Recently, I’ve been challenging myself to make ‘something’ everyday.
Preferably these things have been tangible. But something that exists in digital form is OK too. The main thing is to challenge my brain (and hands) to ‘think’ in some sort of way.
On the day I originally wrote this, I made a bookmark from scrap leather. Cutting to the shape out of a larger piece. Rounding the corners. Centering and punching a hole. Setting an eyelet. Tying on a piece of twine to set it apart. Getting it to flatten out.
Doing that was like working through a series of little puzzles.
The list in the toggle has some 23 or so different decisions I had to make to actually complete the project. This seems crazy. And this is a thing that barely has any embellishment. Though I think it speaks to the experience that comes with craftsmanship.
My point is, you learn from making lots of little choices. Then you learn better ways of doing things - either through trial and discovery or through picking up little tidbits along the way. And, sometimes, you find sage advice from a professional.
I really enjoy that process of discovery. It has such great compounding knowledge.
And, when you come across a craftsperson who drops tips that speed you even further along, that’s just magical.
Skills are learned in the compounding of hundreds of different things. These skills, in turn, give you more and more models to work with when encountering new challenges.
Make something and keep learning.