My motivation for machine embroidering a project happens late at night – usually between 10 pm – midnight.  It was one of those nights when I was in the creative zone, stitching a project – when the bobbin exploded.

The half-embroidered fabric got sucked in to the machine and I had to use a handy Bird’s Nest tool (a product my company sells) to free my project from captivity.

For most people a ruined project is disaster.  I looked at the time.  It was after midnight during the week.  I have to go to work in a few hours.  Should I go to bed now?  No, I can’t.  An artist, or at least a very focused individual like myself must see this task through to completion.

The task, as it turned out, was not the embroidered project.  I threw the half-embroidered (and ruined) project out and looked happily at the exploded bobbin.  These are the unexpected and fruitful moments I look forward to.  I took the bobbin to the next room – my photo studio – and I grabbed all my miniatures.  (I have so many tiny miniatures I had to expand to a bigger carrying case.  See the new case below.)

It was now close to 1 am.

For this photo to be done right I must use a tripod – which means I have committed myself to a long night of photographing a bobbin and a miniature.

I took dozens upon dozens of photos and even switched backdrops.  It was now 2 am.

The voice of reason (or was it doubt?) in my head started to rethink this whole idea of staying up to take a photo of a miniature with an exploded bobbin.  To what end?  Why do I do these things?  Most normal people are in bed right now and will get up at a respectable time between 6 am and 8 am.  But not me.  Ever.

I decided to charge forward.  My gut told me I was on a good track and I must continue.  This is who I am.  And I am having ridiculous fun.

I downloaded the photos then posted my favorite on my company’s social media page.  It had to be done.  This post needed to be the first item seen on news feeds throughout social media.  Many companies rehash other people’s content.  I like to be a content maker – not a rehasher.   (probably not a word but it should be).

What I didn’t expect was the overwhelming response of likes, comments and shares –  and an even better outcome:  my boss asked me to do a regular feature for the magazine with my miniatures.  I get top billing on the last page of our printed publication.

In conclusion:  pursue the activities you are passionate about – even if you think no one else understands what you do or why (and sometimes the person that doesn’t understand is you!)  Do it anyway.

Notes:
Camera:  Big Bertha (Canon EOS 5D Mark II)
Lens: My beloved 100 mm macro lens (Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L macro IS)
My miniatures are generally HO Scale (sometimes smaller) and are meant for model railroads.
Fun trivia:  At any given time I carry miniatures with me.  You just never know when you will need them.