and serve others. Creativity is meant to be shared. There’s nothing like picking up my scissors, snapping the yarn from a completed project, and tying it off knowing something from my hands is going out to help someone in need. With this new excitement came new projects; new projects meant a furthered skill set and expanded interests. Eventually, I started learning hand embroidery, needle tatting, sewing, and more!

Some last notes for my fellow creatives reading along:

1.Don’t compare. Comparison hinders the learning process and the flow of creativity. It keeps you from YOUR full potential.

2.Don’t be afraid to try new things and/or fail. This is necessary to self-discovery, as well as a crucial step to success.

3.Your gifts, talents, and skills are meant for the world. In other words: be you, boo.

You are a difference-maker in a world that needs a change!