Great article. It is so beguiling to read about other people's unstarted or unfinished projects. Mind you when you have young children I think you have a free pass re not getting much done in this area. Now that I am older I devote oodles of time to creative projects. It also helps if you develop an ethos that making art is more important than a lot of activities in the housework realm.
A very good point, Lee. And I agree--I almost asked people to post their unfinished projects because I'm intrigued, too! Maybe something I could put in the Chat someday.
I love that title!! I loved this essay so very much! Your doll is adorable! But maybe the completion isn’t the most important thing .Maybe all these impulse craft projects will come to fruition when it is the right time. Lose the guilt though - you are already accomplishing so much - parenting , writing, teaching, community building …. appreciate all that you do . Your writing and photos are so uplifting.🤩
Oh yes Holly! I get it. Though I am much older than you, I feel the same way! Looking back, I see all the art that I could have done, all the journalling and other projects that I had started and never continued and I wonder where did the time go back then. During the pandemic, time was all we had! How strange we are. Now that I am closer to the end of my sixties, I feel rushed to write poetry, journal, paint and draw! 2025 is a good year for all these things yet undone! Loved your post, good to know that I'm not alone finishing all the things!
This is so beautiful. I also feel that lessening of burden whenever I spend time making something that isn't what most would call necessary. I suppose it's the making that feels necessary to my soul.
Holly, I love this essay! I, too, have been thinking about and working on unfinished projects. I retired a year and a half ago, so I DO have some of that time and space to begin to finish things. I recently reorganized my studio and put a number of unfinished knitting and sewing projects in drawers and labeled them. Many, I'd forgotten I even had!! So, bit by bit I am getting back to them. I finished three sets of fingerless gloves for friends for Christmas and am working on finishing knitting a baby blanket that was started who knows when for who knows what grandchild :). But with each little project I complete, it's kindof like another small piece of the puzzle that is me snaps into place with a satisfied "ahhhh." Just like you talk about the balance of the scale tipping just a bit. Here's to unfinished things and tackling them one little piece at a time!
Here here! I'm thinking about making this a little mini-series...finishing things around the house and writing essays about them. But where to begin?! 🙃
Love this. I now need you to bring me that doll so I can finish what I couldn't then and pull that pink thread through! Not really, but maybe really. Please place her in your pocket most days so we might intersect again someday when I have my tiny sewing scissors and it's daytime.
Sometimes unfinished is enough, the value was starting rather than never trying at all. Thanks for highlighting the place unfinished things have in our lives, maybe awaiting their time down the road or just teaching us something about ourselves along the way.
I love reading your stories. They always chill me out. Im so glad you finished the doll. She is quite extraordinary! Theres some kind of therapy that occurs while doing crafts.
This is so beautiful, Holly. In a world that doesn’t see rest or incompletion as value centres, it can be so hard to choose a simple, quiet task. It can be even harder to set it aside, unfinished, perhaps for a short time and perhaps forever. My heart is so glad that you had time and space to come back to your doll and bring her to completion. And I love the intention (or attention) to the unfinished things in one’s life. Unfinished doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It just means it’s not quite time yet. Here’s to the unfinished things. May I be open to the lessons they have for me. And all of us!
"Consider all that lies waiting" is a great thought. It could be an overwhelming thought or something to look forward to. I definitely, at age 71, have whittled them down to projects I look forward to, and have given away all the half starts and materials for those that no longer brought me joy. Thank goodness for those art surplus stores which take donations...and my many creative friends old and young! Now, of course, gardening season begins and I will shift to planting and considering outdoor projects like what to do with all the rocks my kids refuse to help me move again :)And the box of raffia and cordage. Hmmm.
Hi Holly, I'm new here. Delighted to have arrived, and this essay is so timely! I've always hidden past projects away like a squirrel hides nuts. As little treasures to be unearthed another time. As long as I find them and consider them as the nuts they are, I'm ok. It's when they are overinflated into something big and important that they nag and drag me down into a pit of guilt and shame. My recent bestie is, once again, Curiosity. Why worry when you can wonder, right? These days, I love to find these hidden nuggets and wonder about how I can play with them. Maybe I'd hot glue the tiny doll together, and install her somewhere (yet TBD) in someone's garden, or a potted plant- hell, I might even make her a little sandwich baggie raincoat so she can enjoy the adventure even longer. I dream of who might find her and know her for the miracle she is. Or maybe nobody finds her and she snuggles down in warm soil to rest and read clouds and sing to plants. I often find projects that might find other projects to join. Is there anything or anyone who is made for just one purpose? Me thank not.
It seems that Curiosi T. has introduced me to her besties, too. She rides with Zero Judgement, Whim Z, and Cre A. Tivity. I love them all, and they also love me. The warm honey feeling of inclusion is the most fun of all!
Great article. It is so beguiling to read about other people's unstarted or unfinished projects. Mind you when you have young children I think you have a free pass re not getting much done in this area. Now that I am older I devote oodles of time to creative projects. It also helps if you develop an ethos that making art is more important than a lot of activities in the housework realm.
A very good point, Lee. And I agree--I almost asked people to post their unfinished projects because I'm intrigued, too! Maybe something I could put in the Chat someday.
I love that title!! I loved this essay so very much! Your doll is adorable! But maybe the completion isn’t the most important thing .Maybe all these impulse craft projects will come to fruition when it is the right time. Lose the guilt though - you are already accomplishing so much - parenting , writing, teaching, community building …. appreciate all that you do . Your writing and photos are so uplifting.🤩
Oh yes Holly! I get it. Though I am much older than you, I feel the same way! Looking back, I see all the art that I could have done, all the journalling and other projects that I had started and never continued and I wonder where did the time go back then. During the pandemic, time was all we had! How strange we are. Now that I am closer to the end of my sixties, I feel rushed to write poetry, journal, paint and draw! 2025 is a good year for all these things yet undone! Loved your post, good to know that I'm not alone finishing all the things!
This is so beautiful. I also feel that lessening of burden whenever I spend time making something that isn't what most would call necessary. I suppose it's the making that feels necessary to my soul.
Love. This. So so so much.
Will be sharing with my book club friends. And btw. Doll so freaking CUTE. YOU. Added much needed beauty to the world.
You just wrote my life. And gave me the loveliest smile. And I felt a little lift...
Holly, I love this essay! I, too, have been thinking about and working on unfinished projects. I retired a year and a half ago, so I DO have some of that time and space to begin to finish things. I recently reorganized my studio and put a number of unfinished knitting and sewing projects in drawers and labeled them. Many, I'd forgotten I even had!! So, bit by bit I am getting back to them. I finished three sets of fingerless gloves for friends for Christmas and am working on finishing knitting a baby blanket that was started who knows when for who knows what grandchild :). But with each little project I complete, it's kindof like another small piece of the puzzle that is me snaps into place with a satisfied "ahhhh." Just like you talk about the balance of the scale tipping just a bit. Here's to unfinished things and tackling them one little piece at a time!
Here here! I'm thinking about making this a little mini-series...finishing things around the house and writing essays about them. But where to begin?! 🙃
love the doll, love this post , definitely relatable‼️‼️‼️happy friday
Love this. I now need you to bring me that doll so I can finish what I couldn't then and pull that pink thread through! Not really, but maybe really. Please place her in your pocket most days so we might intersect again someday when I have my tiny sewing scissors and it's daytime.
Nope! It's her birthmark now.
Sometimes unfinished is enough, the value was starting rather than never trying at all. Thanks for highlighting the place unfinished things have in our lives, maybe awaiting their time down the road or just teaching us something about ourselves along the way.
I love reading your stories. They always chill me out. Im so glad you finished the doll. She is quite extraordinary! Theres some kind of therapy that occurs while doing crafts.
Crafting is therapy!
This is so beautiful, Holly. In a world that doesn’t see rest or incompletion as value centres, it can be so hard to choose a simple, quiet task. It can be even harder to set it aside, unfinished, perhaps for a short time and perhaps forever. My heart is so glad that you had time and space to come back to your doll and bring her to completion. And I love the intention (or attention) to the unfinished things in one’s life. Unfinished doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It just means it’s not quite time yet. Here’s to the unfinished things. May I be open to the lessons they have for me. And all of us!
A lovely doll which I hope to meet in person some day. Now I want to read what you have to say about broken things.
Well said! Kudos :)) And the Doll is perfect. 😍
"Consider all that lies waiting" is a great thought. It could be an overwhelming thought or something to look forward to. I definitely, at age 71, have whittled them down to projects I look forward to, and have given away all the half starts and materials for those that no longer brought me joy. Thank goodness for those art surplus stores which take donations...and my many creative friends old and young! Now, of course, gardening season begins and I will shift to planting and considering outdoor projects like what to do with all the rocks my kids refuse to help me move again :)And the box of raffia and cordage. Hmmm.
Hi Holly, I'm new here. Delighted to have arrived, and this essay is so timely! I've always hidden past projects away like a squirrel hides nuts. As little treasures to be unearthed another time. As long as I find them and consider them as the nuts they are, I'm ok. It's when they are overinflated into something big and important that they nag and drag me down into a pit of guilt and shame. My recent bestie is, once again, Curiosity. Why worry when you can wonder, right? These days, I love to find these hidden nuggets and wonder about how I can play with them. Maybe I'd hot glue the tiny doll together, and install her somewhere (yet TBD) in someone's garden, or a potted plant- hell, I might even make her a little sandwich baggie raincoat so she can enjoy the adventure even longer. I dream of who might find her and know her for the miracle she is. Or maybe nobody finds her and she snuggles down in warm soil to rest and read clouds and sing to plants. I often find projects that might find other projects to join. Is there anything or anyone who is made for just one purpose? Me thank not.
It seems that Curiosi T. has introduced me to her besties, too. She rides with Zero Judgement, Whim Z, and Cre A. Tivity. I love them all, and they also love me. The warm honey feeling of inclusion is the most fun of all!