Finish it.

I love to watch "The Biggest Loser". The contestants stories inspire me as does their determination. They struggle to overcome obstacles they have faced most of their lives. One theme throughout each season is "finish it". Finish what you start. Each challenge the contestants face is won by one person or by a team. When someone crosses the finish line, whatever that line might be, the others have the option of quitting and not completing the challenge. But each season I have watched, the contestants finish even when they are in last place. Sometimes the other contestants go and help them cross that finish line. It's inspiring.

Most of the time I finish what I start...most of the time. But there are times I give up. I have a couple of things on my craft shelf that I said "forget it" to. Honestly, I don't know if I will go back and finish them. I'd rather start over than finish what I was doing with them. One item is a boot, I don't like what I painted on it. The best option is to basecoat over it and begin something else. Who knows I might be telling its story here someday soon.

This coffee pot almost made it to the "forget it" shelf. I didn't like the colors I was using; I couldn't see the finished product in my head. But I decided to give it a couple more hours of work and see what would happen. There always seems to be that "forget it" hour in there when I'm working on something. I taught an oil painting class to some military wives when my husband and I were stationed in Guam. I remember one student who was going to put a painting aside and start on something else. She was at that "forget it" hour. But I could see the finished product so I encouraged her to continue. Just follow my directions and you will begin to see 'it' I told her. She replied "ok, I'll work on it a little longer". She ended up finishing it. I think it turned out to be one of her best works.

If you have an unfinished item you've set aside, why not take it off the unfinished shelf and finish it. It might be one of your best works.

I finally was able to take my Etsy shop off "vacation mode". I had closed it while I was working new items since most of what I had left was Christmas or winter related. I have 6 new items added and hope to add a couple of more this week.