creative inspiration.

by tamara on April 23, 2012


i have made a lot of changes in the past few months.
changes to the way i view my own blog;
and
changes to the way i blog.

i have blogged for quite a few years now,
i used to be ‘quarterofaninch’
an ode to the perfectionist in me if you like.
i abandoned that title a little while ago…
choosing instead to be ‘me’.
yep, i know it sounds strange,
but i felt the need to take ownership over my little part of cyberspace.

at the same time i cleaned out my reader,
i mean, deleted everyone in it [no offence to any of my current readers];
i added back in those i am ‘really’ fond of, inspired by,
along with whole lot of new discoveries.
it felt so good, cleansing in fact.
the blogs i visit are no longer limited to craft or photography blogs,
in fact quite the opposite.
i didn’t realise it at the time,
but i was unknowingly avoiding the ‘comparison trap’ (you can read a fabulous article on the topic here),
a creative killer. it is. really.

these little changes have translated not only into more meaningful connections,
but a creative space that is stamped with my identity;
inspired by the colour that all of your blogs on family, children, photography, travel and craft provide.

i cannot wait to open up my reader every morning now,
i’m reading everything.
i’m not skimming through that list and feeling under this self imposed pressure.
how ridiculous that was.
how fun it now is!

what do you think?
do find yourself falling into the ‘trap’?
maybe it’s time for a change.

xx

The above image was one from the finders keepers markets over the weekend, you can spy some more here.

12 comments

I understand where you’re coming from with the blog reader. Over the past few years I’ve added, subscribed, followed.. but rarely deleted. If I miss just one day of blog reading I’m faced with hundreds of updates when I do check in. Perhaps it is time for me to take a good look at the list and remove blogs that I skim or added because something they posted two years ago caught my eye.
I’m off to read about the comparison trap now.

I really do like the clean space you’ve created here.

by Renae on April 23, 2012 at 1:55 pm. #

i like the look.
I remember your old blog’s name. I’m sure I visited. you see, I’m terrible at blogging. ie being the blogger and the bloggee.
I’ve never used the reader options.
maybe because it was another technical thing I had to get my head around. I’m a little lazy too.

i’ll try to pop back here though, when I remember. :)

by tiel on April 23, 2012 at 2:27 pm. #

Wow, I really identify with this post. I have been treading water the last few months and in the scheme of things I am still a fairly new blogger. I did a huge cull of who I followed a few months back but to be honest wasn’t ruthless enough.
I love that you have named your blog after yourself, I considered self titleing mine before Xmas but a friend talked me out of it. Might be time to reconsider.

by Tammi on April 23, 2012 at 8:49 pm. #

So, so true. Isn’t it refreshing to sit in front of your reader now? Just remember for every time you slip and compare yourself, there is definitely someone else out there admiring YOUR work! ;) love! xx

by Kate on April 24, 2012 at 10:08 am. #

wow wow wow.
i’m not sure how you found me, but can i just say THANK GOODNESS you did? i needed this today. you’ll see that i just posted a post TODAY about creativity – in response to some happenings at my blog. this inspired me to re-evaluate my blog feed…but yours is one that will definitely be on that list because this is inspiring and helpful and raw. thank you.

by kylie on April 27, 2012 at 5:17 am. #

Great post Tam. Don’t have a reader but it’s inspired me to look @ setting one up for the right reasons (and to stop the poisonous comparison game too).

by Oli on May 2, 2012 at 12:22 pm. #

Thank you for this post. I’ve some back twice to read this post and the linked article. I can definitely relate. Though I have recently culled (and felt all the better for it each morning!), I think a bit more culling is in order.

I just realized I used to read your old blog a few years back. Loving the beautifully simple space you have created here.

by Tania on May 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm. #

I was feeling just the same & had a clean out recently. I still feel there are changes to be made. My blog name is about my business, but its not about that anymore. I still like to post of things I’ve made & the creative side of me, but I think I’ve changed a lot since starting my blog. It has definitely become more about documenting my family, recording moments in time, lovely people, friendships and how they inspire me..x

by mel @ loved handmade on May 10, 2012 at 10:08 am. #

I love this post. So well said. The internet is such a great tool, but it can be such a place of overload too. I try to keep my reader to a manageable number of blogs so I can truly enjoy reading and getting inspired by what I see there.

by {tinniegirl} on May 15, 2012 at 2:59 pm. #

I also deleted a bunch of blogs I had been following and I felt SO GUILTY. I don’t know why exactly, the bloggers I was following have plenty of readers and little ol’ me unsubscribing wasn’t going to impact them in the slightest. And yet…it still nagged at me that maybe I should continue supporting them, even if their direction had changed since I started reading. But I went for it and deleted and now I’m discovering new blogs, like yours. Love it! Good luck with your new name.

by Kate on May 31, 2012 at 10:58 am. #

your photograph of your daughter is remiscent of my Paraguy adopted daughter…the same curls , brown hair and eyes

They are both beautiful.

What’s the best way to get to your blog?
This has been hit ‘n miss following you from Julie Hoover’s
vest with collar you tested for her.

You’re in AU correct?
Was an American Exchange Teacher near Adelaide town name is Gawler.
Regards,
Bro

by Bro sounds like Bru Swedish on June 8, 2012 at 11:39 pm. #

Thank you so much for sharing this. Very poignant for me right now.

by Vanessa Teklenburg on June 18, 2012 at 12:46 pm. #