It’s no secret that most of us work alone with our polymer clay. Sure, we might recognize some names from social media and perhaps share some pleasantries in the DMs once in a while. But most of us have never had the opportunity to share our creative process itself with others. For the past two years, members of Blue Bottle Insiders have joined me in dedicating themselves to 100 days of creating. Each day, we worked on our chosen theme or project and then posted our progress in the 100 Day Project space. It was transformative! We were on the same journey, working on our craft, pushing ourselves, and sharing the process.

Each person chose their own theme, and not all of them were polymer clay. It was a fascinating exploration of possibilities. Here’s more about what those Insiders members discovered through their 100 Day Projects. I’ve shared their feedback so you can see exactly why and how this project was so gratifying.

Accountability: showing up because others are

If you’ve ever joined a gym in January and then quit by February, you know how hard it can be to push yourself when nobody’s cheering you on. But doing something with others means you’re on a journey with friends. They can commiserate with your frustrations and help you stay committed.

“While I know that I don’t need an excuse to make art for art’s sake, it sure helps to see others on the journey. Somehow that validates the practice and holds me more accountable for completing something every day.”

“It gave me accountability.”

Normalization: seeing others struggle changed everything

When finished artwork and especially social media are our only inputs, it can make us feel that our unfinished exploratory work is somehow insufficient. It’s not. We all struggle with the creative process. Working alongside others means that it normalizes the way that progress is often two steps backward for every step forward. When you have a supportive, growth-oriented peer group, they encourage your efforts and help you see through the times when things don’t turn out quite right.

“Other people posted work they were struggling with, work that didn’t turn out like they wanted/hoped/expected and it was ok to share it. It meant I didn’t have to be perfect and my work didn’t either. That really helped me grow and heal emotionally as well as an artist.”

“Getting feedback allowed me to see my work through a different, positive lens.”

“It felt so good to be seen.”

Inspiration travels

It’s a funny thing about creativity. It’s contagious. Even though everyone was working on a different project, participants inspired each other, riffing off what another person explored. There was a wonderful atmosphere of “I tried this thing” followed by “Oh that’s cool, I’ll try something similar”. And through this, we got to see themes, color schemes, and techniques tried out in new ways. It’s been a whole scene of collective effervescence!

“Working on a project like this creates a positive synergy. Even though we’re all working on individual projects, we’re also learning together as a group by sharing work, offering feedback, and riffing off each other’s work.”

“I loved scrolling through and seeing what everyone was making. It was inspiring, and several times I got ideas of techniques I wanted to try.”

“I felt energized seeing work by other participants.”

Surprise: what people discovered about themselves

The 100 Day Project is a big deal. It’s a huge commitment and can be incredibly intimidating on Day 1. But it’s also an incredibly transformative process. Everyone thinks it’s about the art. But it’s really a secret journey into what you’re capable of. Using art as the method, of course. We all grew through this project, and that fact truly surprised us!

“That I stuck with it for 100 days yikes.”

“I was surprised that I actually COULD do canes. I remember it being so intimidating when I first started.”

“That I could stick to something from beginning to end.”

“Despite hand and eye problems and mental health issues when I feel under pressure, I am stronger and still capable.”

The aloneness problem, solved

When our 100 days was up, and as we finished our projects, the overwhelming feeling expressed by everyone was that they were sad to see it come to an end. We were glad to be done with the daily obligation of the project, but we’d grown fond of “meeting” each other each day and sharing what we’d learned. We were no longer alone in our studios. We had friends right there with us.

“So many of us work alone and it was divine to have you all to share things with.”

“I want to do this EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.”

My Own 100 Days

I’ve shared what the Insiders members have said about their 100 Day Projects, but I also participated in the fun. I’ve done five rounds of the 100 Day Project, and you can read about them here. My most recent one was 100 Days of Wall Art.

While I always enjoy the camaraderie of sharing and seeing what everyone else does each day, I also love that constrained projects like the 100 Day Project give me an opportunity to explore new ideas without risk. I push myself to create something each day, and when I discover something new, I can refine it the next day and so on. BTW, I documented each day’s project in the 100 Day Project space in Blue Bottle Insiders. The info is archived there permanently, and members can read how each one evolved.

What’s Next?

While we’re done with the 100 Day Project for 2026, we’re still sharing, supporting, and exploring daily in Blue Bottle Insiders. I invite you to join us. We love new members!

As for the 100 Day Project, we’ll most likely give it another go in early 2027, most likely starting in January (but not on Jan 1, I’m not a sadist). Hope to see you there!