Have you noticed that some things are harder to find lately? I know we are in the middle of pandemic. But really, how much cross stitch floss or scrapbook paper are people using? As much trouble as I am having finding craft supplies, you would think there are mass quilting bees occurring all over the place. Ok, so maybe it is not that bad. It is frustrating though that I can’t find what I need at the two big place I always go to get my craft supplies.
When It is All Sold Out
Sitting there banging my head on my desk staring at my computer screen thinking, I thought it must be a mistake that all the cross-stitch floss colors I needed were sold out, at two different stores I might add. I was about to give up. That is, until I saw my mouse hover over one of my favorite sites. Etsy. Out of frustration I clicked the button and typed in the floss color I needed. And surprise! It was in stock. Not just in one shop, but in several!
Born Out of Frustration
Isn’t that usually how it is? We get our best ideas only after all the tried-and-true methods fail. This little trip to Etsy showed me that I was in a rut. I always ordered from the same two stores. Worse yet, I usually bought the same things. The scary part was that up until that moment I didn’t even know I was in a rut. But there it was. The same things from the same stores.
Dare to Try Something New
Once I realized I was in a rut, I decided to change my mindset. For my cross stitch I have a pattern I follow. What if I changed something? Now, don’t panic. You don’t have to change everything all at once. And it really is ok to stray from the pattern a little. I know it is hard not to follow the plan exactly. But trust me. Start small. For me, it was buying a variegated floss. Honestly, until my Etsy trip, I did not even know such a thing existed. I bought one just to see. And you know what? I love the way my pattern looks with the variegated color.
If you find yourself in a rut, shift your perspective a little. Try a new shop. Use a plaid background instead of your usually floral (or better yet argyle, I love argyle!). Maybe try a new color for your paint. Whatever it is, shake things up a little. I have found it is a great way to get your creativity flowing again. As always, thanks for reading and let me know what helps you get out a rut. I would love to hear from you. Talk to ya soon! Dawn
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