Embracing mindfulness

This week has been an interesting one, as I've spent a significant amount of time intercepting perspective before it morphs into judgement. I've been able to make a few more pieces for my line Floral Frippery, which has been a great center point to come back to, mentally.Still trying to understand how to slow the mind down, and possibly turn off the switch on some thoughts. I wonder if there is a way for me to learn how to do that automatically.I start with the dress, and within minutes my mind is miles away, thinking about something completely different which holds no purpose at said time in said place. So back to the dress. But even when my mind travels elsewhere the dress still composes as quickly and gracefully as before. As if, if I can visualize the end goal, I can practically be on autopilot to attain it. I just have to really visualize said goal and focus on it for upwards of 2 minutes per day. Thats what they tell me.

Back to the dress. I've started another piece which has no name. I'm thinking of calling it Christie, because when I was working on it yesterday I thought of my sister Christie. It has been created of a sharp blue and white palet. Crisp and Christmassy. I envision it in the center of a forest of furs and deep white snow. I will definitely need a brave muse for this project. When I'm writing I find its easier to stay on point with my thoughts and retract back to the topic. When I'm thinking, I feel like my mind is doing overtime.

Back to the dress. My therapist told me it is really practical to practice mindfulness whenever possible. I asked, and she confirmed that dress-making time would be the perfect time to practice some mindfulness. The key to mindfulness, as explained to me, is to focus on said project/task from a non-judgemental perspective.Focus completely on the dress, without thinking from a place of critique or judgement. Don't think about the positives or negatives. Judgement can be both. Just look and see and do without overthinking how and why and when. Look at the flowers, how closely they resemble real flowers. Is that a judgment? Then just look at the flowers.Look at the color of glitter in the center of the flower that matches the fabric that will be used for the full length bottom of the dress. Is it my perception that causes me to notice and give significance to the matching particals that will come together to create a masterpiece? Of course. Is it a judgement? I don't think so. I think it is a fact that the color navy blue is present in both the glitter, and the fabric. Whenever I start a new dress, I do just that. I just start. I don't have a pre-sketched book of my line ( although it is something I am thinking about doing). I just start at the top, and as I go the dress reveals itself to me. I want to live my whole life like that.

Photo credit to Conor Teahen