(Yes, I’m Talking to You. And Also to Myself.)
Let’s have a mildly uncomfortable conversation.
You do not need more fabric.
You do not need more ribbon.
And, you definitely do not need more yarn, and you absolutely do not need “just one more” specialty foot for your sewing machine.
Take what resonates, leave the rest.
What you need… is to finish something.
I say this with love. And with full awareness that somewhere in your house is a tote bin labeled “future projects” that hasn’t seen daylight since 2012.
The Dopamine Trap
Buying craft supplies feels productive.
You research.
You compare.
You click “add to cart.”
You imagine the finished masterpiece.
It’s intoxicating.
Your brain says: Look at us! We are creative! We are building an empire!
Meanwhile, the half-finished pouch on your table quietly gathers dust.
Here’s the truth: buying supplies is the easiest part of being a maker. Finishing is the hard part.
And your brain prefers easy.
The Fantasy Crafter vs. The Real Crafter
There are two versions of you:
The Fantasy Crafter — organized, prolific, effortlessly turning out beautiful finished pieces.
The Real Crafter — currently surrounded by three unfinished projects and a coffee mug with yesterday’s ambition in it.
The Fantasy Crafter needs more supplies.
The Real Crafter needs discipline.
That gap? That’s where clutter lives.
The Cat Comparison You Didn’t Ask For
Have you ever watched a cat hunt?
They lock in.
They stalk.
They commit.
They pounce.
They finish.
Now imagine if cats behaved like we do with craft supplies.
Cat sees toy.
Cat bats toy once.
Cat wanders off to order three more toys.
Cat never actually catches anything.
Ridiculous, right?
Cats don’t collect potential. They execute.
You, my friend, are currently hoarding potential.
Why We Keep Buying Instead of Finishing
Let’s get honest.
Starting is exciting.
Finishing requires decisions.
Decisions feel risky.
Risk means imperfection.
Imperfection feels uncomfortable.
So instead of risking a crooked seam or a less-than-perfect result… you buy something new.
Because new materials feel full of promise. Unfinished work feels full of judgment.
But here’s the kicker:
Unfinished projects drain your energy.
They sit there whispering,
“You didn’t complete me.”
And every time you see them, your brain burns a tiny bit of fuel on guilt.
The Real Cost of “Just One More”
It’s not just money.
It’s:
- Visual clutter
- Mental clutter
- Decision fatigue
- Storage chaos
- Creative paralysis
Too many choices make you stall.
Ever stand in front of your fabric or yarn stash and suddenly feel like doing nothing at all?
That’s not lack of creativity.
That’s overload.
The “Finish 3 Before Buying 1” Rule
Here’s your new house rule:
For every 1 new supply you buy, you must finish 3 existing projects.
Not start. Finish.
Completed. Done. Out of the pile.
This forces:
Focus
Momentum
Satisfaction
Skill improvement
Finishing builds confidence in a way shopping never will.
Start Small (No Drama)
Don’t attack the biggest, scariest UFO (UnFinished Object).
Pick something easy.
Hem the thing.
Attach the snaps.
Sew the side seams.
Press it and call it done.
Completion builds speed.
Speed builds motivation.
Motivation is the byproduct of action — not the other way around.
Your Workspace Is a Mirror
If your workspace looks like a tornado in a trailer park, it’s not because you’re not creative.
It’s because you’re mid-decision on twelve things at once.
Clear one surface.
Finish one project.
Put it away.
Repeat.
That’s how momentum starts.
Not with a shopping spree.
Not with a new tool.
Not with “this next project will be different.”
With finishing.
But What If I Actually Need Something?
Fine.
If you truly need a specific item to complete something? Buy it.
But if you’re browsing for fun while three projects glare at you from the corner?
Close the tab.
Go sew. Or knit. Or crochet. Or paint. Just do what you do, and FINISH IT.
Be the Cat
Pick a project.
Lock in.
Pounce.
Finish.
Then sit back and stare at your completed work with the same smug satisfaction a cat has after knocking something off a table.
That’s the good stuff.
Not the shipping confirmation email.
Now I’m going to say the uncomfortable part:
You don’t have a supply problem.
You have a finishing problem.
And that’s actually good news.
Because finishing is a skill.
And skills can be trained.
So here’s your assignment:
Finish one thing this week.
Not three. Not five.
One.
Then write it down somewhere visible.
Proof that you execute.
Your stash doesn’t need to grow.
Your finished pile does.
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Snarky Cat Boutique – We put the meow in mayhem.
Ciao,
