Tuesday. Perfect.

Tuesday. Perfect.

Tuesday’s Blog rolls back the hours, and we have been reminiscing about early days of Clarity. Every Tuesday, I take a look at another P. Today, I thought P for Perfection might be a good one, since it has figured so largely in my head for so many years! But it’s not what you think…

“Tilly was downcast; as with all perfectionists, it was the detail others might not notice that destroyed for her the pleasure of achievement.”
Elspeth Huxley

Effortlessly perfect. 

Perfectionism: a Blessing and a Curse. 

I’ve always been a perfectionist, since I was a little kid. I have always wanted everything to be lovely. From my handwriting to my clothes. I remember many years ago, when I was in my 20’s, I was standing in front of my wardrobe, and it occurred to me that I might be a bit mad. My clothes were all hanging perfectly of course, but all in colour families, too. The jumpers were neatly folded in colour stacks from light blue to dark blue, from white through grey to black, from light green to dark green; my shoes, too. I just remember wondering why I felt the need for everything to be so perfect. 
God only knows how many hours of my life I’ve wasted, faffing about, fluffing pillows, folding napkins and generally trying to make things P for Perfect. Only for others to come in, flop on the pillows and unravel the napkins! It’s just the way I’m wired, I guess.

This obsession for perfection obviously spilled over into my artwork. Now, I am not saying for a minute that my artwork is perfect! Not at all! I am more interested in why I put myself through such rigours just to make a perfect card! It’s a card, for Pete’s sake! A greeting card! I could spend many hours working on a piece, but if it wasn’t absolutely perfect, if the tree was just a little too far to the left, or there was even the faintest imperfection in the brayered sky, then it was deemed absolute rubbish – and in the bin it went. If I had a pound for every card I have thrown away over the years, I could afford therapy! This kind of perfectionism can’t be healthy. Quite aside from the waste of time and materials, all it really did was make me feel useless. And by the time I finally produced something acceptable for me, I was too stressed to relish it. 

Sound familiar? So many of us are incredibly self-critical! Why do we reject our work out of hand, because it is not 100% perfect? No. I will rephrase that: because we think it is not 100% perfect? Is it fear of criticism? Is it fear of failure?
Let’s just take one example: the Brayer. Countless people buy a brayer, but never get it out of the box. The intention was there, even the desire, but the fear of getting it wrong, of not doing it perfectly got the better of them. 
I’m all for striving for excellence, for practicing. In fact, I suppose the reason brayering comes so easily to me nowadays has a lot to do with the thousands of failed attempts which went in the bin!
But I did reach a point a few years ago where I realised I had to let go, and ironically, it was going on TV which altered my attitude! 
You would think that if a perfectionist was ever going to really go into overdrive, it would be on TV! And to be honest, in the beginning I did just that! I dreaded going on Live TV and making a mistake, getting it wrong, making a fool of myself. So I did what every perfectionist would do: I went to great lengths to minimize those scenarios, and prepared obsessively. But I was so afraid of making a mistake, of criticism, that I wasn’t enjoying it at all. And that’s what had to change. Not the prepping, but the fear around getting it wrong. 
I still P for Prepare – who wouldn’t ?! Prep falls under P for Planning! But I gave myself a severe talking to, and now I play this game the week before a TV show, called “That’ll do”. Instead of repeating the card ad nauseum until midnight, in hopes of perfecting it, I play “That’ll do”. I found playing this game much easier when I moved every single stamp, ink pad and stencil out of the home, so that I have to leave work at work. 
My job as I see it now on TV, is to showcase our beautiful products, and show you some techniques, tricks and applications – not create masterpieces in 5 minutes! And when that penny finally dropped, it was like a new found freedom. I stopped panicking and started enjoying the job! 
If my art isn’t as good as it could be, that’s fine. Move on…
If I smudge my work, so what? Keep going…
If I’m getting too fussy, stop, let it go…
I have no interest in being the best; I just want to be happy, and run a happy ship. And that’s the truth.
                                                                                              with love from  

82 thoughts on “Tuesday. Perfect.

  1. Thank you for that Barbara. I can hear echoes of myself in it and the frustration it causes because I can count on one hand the number of cards I have made and think are perfect and I have been making cards for more than two decades! Will take your advise now, perhaps it will also result in being more confident too! 🙂

  2. Oh… That made me cry… That is a lot of self realisation, I don't think you need therapy any more!! I'm so pleased you let go… I've tried to be perfect, but I'm quite the opposite, I love just creating, letting it happen. Don't get me wrong, I normally have a plan, but if the plans not working, I don't force it! I struggle to push for perfection, I'd love it every now and then! Swop? Just a little?

  3. I have probably a bad new for you Barbara, for me (at least, but sure a lot of others will agree) your work is perfect every time…… You are right, we are our worse ennemy. Thanks for explaining us your transformation, and just making us dream in front of our TV, and with your products.
    Laurence xx

  4. Thanks for sharing this Barbara, it's always interesting to read what's going on in your head and today I now know the reason that all of a sudden you seemed much more relaxed on telly and seemed to be enjoying it more. Seems to me like a philosophy of it'll do willdo nicely. Enjoy your day x

  5. Interesting reading Barbara, I'm glad you enjoy your work on tv more now . One can only do their best, and if your not enjoying it then there is no point continuing. Lucky for me I'm happy most of the time mistakes and all ! X

  6. Barbara,that's a beautiful revelation and very brave of you. You will always be perfect in my eyes but I am one of those ladies who still hasn't plucked up the courage to produce a piece of artwork like one of your artworks. I watch,record and re-watch all your shows loved meeting you at the NEC in November so my New Year resolution is to throw perfection to tbe wind and give it a go. X

  7. Glad you realised that life is to short to worry about things being perfect, nature isn't perfect but still very beautiful. Your creations always look splendid and we are grateful for your talent. Keep on stamping Joan x

  8. Hi Barb,
    A lovely blog today, one that really does give us an insight into your life. I think that I must be the opposite to you as all of my clothes etc are just jumbled up! My craft room looks as though a bomb has hit it and somehow I manage to work in this bomb site! I'm pleased that you have realised that you don't have to be perfect although in my mind everything you do is just that! I've made myself a resolution that I really am going to get to grips with the brayed and attempt to get rid of the stripes that always seem to happen and to do more with the Gelli plates that I have. Thanks Barb . Alison xxx

  9. What an interesting article Barbara. I saw a lot of myself in what I read. I think that's the main reason I don't have a blog, it's worrying that people will say that what I achieve is no good as I think that myself. I could always have done it better. .
    Never mind we are what we are and the good thing is we're aware of what we are.
    have a good day.
    love val x

  10. Glad you are enjoying tour tv work Barbara, I do think we are our worst critics the times I change something because I don;t like it or it isn't straight it can be a nightmare but I am starting to accept things for what they are so must keep practising not to worry so much

  11. I can see so much of what you've written in my work too. Others like it, but I see problems with minor details others haven't noticed. Thank goodness for embellishments, I've learnt to use them to cover areas I don't like lol

  12. I can see so much of what you've written in my work too. Others like it, but I see problems with minor details others haven't noticed. Thank goodness for embellishments, I've learnt to use them to cover areas I don't like lol

  13. When my kids were babies I had the Mrs 'Bucket' of a mother in law so everything had to be perfect, the hours I wasted bowing down to her fussiness. Now so what if my house is dusty. But I find I have also gone to perfection in card making, if I smudge it, don't stamp perfect in the bin it goes. Is it because someone who receives it knows it is homemade and you think they look for faults. I don't know. Keep up the good work Barbara you have taught me all about stamping, building pictures, and to keep on working with my brayer, I can't get it right but it hasn't gone back in it's box!

  14. I think Sue, above has said it all….can't improve on that. As I have said before, I love everything you do and I am so glad that you are enjoying tv more. When you are on, particularly with Dean the hunk! You look like you are having a ball and producing magical work…love it xx

  15. Good Morning Barb
    When you are Artistic you don't need to be perfect…. you go with the flow!
    But you need too….. fail to prepare….. means prepare to fail!
    I think all your work is beautiful whether you are PERFECT or not!
    You are clever, and good at your work and that's why we all love to watch you!
    Take care Barb !
    Love Marg

  16. Oh Barbara like many others I have been there – still am if the truth be told, and it does hold me back. I'll try the "that'll do" phrase as I play with the Gelli plate and stencils. Thanks for sharing. I hope Grace is okay in New York! xx

  17. Thank you so much for this 'read' it's me all over, if you come into my craft room you will see everything is labeled, neat and tidy and all papers in colour and pattern sets and arranged in the order that I will usually use them. My kitchen cupboards are arranged likewise but by date and item and my clothes the same. I have thrown many cards away as in my eyes they weren't perfect enough although I feel I have had a bit of a breakthrough by hiding a mistake under an embellishment but I still feel uncomfortable and that it's cheating but saying all this I do really enjoy my crafting and the fact that you have shown some of my cards in the Classroom on C&C shows that they can't be that bad. Thank you so much for your blog, it really do'es brighten my day and gets me thinking.

  18. I recognize a lot of this, but my mind turns back many years to when my art tutor said this" Never throw anything away. Put it to one side and come back to it with fresh eyes. You may surprise yourself!" I was surprised how many times that was true.

  19. Morning Barbara, what a extraordinary blog. Sometimes people call it attention to detail and as they say the devil is in the detail. It can rob you of time, pleasure, self-worth, and can make you so overcritical of yourself and others, that there is no joy in anything as nothing is truly perfect. I found this quote last year and loved it. I even made a deliberately imperfect card to reflect it. I will re-post it today to remind me. Thank you. XX

    Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best – Henry van Dyke

  20. When you go on about "Perfection" by your standards I should never keep a card, so I think "well its better than some I've done so live with it " and the phase I have heard you say many times "Fail to prepare and prepare to fail" Your work is what spurs me on ( be it good or bad)x

  21. Great blog. Love to hear your thoughts. I can remember you on TV at the beginning and you always said you were very nervous though I thought the relaxation came through getting used to it. Good to hear other people try to get everything perfect on their cards I'm very critical of my work also. Must have more confidence and relax a bit more instead of being all tense trying to make it perfect.
    Hugs
    CraftyJacq
    Xx

  22. How very familiar this all sounds, I do the same things if it's no good in my eyes it goes on the bin! I am not saying my work is anywhere near as good as yours it I still persevere and will continue to do so xx

  23. Thank you for sharing this Barbara it really does give us a great insight into who you are and how you arrived at where you are now. I'm so pleased you are enjoying your TV work now and I think your It'll do philosophy is a great one for life instead of worrying all the time that we aren't perfect.
    Thank you
    Jackie x

  24. I don't seem to be able to 'let go' just yesterday I decided to clear out my craft stash, the 'rubbish' (all the mishaps) went in the bin! Thank goodness for recycling bins!
    After reading your blog today I am going to try really hard not to be so critical. I have just received my new clarity stamps and I'm looking forward to using them so I'm going to relax and enjoy myself.
    Lorna D

  25. Hi Barbara – so glad you've managed to find the harmony in the 'that'll do' – its such a hard thing for somebody like you and you should feel so pleased to have done it! Your work always looks perfect to me! Lol!!!

  26. Thankfully I'm not too afflicted with the 'perfect' problem, though I do like my things to be nice. My sympathies go out to you, it must be hard to let go sometimes. But if you want to bin any of those non perfect things, I'll send you my snail mail addy! LOL.

  27. Thank you so much for your blog today i am a new B at crafting and the ladies i sit with at our club say to me "its just a piece of card " if i go wrong, i have learned to walk away from the card if i get stressed about it have a cuppa then try again and again and again i have found the things i can do an others that i am never going to master and that is fine by me i am happy with what i do xx

  28. I agree Barb I enjoy my crafting so much . since loosing my husband 4 years ago it has helped so much . you have given me so much pleasure since I found you about 2 years ago , and yes I do get a bit down when things don't go to plan but life is too short . Lets enjoy our crafting. It's GREAT and so are you ! Just ordered from the sale and can't wait for the delivery . xxp

    1. I am with you, Patricia. I think that when you lose someone like that, it forces you to re-evaluate everything in your life, and you realise that you have to make the most of every second. No-one will remember us because we did not get that bit of stamp perfect. they will remember us because we tried and cared. xx Maggie

  29. I started to write a message here ages ago but then I realised I needed to think more carefully about what you were saying, and how it spoke to me. It certainly made me think about my own life and the people in it. Our attitudes are partly inbuilt and partly dictated by our upbringing. We do need to think about obsession with perfection as we bring up our children. We want them to strive to do well but not to obsess – a very fine line to walk. In the end, all we can do is our best in everything. That, in itself, is perfection. Thank you for this thought provoking post. xx Maggie

  30. I so look forward to your Tuesday blogs, Barbara and this weeks certainly spoke to me. I can't ever say I am a perfectionist to the extent of arranging my clothes…life's too short but when it came to my art, then yes, perfection springs to mind but like you over the years I have become more relaxed and just go with the the flow. For me my lovely Hubby was the one who made me realise through his encouragement and support that how ever something turned out, it was mine and I should be proud of it…that still doesn't stop the odd moment of chronic self doubt creep in though!!!!
    Thanks for another fascinating Tuesday post.
    Hugs Lisax

  31. Hi Barbara. Wow, I only found your blog on Sunday after watching you on C & C and twice at the NEC. but I feel like I have learnd so much more about you as a person since then. Thank you for letting us know that you too have the same worries that so many of us have. I used to stress about the house being clean and tidy, every room cleaned top to bottom every week etc. then about 10 years ago I was finally forced to give up my beloved job as a Pre School teacher due to the arthritis in my lower body spreading to my hands. It was a bad time for me as I couldn't do much for quite a while, the basics of keeping the kitchen and bathroom clean got done but the rest had to wait until one of us had the time or for me, the strength and energy to do it. The house didn't fall down, no one else even noticed the dust that I knew was there! I did learn that putting the hoover round the hall and lounge worked wonders, it makes the whole place look clean : ) I was forced to let go but now I am used to it all. I found card making nearly 2 years ago through C & C after having to stop cross stitching, (my stiff hands again!) and haven't looked back since, I'm not that good compared to you and many others but my family and friends always love the cards I make, because they know it is made with love. What's better than that? I am so glad that you have found your own peace, but remember you bring so much pleasure and joy to others too. How good is that in this sometimes sad, bad world? THANK YOU BARBARA. Sorry for the long blurb, I usually keep it to myself but you have hit a nerve.Take care.

  32. As well as paper crafting I also sew and quilt. I have discovered that the Amish (famous for their quilts) believe that only God is perfect and so put a deliberate mistake in the quilts they make. Seems a good enough excuse for me too, so if anyone spots a mistake in anything I make that's the story I tell them!! lol x

  33. Thank you for todays blog barbara it means so much . your art work is stunning I look at clarity design team cards and the cards that are bloged in on clarity are stunning so many talented crafting people. I have learnt so much from your shows and the clarity club since joining in september I am hopeful of comming to nec in march to meet you personally .since I became ill carding is my life saver I got the robin and have made 3 cards with it following your guide now painting that little robin has given me a new craft and I find it so relaxing its hard to find the words to say how much your clarity has helped me through some very bad days

  34. Gosh we are tough on ourselves, aren't we. I've just ripped down a jumper that I was knitting because I was a row out on a cable 6 inches back! Nobody but me would have noticed, but I couldn't leave it. You're not alone and it's nice to know that with a bit of determination we can stop stressing and enjoy what we do!

  35. a great thought provoking blog Barbara! many of us will relate to your comments. I especially like Jane Yates comments about only God being perfect and the deliberate mistakes the Amish put in their quilts! Keep doing what you do – we love it x

  36. Must admit to relating to this – perhaps not quite as obsessed! I do colour attempt to colour code the wardrobe but it doesn't stay like that! If I xstitch a wrong colour stitch where no-one else would know I still have to redo it. I'm not so thorough on the housework any more. Life is too short! I do enjoy the Tuesday blog – plenty of food for thought!

  37. Hi Barb, thankyou for todays' post- I really do enjoy your blog especially those on a tuesday.
    Like many of your followers, I aspire to be as 'perfect' as you say you are not. Even though I realised many years ago to not be such an ironing house proud wotsit, I find I'm still very much my own enemy when it comes to my crafting! I just can't seem to let go and adopt your "that'll do" mantra. But maybe I should take hope in the fact that I do get orders from people and they do come back for more so maybe just maybe I'm not quite as bad as I think 😉
    Thankyou Barbara, you are such a generous lady to share with us all that you do.
    Hugs, Theresa x

  38. So very true of my creative endeavours – I have always pointed out the errors/mistakes when I give a card – I am trying very hard not to do that these days and it surprises me that you do the same. Thankfully I'm not as obsessive I've learnt to let go a little of that obsession and enjoy the process more xx

  39. So true Barbara-for me rediscovering my creativity through card making has been such a wonderful way to lose myself in the fun of it all and do something that really gives me pleasure .
    Not everyone would like my wee creations but I do and the process is so therapeutic.
    Thank for sharing your techniques and all of your creative inspiration -it is so stimulating and helps us all discover our own talents ,

    XxxRuth

  40. Ooh, as a colour practitioner I would have loved to see your wardrobe organisation as colour is good at uncovering sub concious belief patterns and shifting out perfection, because everything is perfect as it is, whether it be a growing day or flowing day. it's also reassuring not to have to be perfect, especially as I am getting to grips with brayering and gellicrafting. Thank you for your honesty and insights 🙂

  41. Ooh, as a colour practitioner I would have loved to see your wardrobe organisation as colour is good at uncovering sub concious belief patterns and shifting out perfection, because everything is perfect as it is, whether it be a growing day or flowing day. it's also reassuring not to have to be perfect, especially as I am getting to grips with brayering and gellicrafting. Thank you for your honesty and insights 🙂

  42. Must admit to liking everything to be perfect, think it dates back to when I was expecting our fourth child, my mum told all that I would not cope. I got obsessive about making sure they were all turned out spotless [not that they came back the same way] and house immaculate. I am the same with any craft I do, three pieces of card in bin last night. Will have to try telling myself "that'll do". Thankyou for your thoughts, I suspect many of us will maybe look at things differently. Lynne xx

  43. Ithink your artwork is stunning and it always looks perfect to me. Years ago when I was learning to quilt someone told me that buttons were great for covering up mistakes or happy accidents as she called them. I have always applied this to my card making now although I tend to use butterflies!! The 'that will do' attitude is a good one to have. Afterall the plan was always in your head not the recipient's.
    Lesley

  44. Oh my, in the past then you wouldn't have wanted to see me at work! Oh you have! I get mad with myself because I will produce something I am proud of and then just tweak it and completely ruin it, sometimes as I am about to do the deed I actually say in my head "this is where you are about to spoil it"? But I have to do it because also this is sometimes the bit that makes it. My only wardrobe thing is that all the hangers have to be facing the same way, I used to do the colour thing a little bit until I went through a phase of mostly black. Do you know Barbara apparently everyone has "a thing" some worse than others, but once they get rid of it they normally replace it with something else! I saw that on TV!

  45. I have never met you but you know me so well!!! I spent ages making Christmas cards for friends and family and the first thing I said when I gave them out was "Don't look too close they went a bit wrong" I even said to my Mum that I would do hers again after Christmas because it was rubbish! She of course said it was lovely but all I could see were the bits that didn't go as I had planned. For a while now my favourite saying when crafting has been "That'll do pig, that'll do" (from the film Babe) maybe I need to find a good saying when I give people my creations rather than tell them immediately what's wrong with them……….. hmmmm I will think long and hard until I come up with something…………… XX

  46. As ever an insightful blog. I agree with so many people above in what they have said. I think in the 14 mths or so that I have watched you and had the opportunity to meet you I have seen you let that edge of perfectionism relax…when you were on the TV this weekend you mentioned there would be an echo (echo said Deano (more than once!)) I personally could not see any echo on what you produced.. I only saw lovely works of art with careful and thoughtful insight described to us all. I have listened to you many times about cutting the mask on the line..which I find a struggle as I want to cut on the outside of the line! but am learning – also agree with some comments above about embellishments rather than throw something something away you spent an age on. I have the eternal problem of smudging, particularly with a new ink pad…keep telling myself to blot, but the eagerness to get it finished takes over!!! or I have ink on my fingers and then put fingerprints everywhere!!!
    When reading your blog I had to read the sentence about stacking your folded clothes in colour families three times before I got it…LOL…I first read it and thought WTF what on earth does she mean – then I got it and visualised a John Lewis store with all the tee shirts and woolies neatly stacked in colour types..and had a good old chuckle to myself. I have never met anyone who does it at home…that really makes my head boggle!! You really should have been a Virgo!!! So you carry on the way you are and we will all carry on enjoying the results!!! xx

  47. Barb, you are a woman after my own heart, whether it be in my day to day job or my crafting! The phrase "That will do", or "it gets the message and effort across". I cannot count how many works of art or just works have ended up in the BIN! Thank you for being normal like most of us. I know it is not just me. But I must admit I am super impressed by your colour organisation, mine is sometimes hit and miss. Thank you for another insight into life as we know it. Although I continue to strive for your level of perfect! Bx

  48. well isn't this a post where I can take a lesson from…..think I will become Amish too lol! Barbara, I never see your work as anything less than brilliant xx

  49. Thank you Barbara for sharing this with us. You are an inspiration and I love everything you do. many years ago when I made quilts I remember someone telling us that in one of the world religions (can t remember which) only God is perfect and so they make a deliberate mistake in everything they create. I've worked on that maxim ever since!
    I also think that when someone is really good at something they make it look effortless which can be off putting for those watching and atempting to follow. To see someone make mistakes or not reach perfection is reassuring I think and helps us to the have the confidence to 'have a go'.
    I've always said that no one sees the bin full of rejects or the holes where failed plants have bitten the dust!

    great website and great blog. x x

  50. Well in my world we would probably encourage you to talk about your childhood and go all Freudian with you but in the arty world you have so many areas to explore. A balance that brings you peace of mind is all we should strive to achieve. Too deep for a Tuesday methinks

    M x

  51. Oh Barbara you really have hit a chord with me there!!! I think many of us do suffer with this need for things we make to look perfect. I can blame the fact that I'm a virgo! I can remember being at school and getting a new book….How lovely was it to get that new paper on the first page and then making every effort to write as neatly and precisely as possible and I used to hate it if I made a mistake on that first page!!!
    However I do think that if you take it back to basics this is what happens… When you give a child a pot of paint and a paint brush they just dive in and create a picture that is pinned up and admired by everyone, If you wait five years and give that same young person the chance to paint they are a bit more reluctant and nervous but with a bit of encouragement they will have a go and often create a fantastic picture. But they don't want it to be held up and shown! Then whizz further forward and as an adult we are much more reluctant to show are totally creative side and will paint in secret and should anyone see our work we will say its rubbish. Fear of criticism is often a reason why we hide our work away.
    Being creative has to be nurtured and encouraged and it is also something that we must practise as often as we can and be proud of our work.
    As for being 'less than perfect' it is something I find very difficult to cope with but part of it is also to do with my comfort zone! The more I am taken out of that the more creative I become and even I find myself saying Yes that will do nicely.

    So thank you Barbara I think your blog post today has made us all realise that we don't have to be totally perfect! We just need to enjoy being creative…perfection is after all in the eye of the beholder!!!
    Hugs and love xxx

    1. Jane, you are so right. The other side is that the older child who loves drawing can have their delight destroyed by poor teaching, as I did. It has taken me 30 years or more to have the courage to try again. I always said I was not artistic and I could not even draw or paint with my children. Now they are delighted to see me trying and having fun, and supporting me all the way. xx Maggie

  52. Oh wow – A lesson I've had to learn too over the years, and still have a way to go so that I don't beat myself up too often! However, I can live with a wonky snowman or a slightly crooked mat on a card, and am now a dab hand at covering up mistakes with an ink pad – shame I can't walk past a wrinkled bed cover or speck on the carpet or mirror though! Hopefully my guests appreciate the OCD!

  53. Wot a great post. I've recently come across a US artist, Carolyn Dube (she loves the Gelli Plate, has great videos and makes me laugh). She has a phrase for the imperfections. Oops = Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly. I think its brilliant. By the way love poem at top, currently making art based on the original.

  54. How very true Barbara. I not only try too hard in my crafting but at work also. This causes additional and undue stress! I recently introduced a friend to card making, helping her make some fairly simple cards for a very special occasion. The pleasure I got from her amazement and pride at what she had achieved was a revelation. When she told me that one of the recipients had cried on receiving such a special card made me cry too. Wasn't aware that I had a skill to pass on.
    Love the daily blogs and the letters sent out with the Club goodies. The show on Sunday was a real joy on a dull and miserable Sunday in Germany. You and Dean are a fantastic double act.
    Liz

  55. Thank you for sharing this. I think everyone has a bit of perfectionist in them, myself included. However I also realised long ago that practice makes perfect so I no longer worry if my first attempts don't turn out quite as I expect. I just put it to one side and start again and come back to the previous attempts at a later date. Continuous improvement is my motto, well it has to be as my job is in Quality.

  56. I understand toally, I still colour code my clothes but I am getting better with the "that'll do attitude with my craft. I still want it to be good but I have stopped expecting perfection and I am enjoying it so much more. I am still scared of the brayer, but I am still trying to master it, It's so good to hear that others have had the same issues. Thanks Barbara for sharing this with us all. J x

  57. i so understand Barbara. perfectionism can be a curse if it takes the better of you. but because i've seen what it can do to people i think that i've managed to curb it somewhat. there are days when it resurfaces and mainly if i'mm sending some artwork in to you lol! xx

  58. Your words are so true Barbara and obviously hit home for a lot of us. I think aiming to the best you can be is a great aim but I think that trying to be perfect sadly stops a lot of people from even trying things, thinking that if they can't do it perfectly then they shouldn't even try and that is very sad. Even if you can't do something perfectly, like trying to emulate your fantastic cards, think of the fun we would miss if we didnt try. Lx

  59. reat advice you did make me lol re colour coded wardrobe im the same as for my brayer its never been out of the box.. maybe I do just need to give it a go what's the worse that could happen! thanks for your honesty and it so true we worry so much about it not being perfect to us when actually its what we have created and who its for that counts .great blog and I look forward to each post crafty hugs Andrea x

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