The messy part of loving what you do.

Last week I wrote about the slow slide into the next season. Apparently my studio didn’t get the memo because this week has been the exact opposite.

I’m getting ready for the Studio Tour, which means my brain has decided that sleeping is optional and every new idea must be acted upon immediately.

I’ve been ordering stock, some to fill in the blanks and some completely new. Projects I’ve been working on are coming together, and things I ordered weeks ago are arriving in the mail. Every time another piece falls into place, I get ridiculously excited, and it really does feel like being a kid in a candy store.

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I catch myself bargaining with my future self about what I think I can handle. I make little deals with myself. If I finish this tonight, I can start that tomorrow. If I get one more thing off the list, surely there’s room to add something else. Present me has a rather inflated opinion of future me’s capabilities.

As crazy as it sometimes gets, I really can’t blame just the Studio Tour. I’ve always been like this. I get an idea and immediately want to see where it goes. One idea has a habit of leading to another, whether I have time for it or not. But the truth is, I’m completely in my element.

Maybe that’s the strange thing about finding something you love doing. It doesn’t necessarily make life quieter or simpler. Sometimes it makes it considerably messier. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What about you? Is there something you love doing so much that you have a tendency to get completely carried away with it? I’d love to hear about it.

I can only imagine the hive of activity happening in studios all over the island right now. There’s a particular hum of energy that builds as the Tour gets closer, and it’s kind of wonderful knowing that all over Gabriola, other artists are caught up in it too.

For those of you who don’t know, the Studio Tour I’m referring to is Gabriola’s annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour, happening October 10th, 11th and 12th. I’m Studio 46 this year, and I’ll have two other artists joining me, Maxx Duncalfe and Joanne Sale. I’ll save telling you more about them, and all the treasures we’ll have waiting for you, for another newsletter closer to the Tour.