2/13/09
Butt in Chair
I got my hands into some clay last night, for the first time in I don't even want to think how long. Of the myriad issues/excuses that have kept me from my clay, one has been space, and that has been a big one. Over the last few months, I have been working on the remedy, or at least band-aid, and have completely re-organized the cupboards by the kitchen table that were never really used for kitchen things anyway. The theory behind the clean up was to make it easy to get out the clay even for short periods of time. Because, time, as we all know, is the other major culprit to not getting to the creative things. So if these cupboards are well enough organized, I should be able to grab everything out and work even for 1/2 hour, and easily put things back. Last night, I finally tested that theory.
There was a new episode of CSI on, and I had the various things I 'needed' to get done, done. So I decided to commit the hour the show was on to the clay. It stretched to about an hour and a half, all told, but it was still very easy to pull out and put away. One tub for the current work. I wouldn't really need to get out any others when I'm very pressed for time.
And it felt soooooo good to get into the clay, there aren't enough O's in the world to convey. Even though the new brand I bought ended up being a bit stinky. Whew! But doing it nonetheless. I do think the "Creativity Today" helped kick me in the butt, when I had to, so many days, write the same "crocheted on breaks at work" crap.
I've had a few ideas of clay pieces to work on, but they are still in the idea phase. What I started on is an idea I had a couple months ago, and had actually bought a couple packs of fresh clay in the colors I needed, and some small barrette backs. I guess this is the organization of ideas, the newer ideas need to ferment inside the brain a bit more before buying or arranging supplies, the idea that is fully fermented can come out my fingers now. I like that.
There was a new episode of CSI on, and I had the various things I 'needed' to get done, done. So I decided to commit the hour the show was on to the clay. It stretched to about an hour and a half, all told, but it was still very easy to pull out and put away. One tub for the current work. I wouldn't really need to get out any others when I'm very pressed for time.
And it felt soooooo good to get into the clay, there aren't enough O's in the world to convey. Even though the new brand I bought ended up being a bit stinky. Whew! But doing it nonetheless. I do think the "Creativity Today" helped kick me in the butt, when I had to, so many days, write the same "crocheted on breaks at work" crap.
I've had a few ideas of clay pieces to work on, but they are still in the idea phase. What I started on is an idea I had a couple months ago, and had actually bought a couple packs of fresh clay in the colors I needed, and some small barrette backs. I guess this is the organization of ideas, the newer ideas need to ferment inside the brain a bit more before buying or arranging supplies, the idea that is fully fermented can come out my fingers now. I like that.
2/12/09
Creativity Today: 2-12-9
Crocheting dish cloth: 30 minutes on breaks at work
Working with polyclay, conditioning and mixing colors: 1 1/2 hours
Working with polyclay, conditioning and mixing colors: 1 1/2 hours
2/11/09
Reflections on a Podcast
I get so inspired sometimes when listening to podcasts, similar to how some books give you a different perspective, and after reading (or listening), your view of the world has changed. One little insight, a connection, a couple words put together in a new way, an idea or just a spark, a moment of relaxation, something just right and somehow it hit me right when and where I needed it.
How I listen to podcasts is, I think, unique. I work as an Accountant (In real life I am an Artist, but my secret identity is an Accountant), not a CPA or numbers-crunchy type, mostly researching and rearranging numbers, but still something that takes a certain part of my brain. While I’m working, and using that logic part of my brain, my creative brain section is completely free, and often bored if not fed. That’s why I’m listening to podcasts most all day as I work. Since my creative journey at this stage of my life often feels like I am in a gathering phase than a doing phase, I appreciate the creatively inspiring podcasts tremendously!
I am always so very inspired by Craft Cast, it would take too long to list all the inspired things I have learned from the great Allison. The latest episode, with Kelly Rae Roberts is a great example.
As I listen, I have a notebook that I jot down notes or sketch ideas in, and here randomly are some of the things that were said &/or my reactions to what was being said:
“Creative journey” I love this phrase (see I used it in the paragraph above!) I have often thought of other parts of my life as a journey-spirituality, parenting-but I want to remember that my creative soul is on it’s own journey as well, and it’s the journeying that is the important part, not getting there.
“Expressing vulnerability” through creativity. I have had thoughts similar to this recently, and didn’t have words for it. It is something that I am not sure how to do, and I want to let myself go and see what happens.
“Quiet time” and “Listening to the creative soul” Having to pause the podcast to start writing this post, and having to put into words how I listen to podcasts at work, I was made aware that my most quiet time actually is during my work time. This awareness makes me think a couple things: find ways to utilize this quiet even more, and/or see if I can carve a space (probably both physical and mental) into the rest of my life where I can actually feel the quiet and listen.
“Butterflies out of the cocoon” The word I chose for last year was Emerging. As of right now, it is still my word.
“Walking through the ring of fire” Allison has said this before, and I love this phrase and the image (not to mention the great song) it conjures up, my interpretation ****
“Redefining balance” and “Losing balance is part of the process” A few years ago I had a phrase I decided represented my life at the time. Just about time I think things are going to get back to normal, I realize that normal has up and moved, and there’s no getting back there from here. When I was able to be ok with the truth of that, and even laugh about it, and take it in stride, I was able to move forward in the non-normalness of my life. And everything was ok. And now, I want to add the knowledge that losing balance is part of the process and I can redefine balance, just as I redefined normal, and everything will continue to be ok.
So that's just a few things that really struck me while listening to this fantastic Internet Radio Show. There were more wonderful moments, but these are the moments that really struck ME. Listen for yourself, and see what inspires YOU.
How I listen to podcasts is, I think, unique. I work as an Accountant (In real life I am an Artist, but my secret identity is an Accountant), not a CPA or numbers-crunchy type, mostly researching and rearranging numbers, but still something that takes a certain part of my brain. While I’m working, and using that logic part of my brain, my creative brain section is completely free, and often bored if not fed. That’s why I’m listening to podcasts most all day as I work. Since my creative journey at this stage of my life often feels like I am in a gathering phase than a doing phase, I appreciate the creatively inspiring podcasts tremendously!
I am always so very inspired by Craft Cast, it would take too long to list all the inspired things I have learned from the great Allison. The latest episode, with Kelly Rae Roberts is a great example.
As I listen, I have a notebook that I jot down notes or sketch ideas in, and here randomly are some of the things that were said &/or my reactions to what was being said:
“Creative journey” I love this phrase (see I used it in the paragraph above!) I have often thought of other parts of my life as a journey-spirituality, parenting-but I want to remember that my creative soul is on it’s own journey as well, and it’s the journeying that is the important part, not getting there.
“Expressing vulnerability” through creativity. I have had thoughts similar to this recently, and didn’t have words for it. It is something that I am not sure how to do, and I want to let myself go and see what happens.
“Quiet time” and “Listening to the creative soul” Having to pause the podcast to start writing this post, and having to put into words how I listen to podcasts at work, I was made aware that my most quiet time actually is during my work time. This awareness makes me think a couple things: find ways to utilize this quiet even more, and/or see if I can carve a space (probably both physical and mental) into the rest of my life where I can actually feel the quiet and listen.
“Butterflies out of the cocoon” The word I chose for last year was Emerging. As of right now, it is still my word.
“Walking through the ring of fire” Allison has said this before, and I love this phrase and the image (not to mention the great song) it conjures up, my interpretation ****
“Redefining balance” and “Losing balance is part of the process” A few years ago I had a phrase I decided represented my life at the time. Just about time I think things are going to get back to normal, I realize that normal has up and moved, and there’s no getting back there from here. When I was able to be ok with the truth of that, and even laugh about it, and take it in stride, I was able to move forward in the non-normalness of my life. And everything was ok. And now, I want to add the knowledge that losing balance is part of the process and I can redefine balance, just as I redefined normal, and everything will continue to be ok.
So that's just a few things that really struck me while listening to this fantastic Internet Radio Show. There were more wonderful moments, but these are the moments that really struck ME. Listen for yourself, and see what inspires YOU.
2/10/09
2/9/09
2/8/09
2/7/09
2/6/09
Creativity Today: 2-6-9
Working on felt marionette: thirty minutes on breaks at work.
Drawing "Landing" with Colors app: twenty minutes
Drawing "Landing" with Colors app: twenty minutes
2/5/09
Creativity Today: 2-5-9
Drawing game tile in larger form, for felt and embroidery patch: thirty minutes on breaks at work
2/4/09
Creativity Today: 2-4-9
Crocheting and finishing experimental tentacled dish cloth: 15 minutes on break at work
Singing at Choir Rehearsal: one and one-half hours
Singing at Choir Rehearsal: one and one-half hours
Creativity Today February
I like to think of February as 'habit' month. This stems from someone telling me once that it only takes 28 days to create a habit, 28 days of doing something, and it will become ingrained into who you are. And February has 28 days, usually. Plus, February is enough after the beginning of the year that it doesn't have to feel like a New Year's resolution, which are at such risk to be broken.
Of course, I know it's pretty arbitrary WHEN you do it, and I'm not sure if it's really 28 days, I've heard other numbers, but I figure I can commit to doing anything if I have a set amount of time, so I'll use February to try an experiment.
This year's experiment is to actually document how much time I put into creative endeavors.
See, I like to think that I am always being creative, that I do something creative every day. But reality is, life sometimes gets in the way. I don't have a dedicated crafting area, which means I can't leave things out, and in the evenings at home, it is sometimes hard to find or make the time to work on something. And I don't want to stress it so much that creative time seems like a chore!
That's why I use my breaks at work. Two 15 minute breaks times five days a week, that's a whole two and a half hours! I can get a whole project started and finished in one work week.
But I'd really like to carve more time for creative things, and actually USE the time I have better, so I decided the first step is to actually log how much time I am using for creativity right now. And see where the trends are. Kinda like a food diary or something.
So you may have already noticed that I am listing what creative things I'm working on each day. And I intend to do this for every day in February. And maybe in March, I'll figure out how to sneak in more time.
Plus, this is a good way for me to keep track of what specifically I'm working on. Right now, mostly just crocheting dishcloths. Which is great, but there's more I can do!
And yes, I consider my choir times to be creative times, too, even though, that's not specifically the artsy-craftsy stuff that I talk about here. It's a different side of my creative soul. Plus, it pads out the days when it seems I didn't do much.
So bear with me, or journey along with me, for my lame account of what creative time I spent each day.
Of course, I know it's pretty arbitrary WHEN you do it, and I'm not sure if it's really 28 days, I've heard other numbers, but I figure I can commit to doing anything if I have a set amount of time, so I'll use February to try an experiment.
This year's experiment is to actually document how much time I put into creative endeavors.
See, I like to think that I am always being creative, that I do something creative every day. But reality is, life sometimes gets in the way. I don't have a dedicated crafting area, which means I can't leave things out, and in the evenings at home, it is sometimes hard to find or make the time to work on something. And I don't want to stress it so much that creative time seems like a chore!
That's why I use my breaks at work. Two 15 minute breaks times five days a week, that's a whole two and a half hours! I can get a whole project started and finished in one work week.
But I'd really like to carve more time for creative things, and actually USE the time I have better, so I decided the first step is to actually log how much time I am using for creativity right now. And see where the trends are. Kinda like a food diary or something.
So you may have already noticed that I am listing what creative things I'm working on each day. And I intend to do this for every day in February. And maybe in March, I'll figure out how to sneak in more time.
Plus, this is a good way for me to keep track of what specifically I'm working on. Right now, mostly just crocheting dishcloths. Which is great, but there's more I can do!
And yes, I consider my choir times to be creative times, too, even though, that's not specifically the artsy-craftsy stuff that I talk about here. It's a different side of my creative soul. Plus, it pads out the days when it seems I didn't do much.
So bear with me, or journey along with me, for my lame account of what creative time I spent each day.
2/3/09
Creativity Today: 2-3-9
Crocheting on experimental tentacled dish cloth: 30 minutes on breaks at work
Painting with Colors iTouch app: 15 minutes
Note to self: Maybe that stylus for the iTouch would be a good idea, fingers feel too fat to paint details
Painting with Colors iTouch app: 15 minutes
Note to self: Maybe that stylus for the iTouch would be a good idea, fingers feel too fat to paint details
2/2/09
Creativity Today: 2-2-9
Crocheting on experimental tentacled dish cloth: 15 minutes on break at work
2/1/09
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