BSC’s Creative Mindset
Chelene’s Creative mindset
Without naming what you do, what are you passionate about?
I am deeply passionate about witnessing people step into their true selves. When I first began writing, it was a way to communicate, but over time, I realized it was also a journey to understand what truly matters to me. Through that process, I discovered a profound passion for helping others grow and embrace their own paths.
Now tell us what you do and why you love it.
It feels natural to me, almost as if it doesn’t require much energy! I get to be myself, no masks, no fake personas. And that to me just feels right!
What have you learned from your specific craft?
I’ve come to understand that learning is a lifelong journey. There’s never a final destination, and that realization is liberating. It takes the pressure off because you're not striving to "arrive" somewhere—you simply keep moving forward, continuously growing along the way.
How do you make time for your craft?
To make time for my craft, I focus on being intentional with my energy. Whether it’s something small like walking my dog or something significant like nurturing relationships and managing client projects, I recognize the control we have over how we allocate our time and attention. I also try not to live inside of excuses … they can keep us stuck! Instead I ask myself, “Okay, what can I realistically do about this? What will I have to simply accept?”
What can you say to people who are struggling to make time for their projects?
It’s crucial to be open to self-reflection and willing to let go of what isn’t serving you. This can be challenging for many, but that openness and readiness are the foundations of real change. I often say that I can’t work with those who haven’t yet decided that change is necessary. It’s okay not to know how to make those changes—that’s where I come in—but the readiness to embrace change is essential.
What has been your biggest creative block and how are you currently navigating that?
My biggest creative block often stems from recognizing the value not just in my projects, but in the process of building them. I even wrote a newsletter about the importance of valuing the details and the significance of constructing a project from the ground up.
What are some ways you set up the space before delving into your creative project?
I always need my collaborators close by! These include notebooks, books that bring me joy, a clear and uncluttered space, and the right music on repeat ; )
If you could go back in time to when you first started your creative project/path, what would you do differently?
I’d tell myself that mistakes are the most powerful tool.
At Breathing Space Creative, we don’t strive for perfection, we strive for growth. What is something you’re currently growing through on a personal development level?
I want to learn more about being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and how it can positively impact everything I do!
What do you identify with and look for within your creative spaces?
If I enter a creative space where there's no focus on understanding who we are as creatives and how to care for our unique selves, I instinctively recognize that it’s probably not the right environment for me.
Jessica’s Creative Mindset
Without naming what you do, what are you passionate about?
I am passionate about creating something from nothing. Grabbing inspiration from the things I observe in the world and making something that sparks joy in myself and others. I also love spreading this knowledge to others in a relaxing way.
Now tell us what you do and why you love it.
I create and design crochet and cross-stitch patterns. It allows me to create using yarn or thread. I also share these patterns with others through video tutorials on my channel Jess Crafting’s Cottage or written text on my blog, Jess Crafting. I love seeing my own design progress and how it can help people with their crafting adventures.
What have you learned from your specific craft?
Patience. It is fine to undo parts of projects where I’ve made mistakes or the design is not looking quite right. Especially with designing, the next attempt could be even better than what I previously thought was possible.
How do you make time for your craft?
The good thing about crochet and cross stitch is that they are usually very mobile crafts. This means I can carry around my projects in my bag and whenever I have a bit of free time when I am out and about, I can do a few stitches here and there. I can also write out patterns, blog posts, or any inspirations I get on my phone so that I can share my ideas with more and more people.
What can you say to people who are struggling to make time for their projects?
Forgive yourself. You don’t have to guilt yourself into working on your projects. Sometimes it is ok to take a break from everything, even your projects. This can make space for you to create something even better when you have the proper rest. But if you still want to work on your projects, I would say do the smaller tasks first, so it doesn’t feel too overwhelming!
What has been your biggest creative block and how are you currently navigating that?
Managing my energy levels. I have found that when I take care of my mental health, even when I am physically tired, I still have the energy to create. If I am too tired to crochet or cross-stitch, I can edit a video tutorial, write a blog post, or edit some pictures. There are many different tasks I can do to still work on my projects, but not drain myself. It can still be enjoyable!
What are some ways you set up the space before delving into your creative project?
A nice warm beverage and some relaxing music or videos create that space for me. Having the right environment has shown me that I can create and enjoy the process. Having a calm mind so I can restart my designs when they don’t work out initially really helps as well.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your creative project/path, what would you do differently?
Listened less to others' critiques and followed my own path to what I really wanted to be in the creative world. Although, I might have needed those lessons to get to this point in my creative journey!
At Breathing Space Creative, we don’t strive for perfection, we strive for growth. What is something you’re currently growing through on a personal development level?
Confidence in my work, I find that when I compare my crafts with others, it takes the joy away from what I made. I have to remind myself of why I am creating and that what I create is unique to me. This helps me to listen less to my own doubts and just keep on crafting.
What do you identify with and look for within your creative spaces?
Support. Sometimes just a little belief from someone else when I am having doubts about my projects will really help me to keep going. I can’t thank the supportive people around me enough! Having even just one cheerleader can really make a difference in the projects I finish and create.
Mar’s Creative Mindset
Without naming what you do, what are you passionate about?
I love building strong connections with people, especially if it’s in a creative setting. I’ll ditch the small talk for core wound conversations anyday, and as someone who loves amplifying other voices, you know I’ll have ideas on how to express and transform these core wound conversations. I’m also passionate about holding space for people to be themselves.
Now tell us what you do and why you love it.
I’m a podcast producer, writer, and audio designer. I’m also very much into meditation! What ties all of these things together is the ability to have creative freedom, and to explore narratives in more depth. That’s why I love storytelling.
What have you learned from your specific craft?
I’ve learned that it’s okay to jump from one project to another, and to give myself more time than I think I need. As someone who is never short of ideas, I tend to slow down in my approach to following through with them. Sometimes you need time to bring an idea out into the world as a tangible thing, and sometimes you just need to trust yourself.
How do you make time for your craft?
I have phases where my creative routine looks like working on personal projects for an hour before I start my workday. And then I have phases where I need to block off half a day once a month to get something done.
Because long-term consistency doesn’t always work with me, I also have different writing communities and friend groups that I’m part of - some in person, some online, which bring me plenty of opportunities to be accountable for myself.
What can you say to people who are struggling to make time for their projects?
You know yourself the most, and because we are always changing, it’s good to make a habit of constantly asking yourself “What do I need right now?”
If you’ve been in a long slump of avoidance, how can you push yourself in a way that supports the progress of your project? If you’ve been feeling too guilty, maybe reflect on why you might not want to do this project anymore and why you feel obligated to do it.
What has been your biggest creative block and how are you currently navigating that?
Hmm… I’d say my biggest creative block has been escapism. Writing has always been a safe space for me since childhood because it was an easier way to express myself. But as we get older, suddenly there’s this pressure of making our creations “good” or “profitable”, so now the same feelings of escapism that brought me into this world of storytelling, can take me out of it.
Safyre: A meditative fantasy, was a form of navigating this sense of escapism, because it reminded me of the worlds I created when I was younger, without adding any extra pressure and just letting it be on its own.
What are some ways you set up the space before delving into your creative project?
I love dim lighting, a hot cup of tea or coffee, and lighting some incense and candles to set the tone. I try to make the space I create in, reflective of whatever it is I am writing so that I can feel connected to it more physically. When I’m done writing, or editing, etc. I blow out the candle as a way to close the space. This way, I’m telling my brain it’s time to get into this flow state!
If you could go back in time to when you first started your creative project/path, what would you do differently?
I would absolutely tell myself to do things little by little, and to use self-imposed deadlines strategically instead of using it as fuel to put more pressure on myself. No matter how big I have visions for some things, I’ve definitely learned that it can be more of a deterrent to act on right away, so now I start off with smaller goals! All in all, I don’t regret anything, because it taught me this exact thing!
At Breathing Space Creative, we don’t strive for perfection, we strive for growth. What is something you’re currently growing through on a personal development level?
Currently, I’m growing through outdated ideas of what success feels like. This means patience, trust, and faith in what I’m capable of. This also means embracing mistakes, and building on my strengths, as well as forward momentum, no matter how fast, slow, big, or small that is!
What do you identify with and look for within your creative spaces?
I enjoy smaller creative spaces where you get to learn more about others over time. Spaces where we can workshop ideas, and even collaborate on some things!