Born Creative: Part 1 of 5 series. Labor Day Sale

photo credit: Blossom Quilts

Thoughts from the Studio.
Keep it Creative- Part I. Fuel your Mojo.

1. Born Creative 
You came into this world with a creative spark. Believe it. Scribble it on a sticky note for the fridge and your car dash.        "I was born creative". Say it out loud—Again and again and again. Train your children, get a parrot. 

Hope, wonder, curiosity, experimentation, silliness, action and reaction. Children embody creativity with the least of efforts and it's a main ingredient for growth. We marvel at the beauty and freedom of a child's way of being. Creativity nourishes us, drives us, transcends us. It is vital to our well being as individuals and our culture as a whole. We all get blocks too. Sometimes for hours, days or even years...So lets tackle it. We have such potential...are you open?

Beginning in elementary school, we begin to lose touch with that space to play, discover, fall down and get up with humor, forgiveness or ease. As we age, pressure and duties increase and we lose touch with our playfulness, our creativity. Later, we beat ourselves up, declare ourselves lazy, overworked, bored or bitchy. Or worse: someone else does (BIG YUCK!). Doubt is a disease that attacks from inside and out. As we experience life's highs and lows, if we do a little self reflection, reassess what we need or what makes us tick, we often find ourselves yearning to be in touch with that creative spark again...because is just feels right to remember and honor something we were given at birth. This is where your craft comes in. Are you feeling connected to your work? How is it really going? Are you ready to get out of summer mode and into a fall rhythm?

sometime in the 70's

doodle with needle and thread

Part 1 of a 5 part blog mini series begins with the belief that we all are Born Creative and it is my goal to convince you to embrace this idea. That itself can be a hurdle. But it starts there. Come on, just try it on. I want you to see the beauty and light and fun in you.  Your process of making and working with pattern and color whether it's improv or a set pattern takes creativity. I encourage you to give yourself a lot of love, quiet your mind and to take moments in your life to be still, allow space and permission to just settle: Content, Sad, Frustrated, Peaceful, Ashamed, Proud, etc...Just see it and own it. It's interesting to face it and see it as an emotion that comes and goes, not a permanent state. Screw fear—it's not as big of a deal as we think it may be. Turn on some of your favorite music. Give yourself just 15 minutes. It starts from within, not from without. 

walking through a field in Soda Springs, California

2. Go Outside
When I'm feeling zapped and my creative MOJO meter has sunk, my immediate coping method is to just GO OUTSIDE. It's how I stay energize, in shape and in a routine. Of course, I DON'T WANT TO always do it because I am feeling overwhelmed, irritated, overworked and "I don't have time!" This is when I most need it. We fill up our cup in these ways. It's all part of remembering we need to nourish ourselves and that creative spark. Being in nature helps to decompress from the stress of raising a family, running a household, meeting work deadlines, loved ones expectations and our own inner demand, blah blah blah blah blah.....Open up to some peace where we have room to let things bubble up. I declare it as a "NO BRAINER" and for most people, a profound yet magically easy cleansing. Get your blood pumping, take the happy dog, breathe deeply and start swinging those arms back and forth. The rhythm is gonna get you! (XO to Gloria Estafan- c. 1987). I don't need to reference science or in depth studies on why it works, it just does. Remember to leave your device either at home or in your pocket on silent. 

Finally I want to share with you the wisdom of a creative collective. At Quilt Con 2016, I was a guest speaker on a  panel of designers from our industry talking about how to keep the MOJO alive.  We all had different stories and thoughts to share, taking questions from the audience on what to do when you hit a road block.  The messages shared were similar, even when our paths meandered in different directions. We all get stuck, we all have fear and we all have to work through it, show up, have a plan, deviate from that plan, create bad stuff to get to the good stuff. We also have learned to trust the process, to forge ahead and slosh through the muck to get that groove feeling that is so worth fighting for. It's a practice. It's a commitment. It's the best high I know. ​

To wrap it up today let's keep it simple, real simple. Embrace two things this week:
1. I WAS BORN CREATIVE

2. GO OUTSIDE

We will delve a little deeper next week, until then, be good to yourself. 
​Creatively yours, xo

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PS: Sale this weekend in the shop. 20% off all items until September 6th. Use code: luckyme
All sales come with this free pin up below- For your workspace: Pattern free to make your own in previous post. 

recommended reading:
Carrie Bloomston- The Little Spark.  
Austin Kleon - Steal Like an Artist.
Sherri Lynn Wood- Improv Handbook for Quilters.
Amy Butler- Creative workshops.