Inspire Me Monday

It's Monday, the start of a new week!  Lots of things "on my plate" for the week:

• finish commissioned mural and deliver
• finish aprons for wholesale order
• purchase yardage for new apron pocket material
• purchase sample fabric for anniversary apron trim
• finish hair bows for Spring shows
• prepare for Saturday show i.e pricing, packaging, & packing
• work on new art quilt for my new shop

All these are a 'no-brainer', as the young folk would say, except for the last one.  I am looking for inspiration for this new art quilt. This is how I look for it:  I have a top quilt on my bed that has a muslin backing.  I turn over the quilt with the muslin side up.  Then I lay out fabric combinations in several different combinations; I let them sit there, and go about my day.

Rose base color with possibilities . . .

As I pass thru my bedroom during daily activities, I glance at the combinations lying there (and maybe rearrange a few).

without the lighter shade and adding bright pink & burgundy

After a few passes, one may jump out at me, hitting my sensitivities for beauty.

Everything!

 Some may not.  Those that don't, get put away, back in the stash. This may finally lead to my favorite choice.  I have done this many times; but this time, my wall art piece is causing me angst!   I just haven't found a "happy combination" yet!

What do you think!  

Keep the bright pink, or not?  Well, I'll keep trying!   And I will share the process as it goes along!

P.S.  Linking up today with Create-with-Joy's Inspire Me Monday

Got Judge?

(This is the fourth and final article on Creativity.  If you are interested in the others in the series, please click the "Got Creativity?" tab on the home page.)

While we are not discussing juried assessments today, it does matter how you judge yourself and who you 'stand next to' for the personal judgement process.  I was often known to tell my kids, as they were growing up, not to judge themselves by their friends' standards.  I encouraged them to be individuals and stand on their own principles. This, obviously, involved developing their own principles! In regard to creating--developing your own principles and standards is a personal thing too.

For me, I see some work, at first glance, that looks sloppy to me, because my standards are different.   This causes me to think, and remind myself to NOT judge other people's creativity by my personal standards!  I've  learned a lot over the years and my tastes have mellowed.  Used to, I didn't like any textile seam exposed,  because that is the way I was taught.  Now, younger people like that unkempt, raw style and can appreciate that the article was handmade, rather than judging it's quality by the particular technique of sewing.  This really is quite refreshing! I have learned something new. I can still enjoy a non-exposed tidy seam but currently look at a particular creation through new eyes of appreciation.

Personal creative style is just a manner of expression that is unique to the individual. There is no right or wrong to creativity. We would never tell a young child that he/she (how's that for political correctness! -- see the other series article on correctness  :)   could not use pink or lavender for the tree leaves in his/her picture;  we allow for creativity, especially in children! Why not in ourselves?   Settling into your own creative style and developing your own standards takes work and in the end, brings you a peace regarding your own style.  This peace also brings confidence!

Have you tried something new today?  And are you at peace with it?

" . . . Use it up! Or do without!"

Ok, Let's talk about a word that we all avoid . . . "Broke!"

What do you do creatively when your broke . . . . busted . . . . no money!??? Can't go to the local supply store and get supplies!

No problem, we're all into recycling and upcycling, aren't we?  First things first--instead of taking your lunch at the kitchen table and wallowing in pity, pack it up and head out to the river bank to eat it!  That's what I do.  Nothing inspires and rejuvenates me more than a look at the water and wildlife.  No river?  Well, how about a park, or the local garden on their free day?  Anyway, back home I begin looking through my unfinished projects, my stash, and my library.  If that doesn't work to spark creativity, I then take a look at what hasn't sold and see if I can "recycle" it!  Kinda like us girls who occasionally want a 're-do' or an 'up-do' for our own good looks, so maybe a few of our products could use a re-do too! 

If you're stuck creatively, try one of these little tips and see what you can come up with that's NEW!  

Here's my new project.  I didn't sell these pillow covers, although they're really cute, so I will be using the tops for squares of a quilt about air balloons! I have the basis of the quilt and can use my fabric stash for the rest! How fun is that?  

Saturday Musings--Creative Ideas come from . . .

This week has been and is still full of activity thru the weekend!   Part of this week, I was a captive audience to whomever wanted to talk to me.  I was at a craft show, manning my own booth and couldn't leave.  One woman who came up to my table, just wanted to talk.  The show was pretty slow, so she held me  captive forever, it seemed like.  She wasn't interested in buying anything, just telling me the "blow by blow" of her own creativeness! I tried to stay engaged, and not be rude, but it truly was difficult.  But, as sometimes happens, she was successful, unknowingly, in giving me an idea!  When she left, I began bouncing ideas off what she had been telling me.  After some time, I came up with my own idea for several products for Spring! Ideas come from the strangest places! Yea! Creativity!

New "studio"!

My old "studio" if you could call it that was in the corner of my bedroom. I pulled up the sofa table with sewing machine atop, up to my bed and began sewing! When not in use, I slid the table back up against the bureau to provide walk space to the door! Well, enough of that!

Here's my new studio space, still in my bedroom, but much more roomy! And everything has it's place! Yay!!!!!!!!! Now comes the creativity . . . time to go create!

Spring Break with Paper Bag Art!

I ran this tutorial last spring, but you might like to see it again, especially if you missed it!
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Some of you are in the midst of spring break, and some of you will experience it next week. Whatever the timing, kids are at home and needing something to do. Here's the craft that I promised long ago--the timing is right for it now! I did these with my six year old grandson, Padraic, this week, while he was recuperating from the flu. We did these for Easter, but you can do them for any season or for any subject you choose--truly a CREATIVE project! I've even done them for one that says: "ssssh, I'm Studying!" for my granddaughter to hang outside her door at the proper time.

My paper bag art is a fun project for ANYONE! I utilize scraps of paper or fabric; common lunch bags or bags that I have saved; scraps of ribbon or raffia; but you can use any other embellishments that you have around. For this project, I had saved some little white paper bags that I found somewhere, and scraps of fabric.

FIRST STEP:

Turn the bag over to get to the flap that is the bottom of the bag. This flap must be pasted down flat. I use Mod Podge, since it

is good for lots of mediums.

Then fold down the top of the bag about a half inch or so, making sure to fold it toward the same side that you glued down the bottom flap. (This will be the back side of your project.) Before you glue it, place a long piece of raffia or ribbon under

the flap, then glue it down. Ribbon will then be tied in a circle to make the hanger, as shown.

Step TWO:

Turn the bag over, after it dries, and begin to decorate the front however you like, using paper, fabric, or any other items. Here I have cut egg shapes from scraps of fabric. Completion of your art project may include greetings written with puff paint, as I have done here, or with any other medium you have handy. You can hang them over a door knob, over the corner of a picture frame, from the off switch of a lamp or anywhere you like. Get creative!

Twist 21

Check out Twist 21 and her beautiful items on Etsy! She is self taught jewelery craftsman. All items that she makes are by methods that she has invented herself! She is inspired by established crafts such as Native American Sandpainting, Quilting, and Enamel work. She takes these inspirations and "twist" them to create a brand new piece of jewelry. One of my favorites is this beautiful Milifiori Bead ring. It is so fun!

Check out her shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Twist21

Beads . . . Beads . . . Beads

I have boxes and boxes of various beads.

It all started as something to do, while my husband studied. We worked long hours together, then in the evenings he studied for his degree. I got tired of staring at the back of his head, so I started beading! The result: boxes and boxes of beads, boxes and boxes of earrings (started doing simple earrings) and two Etsy shops.

The first shop, Pruitt Handcrafts, opened nearly one year ago and is nearing it's first anniversary in November. Also, I've sewn for years, so at first the little shop had my Breast Cancer quilts and my jewelry together. But I love to be creative and it is the way I pass the time now, so eventually, I had so many fabric items along with my jewelry, that I decided to split my shop into two.

I love beads, I love looking thru the racks of beads in the local bead shop. As a result, I have made many necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and beaded items. The natural progression was to open a second shop. It opened in late June 2009 and is exclusively jewelry and beaded items. I call it my Design shop. Sales in the design shop are not what I had hoped, with a plethora of jewelry sellers out there, but I still create with beads, since I have boxes and boxes of beads! Maybe I should open a third shop and sell all my beads!


P.S. Coming soon--the last installment of the Afternoon Stroll Series--Watch for it!

Creative Writing

After reading a creative writing magazine article about storytelling, an idea popped into my head! [To give due credit, the idea also came from a foundation of a blogger friends recent series of continuing posts about what to do with a six pound zucchini by homemadeoriginals!] The article author asked a series of questions that one goes through when thinking about writing a story. I asked myself some of the questions and came up with this idea: How many ways can I tell the same story? What are some of the different perspectives, or viewpoints that the story can be told through? What good can come from telling the story over again? And what new information can we glean or enjoy from the retelling? So in the interest of working on my craft--in this case--my writing skills, I will proceed tomorrow with "Twice Upon an Afternoon Stroll." I don't know how many times I will revisit this idea, but I should be fun to stroll together and I hope you will join me!

Tatting Tales

After yesterday's post I got some interesting feedback. I had asked you to consider your lifestyle and Twolefthands did! I loved what she said: "Tatting is such a beautiful form of art, so delicate! If someone gave me a tatted hanky I would still use the Kleenix, and frame the hanky!" This is funny but shows our culture and lifestyle in a nutshell! We love our crafts, and creative things but still love convenience!! Who wants to wash a hanky anyway?

I got several lovely thoughtful responses. I thank you all for responding.


There was one that didn't get posted that I got from Jo in New Zealand. (Her card pouch from her etsy shop was featured in yesterday's post.) She wasn't able to open my blog, it crashed her browser! So I will reprint her email response here:


"That's a lovely post, and sentiments I agree with. Many of these arts are dying, and my use of vintage textile in my work is my way of appreciating, and sharing with others, these arts.I have to tell, all my tatting, and 99% of the work in my vintage shop, was done by a man! He tatted until he was 93 years old, and embroidered etc. Just amazing the body of work he created, and I have been lucky enough to enjoy and own. "

So, you see there are many ways to appreciate a crafter and "his" creativity. Again, go give some praise to an artist! Have a wonderful day!

Cooler Weather Creates Inspiration!

It's been unseasonably hot here in the Pacific Northwest with record breaking temperatures! Haven't felt like doing anything, much less being creative! But . . . today it was cooler and after spending the morning at the farmer's market, I sat down at the bead table. Wow! was that fun! I sat there and watched some old movies while I created some beaded zipper pulls. Here's the one I made for my own purse!

Made about six more and, when the new beads that I ordered arrive, I'm going to make some for kids! They will love the lampwork beads of animals and cars. They'll be great for the backpack zipper or the zipper on jackets! Just in time for Back-to-School! Watch for them in my shop.

Creative Inspiration with Scraps!

Here's the start of another project! Yea!!!!
And it all started with my fabric scraps!




Creative inspiration finally came after a long dearth of motivation! I'm thrilled to be working on a new project! I have always wanted to do some crazy quilting, and this weekend, I started a pillow cover, that has grown to a quilt top! I'm excited about it, and of course, had to go to the local yardage shop to get more supplies--more yardage, embroidery threads, and ribbon!

Mocha Latte Creativity!

I've been wanting to use this picture for some time, I guess today is the day! I recently was visiting my son and his family. My daughter-in-law fixed me a mocha latte. I was busy chatting, drinking my coffee, and playing with my grandchildren, when I realized that I had set the cup down on the rug and it was an interesting study in shapes! I grabbed my camera and took a few shots, in-between taking pictures of my family of course, to preserve the moment for future creativity! Maybe it's the mocha lines or the burgundy and moss colors, but I was struck by the sight. It inspires me, and will be the genesis of a new design, I know!

Pencils for Creativity

Pencils are the start of creativity. Some of us sketch out a visual our ideas, or jot down ideas for the future. Most of us keep a notebook with notes, ideas, clippings, e-articles etc. Inspiration starts from many places, from something we see, to something that we experience. Sometimes it comes from just touching and feeling a piece of fabric, clay or metal. But all creativity ultimately comes from inside of us, somewhere.

Might I suggest taking a walk, when creativity wanes. Or looking at some else's work for a change of pace. How about looking at the sunset-even a walk in the rain when you can't see the sunset. Or browsing the local art gallery. What do you do for inspiration?


By the way, this little artist's pencil case can be seen in my shop. Just click the picture.

Ribbons for Bella!

Just recently, my son and his family came to visit. My new granddaughter, Bella Jo, was getting a little fussy while her brother was coloring at the table. The crayon roll he was using, (that I made) had a ribbon tie. Bella got hold of the ribbon and loved it! She fingered it, stuck it in her mouth and sucked on it. She was very vocal when we took it away from her, so I went to my studio and got a piece of green ribbon for her to have. She eventually went to sleep with it! So when she left, I made a cute little toy with ribbons on it. She'll be back this weekend, and I can't wait to give it to her! Creativity Rules!!!

(Click on the crayon roll picture to see more.)

Make your own!

How do you store all those earrings? How do you know what you have? Those cute little store bought holders that look like a flower or a little animal and only hang 8 or 10 pair of earrings just won't cut it when you love earrings! Or when you make earrings! I have dozens! So I made my own holder and you can too! Here's how:

You will need some thin balsa wood strips (mine were about 1/2 inch square by 36" long) from the hobby store; some quilting batting; and some glue or tacks.

1) I just made a frame that is about 7 inches by 36 inches tall. You can make it any size you need. Just cut the wood to size with a sharp knife or saw. (I made it this size because I had a wall space that was between the patio door and the closet door. It's all the space I had! I've moved since then , but still use it!)

2) Then use the glue and tacks to put together a frame and don't forget the cross supports. Plan the size you need with the supports. Supports can be at the corners (making a triangle) if you have a larger span than I did.

3) Then cover the whole frame with the batting. You can glue it down or just use the tacks to hold it stretched over the frame. The finished product will be extremely light. You can hang the frame over push pins in the wall.