Last week, a very kind fellow artist reminded me of something I already knew, but had temporarily overlooked: There are two sides to our little slice of creative passion. The authentic work that we intuitively dream up, dream about, pour our souls into, and eventually share with the world, is only one side of our story. Equally important is the other side — the “bread and butter” projects. These are the projects that allow us to continue doing what we love.

This month, I am focusing on the bread and butter projects, as I transition toward a new way of looking at my daily creative life. Commissions are invaluable, and they are almost always a wonderful journey into something new. They keep me going and keep me happy. I’m always seeking new customers and new custom projects, especially when I can ultimately manage to touch another soul and make someone else happy too.

And yet sometimes, it’s also nice to take a few hours off to simply make some bread. After all, stretching and folding sessions are a perfect time to relax, reflect, and look ahead - and most importantly, to start dreaming about my next few creations!