What Are You Doing Creatively?
Several weeks ago in my “Artist’s Way” class we made collages. I used to make collages when I was in my early 20s but I haven’t done in it a while. The urge to collage was obviously filled with other creative pursuits. Doing that collage in class, however; sparked the desire to do it a little more often. I’d been thinking about doing something with my many notebooks and journals for some time as they are all rather boring because I buy plain ones for all my random dreaming, scheming, and note making. A collage on the cover seemed most appropriate:
I did the cover of the big journal over the weekend. Most of the pieces came from postcards I received from my adventures with postcrossing. The little notebook will be next on the collage list. It’s really a rather boring book where I track queries, contracts, and other communications for some freelance projects and other writing dreams / projects, however boring inside doesn’t mean it has to be boring on the outside. Besides collaging and writing, I’m sewing and knitting mostly for Christmas gifts, and I’m enjoying all of the creative time more than I can express accurately with words.
Last week at my class, we talked about how important it is too have a creative community, and how that community is encouraging and inspiring to those of us with creative leanings. It was pointed out by our instructor that often as a society we don’t talk much about art or creativity openly, we rarely ask someone what they’re working on in a creative sense. I’ve thought about that for a while and I realize that’s true, even for me. I rarely ask people what projects they are working on even when I happen to know that they are indeed artists or craftspeople. I certainly never ask someone about creative pursuits if I don’t know them well enough to know about their hobbies or other endeavors. I’ve decided that I need to change that and so I’m going to ask when I can. I want to know, I want to support and gain inspiration from other creative folks. I want to bask in the aura of other artists and the only way I can do that is to know who is an artist and what kind of art they are creating. I want to allow their creative energy into my life and hopefully reflect a little back, too. I can’t think of a better conversation to have, frankly.
What are you doing creatively these days?
I’ve made double sided Christmas napkins to take with me when we spent a few days with my husband’s family in his sister’s new house. Now I’m working on the napkin rings. I’ve made 8 red and 8 green ones and have started to embroider initials on each one so everyone can identify their own. Yesterday I bought some card ornaments to add to the napkin rings to make them even more personal – musical instruments for my children, a butterfly for my daughter in law and a hammer for husband and his father. I just hope everyone likes them. I’m also working on dishcloths for all the young people who have their own place now and I may knit a few cellphone covers if I have time.
My 3 year old and I have made salt dough disks with his hand print on them. I painted the hand and sealed them. He is giving these to his Dad, grandparents and aunts and uncles.
I am getting ready for a craft fair so along with the knitting I do on a machine, I am adding a few extra items. Woven potholders, knitted gnomes, slippers. I am using all scraps so my expenses are low.
I might sew up a few more pencil/needle cases again from scraps.
I am also sewing a fireman costume and super hero cape for a special someone for Christmas.
and then there is the Christmas knitting…busy busy buys…but in a good way.
herbal roots zine – this is a huge creative outlet for me to hone my herbal skills and refresh my drawing skills. i haven’t drawn since i was out of college 18 years ago! i have missed it.
starting to work on solstice gifts – knitting some doll clothes, sanding some wood cut outs to get ready to decorate, plus lots of other ideas in the works
i really miss collaging the altoid tins. i hope to carve out time later this winter to pick that back up. it’s a lot of fun, isn’t it?!
Great topic , Kathie ~ I’m doing a challenge called ” Art Every Day Month ” for November. I’ve been creating fairies from squirrel chewed pine cones , I love creating from nature’s elements.
~ Creative Blessings ~
Love this post – you have inspired me to decorate my own notebooks. Creatively, I’ve been crocheting, still working on that dang sock, sewing and that’s about it. There is more I’d love to do. . . one step at a time. =)
I love your notebook. What a great idea.
I’ve been trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
Love those notebooks.
These days, I’m mostly writing like a madwoman. I’m doing NaNoWriMo, a challenge to write a 50K novel draft in the month of November and it looks like I’m going to succeed.
Little bits of knitting here and there to take a break from writing. I’d had big plans to make a lot of knitted gifts, but then I got the bright idea of doing the novel challenge.
I’ve been crocheting on a few different projects. I’m off next week, so I’m planning on doing some baking and cooking, and cleaning up my creative spaces so I can actually work. I just finished up a commissioned wirework pendant. I’m going to be taking a PMC class next week, too.
We’re also finished tearing down our garage and have started building, so I’m learning some of the construction trade!
3 Flannel couch quilts for snuggling during a movie or reading a good book…they are presents for my BS buddies. And then perhaps some cloths napkins for Christmas giving. Got some great bag patterns and thinking of doing some aprons for girl gifts… even the nieces…something that looks HOT!!
Blogging, especially for NaBloPoMo, has been a great outlet for me with the writing, photography, and just generating content. I am lucky to work with creative people, but I’m not currently working!
After Thanksgiving when I get my last box of crafting supplies still in limbo from the move I hope to start some holiday sewing projects, too.
This time of year finds me sewing Christmas gifts and spinning wool for an afghan.
As I write, I am looking at the knitting I put down to answer this question. I have just finished a major lace knitting project and two little knitted bunnies. The current project sitting next to me is a wool bag I plan to felt. Meanwhile, the spinning wheel is glowering at me from across the room. It is feeling neglected.
I learned to knit this fall and am making scarves for my two girls and my niece for Christmas. I am working on a lovely fuzzy pink one for my oldest who is princess of all things girly and fashionable.
I love the collage idea. I will be making up my girls coloring and activity books for Christmas (we are tight on money this year but have a ten year supply of paper and ink cartriges). I think I will collage the covers to make them even more special. Thanks!
I *still* have a giant vision board/collage on my closet door. It’s been thre so long I haven’t updated in years and I hardly even notice it. :/ But I do love creating them. I have photos of lemons and a pitcher of lemonade to symbolize “making lemonade out of lemons”, cutouts to represent being “open” to life. etc. I think once we move I’ll make a new one inside a journal to take with us.
Lately, I’ve been doing lots of writing (not blogging though), sewing and some art here or there. It feels good to make time for creativity, doesn’t it?