What to do: Make do
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt
Things got better when I finally got over myself and stopped complaining about having imperfect conditions — about not having enough time or space or energy to create — and just made do.
Recently, one of my employees has run into the problem of not doing things because he can’t do them “perfectly.” Here’s an example that he doesn’t mind me sharing.
The other day, as lunchtime was ending, I asked him, “What are you going to do in your teen workshop today?” He answered, “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve been wanting to do a comic book project, but we don’t have any more 11×17 paper.”
I had to tell him about what has happened in my art journal recently — about how comic strips have spontaneously begun to crop up, and are made with crude pens during jostling, cramped subway rides. I told him about the ugly paper I was using and the limitations of my drawing abilities. I told him to stand up, take whatever paper we had available, and just make do.
The truth is, very few of us will ever have enough time or space or energy. We will, for the most part, not build a perfect studio space (though some of us will), or have a perfectly encouraging family, or be able to quit our day jobs in pursuit of art-making.
The trick is to make do with what you have. The painter, Paul Klee, actually felt that working with limited options increased your creativity.
… to adapt oneself to the contents of the paintbox is more important…
Paul Klee
Maybe the perfect shade of green would turn your painting into a masterpiece — but it’s 2 weeks to payday and all you’ve got are yellow and blue. Make do. You’ve been wanting to start a journal, and spend hours online researching leather-bound notebooks, expensive pens, and carrying cases. Stop it. Make do. Maybe it’s time to help out the planet by making cloth bags to take to the market, but you are worried that the fabric in your stash is not sturdy enough, it doesn’t match, or you need 4″ more. By the way, there’s enough fabric in your stash to make two hundred market bags. Make do.
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about having enough and making do. Here are a few more examples, if you’d like some further reading:
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In the spirit of making do, Craftzine spent a month focusing on mending — fixing it up so we can wear it out.
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Andrea of Superhero Designs has some thoughts for those of us who don’t think we do enough.
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Jen Gray lovingly wags her finger at those of us who wonder if we are good enough.
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Ralph Marston has a self-help-y essay on actively deciding what enough means.
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Nutmeg of Another Nutter talks about Nuffism — the philosophy of having enough.
No related posts.
Thank you for the reminder. I’d like to think that working with less could increase my creative output but I just get so mired down in lack of. Lack of space, time, energy, whatever. I’m going to keep the words MAKE DO in the forefront of my mind and see if it helps.
Comment by Amy — 12 May 2009 @ 1:40 pm
love this post… ‘make do’…. a great mantra!
i have only recently discovered your blog but i love it and will be popping back lots!
best wishes
ginnyx
Comment by ginny — 12 May 2009 @ 2:01 pm
Although I still haven’t completely conquered the desire to purchase fabric, when DH and I hit a rough financial patch three or so years ago, I developed a mantra w/regard to both quilting fabric and quilting books:
“I don’t have everything, but I have enough.”
What I found was that, if I turn the “I don’t have enough XYZ” complaint on its head–and who on Earth would ever have “everything”?–I do have enough. Enough to get started, enough to do *this* quilt top, oooooh enough to do *these* borders, etc.
And, when I made a concerted effort to use up some thread, I was astounded at how long it took to use up a large spool (like the Star brand cotton thread). So…I *definitely* have enough thread to do *these* quilt projects I’ve already cut out or pulled fabric for!
Comment by Cynthia H. — 12 May 2009 @ 11:15 pm
I love making do! think I should have been around in the make do and mend 40′s!!!
** p.s. I’m giving away a quilt on my blog!! in case you’re interested.
Comment by aneela — 13 May 2009 @ 12:52 am
What a wonderfully inspiring post. I am notorious with my “not enough”s. I often put off projects because what I already have doesn’t seem like enough, or the choices I’ve made aren’t perfect. These little procrastinated projects then sit and nag at me until the stress of not completing them seems unbearable…
I will definitely be using the “make do” mantra a little more often.
Cheers~
Comment by Linnea — 13 May 2009 @ 9:56 am
Love your post. Most of the time I have more than enough. If by chance I think I need something, than comes the question what will also add something special? Use this technique not only when I’m busy with my embroidery but also when I’m cooking or any other creative work.
Comment by Elizabeth — 13 May 2009 @ 12:12 pm
Wonderful post! Goes back to the WWII chant — use it up, wear it out, make do or do without! One more step to becoming self sufficient!
Comment by Melissa Brinkley — 13 May 2009 @ 3:52 pm
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