Can Creatives Be Neat Freaks?

I believe that we all have an inner creative in us and we just need to find our niche and run with it. Maybe it’s sewing, knitting, graffiti or [insert far fetched art form here – it’s nearly 2am give me a break].

I think taking the time to indulge the creative side of your self has therapeutic effects. I’m sure some research has been done into this and if it hasn’t it should be because I witness this effect in every class. I teach people of all walks of life, of all ages, each with their own daily stress and strife. I have taught anesthetists, GPs,  accountants, scientists, farmers, teachers, directors and lots of busy mums to name but a few. Most of which came to my classes with the hope of de-stressing. Some of these individuals didn’t believe they had a creative side but where giving sewing a bash anyway and everyone finds it.

Of course some people are naturally creative, just like some people are naturally academic. I consider myself to be one of the lucky naturals but I think it comes with some downsides. For example you could put me in the neatest room with a neat and tidy box of sewing supplies and within ten minutes I will have made an unholy mess because that is how I work. As much as I’d like to have a sewing space straight from a Cath Kidston book it is never going to happen because for me creative brains and messy erratic work space come hand in hand. Don’t get me wrong I always tidy everything up afterwards but the mess I am capable of whilst working is pretty incredible.

So I wonder if this is true of my other arty peers? Can you be a super creative and a neat freak?

Sorry to mention Pinterest again but it is full of the most amazing sewing rooms and spaces. I ooh and aah over them and wish I could have a space like that. All colour coordinated with trays, boxes and jars for everything. I liken this to a show home or Ikea where you wander about and think “man i wish my livingroom looked like that. But the fact is that show homes and Ikea sets are not lived in. They are not used for anything other than to make you aspire to have that space. They are unobtainable. They are a display of style and “look at me I am the BEST livingroom!”. It is the same with these “sewing spaces” I see on Pinterest.

Take the image above for example. Cute little table, nice little bobbon organiser there. What is wrong with this image? Well can you imagine sewing at that table? You would have to sit so far out because the bar under the table means your pedal would have to sit in the middle of nowhere thus your chair would also have to sit far away from the table making it pretty difficult to reach the machine. In fact where IS the pedal? Why is it not right beside the machine? Perhaps because this table isn’t used for sewing. What about that tray of books and that lamp? Right in the way of where your fabric would have to be if you were sewing.

So i’m calling bull sh*t on this image. What is the point in having the most beautiful crafty space if it is not also functional? No point other than “look at my amazing house!”.  And it is amazing btw.