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On the 23rd of February was the official start of the 100 Day Project. After much deliberation I finally settled on my project: 100 Days of Creating Anyway.
This is essentially the same project I did in 2021 – back then I had called it 100 Days of Creative Play. The idea is to do “something creative” everyday. This might be 20 minutes of knitting, an hour of sewing or 10 minutes of crafting with my toddler.
The name for my 2025 project is inspired by Ashlee Gadd’s book “Create Anyway – The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood”.
In this season of looking after small kids and lots of solo-parenting bei g creative consistently feels almost impossible. However, I want to make room for it because I believe it is important. Important for me, my joy and mental health and important for my kids to see that I use my gifts, that it is okay to be a beginner, to fail, to try again and sometimes to give up. Also, I want them to see me do things just for fun and to learn that mothers are allowed to just enjoy themselves and take a break from working, hoovering, caring, etc. all of the time.
How it is going so far
Well, we have been off to a bit of a rocky start! Within the first 10 days of the project we got the news that Edd’s department at work is getting cut and then we all had the flu plus a stomach bug.
It’s been hard to find the time, space and energy to fit in some creative activity and I had to give myself lots of grace for not being able to execute the project as planned for a number of days.
However, the thing I have learned over the years is that something is better than nothing. Painting water colours with my toddler for 10 minutes is not the same as cutting out a new sewing project but it still counts! We choose being creative over watching even more Peppa Pig. That’s a win!
However, I do hope that the coming days will allow me to immerse myself a bit more in some creative tasks. Not because I want to have something to show but because I crave getting into the flow with a project. The excitement of having an idea and just running with it. Well, we shall hope and see!
100 days of creating anyway: days 1 – 10
Day 1: A poem
On day 1 we were still in England. I wrote a poem (that I am actually quite proud of ha!) to set the tone for the project.
Create Anyway
I was made in the image of
the creator of all things.
Created to create, to shape, to sing
to cultivate, to bring
beauty and order
into my corner
of our broken and chaotic world.
So, despite lacking talent and skill
I will
Create anyway.
The children cry, the house is a mess
But he promised to bless
So, I‘ll create anyway.
Imposter syndrome, not enough time to hone
my craft —
Create anyway.
Fear of failure, of judgment, critique
Whenever I write, sing, speak —
Create anyway.
Out of ideas, of energy and motivation
Overwhelmed by too much choice and information —
Create anyway.
Desperate and anxious over current affairs
Downtrodden, heavy laden with cares —
Create anyway.
To much to do, frazzled mind
fearing reviews that are harsh and unkind —
Create anyway.
It’s not about impressing
Just want to share the blessing
Maybe no one will care
But I received in order to share
So, I will create anyway.
I was made in the image of
the creator of all things.
Created to create, to shape, to sing
to cultivate, to bring
beauty and order
into my corner
of our broken and chaotic world.
Day 2: Two Haikus
This was our travel day with zero alone time. However, I did manage to write two Haikus processing some of the conversations and sermons from the church weekend we had just been on.
Again, everything
uncertain. yet you are here
quieting my storms
Frozen ground, lifeless
But spring will come and thaw it
all. Promise of hope
Day 3: Creating on a bad day
This was the day we got the news about Edd’s job. I also needed to unpack and do laundry and look after the kids.
I sprinkled in a bit of creative fun by trying out a new quiche recipe, charging my DSLR camera that I haven’t touched in at least two years and knitting a few rows.
Day 4: Working on my quilt
This was what I had in mind when I started the project – a whole evening of sewing! I started attaching the binding to my quilt. It’s very nearly finished! I made a little reel of sewing on it which you can watch here.
Day 5: A blog post
On this day I did a bit of writing. My goal for this project is to write two blog posts each week. You can read the life update I shared here.
Day 6: Piano practice
When trying to decide on a project one of my initial ideas was doing 100 days of practicing piano. However I was worried about how doable this would be with travel or on days when I would be home with both kids.
This day showed me that this worry was warranted. As soon as I sit down on the piano they both immediately join me and hammer on the keys which makes it hard to hear what I am playing… but in the end I got a few minutes of uninterrupted practice. I worked on some chord progressions, nothing too exciting!
Day 7: Knitting through the chaos
This was the day after the first night of throwing up… it was also a Saturday so SJ was allowed to watch some TV in the morning. I joined her on the sofa with my knitting.
I did a few more rows in the evening while watching the Practicing the Way podcast on Scripture which is excellent – would highly recommend!
Day 8: DSLR play around
This was the day when I thought we were on the mend (and was wrong! SJ and I had a very rough night to come with the pesky tummy bug…) However, it still was a day with zero alone time and two very bored children. So all I did was take some photos with my DSLR camera. Most of them were of the girls, so I won’t share them all here. However, some turned out very nicely!
Day 9: Crafting with SJ
This day was the worst. I hate stomach bugs!
After a night of stripping beds and feeling absolutely horrendous it was yet another day alone with the girls. I was beyond tired and grumpy.
We got through it somehow. My creative endeavour was very minimal – I came up with a crafting activity for SJ and did some watercolour hand prints with her.
Day 10: More knitting!
I cast-off my Copenhagen Cardigan! It feels like I was knitting on it forever… ha! Now all that’s left to do are the button holes and buttons. I’m determined to not procrastinate them but get them done (maybe even today?!) so I can wear it as soon as possible. And cast on something new (or work on some other works in progress, I have a few different things on my needles…).
Onwards and upwards!
Despite this tricky beginning I am still very excited for this project. I am thinking that I might come up with a loose structure for myself for each 10 day window, something like two blog posts, two days of knitting, two days of sewing, two days piano and two days whatever… I will have a think.
Let me know what your favourite day was so far and if there are any creative ideas you think I should try or work on!
Onwards and upwards… I hope!
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