“In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. In order to have a real relationship with our creativity, we must take the time and care to cultivate it.” -Julia Cameron,The Artist’s Way
In her article, ‘100 Days to Creativity,’ Debbie Grifka shares her experience participating in a 100-day creative quilting challenge. The idea behind the challenge is to commit to doing something creative each day for 100 days. The exercise has the potential to trigger creativity and help artists reach beyond their current skill level.
Despite her initial resistance to the idea of participating in the challenge, Grifka could not get the idea out of her head. The more she thought about it, the more the parameters for her 100-day quilting project began to take shape.
Grifka set concrete rules to guide her challenge to assure she would have a successful experience. “I knew that if I walked into my sewing room every morning to ‘just make something,’ the number of choices would overwhelm and paralyze me.”
Grifka chose ten prompts to make ten times each. Each day she randomly chose the prompt for the next day. Some of the additional guidelines Grifka has implemented for her 100-day projects have included, project size, color scheme, and the use of specific quilting techniques.
Social media has played an essential role in helping Grifka complete her projects. Sharing her plans with her followers has helped keep her accountable. In addition, receiving feedback and encouragement from those following along in her journey has helped keep her motivated on days when she was discouraged or disappointed with her efforts.
Two important lessons Grifka learned through participating in 100-day challenges:
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Just have fun. “When you are making something every day, some days will be a win and some days not so much.”
- Creativity leads to more creativity.
A 100-day challenge may be the perfect way to jumpstart your creativity in the summer months. If the challenge seems too much of an investment in time and energy, you can modify it to be a better fit. Maybe you shorten it to a 10- or 30-day challenge. But the essential point is that you remember that creativity needs to be fostered. It requires work and steady dedication. As you become more dedicated to your creativity, it will flourish.
You can find Debbie Grifka’s article, ‘100 Days to Creativity’’ inCurated Quilts, Issue No 7: ‘Curves’. Supply is limited,but backstock ofCurated Quilts: ‘Curves’ are still available!
Debbie Grifka has been a lifelong sewist and maker. She began quilting in 2002. Finding inspiration several years later in the online modern quilting community, Debbie designed patterns under the name Esch House Quilts. Her work has been exhibited at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, QuiltCon, and the American Quilter’s Society and been published in many books and magazines. Debbie can be found on Instagram at @debbiegrifka and at www.debbiegrifka.com
By Brittany Bowen Burton