at a snail's pace

I'm feeling a bit like a broken record here. I think I first mentioned wanting to have a shop update in early March. It's now, ahem, just about May. And I am finally working on my first pieces to sell that I've done since December (aside from a couple of small custom orders). So here we are, a snippet of my progress on three new bags. I now have no excuse at all to continue procrastinating as I am signed up for a craft fair that is in just over two weeks and have very little to show for myself at the moment.

I feel like I'm at an interesting place with my crafting. I've come so so far in the last year even with my sewing. It boggles my mind to think that I haven't even owned a sewing machine (much less known how to use one) for three years. Seriously, this is not meant to be any kind of bragging, but just a recap of how crazy I've gone over this sewing thing. I really love sewing. And I love designing new products, whether it's a little zippy pouch or a dress. I enjoy selling my stuff, but I have barely had any motivation for that since December.

Last year, I did eight craft fairs (I think, there might have been another one or two) and that was insane. I learned a lot...mostly what not to do (you may recall this nightmare), but it was too much. I'm definitely not stopping my crafting for selling at all (if anything, I need some method to fund my fabric addiction), but I'm not sure where I'm going from here with it. I do actually have a full-time job and many other projects (including, but not limited to: gardening in the summer, yoga, a significant amount of volunteer work, and oh yeah, a life, sort of), and sometimes it can all feel a bit overwhelming. Especially when I get into a mode of constantly comparing myself to other amazing crafters out there who are constantly updating their shops and making and selling tons of crafts, but who do not have "full-time jobs", or who actually have crafting as their full-time gig. No wonder I get anxious.

In any case, I am curious what you all think about this topic, as I know it's something that many of us in this crafting community struggle with. How do you find a balance? And how do you not get sick of crafting for selling? In the meantime, I am working on lots of new things (for real this time) and may have some up in the shop before my fair. If not, whatever is left will surely make an appearance.