Monday’s Challenge May 12, 2008
Posted by Angela in : General crafts, Inspiration, Monday Challenge , add a commentGood morning everyone. Hope you are all doing well and to all you moms out there… a very happy belated Mother’s Day!
My Mother’s Day was spectacular. I love my children and my mom was here to spend some time with us. It was awesome.
But every Sunday brings a Monday and it’s Challenge time. Similar to blog called The Dares, it’s time for a real challenge.
Challenge: Pull out a UFO sometime this week and make some SIGNIFICANT progress. “What do you mean SIGNIFICANT” you might ask. I’m so glad you did. By significant, I mean you start to see some light at the end of the tunnel. You feel like you are actually making progress. Maybe it’s getting another quilt block done. Or maybe it’s that you got one more layout of your current scrapbook project done.
Whatever the genre and whatever the item, dust off one of those UFOs and get something done it. Share before and after photos on your blog and leave a comment so we can all come and see it!
Five Tools for Creative Inspiration February 20, 2008
Posted by Angela in : Inspiration , add a commentEver get stuck in a creative funk? It happens all the time. You know the feeling. You get all motivated to make… something. So, you dig through your stash, your pattern books, even your UFOs… but nothing “trips a trigger” so to speak. So, what do you do. We all know that when you get the “itch to stitch” or scrap-happy, it’s tough to shake. So, where can you go to get inspiration when none of your reliable stand-bys are working? Here are some ideas that have helped me:
1. Take your camera and do a “walking picture” session. Let me explain. There are times when I am feeling a bit restless in my creativity, so I grab my camera and just start snapping. I don’t focus the camera, I don’t line up my shots, I don’t plan a single image. I just start pushing the button. I stop periodically to see how much space I have left on my digital card, but for the most part, I just walk and snap. When I’m done, I load my pics onto my laptop and see what jumps out at me. Sometimes it gives me inspiration for a layout or for a new project. Even if I don’t get that “wow” moment, I at least feel good because I’ve gone out and done something.
2. Invite a friend over. The more the merrier when it comes to crafts. A lot of times just taking my mind off my work or current project allows me to open up and relax a bit to actually let the inspiration come in. Not so easy to do when I’m feeling pressured to get something created!
3. Try some creative writing exercises. I know what you’re thinking. I’m a quilter. What does writing have to do with it? The fact of the matter is that sometimes our brains are so wound up with everything that happened in the day or just cluttered with bits and pieces of everyday life that there is no room for inspiration to flow. Writing and getting the creative juices flow could jump start the whole process. It’s like how exercising releases endorphins. Personally, I like the exercises and thought provoking writing of the Artists’s Way.
4. Play. Another thing that the Artist’s Way taught me is that my “inner artist” needs to play. This could mean going to the movies by yourself, or an art museum, or even a junk yard. Whatever floats your boat. I once spent two hours antiquing (not something I’ve been known to do) and came out with at least 6 different project idea. Getting them done is a whole other story.
5. Imitate someone else. The point is to create anyway. Even when you don’t feel like it. Just picking up the needle or opening the paper stash box can work. But you never know unless you give it a try.
