You absolutely need to take care of yourself, we’re here to support you in any way we can, and just know that your online friends are here and we love you!
Don't look at it like a business, just see it as hm I think I'm going to make a doll, and just record the process and when your ready just upload, don't stress and lose your passion for what you enjoy. ❤
Diana, I am so proud of you, as a watcher of yours, for you deciding that you’re going to take content creating much more spontaneously. You deserve to have fun, and we will always have fun with watching you. This isn’t goodbye to the DollFairy, this is just see you later! I would honestly love more laidback and casual videos where we can just craft alongside you, so I look forward to your eventual return, whenever you feel ready. I wish you luck on your healing process as well ❤
You have accomplished a lot and inspired many, myself included. Just considerate on what brings you joy and things will fall into place. Make dolls and videos for yourself first!
I think its brave to be like hai, this just isn't working and to change paths for a channel. I love that youre going in a more authentic direction! In the end you should do whatever works for you and makes you happy
Depression and anxiety is no joke. Like others have already said, you should always take care of yourself first! Mental, physical you name it. Think of it like a diary instead of a work business. I love your work, your doll outfits always amazes me. It's a good thing to have a main thing to focus on. My favorite thing in doll customizing as a fellow doll customizer is the sewing as well. You can potray so much in a doll's personality in just their style of clothing. Edit (extra bit I forgot to add): how I deal with my own burn outs and fits of depression especially when it comes it art, I do what I call "intentionall expression." I meditate before creating something and let that emotion overflow in my art piece. To me, it's a healthy way of letting go of that over flowing extra emotion. Negative or positive. I also try to focus on one thing at a time with the doll customizing. Like, what part do I want the center of attention to be? Havig that in mind helps me as well.
I'm a terrible doll seamstress and I sew for fun, for my own collection, and watching you sew and take pride in what you sew was a joy for the eyes... so please take care of yourself, creativity and passion are the only things that makes life worth living, and you deserve a life free of depression and anxiety!
This is the reason why I can't start a RUclips channel, I want to share my work, experience, with people, but it takes too much time, time that I need to create things. You can take a break or have another job for now and sell the doll clothes as an hobby. 👍😊
I definitely struggle with these same things of sharing my art online, and promotion being harder to do. I feel pressure to make it work financially bc I can't work traditionally. I do want to build something special that I'm proud of.
thank you for being so honest and taking care of yourself. do what makes you smile when you wake up, not something that stresses you out. you are incredibly talented and inspiring♥️
Making your passion into a business can be challenging. Perhaps you can look into having an assistant of some kind help you? That would take some of the strain off. Take all the time you need, I am glad that you are taking strides to better your mental health.
Thank you for sharing this with us. It must be very depressing not reaching goals you set for yourself. But I’m so happy to hear that you will keep creating and doing what brings you (and us as viewers) joy 😊✌🏻 I also sometimes miss the „old RUclips days“ where you didn’t need a perfect setup, all you needed was a potato as a camera, maybe some IKEA furniture in the background and some dreams 😂 I hope you know that all your work is appreciated here ❤ because you do a lot (creating content, video editing, social media and marketing, sewing and producing stuff and selling it and probably even more)
I think this is an issue that a bunch of creative and artistic people struggle with. It's so hard when you know money could be made with your passion, and getting concerned with doing everything "right" and "pretty" or in a way that will please an unpredictable algorithm. I think you've got it figured out though, if I were you I would work on the things that do make me excited and share as much as I feel enough energy/enthusiasm to do. I think you're right about missing the genuine/casual feel of older youtube videos. I think we could use more of that in our current times. As far as renewing creative passion, immerse yourself in things that inspire you (but not things that you'll get stuck comparing yourself to), keep some projects just for you and just for fun, and don't worry about every project being perfect. And I've learned it's okay to let an idea eventually die. I'm pretty sure from your videos I've gathered you have religious beliefs, and if you're comfortable with the idea, I would pray for inspiration and energy. I really hope things become more fulfilling and enjoyable for you soon.
As someone else who has struggled with self worth, and then who has made it worse by equating what I *do* with who I *am*, you are so valid, Diana. I still love and appreciate what you've been able to do
That’s understandable take all the time you need to take care of yourself ❤we can wait until you’re ready to come back.Also love all your videos ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.
I've struggled through burnout like this. Because of the type of creative I am, when I burnout it means that I need to stop doing that style of creative thing entirely for a long time. Sometimes forever. But I absolutely need a hard break from it where I don't do anything related to that creative thing at all, not even thinking about it. I need to allow myself to explore the joy of a new medium for a while until I can't help myself from going back to that original medium because I just have to make something. Only then is it safe for me to enjoy that original medium again. One of the key things I've noticed is that perfectionism and the pressure to perform to a schedule is usually what sucks the joy out of creating for me, and when I burn out I've forgotten what I enjoyed about the medium to begin with. Allowing myself to cycle through creative ideas and just explore them instead of exploiting them is really key for me. This does mean that having a creative job is extremely difficult, because I need the space to drop a project in the middle and not be able to make money off of it. Before I became disabled I had reached a point where I accepted that I would never have a stable income or I would need to work a boring 9 to 5 to support my hobbies. Making a career out of one is just not an option for me. If my health were to miraculously recover and I was well enough to work again, I think I'd do data entry or transcribing while working part time on creating a bunch of passive income sources based on my creative interests. Like writing a book, or selling patterns, or selling licenses to video game art. Just make as many of those sorts of things in as many creative mediums as possible, and eventually get to the point where I can just add to whichever one I feel like at the moment. I don't know if that would work, but that's what I'd like to do. I have been able to do things to speed up the healing from burnout before, but it's a bit tricky. It's all about remembering the exact feelings I had at the beginning, or the point where I was the most productive, and remembering why it brought me joy. I also have to be very careful not to have any expectations of myself, because that's when the perfectionism and pressure will come back. I need to work on it for the love of the art alone or it won't work. Burnout is like a wheel falling into a rut, it's really easy to burn out again and I have to work harder than before to keep myself out of those emotions and expectations. I hope you're able to recover well and be able to find joy in whichever path you end up taking. I'd love to see dolls from you, but if that's not what happens, that's fine too. I care more about your wellbeing than my entertainment. I also think you're fun to watch so if you upload something that's not dolls I'll check it out regardless.
I've learnt that work and passion for crafting anything should be separated. I crochet plushies as a hobby and sell at a convention. Because of the years 2020 and 21 I had two years to build up my stock and it all went so well at artist alley. I wanted to make more projects and create new plushie patterns for the next year and I got so easily stressed out because of the amount of plushies I had made during those two years, I felt like I had to reach that amount in one year instead. I love my hobby, but it isn't worth to stress over such an impossible goal, so I set boundaries for myself and decided not to sell this year. I let my projects take time and let inspiration come when it wants. You are amazing and you need to be kind to yourself. Do your projects at your own terms and I think you'll find the joy again.
Wow, glad you share it with us, it is always good to get something of your chest and then you will feel so much better.. I will much more like your new style and enjoy always watching you... Be strong and take good care of yourself... Have fun... and keep the sparkles on.. Lovies Yetta💕
I really appreciate that you are sharing your thoughts and time with us. I have totally enjoyed watching your channel. Take the time and do what you need to do. I am battling to get my Insecurities with my paintings and drawings. If you don't take care of yourself. Then who is going to do what YOU share with the us. Thank you.
I try not to allow feelings of failure to take over. It’s far too easy to make plans that exceed our limits. Gauging how long things take or how hard they will be isn’t easy. Good luck! I hope you feel better! I’m looking forward to the smart doll clothes.
I’m a professional artist on the art fair circuit. Meaning i travel around to art fairs around my region to sell my art. Its is physically demanding and sometimes stressful work. It takes me away from my family, specifically my special needs child. For a long time I was wracked with guilt over this. Guilt for leaving but also guilt for wanting leave, for wanting to pursue my career. And at the end of the 2021 season i crashed into deep depression and creative burnout. There was no magic cure for this except for what you’re already doing. Time, therapy, long talks with loved ones. What I eventually realized is that i have the right to live my own life. I’ve worked very hard to get to the level i am now both artistically and financially and it’s perfectly valid to say “I deserve to do what I love, without shame, without guilt.” There is more then one way forward Diana. Real success isn’t a measure only of money but of happiness. You have the right to be happy, to create things that you enjoy creating. Money is important but when you are ninety years old and looking back i can assure you that a lifetime of making and doing things you love will be far more memorable and fulfilling then a lifetime making money.
For depression, I went to a therapist and got on meds, which helped/helps me alot! I will still be here and I will patiently wait to see what you do next! :)
Diana, I am proud of you for going through this difficult journey that you definitely needed to go through. Use your channel however you need to, and there will be people who stick around! I really feel that creating should be fun and if it isn't fun anymore then there isn't any point of trying to push through that, it really only causes more trouble. I've gone through a similar journey myself (still am, in a way). Art was something I always had and loved to do and through a lot of work I realized that art as a career just wasn't going to work for me. I feel like there is a lot of pressure now to monetize art and hobbies, but you don't have to do that. It works for some people but not for others, and that's okay. Just do what works for you and fills you up. I hope you're doing well and I wish you luck on the rest of this journey! ❤
🤗 take care of you. ❤ It does seem like these feelings are going around. I personally have been feeling that too- I have been lucky in that I filmed a bunch when I was able to several months ago and had videos ready. This time of year always get me down and I knew I might find it difficult to create content so having some already helped. I have been working on organizing and sorting my doll collection and selling as a way to keep myself in it. My doll hobby has been my escape and sometimes I just go and sit in my art/ doll room and look at what inspires me. Oh and I am a mom of 2 young kids so escape is needed sometimes. I do hope you find a good fit for you and it makes you feel better and happy with your hobby. I hope my little story helps you. I will still be here to watch any of your videos you post❤
As someone who has suffered from losing the joy of something due to burnout (i'm a tribal belly dancer and for a LONG time, I got so burned out that I wasn't enjoying dancing at all anymore!), I totally understand! When I was that burned out, I found taking a break, doing something else and taking a big step BACK from Dancing was absolutely necessary for me. Luckily, I did find the joy in dance again, but i found that I do better with it when I don't set a particular set of songs to dance to unless I'm rehearsing for a specific show. Otherwise, I just put on something random music-wise and just go with the flow. As a doll customizer, and a content creator as well, I get that pressure that you feel, love. Seriously, Diane, I do--it's HARD creating Content on a regular basis! And well posting twice a month..I HAVE done it but honestly, I prefer to post ONCE per month because then I don't feel as pressured to keep up with those who can post every week or every other week. That's TOUGH! it really is--unless you have help, it's really not possiblef or one person to post constantly with this sort of content. Doll Customization IS fun, but...sometimes we get set backs, things don't quite go as we planned or Life gets REALLY busy or chaotic (and yes I have 3 kids, I LIVE with chaos! lol) and then we don't always get to post things when we planned to. It's hard--super hard! When I know I have a deadline (i have one next month for instance), If i know it's gonna be a big project...I start as early as I can! For instance, my december doll is ALREADY in the works because I'm planning to make alot of accessories for her...and as someone who is accessories challenged, I am already trying to plan out what I want to make and already telling myself if I CAN'T do it all, it's okay...because I can do them after the video is done for next year's video. Take care of yourself, take a step back and do what you ENJOY doing the most. Maybe even remind yourself to take breaks from sewing and designing so you don't get overwhelmed as you did with making content, etc. Maybe also asking for some help when you DO get overwhelmed (for instance, ask a friend to maybe come over and help you with l aying out cloth and patterns and helping with cutting it out? or maybe even just allowing yourself more time to get things done. You are the boss of your own business, YOU can set your deadlines and schedules. don't pressure yourself to get it all done immediately. small business owners who also make things can get burned out fast if they push themselves too hard and that is what you've been doing. You can say "okay, I need to take my time on this..." and stop trying to base your own self worth on how well your business is or isn't doing. You are gorgeous, creative and an Outstanding person:) You've got this--you will succeed. Yes, it may not be a huge profit margin..but so long as the bills are paid, you have a roof over your head and food on the table....that's all that's REALLY important, hon. The rest will follow. Just know that we are here for you. I also suffer from depression and anxiety...and low self esteem. I never believe it when someone tells me i'm amazing..because I dont' feel amazing. But just know that you are wonderful--your videos are fun, your dolls are gorgeous and the clothes you're designing are top notch! Remember to do self care for yourself as well--get your nails done, take a day off just to relax and play video games if you liek those or read a book, etc. do things that help you to relax....the creativity is still there, it'll suddenly leap up and hit ya when you've relaxed;) hell, I took a week off from customizing to clean my house and spend time with my kids...and I was amazed at how many ideas I got hit with during that time! But I didn't touch a doll until AFTER that week was over. And believe it or not, I'm sure you have helped quite a few others by saying "this is hard, I'm burned out, I need to rethink how I want to move forward." That takes courage, Diana--not everyone can come out and say "i need to change how I'm doing things." So by putting up this video, I have no doubt that you have helped someone else:) Take care, you are loved and you will figure out how you want to proceed;) We'll see you when you post another video and in the meantime, just do what you need to do to take care of you♥
I'm grateful you took the time to let us know what was going on and not just vanishing into the ether. I was just wondering the other day whether you were alright.
This is the first of your videos I have watched and I felt your sadness. Reading the comments, you are a very special person and every one wishes you the best. T😊aking time out and truly doing only what you love will help and hopefully you will soon get pleasure from your sewing. Look after yourself you should come first xx
sewing is what i enjoy most about doll customization and 'fairy godmother' aesthetic fits you so if you want to become a doll clothes sewing channel that's cool if your vids are sporadic that's cool, if you need to change how your content is presented to more of a sit down diary chat that's also cool we will either enjoy it or not just dont hurt yourself being something your not, i like progress vlog content on sewing channels and full project vids and most of what i watch is because the personality of the person and their joy for the content resonate with me if you have no joy for your content its not good.
We're totally here for you Diana, take all the time you need. Watching your video's always inspired me to bring art to life, my life has been awfully down this year. I couldn't find the right doll to make Pumpkin head during Halloween but at least I made miniature pie's from Sweeney Todd (no Gore) & I have been painting some miniature cnvas of Disney Princess & other characters. Rapunzel I have to try again (the Lantern painting) Finished Canvas Hocus Pocus - Sanderson Sisters Tinker Bell - even though she's in one mini canvas I am planning on painting on a medium large canvas & put Wendy, John, Michael, Peter, Tinker Bell & Jane flying in the night sky. Snow White Belle Cinderella Aurora Tiana Merida Mulan Meg - Hercules Ariel from classic & new Melody Giselle Morgan - princess Nancy - queen Pocahontas Anna Elsa Moana - sailing Kida - Atlantis Asha - wish Raya and Sisu Elena of Avalor Sofie the first Vanellope von schweetz princess eilonwy - black cauldron Mirabel & Isabela - Encanto Shanti - Jungle Book Esmeralda - Hunchback of Notre dam Charlotte la bouf Maid Marian - Robin Hood Jane - Tarzan Ember - Elemental Alice in wonderland - classic Aristocat - family portrait Bambi Blue fairy & Pinocchio Dumbo - flying in the sky sleeping red panda - Turning Red Bo Peep Jessie Lilo Lady & the Tramp eating Spaghetti together Bother Bear - northern light's & mountain Pride Rock, Simba from cub to adult lion from Rafiki's tree Jessica Rabbit Constance Hatch away Madam Leota Tim Burton Emily - Corpse Bride Wednesday Adams Nightmare before Christmas - Jack, Sally, & Zero Laika animation Coraline portal with the cat & finally two wizardry paintings for me winning first ribbon prize of magical plants (inspired by Wizard 101 & Little shop of Horror's) I need a bit more practice to get Rapunzel's Lantern wall painting right, and as for the first try I am gonna put it up on sale. Hopefully 2024 will get every cheered up, see you next time Diana.
So much of what you said is exactly what I'm going through right now and have been since last year in my own creative business/endeavor. I am struggling haaaard to stop the cycle of internalizing pressure, self doubt, and critique. I'm trying to focus instead on embracing the snail's pace, celebrating small, tiny, even miniscule wins, and taking breaks when though I'm already going so slow 😖... Thank you so much for making this video, being honest, transparent, and vulnerable on camera, and sharing it with all of us. It means so much to see that I'm not alone and others are going through the same issues, esp in losing the creative spark, motivation, and energy that keeps creatives going. That's been a really scary feeling/realization but now I have more... Validation, I guess? Idk, it feels like a sign that I'm on the right track now and not alone in my struggles with this type of burnout. And now I have more hope that that creative spark can return. So yeah, I don't think I have any tips but I wanted to say thank you so much, I'm very grateful that you posted this video, this is exactly what I needed to see today. I wish you continued healing and truly look forward to whatever content makes you happy to post whenever it sparks joy for you to post it 🤗💜
I feel where you're coming from Diana. Hang in there, you are doing the best you can with what you've got. I feel you on having a bunch of footage to edit but struggling to do so. I don't have a single doll video on my channel, but I've recorded the process for most of my dolls since 2019. I need to get over the initial hump of being afraid to suck at this. X'''D You're right, editing does take a lot of time, and I think, as I've been doing art for all these years, I've long since gotten away from being a beginner in most of my crafts. So going back to being a beginner and having to adjust my quality expectations is a lot. And I imagine you're likely feeling some of that too. Reevaluating what sparks joy for you can feel like being a beginner again, I felt it hard when I was finishing up college and struggling to draw for my last several projects, and it was a lot of "I'm supposed to know this, I'm supposed to be able to do this" running through my head. Throw the "supposed to"s and the "should"s away for a bit. You're not required to know everything or do everything. If doing doll customs the way you've been doing them isn't clicking, then it's time to change it up a little! I often worry that the way I'd want to do doll videos wouldn't work for people, since I know a lot of them want a tutorial to learn from. But I kind of want to do mine like a storytime thing. I wanna ramble on about how some detail was meaningful to me, or tell a story that goes along with something a project or experience taught me. I want to tell you all about my silly little characters and their stories, all this world building I've done. In my heart of hearts, I'm a storyteller, that's what I want to do. It's not something people do in this space, but why not? If it's meaningful to me, surely it could mean something to someone else, right? Follow your heart, be patient with yourself, and most importantly, be kind. I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day, the most valuable thing in creating art is that you love it, and if you love it, someone else will see that and love it too. Is that really how it works? Who's to say? But don't be afraid to play a different tune, I have every confidence you'll find a beat that suits your fancy. Rock on my girl, you've got this!
I think it takes a lot of courage to admit that what you've been doing is not working as well as you intended and/or is not really what you want to do anymore. I hope you take care of yourself in whatever ways work for you!
I am a little late here, but creative burn out is something I struggle with too. I don't usually sell my products, and I certainly am not a youtuber or really influencer. But I am a naturally creative, crafty person. I find that every couple of months, I just loose interest. In my crafting and any other kind of art or sewing project I may want to do. I tend to get all these neat ideas and wrap them up in my head. Thinking I can do all of them plus work. And it usually doesn't happen that way. Then I get frustrated, because I haven't done any of the things I wanted too. So, I have learned that instead of fighting this, to kinda go with it. Take a step back. Do other things, game, read a book, actually go outside (Haha I live in Alaska. You would think this would be more of a thing I did) Maybe gain new interest and ideas. Put the others on the back burner until, I am ready for them. And then, eventually, I find that creative spark again. My burn outs sometimes go with the seasonal changes. That being said, I absolutely love your doll channel and all the creative products you put out on it! But you also deserve to do the things you want to do and have fun while doing them too! *big hugs*
I 100% understand where you are coming from, to work so hard and put so much time into something only to have it flop, is really devastating for a creative person when you put so much of yourself Into the things you create, I hope you get back on your feet and take things more chill moving forward! ❤
one of the most priceless pieces of advice in our current hustle culture is the quote: Creativity doesn't owe it to you to pay your bills. instead, it invites you to play. I love how your resisting programming that 'succes' means that you need to make money of your art. I love watching your video's and love it even more that your will not create them out of need, but out of a desire to share fun.
Totally can relate to this! I have pulled back on the number of creator collaborations I used to do because it was forcing me to spend so much time on projects that aren't always what I want to do and thus gives me less time to sew and create for my dolls as I'd like.
Thank you for being so vulnerable with your community 😢it is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Taking care of yourself and mental health always comes first and it is really commendable that you are being so thoughtful and honest with yourself about what you want and what you need. I’m just happy to see you pop up again and I’ve got my seatbelt on to tag along for the ride 😊 As for creative burn out, I went through a similar experience in which I basically “ghosted” the creative outlet for a while just so I could breathe again. Existing and reminding myself I existed outside of the creative block was one of the best things I could do for myself and after some time I very casually began dipping my toes into things but the moment I felt like I was forcing it I stepped back again. It’s not a linear process, as are most things in life, and you just have to constantly be honest with yourself ❤
I'm in the same boat, been in it for a while. It's alright, we all struggle, and taking time to sort things out is absolutely fine. The lines tend to blur do you do it for yourself or the more or less faceless viewers. You gotta do what brings you joy. When it feels like a chore or work that makes you go "Ugh [insert negatives]", it's time to take a break and think. Those who love your content will be waiting for you. We all have lives to live as well, it's understandable that life sometimes throws a wrench instead of a lemon at you. Personally... I had a bit of a breakdown when I struggled through a bout of nasty flu that kept me from work, and added stress with my tendency to overreact... big time... and in the end, I put everything, gaming, streaming, podfics, arts, and dolls on hold or backburner until the new year. Depression has dragged me deeper but I'm trying to deal with this. I want to do things, but I just... scour RUclips and get the bare minimum done around the house. It makes me feel bad that I don't do things and... That creates a cycle and it's horrible to try to break.
This whole video has resonated with me so much, as a fellow creative who has wanted nothing more than to make a living with my art (without burning out and being miserable). Please take care of yourself and we'll be rooting for you and your continued healing. 💜 I'm still healing myself, so I don't have too much advice, but therapy and a good spiritual advisor have helped a lot. So has doing things with conscious intention. Instead of thinking of things in very broad terms (eg "I have to do this because it's my responsibility at my job") I've started getting super granular (eg "I want to save up to buy my first smart doll. Doing well at my job will enable me to achieve this goal faster. This specific task is boring/draining/fill-in-the-blank, but it's not intolerable and it gets me that much closer.") Just consciously spelling out why I'm doing what I'm doing can be hugely helpful.
Ill miss semi regular uploads but this is a good step for U and your true fans will support U. I will always look forward to your vids even if they arent "polished"
I can relate, I have never been a youtuber but I did spend 2 years doing bead work. It got to the point where even looking at my beads made me physically ill. You do what you feel you need to do for you. I am proud of you for growing towards being self aware. Baby steps works and makes it easier on you.
We are all here for you. As an artist, i understand what you are going through, I do hope that you are happy of where you are wanting to go. I have experienced burn outs alot, when i want to work on my comic and my small art business that i want to make. But Due to my autism i would need alot of alone time to recover as well when i get bad days. I been thinking about leaving my recent full time job to find a new one with different hours due to that i been catching myself missing my alarms due to the lack of sleep from my unpredictable schedule which gets me angry at myself. Also i been stressed and depressed alot, which isnt healthy for me. So far how i handled my burn outs is i would play video games, read a book, or go to my church events to get some recovery
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life. I'm on a similar journey. I put everything into being a ceramist, I quit work, went to school, rented studio space, and shared my creations on social media. I felt the need to justify all of the time and money I put into my art so I tried to monetize and once I got into that mindset ceramics became a source of anxiety. When I displayed my work at a gallery for the first time I felt so hurt. People liked my work but it wasn't what "sells" and I had zero interest in making cups. I cried at the thought of putting hours of work into getting good at something I didn't feel passionate about. No matter how much time or whatever angle I went at it I didn't feel any joy in making what people were willing to buy. It's been a year and a half since I quit the studio and put my tools in the closet. Just the idea of getting a membership at the studio down the street from my new home is painful. I felt like a failure. Since then I've put my time and energy into learning an unrelated skill that requires a different kind of creativity. It's been rewarding to do something I find interesting that doesn't come with a large emotional price tag. Some day I hope to return to ceramics but for now I'm giving myself the grace and compassion to heal. Good luck in your artistic journey; know that you're not alone :)
Thank you so much for your honesty! That's something you don't get a a lot of these days. Good luck on your journey and I will support you any way I can ❤💙
Diana, I'm glad you're taking time for yourself and knowing your boundaries as far as work goes. I haven't watched doll videos in forever, but I always loved your cute and gentle personality. I've been dealing with depression for the last 10 years or so. I've found that even though things are hard and I find no joy in anything, I still try to do the things I "used" to enjoy. I may not make a full color illustration, but maybe I draw in the corner of my sketchbook. Eventually, things will have meaning and joy again. ❤️🔥 It may be different than it was before but there isn't anything wrong with that. To love is to be changed, and we must love ourselves. I also don't want to minimize the help I've received from anti-depressants. They aren't for everyone, and it took me a lot of trial and error to find what worked best for me, but I owe a lot to Wellbutrin haha. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and I'm excited to see what you have planned next. Take it easy and don't work too hard ❤️🔥
I love your videos...but as much as I DO love them....what's more important is you taking care of you first....I'll be here awaiting the time when you're back on even keel💜💜💜🫂💜💜💜🫂💜💜💜
You must always put yourself and your health first. I understand totally how you are feeling I don't make videos, and will never be as talented as you are, but I am crafty and love making things, but like you I am totally stuck. I come up with ideas, make a start and can't finish them. And that being the case, the guilt sets in, making the whole cycle even worse, and makes me even less likely to produce anything I am even remotely happy with. Hopefully my oomph with come back soonish. I will try to stop beating myself up about it. You take care Diana, I have followed your channel for years and love it. I look forward to your next video, whenever you feel able to make it. Lots of love from Scotland ♥
Sending all the hugs and healing vibes. It's so hard when something you once loved doesn't bring you the same joy. Your health is more important than all of this. Take care.
Don’t worry I’ll be here to listen. Just have fun. Like you said life’s too short. I wish I had your gumption. There is just no way I’m ever going to do a video. I’m like you in. That respect. When my Dad died in 2007 my whole world fell out. I was the only one of us 4 children to not have kids. When he was gone I was thinking well it’s not worth having them now. No grandparents to enjoy them. Long story. Too shorten it. It turned out my hubby is bipolar with intermittent explosive disorder. So kids would have been to much. Good side…I got to “retire” 43 when I had to start taking care of him. It wasn’t until 2020 that I discovered SmartDolls. 😊
Hey, I hope you are doing well. When I saw this, I just felt sorry. This whole time I knew you needed space with your engagement, marriage, a new home you would move to, and maybe your own personal craft projects that you wanted to do and not share (trust me, I made lots of projects like that). But to hear now that it's more of a toll to update on RUclips and suddenly losing your creative ability. I really don't know what to say; I just felt bad you were losing your desire. And even worse...I was looking forward to your doll videos of the Avatar winner dolls and more ideas of the Destination Disney and seeing how you desire the Smart doll looks. It's your content, your channel and your art style. Artist like you need to explore more to grow, yet you are also human with a great life already outside of this. Whatever your future will hold, I hope you will be able to be creative with doll customization when you desire. (And you don't need to answer this, I can understand a no reply. Will we see your Avatar doll contest winner dolls?)
You do what you know to be best for you, girl, is it possible to only post once a month or even less? You'll keep those followers who really love you and your content and I'll be there.. Good luck hon❤
No one ever talks about, when you've turned your passion into work, how difficult it is to realise when you've lost all love for it. Burn out is so much more dangerous than most people realise as well. For myself at least, I found admitting that I was bloody miserable the hardest part. Take your time, little bits at a time, small victories, and find your creativity and love again. Your community will patiently be here for you and happy to see you when you return. Take it slow and never be afraid to say you're tired. You have all our love and support in fighting the good fight.
I always hate to see others suffer the way I have for the past decade 😢 All I can say is this: make sure you have a healthy outlet. It seems like sewing is for you, so make cute things for your dolls. Surround yourself with things that make you happy. If there’s clutter, clean up and make sure it doesn’t pile up to the point of no return. I hope this comment helps, even a little ❤
We put pressure on ourselves even more than others do. Give yourself whatever you need to feel healthy. If you decide to leave youtube then we will give you our blessings. We will miss your incredible art, but your health and life are so much more important to your subscribers. God’s dearest blessings on you and your decision. ❤
i think i would be nice if you made some more chill unedited videos, like just a smart doll dress up video or a real time face up video. i hope you feel better soon!
Listen, if you post 2 videos a year and they're less polished but you're enjoying them, I'd be happy to watch them. I know that people often ask why I don't sell my crocheted dolls etc, and my answer is usually that if I had a deadline, a price point, a customer base to please, I'd feel so pressured, and it'd make me miserable. I can't stand the thought. I never want you creating stuff for youtube to feel like that. Whatever you feel like making, however often, I'll be here. I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel that way.
I have so many thoughts on this. First to echo everyone else in the comments: do what your instincts tell you . I can only imagine that bringing the Doll Fairy to life and force feeding the channel when you were running out of creative energy and not feeling fulfilled, and also trying to make a career out of your online content was surely frustrating. I have noticed a lot of doll content creators going back to basics and sharing videos that aren’t filled with bells and whistles, less editing and less content or quitting all together. I think you are an amazing talent . I think you are evolving and trying new approaches in your creative process. Customization is such a painstakingly time consuming project. You are literally taking your medium and starting from ground zero.I know some people think you just grab some paint and whip out doll after doll. It takes weeks and sometimes months to get the finished product and sometimes there can be a lot of false starts.You have a fresh, clean slate each day to try new things and find inspiration. It’s interesting how once something becomes “ work” we tend to lose interest before long . Especially because art is so subjective, sometimes we need to take a step back to reevaluate what’s next . Best of luck to you Diana. I know things will turn out really great for you . All the love Dollhearts
You absolutely need to take care of yourself, we’re here to support you in any way we can, and just know that your online friends are here and we love you!
Don't look at it like a business, just see it as hm I think I'm going to make a doll, and just record the process and when your ready just upload, don't stress and lose your passion for what you enjoy. ❤
We’re totally here for you! Take all the time you need we love you ❤
Diana, I am so proud of you, as a watcher of yours, for you deciding that you’re going to take content creating much more spontaneously. You deserve to have fun, and we will always have fun with watching you. This isn’t goodbye to the DollFairy, this is just see you later! I would honestly love more laidback and casual videos where we can just craft alongside you, so I look forward to your eventual return, whenever you feel ready. I wish you luck on your healing process as well ❤
DO WHAT MAKES YOU Happy OMG SO PROUD of u!
You have accomplished a lot and inspired many, myself included. Just considerate on what brings you joy and things will fall into place. Make dolls and videos for yourself first!
I think its brave to be like hai, this just isn't working and to change paths for a channel. I love that youre going in a more authentic direction! In the end you should do whatever works for you and makes you happy
Depression and anxiety is no joke. Like others have already said, you should always take care of yourself first! Mental, physical you name it. Think of it like a diary instead of a work business. I love your work, your doll outfits always amazes me. It's a good thing to have a main thing to focus on. My favorite thing in doll customizing as a fellow doll customizer is the sewing as well. You can potray so much in a doll's personality in just their style of clothing.
Edit (extra bit I forgot to add): how I deal with my own burn outs and fits of depression especially when it comes it art, I do what I call "intentionall expression." I meditate before creating something and let that emotion overflow in my art piece. To me, it's a healthy way of letting go of that over flowing extra emotion. Negative or positive. I also try to focus on one thing at a time with the doll customizing. Like, what part do I want the center of attention to be? Havig that in mind helps me as well.
I'm a terrible doll seamstress and I sew for fun, for my own collection, and watching you sew and take pride in what you sew was a joy for the eyes... so please take care of yourself, creativity and passion are the only things that makes life worth living, and you deserve a life free of depression and anxiety!
This is the reason why I can't start a RUclips channel, I want to share my work, experience, with people, but it takes too much time, time that I need to create things. You can take a break or have another job for now and sell the doll clothes as an hobby. 👍😊
I definitely struggle with these same things of sharing my art online, and promotion being harder to do. I feel pressure to make it work financially bc I can't work traditionally. I do want to build something special that I'm proud of.
thank you for being so honest and taking care of yourself. do what makes you smile when you wake up, not something that stresses you out. you are incredibly talented and inspiring♥️
Making your passion into a business can be challenging. Perhaps you can look into having an assistant of some kind help you? That would take some of the strain off. Take all the time you need, I am glad that you are taking strides to better your mental health.
Thank you for sharing this with us. It must be very depressing not reaching goals you set for yourself. But I’m so happy to hear that you will keep creating and doing what brings you (and us as viewers) joy 😊✌🏻
I also sometimes miss the „old RUclips days“ where you didn’t need a perfect setup, all you needed was a potato as a camera, maybe some IKEA furniture in the background and some dreams 😂
I hope you know that all your work is appreciated here ❤ because you do a lot (creating content, video editing, social media and marketing, sewing and producing stuff and selling it and probably even more)
I think this is an issue that a bunch of creative and artistic people struggle with. It's so hard when you know money could be made with your passion, and getting concerned with doing everything "right" and "pretty" or in a way that will please an unpredictable algorithm. I think you've got it figured out though, if I were you I would work on the things that do make me excited and share as much as I feel enough energy/enthusiasm to do. I think you're right about missing the genuine/casual feel of older youtube videos. I think we could use more of that in our current times. As far as renewing creative passion, immerse yourself in things that inspire you (but not things that you'll get stuck comparing yourself to), keep some projects just for you and just for fun, and don't worry about every project being perfect. And I've learned it's okay to let an idea eventually die. I'm pretty sure from your videos I've gathered you have religious beliefs, and if you're comfortable with the idea, I would pray for inspiration and energy. I really hope things become more fulfilling and enjoyable for you soon.
As someone else who has struggled with self worth, and then who has made it worse by equating what I *do* with who I *am*, you are so valid, Diana. I still love and appreciate what you've been able to do
That’s understandable take all the time you need to take care of yourself ❤we can wait until you’re ready to come back.Also love all your videos ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.
I've struggled through burnout like this. Because of the type of creative I am, when I burnout it means that I need to stop doing that style of creative thing entirely for a long time. Sometimes forever. But I absolutely need a hard break from it where I don't do anything related to that creative thing at all, not even thinking about it. I need to allow myself to explore the joy of a new medium for a while until I can't help myself from going back to that original medium because I just have to make something. Only then is it safe for me to enjoy that original medium again.
One of the key things I've noticed is that perfectionism and the pressure to perform to a schedule is usually what sucks the joy out of creating for me, and when I burn out I've forgotten what I enjoyed about the medium to begin with. Allowing myself to cycle through creative ideas and just explore them instead of exploiting them is really key for me. This does mean that having a creative job is extremely difficult, because I need the space to drop a project in the middle and not be able to make money off of it. Before I became disabled I had reached a point where I accepted that I would never have a stable income or I would need to work a boring 9 to 5 to support my hobbies. Making a career out of one is just not an option for me. If my health were to miraculously recover and I was well enough to work again, I think I'd do data entry or transcribing while working part time on creating a bunch of passive income sources based on my creative interests. Like writing a book, or selling patterns, or selling licenses to video game art. Just make as many of those sorts of things in as many creative mediums as possible, and eventually get to the point where I can just add to whichever one I feel like at the moment. I don't know if that would work, but that's what I'd like to do.
I have been able to do things to speed up the healing from burnout before, but it's a bit tricky. It's all about remembering the exact feelings I had at the beginning, or the point where I was the most productive, and remembering why it brought me joy. I also have to be very careful not to have any expectations of myself, because that's when the perfectionism and pressure will come back. I need to work on it for the love of the art alone or it won't work. Burnout is like a wheel falling into a rut, it's really easy to burn out again and I have to work harder than before to keep myself out of those emotions and expectations.
I hope you're able to recover well and be able to find joy in whichever path you end up taking. I'd love to see dolls from you, but if that's not what happens, that's fine too. I care more about your wellbeing than my entertainment. I also think you're fun to watch so if you upload something that's not dolls I'll check it out regardless.
I've learnt that work and passion for crafting anything should be separated. I crochet plushies as a hobby and sell at a convention. Because of the years 2020 and 21 I had two years to build up my stock and it all went so well at artist alley. I wanted to make more projects and create new plushie patterns for the next year and I got so easily stressed out because of the amount of plushies I had made during those two years, I felt like I had to reach that amount in one year instead. I love my hobby, but it isn't worth to stress over such an impossible goal, so I set boundaries for myself and decided not to sell this year. I let my projects take time and let inspiration come when it wants.
You are amazing and you need to be kind to yourself. Do your projects at your own terms and I think you'll find the joy again.
Wow, glad you share it with us, it is always good to get something of your chest and then you will feel so much better.. I will much more like your new style and enjoy always watching you... Be strong and take good care of yourself... Have fun... and keep the sparkles on.. Lovies Yetta💕
I really appreciate that you are sharing your thoughts and time with us. I have totally enjoyed watching your channel. Take the time and do what you need to do.
I am battling to get my Insecurities with my paintings and drawings.
If you don't take care of yourself. Then who is going to do what YOU share with the us.
Thank you.
I try not to allow feelings of failure to take over. It’s far too easy to make plans that exceed our limits. Gauging how long things take or how hard they will be isn’t easy. Good luck! I hope you feel better! I’m looking forward to the smart doll clothes.
I’m a professional artist on the art fair circuit. Meaning i travel around to art fairs around my region to sell my art. Its is physically demanding and sometimes stressful work. It takes me away from my family, specifically my special needs child. For a long time I was wracked with guilt over this. Guilt for leaving but also guilt for wanting leave, for wanting to pursue my career. And at the end of the 2021 season i crashed into deep depression and creative burnout. There was no magic cure for this except for what you’re already doing. Time, therapy, long talks with loved ones. What I eventually realized is that i have the right to live my own life. I’ve worked very hard to get to the level i am now both artistically and financially and it’s perfectly valid to say “I deserve to do what I love, without shame, without guilt.” There is more then one way forward Diana. Real success isn’t a measure only of money but of happiness. You have the right to be happy, to create things that you enjoy creating. Money is important but when you are ninety years old and looking back i can assure you that a lifetime of making and doing things you love will be far more memorable and fulfilling then a lifetime making money.
For depression, I went to a therapist and got on meds, which helped/helps me alot! I will still be here and I will patiently wait to see what you do next! :)
Diana, I am proud of you for going through this difficult journey that you definitely needed to go through. Use your channel however you need to, and there will be people who stick around! I really feel that creating should be fun and if it isn't fun anymore then there isn't any point of trying to push through that, it really only causes more trouble.
I've gone through a similar journey myself (still am, in a way). Art was something I always had and loved to do and through a lot of work I realized that art as a career just wasn't going to work for me. I feel like there is a lot of pressure now to monetize art and hobbies, but you don't have to do that. It works for some people but not for others, and that's okay. Just do what works for you and fills you up.
I hope you're doing well and I wish you luck on the rest of this journey! ❤
🤗 take care of you. ❤ It does seem like these feelings are going around. I personally have been feeling that too- I have been lucky in that I filmed a bunch when I was able to several months ago and had videos ready. This time of year always get me down and I knew I might find it difficult to create content so having some already helped. I have been working on organizing and sorting my doll collection and selling as a way to keep myself in it. My doll hobby has been my escape and sometimes I just go and sit in my art/ doll room and look at what inspires me. Oh and I am a mom of 2 young kids so escape is needed sometimes.
I do hope you find a good fit for you and it makes you feel better and happy with your hobby. I hope my little story helps you. I will still be here to watch any of your videos you post❤
As someone who has suffered from losing the joy of something due to burnout (i'm a tribal belly dancer and for a LONG time, I got so burned out that I wasn't enjoying dancing at all anymore!), I totally understand! When I was that burned out, I found taking a break, doing something else and taking a big step BACK from Dancing was absolutely necessary for me. Luckily, I did find the joy in dance again, but i found that I do better with it when I don't set a particular set of songs to dance to unless I'm rehearsing for a specific show. Otherwise, I just put on something random music-wise and just go with the flow. As a doll customizer, and a content creator as well, I get that pressure that you feel, love. Seriously, Diane, I do--it's HARD creating Content on a regular basis! And well posting twice a month..I HAVE done it but honestly, I prefer to post ONCE per month because then I don't feel as pressured to keep up with those who can post every week or every other week. That's TOUGH! it really is--unless you have help, it's really not possiblef or one person to post constantly with this sort of content. Doll Customization IS fun, but...sometimes we get set backs, things don't quite go as we planned or Life gets REALLY busy or chaotic (and yes I have 3 kids, I LIVE with chaos! lol) and then we don't always get to post things when we planned to. It's hard--super hard! When I know I have a deadline (i have one next month for instance), If i know it's gonna be a big project...I start as early as I can! For instance, my december doll is ALREADY in the works because I'm planning to make alot of accessories for her...and as someone who is accessories challenged, I am already trying to plan out what I want to make and already telling myself if I CAN'T do it all, it's okay...because I can do them after the video is done for next year's video. Take care of yourself, take a step back and do what you ENJOY doing the most. Maybe even remind yourself to take breaks from sewing and designing so you don't get overwhelmed as you did with making content, etc. Maybe also asking for some help when you DO get overwhelmed (for instance, ask a friend to maybe come over and help you with l aying out cloth and patterns and helping with cutting it out? or maybe even just allowing yourself more time to get things done. You are the boss of your own business, YOU can set your deadlines and schedules. don't pressure yourself to get it all done immediately. small business owners who also make things can get burned out fast if they push themselves too hard and that is what you've been doing. You can say "okay, I need to take my time on this..." and stop trying to base your own self worth on how well your business is or isn't doing. You are gorgeous, creative and an Outstanding person:) You've got this--you will succeed. Yes, it may not be a huge profit margin..but so long as the bills are paid, you have a roof over your head and food on the table....that's all that's REALLY important, hon. The rest will follow. Just know that we are here for you. I also suffer from depression and anxiety...and low self esteem. I never believe it when someone tells me i'm amazing..because I dont' feel amazing. But just know that you are wonderful--your videos are fun, your dolls are gorgeous and the clothes you're designing are top notch! Remember to do self care for yourself as well--get your nails done, take a day off just to relax and play video games if you liek those or read a book, etc. do things that help you to relax....the creativity is still there, it'll suddenly leap up and hit ya when you've relaxed;) hell, I took a week off from customizing to clean my house and spend time with my kids...and I was amazed at how many ideas I got hit with during that time! But I didn't touch a doll until AFTER that week was over. And believe it or not, I'm sure you have helped quite a few others by saying "this is hard, I'm burned out, I need to rethink how I want to move forward." That takes courage, Diana--not everyone can come out and say "i need to change how I'm doing things." So by putting up this video, I have no doubt that you have helped someone else:) Take care, you are loved and you will figure out how you want to proceed;) We'll see you when you post another video and in the meantime, just do what you need to do to take care of you♥
I'm grateful you took the time to let us know what was going on and not just vanishing into the ether. I was just wondering the other day whether you were alright.
This is the first of your videos I have watched and I felt your sadness. Reading the comments, you are a very special person and every one wishes you the best. T😊aking time out and truly doing only what you love will help and hopefully you will soon get pleasure from your sewing. Look after yourself you should come first xx
sewing is what i enjoy most about doll customization and 'fairy godmother' aesthetic fits you so if you want to become a doll clothes sewing channel that's cool if your vids are sporadic that's cool, if you need to change how your content is presented to more of a sit down diary chat that's also cool we will either enjoy it or not just dont hurt yourself being something your not, i like progress vlog content on sewing channels and full project vids and most of what i watch is because the personality of the person and their joy for the content resonate with me if you have no joy for your content its not good.
We're totally here for you Diana, take all the time you need. Watching your video's always inspired me to bring art to life, my life has been awfully down this year.
I couldn't find the right doll to make Pumpkin head during Halloween but at least I made miniature pie's from Sweeney Todd (no Gore) & I have been painting some miniature cnvas of Disney Princess & other characters.
Rapunzel I have to try again (the Lantern painting)
Finished Canvas
Hocus Pocus - Sanderson Sisters
Tinker Bell - even though she's in one mini canvas I am planning on painting on a medium large canvas & put Wendy, John, Michael, Peter, Tinker Bell & Jane flying in the night sky.
Snow White
Belle
Cinderella
Aurora
Tiana
Merida
Mulan
Meg - Hercules
Ariel from classic & new
Melody
Giselle
Morgan - princess
Nancy - queen
Pocahontas
Anna
Elsa
Moana - sailing
Kida - Atlantis
Asha - wish
Raya and Sisu
Elena of Avalor
Sofie the first
Vanellope von schweetz
princess eilonwy - black cauldron
Mirabel & Isabela - Encanto
Shanti - Jungle Book
Esmeralda - Hunchback of Notre dam
Charlotte la bouf
Maid Marian - Robin Hood
Jane - Tarzan
Ember - Elemental
Alice in wonderland - classic
Aristocat - family portrait
Bambi
Blue fairy & Pinocchio
Dumbo - flying in the sky
sleeping red panda - Turning Red
Bo Peep
Jessie
Lilo
Lady & the Tramp eating Spaghetti together
Bother Bear - northern light's & mountain
Pride Rock, Simba from cub to adult lion from Rafiki's tree
Jessica Rabbit
Constance Hatch away
Madam Leota
Tim Burton
Emily - Corpse Bride
Wednesday Adams
Nightmare before Christmas - Jack, Sally, & Zero
Laika animation
Coraline portal with the cat
& finally two wizardry paintings for me winning first ribbon prize of magical plants (inspired by Wizard 101 & Little shop of Horror's)
I need a bit more practice to get Rapunzel's Lantern wall painting right, and as for the first try I am gonna put it up on sale. Hopefully 2024 will get every cheered up, see you next time Diana.
So much of what you said is exactly what I'm going through right now and have been since last year in my own creative business/endeavor. I am struggling haaaard to stop the cycle of internalizing pressure, self doubt, and critique. I'm trying to focus instead on embracing the snail's pace, celebrating small, tiny, even miniscule wins, and taking breaks when though I'm already going so slow 😖... Thank you so much for making this video, being honest, transparent, and vulnerable on camera, and sharing it with all of us. It means so much to see that I'm not alone and others are going through the same issues, esp in losing the creative spark, motivation, and energy that keeps creatives going. That's been a really scary feeling/realization but now I have more... Validation, I guess? Idk, it feels like a sign that I'm on the right track now and not alone in my struggles with this type of burnout. And now I have more hope that that creative spark can return. So yeah, I don't think I have any tips but I wanted to say thank you so much, I'm very grateful that you posted this video, this is exactly what I needed to see today. I wish you continued healing and truly look forward to whatever content makes you happy to post whenever it sparks joy for you to post it 🤗💜
Ah I will cheer for you always.
Take your time to rest and relax.
I will wait for your next video no matter how long it takes.
💐💐💙🤍
I feel where you're coming from Diana. Hang in there, you are doing the best you can with what you've got. I feel you on having a bunch of footage to edit but struggling to do so. I don't have a single doll video on my channel, but I've recorded the process for most of my dolls since 2019. I need to get over the initial hump of being afraid to suck at this. X'''D You're right, editing does take a lot of time, and I think, as I've been doing art for all these years, I've long since gotten away from being a beginner in most of my crafts. So going back to being a beginner and having to adjust my quality expectations is a lot. And I imagine you're likely feeling some of that too. Reevaluating what sparks joy for you can feel like being a beginner again, I felt it hard when I was finishing up college and struggling to draw for my last several projects, and it was a lot of "I'm supposed to know this, I'm supposed to be able to do this" running through my head. Throw the "supposed to"s and the "should"s away for a bit. You're not required to know everything or do everything. If doing doll customs the way you've been doing them isn't clicking, then it's time to change it up a little! I often worry that the way I'd want to do doll videos wouldn't work for people, since I know a lot of them want a tutorial to learn from. But I kind of want to do mine like a storytime thing. I wanna ramble on about how some detail was meaningful to me, or tell a story that goes along with something a project or experience taught me. I want to tell you all about my silly little characters and their stories, all this world building I've done. In my heart of hearts, I'm a storyteller, that's what I want to do. It's not something people do in this space, but why not? If it's meaningful to me, surely it could mean something to someone else, right? Follow your heart, be patient with yourself, and most importantly, be kind. I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day, the most valuable thing in creating art is that you love it, and if you love it, someone else will see that and love it too. Is that really how it works? Who's to say? But don't be afraid to play a different tune, I have every confidence you'll find a beat that suits your fancy. Rock on my girl, you've got this!
Whatever makes you happy, we want you to want to be here. And I know I’ll be watching :)
You do what makes you happy and I will still be here watching you good luck😊
I think it takes a lot of courage to admit that what you've been doing is not working as well as you intended and/or is not really what you want to do anymore. I hope you take care of yourself in whatever ways work for you!
I am a little late here, but creative burn out is something I struggle with too. I don't usually sell my products, and I certainly am not a youtuber or really influencer. But I am a naturally creative, crafty person. I find that every couple of months, I just loose interest. In my crafting and any other kind of art or sewing project I may want to do. I tend to get all these neat ideas and wrap them up in my head. Thinking I can do all of them plus work. And it usually doesn't happen that way. Then I get frustrated, because I haven't done any of the things I wanted too. So, I have learned that instead of fighting this, to kinda go with it. Take a step back. Do other things, game, read a book, actually go outside (Haha I live in Alaska. You would think this would be more of a thing I did) Maybe gain new interest and ideas. Put the others on the back burner until, I am ready for them. And then, eventually, I find that creative spark again. My burn outs sometimes go with the seasonal changes. That being said, I absolutely love your doll channel and all the creative products you put out on it! But you also deserve to do the things you want to do and have fun while doing them too! *big hugs*
I 100% understand where you are coming from, to work so hard and put so much time into something only to have it flop, is really devastating for a creative person when you put so much of yourself Into the things you create, I hope you get back on your feet and take things more chill moving forward! ❤
one of the most priceless pieces of advice in our current hustle culture is the quote: Creativity doesn't owe it to you to pay your bills. instead, it invites you to play. I love how your resisting programming that 'succes' means that you need to make money of your art. I love watching your video's and love it even more that your will not create them out of need, but out of a desire to share fun.
Totally can relate to this! I have pulled back on the number of creator collaborations I used to do because it was forcing me to spend so much time on projects that aren't always what I want to do and thus gives me less time to sew and create for my dolls as I'd like.
Thank you for being so vulnerable with your community 😢it is an incredibly difficult thing to do.
Taking care of yourself and mental health always comes first and it is really commendable that you are being so thoughtful and honest with yourself about what you want and what you need. I’m just happy to see you pop up again and I’ve got my seatbelt on to tag along for the ride 😊
As for creative burn out, I went through a similar experience in which I basically “ghosted” the creative outlet for a while just so I could breathe again. Existing and reminding myself I existed outside of the creative block was one of the best things I could do for myself and after some time I very casually began dipping my toes into things but the moment I felt like I was forcing it I stepped back again. It’s not a linear process, as are most things in life, and you just have to constantly be honest with yourself ❤
I'm in the same boat, been in it for a while. It's alright, we all struggle, and taking time to sort things out is absolutely fine. The lines tend to blur do you do it for yourself or the more or less faceless viewers. You gotta do what brings you joy. When it feels like a chore or work that makes you go "Ugh [insert negatives]", it's time to take a break and think. Those who love your content will be waiting for you. We all have lives to live as well, it's understandable that life sometimes throws a wrench instead of a lemon at you.
Personally... I had a bit of a breakdown when I struggled through a bout of nasty flu that kept me from work, and added stress with my tendency to overreact... big time... and in the end, I put everything, gaming, streaming, podfics, arts, and dolls on hold or backburner until the new year. Depression has dragged me deeper but I'm trying to deal with this. I want to do things, but I just... scour RUclips and get the bare minimum done around the house. It makes me feel bad that I don't do things and... That creates a cycle and it's horrible to try to break.
wishing you the best, enjoy your dolls & forget about the dead lines.
This whole video has resonated with me so much, as a fellow creative who has wanted nothing more than to make a living with my art (without burning out and being miserable). Please take care of yourself and we'll be rooting for you and your continued healing. 💜 I'm still healing myself, so I don't have too much advice, but therapy and a good spiritual advisor have helped a lot. So has doing things with conscious intention. Instead of thinking of things in very broad terms (eg "I have to do this because it's my responsibility at my job") I've started getting super granular (eg "I want to save up to buy my first smart doll. Doing well at my job will enable me to achieve this goal faster. This specific task is boring/draining/fill-in-the-blank, but it's not intolerable and it gets me that much closer.") Just consciously spelling out why I'm doing what I'm doing can be hugely helpful.
Ill miss semi regular uploads but this is a good step for U and your true fans will support U. I will always look forward to your vids even if they arent "polished"
❤❤❤ So proud of you for taking care of you! ❤️❤❤
I can relate, I have never been a youtuber but I did spend 2 years doing bead work. It got to the point where even looking at my beads made me physically ill. You do what you feel you need to do for you. I am proud of you for growing towards being self aware. Baby steps works and makes it easier on you.
We are all here for you. As an artist, i understand what you are going through, I do hope that you are happy of where you are wanting to go.
I have experienced burn outs alot, when i want to work on my comic and my small art business that i want to make. But Due to my autism i would need alot of alone time to recover as well when i get bad days. I been thinking about leaving my recent full time job to find a new one with different hours due to that i been catching myself missing my alarms due to the lack of sleep from my unpredictable schedule which gets me angry at myself. Also i been stressed and depressed alot, which isnt healthy for me. So far how i handled my burn outs is i would play video games, read a book, or go to my church events to get some recovery
I’ve been watching you for years. I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life. I'm on a similar journey. I put everything into being a ceramist, I quit work, went to school, rented studio space, and shared my creations on social media. I felt the need to justify all of the time and money I put into my art so I tried to monetize and once I got into that mindset ceramics became a source of anxiety. When I displayed my work at a gallery for the first time I felt so hurt. People liked my work but it wasn't what "sells" and I had zero interest in making cups. I cried at the thought of putting hours of work into getting good at something I didn't feel passionate about. No matter how much time or whatever angle I went at it I didn't feel any joy in making what people were willing to buy.
It's been a year and a half since I quit the studio and put my tools in the closet. Just the idea of getting a membership at the studio down the street from my new home is painful. I felt like a failure. Since then I've put my time and energy into learning an unrelated skill that requires a different kind of creativity. It's been rewarding to do something I find interesting that doesn't come with a large emotional price tag. Some day I hope to return to ceramics but for now I'm giving myself the grace and compassion to heal. Good luck in your artistic journey; know that you're not alone :)
Thank you so much for your honesty! That's something you don't get a a lot of these days. Good luck on your journey and I will support you any way I can ❤💙
One day at a time, one action at a time, through at a time , please take your time and feel happy
Take all the time you need to heal mentally and physically, I will wait for you when you will be ready to share them again with us. ❤
Taking care of yourself is so important. Take all the time you need, and I will be here when you upload something as I've learned a lot from you.
Diana, I'm glad you're taking time for yourself and knowing your boundaries as far as work goes. I haven't watched doll videos in forever, but I always loved your cute and gentle personality.
I've been dealing with depression for the last 10 years or so. I've found that even though things are hard and I find no joy in anything, I still try to do the things I "used" to enjoy. I may not make a full color illustration, but maybe I draw in the corner of my sketchbook. Eventually, things will have meaning and joy again. ❤️🔥 It may be different than it was before but there isn't anything wrong with that. To love is to be changed, and we must love ourselves. I also don't want to minimize the help I've received from anti-depressants. They aren't for everyone, and it took me a lot of trial and error to find what worked best for me, but I owe a lot to Wellbutrin haha.
I'm keeping you in my thoughts and I'm excited to see what you have planned next. Take it easy and don't work too hard ❤️🔥
I'm sorry you're feeling this way, but mental health comes first before art. Whatever you decide, we'll support you.
I love your videos...but as much as I DO love them....what's more important is you taking care of you first....I'll be here awaiting the time when you're back on even keel💜💜💜🫂💜💜💜🫂💜💜💜
You must always put yourself and your health first. I understand totally how you are feeling I don't make videos, and will never be as talented as you are, but I am crafty and love making things, but like you I am totally stuck. I come up with ideas, make a start and can't finish them. And that being the case, the guilt sets in, making the whole cycle even worse, and makes me even less likely to produce anything I am even remotely happy with. Hopefully my oomph with come back soonish. I will try to stop beating myself up about it. You take care Diana, I have followed your channel for years and love it. I look forward to your next video, whenever you feel able to make it. Lots of love from Scotland ♥
Sending all the hugs and healing vibes. It's so hard when something you once loved doesn't bring you the same joy. Your health is more important than all of this. Take care.
It's hard to make a living at it. I don't even try but I don't let that kill my spirit or stop me from creating art for art's sake
I hope you find tons of joy with whatever direction you choose moving forward.
Do what you love, love what you Do♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏😊😊
Would love to see your channel in a more casual form. Love to watch your journey
You gotta do what makes you happy. We support you. ❤
Don’t worry I’ll be here to listen. Just have fun. Like you said life’s too short. I wish I had your gumption. There is just no way I’m ever going to do a video. I’m like you in. That respect. When my Dad died in 2007 my whole world fell out. I was the only one of us 4 children to not have kids. When he was gone I was thinking well it’s not worth having them now. No grandparents to enjoy them. Long story. Too shorten it. It turned out my hubby is bipolar with intermittent explosive disorder. So kids would have been to much. Good side…I got to “retire” 43 when I had to start taking care of him. It wasn’t until 2020 that I discovered SmartDolls. 😊
Hey, I hope you are doing well. When I saw this, I just felt sorry. This whole time I knew you needed space with your engagement, marriage, a new home you would move to, and maybe your own personal craft projects that you wanted to do and not share (trust me, I made lots of projects like that). But to hear now that it's more of a toll to update on RUclips and suddenly losing your creative ability. I really don't know what to say; I just felt bad you were losing your desire. And even worse...I was looking forward to your doll videos of the Avatar winner dolls and more ideas of the Destination Disney and seeing how you desire the Smart doll looks. It's your content, your channel and your art style. Artist like you need to explore more to grow, yet you are also human with a great life already outside of this. Whatever your future will hold, I hope you will be able to be creative with doll customization when you desire.
(And you don't need to answer this, I can understand a no reply. Will we see your Avatar doll contest winner dolls?)
You do what you know to be best for you, girl, is it possible to only post once a month or even less? You'll keep those followers who really love you and your content and I'll be there..
Good luck hon❤
No one ever talks about, when you've turned your passion into work, how difficult it is to realise when you've lost all love for it. Burn out is so much more dangerous than most people realise as well. For myself at least, I found admitting that I was bloody miserable the hardest part. Take your time, little bits at a time, small victories, and find your creativity and love again. Your community will patiently be here for you and happy to see you when you return. Take it slow and never be afraid to say you're tired. You have all our love and support in fighting the good fight.
just do what makes you happy and take care of yourself.
Have fun. Do it your way. Take care of you.
I always hate to see others suffer the way I have for the past decade 😢
All I can say is this: make sure you have a healthy outlet. It seems like sewing is for you, so make cute things for your dolls. Surround yourself with things that make you happy. If there’s clutter, clean up and make sure it doesn’t pile up to the point of no return.
I hope this comment helps, even a little ❤
We put pressure on ourselves even more than others do. Give yourself whatever you need to feel healthy. If you decide to leave youtube then we will give you our blessings. We will miss your incredible art, but your health and life are so much more important to your subscribers. God’s dearest blessings on you and your decision. ❤
i think i would be nice if you made some more chill unedited videos, like just a smart doll dress up video or a real time face up video. i hope you feel better soon!
You do you ❤🎉
❤❤
Listen, if you post 2 videos a year and they're less polished but you're enjoying them, I'd be happy to watch them. I know that people often ask why I don't sell my crocheted dolls etc, and my answer is usually that if I had a deadline, a price point, a customer base to please, I'd feel so pressured, and it'd make me miserable. I can't stand the thought. I never want you creating stuff for youtube to feel like that. Whatever you feel like making, however often, I'll be here. I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel that way.
Get some rest, Diana. After all these years, you earned it.
Smart Doll is my dream for 2024🤞🏻🤞🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️ SO I KNOW where I will come for clothes❤❤❤❤
I have so many thoughts on this. First to echo everyone else in the comments: do what your instincts tell you . I can only imagine that bringing the Doll Fairy to life and force feeding the channel when you were running out of creative energy and not feeling fulfilled, and also trying to make a career out of your online content was surely frustrating. I have noticed a lot of doll content creators going back to basics and sharing videos that aren’t filled with bells and whistles, less editing and less content or quitting all together. I think you are an amazing talent . I think you are evolving and trying new approaches in your creative process. Customization is such a painstakingly time consuming project. You are literally taking your medium and starting from ground zero.I know some people think you just grab some paint and whip out doll after doll. It takes weeks and sometimes months to get the finished product and sometimes there can be a lot of false starts.You have a fresh, clean slate each day to try new things and find inspiration. It’s interesting how once something becomes “ work” we tend to lose interest before long . Especially because art is so subjective, sometimes we need to take a step back to reevaluate what’s next .
Best of luck to you Diana. I know things will turn out really great for you .
All the love
Dollhearts