Beautiful Branches - What's Your Secret Impulse?

Branches bring their organic elegance to the table

 There are beautiful branches suspended from my dining room ceiling and I love them. Their wild organic shape is bringing contrast, excitement and exuberance into the room. Just some cuttings from the yard, wire, a few white cup hooks in the ceiling, and I have a vista that interests and pleases me every time it catches my eye! I've wanted to do this for a couple of years but hesitated; putting holes in the ceiling gave me pause. Finally, day after day of grey weather outside our windows drove me to throw caution to the wind. I'm so glad I did! Once again, the riskier choice had the biggest payoff. At this festive time of year, the air is full of abundance, promise, and permission to do the unexpected. If there's something you wouldn't normally have the guts to try, this is the time to do it. Wear that color, go to that special event, rearrange your furniture, surprise yourself! Take a minute to put your finger on what charms and delights you. NEVER immediately dismiss any idea. Not without giving it some consideration. Pursue the tiny flash of a thought. You can change it back when the next impulse strikes, right? Follow the unique and unusual. See where they take you. Your home, your life will be invigorated and much richer for the journey.

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Tiny branches and a SJD bird bonbonniere made their way onto an adjoining wall

Creative Exercise "I Need"....

As winter approaches, what do you need? The hurry scurry, hustle bustle plans and preparations in our consumer culture are impossible to ignore this time of year. How are you preparing for the material demands of a harsh season? What's your anxiety level as you throw your hat in the ring for another "magical holiday" experience for one and all? What do you need?

Isn't our default setting to acquire more than enough so we aren't caught short - only to be left with extra clutter that doesn't really work for anybody? Over acquisition is MY default setting. And it's getting on my last nerve. Here are a few questions I am asking myself today in order to get to the heart of things. Open your journal, get some colored pencils and markers. Answer these questions while writing fancy.Maybe they will help you too. Oh, while you write, click on the song below. I am loving this song "I Need" by Maverick Sabre. He sounds like Amy Winehouse's little brother - and Amy's recent accidental passing is reminding me that life is precious. All the more important to be intentional about what we really need. 

 
"I need sunshine, I need angels, I need something good..."

Holiday & Gifts:

What is important to me during the holidays? What is important to my family?

Do we spend time and money on things because of "shoulds?"

Am I willing to disappoint the expectations of others and try something new if need be?

A gift is a tangible symbol of emotion, esteem, or respect for another. That's why it seems SO IMPORTANT to get it right. It isn't just the thing. It's what we're saying with the thing. Can I say what I need to without the thing? Or convey the love with a more modest, meaningful token that feels more peaceful/less excessive?

Am I open to following my heart and giving to some one completely unexpected - just because?

Do I have the discipline to wait and not accumulate?

House & Home:

How many partially used bottles of cleaning and beauty products do I see? What was I trying to achieve by purchasing each item?

Do I have a crowded pantry but no inspiration for making dinner?

What's in my dream pantry?

What has to go in order to make room for what I find inspiring and delicious?

What was the thinking behind purchasing the items now headed for the local community food pantry?

How can I be more mindful when shopping?

Discipline, Productivity and the Creative Life or "Thanks, Adderall!"

New York-based artist Stan Munro recreated the Sagrada Familia Church of Barcelona using 35,000 toothpicks. Good for him. Seriously. Good for you, Stan!

In ones creative life, much work is done solely in the realm of mind and spirit. Maybe that's why it is so difficult to put a monetary value on "design" or assign billable hours to a project. For me, it's all one big swirling thing; each project and idea influencing the other. (Recent swirl: kindness, book, struggle, parties, Rocky Mountains, parents' 50th, genocide, Africa, entitlement, housecleaning, bracelet, fashion, garden, God) Actual concrete expressions of thoughts and ideas seem to manifest themselves unpredictably and with no apparent rhyme or reason. Aha! The key word there being "APPARENT." Are there concrete actions that, when put into regular practice, enhance productivity? Nurture inspiration?

These are the sorts of questions I have been thinking about in regard to the role of discipline and creativity. My answers? Nothing to write home about. They have revealed a lazy, lackadaisical approach to creative work with the rationalization that waiting until inspiration strikes is the super artistic geniusy way to be....planning out work time like some hack churning out pages to meet a quota is not going to produce the special, special work of which I am capable. Are you gagging yet?

At the end of this post are some questions that came to mind as I wrestled with this topic. Of course I would love to hear anything and everything you have to say - leave a comment or tweet me @chezsusanj.  Before going on to the questions, skim the following paragraph. It might help you in getting to the heart of any matter you face.

Many years ago when I was in therapy, I once asked my counselor if I had to be completely honest about something horrible it was time to be real about in group that week. She told me I did indeed have to be truthful but I could tell the group, "I prefer not to have feedback." That was a great thing to tell me. I could be truthful but set a boundary to keep me safe from the judgment and response of others. So, my creative compadres, answer away. Ask for feedback or set whatever boundaries you need to feel safe. Just be honest as you look at the questions before you.  xo Susan

Do you have ideas you'd like to execute but for which you lack the technical ability?

How would you remedy this? A class? Practice? Input from others?

What keeps you from seeking this remedy?


What role does perfectionism play in your day?

Do you give creative expression respect? Do you believe it deserves your time and attention?

What "shoulds" or "shouldn'ts" do you assign to your creative life? (i.e. I should get domestic chores done first, I shouldn't spend money on this, etc.)


What external forces influence your creative life?

Is a new way to be creative revealing itself? How will you pursue it?

On a scale of 8 to 10, 8 being "awesome" and 10 being "super amazingly wicked awesome, " how awesome are you?

Yikes! Next Market: October 13, 14, 15

Scout and Skander are ready....are you?

Thursday October 13th  12 - 8pm

Friday October 14th  11am - 7pm

Saturday, October 15th  10am - 4pm

A brisk snap in the air signals autumn's arrival. We're already getting ready for the next market, "Harvest & Halloween!" Sneak peek photos coming soon.

In the meantime, here's a creative exercise to hone those mad cat drawing skillz. This graphic looks like a worksheet a substitute teacher might mimeograph and give to the class at the end of an cool, sunny October afternoon. 

After getting the call that Mrs. Spahr's 4th grade class needed some one just for the day, the 68 year old sub dug around in her files looking for something fun; a treat for the children. She knew she wasn't a favorite. Her teaching style skewed more authoritarian than Magic School Bus. And yet. It seemed important to her that she not arrive completely empty handed. She wanted to bring something of herself - something the children might enjoy.Something that left them with the impression that she wasn't all schedule and discipline.Ahh...here it is. Under "A" for Animal. She initially searched the "H" file. For "Holiday". Sub file "Hallowe'en." She would hand it out 15 minutes before dismissal and the children would run home through papery leaf filled gutters, eager to show their mothers a perfectly drawn cat. It would be a good day.

Message From The Market: What Do You Do With Failure?

Redemption piece in process

Yesterday I failed. My inability to understand what a client wanted trumped the several earnest attempts I made to meet the objectives and goals described. Nine hours in, I made the call to quit. I was simply unable to see what I was doing wrong. I began to realize that I'd never understand his vision and what I was supposed to do. I admitted defeat.  I admitted that the task exceeded my skill set. It was embarrassing for me, irritating and disappointing to him. And he let me know that. I apologized.

SO. Today is a new day, n'est ce pas? Mais, non. I awoke with a killer emotional hangover - the incident consuming my thoughts, boring a hole in my stomach. I prayed. I talked with people who love me. I did all of the stuff that I know usually works when trying to get my mind off something that makes me feel sad, mad, bad, and inadequate. Then I reflected on something that I truly believe. Art heals. Creativity helps.

I began a "Redemption" painting. I have done this in the past to great effect. It helped. As I wrote my thoughts on canvas, I began to get some objectivity and by the last few inches of space, I had the lesson. AT LEAST I FAILED TRYING. I took a risk. I didn't mean to misrepresent myself or deceive anyone. I thought I could do it, but I couldn't. At least I tried. That's the kind of person I want to be. I can't wait for perfection. I work with what I have and who I am now. I'm going to fail. To disappoint.

Now I have a big canvas with black and red writing on it. Time to paint. I can be free with a Redemption piece because anything I do is going to make it more beautiful than what I have on it now! Isn't that great? Washing beautiful color over the stark text is meditative and soothing. Tension ebbs. Spirits rise. Even if the finished piece is not wall worthy, the process of covering a stark failure with gorgeous sweeps of color is worth everything.

What do you do when you fail? What do you do with disappointment? Once the initial finger pointing and blame game is over and you leave the table with your "winnings", your part of what went wrong, what do you do with it? How do you let go? How do you move on? It's easier to say, "Be gentle with yourself" or "At least I tried" than it is to actually take hold and believe those statements.

Try a redemption piece. Put it all on paper or canvas. Then cover it with images and colors that please you, that you find beautiful. Use collage, paint, paper, pencils, crayon or all of the above. Don't focus on the result. Your transformation comes during the process.

Next Market: Summer Reflections August 11-13th! AND Using Themes to Spark Your Creative Engine

The studio space at Banbury Bldg 13 #203 will be transformed into a lazy, lush wonderland at The Market's "Summer Reflections" sale. Why the theme "Summer Reflections", you ask? It was Justine's idea to have different themes for each month. Brilliant! A theme is an idea that (for us) acts as a giant bouncy springboard to creativity! Here's a glimpse into the process of how having the discipline of a theme triggers creativity. Try it!

1.Pick your theme, word, idea. Let's pick part of The Market's August theme: reflection. Define it.

Reflection (the noun): the image of something in a mirror or on any reflective surface

Example: In Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

Reflection (the verb) : to think carefully, especially about possibilities and opinions

Example: She reflected that this was probably the last time she would see him.

 2.Pick the creative medium of your choice. Fr'instance: pencil and paper for writing or for drawing, wire and beads for jewelry, paint, collage materials, the musical scale and your piano or guitar, some dance steps, your camera, cooking ingredients, fabric, clay.....

3. Ponder: What about the word "reflection" jumps out at you? (Justine is being inspired by the shiny light of mirrors - can't wait to see her take on this idea) Anyway. How can you communicate that idea and feeling through your chosen medium? Give it a try. 

4. Important: Don't toss your "mistakes." SERIOUSLY. Your first attempts often contain the freshest, strongest reaction to the theme. Also, early work is honorable and brave; not to be minimized or hidden away like an unattractive photo you'd like to forget. No one would be anywhere without their first try. This is especially important for you writers out there. "Word processing" makes deleting and backspacing too easy. If you usually write on your laptop, write in a journal for the rest of the summer. Outside even. With the physical tools used by writers since time immemorial. Even a Hemingway-esque Underwood typewriter leaves sheaves and sheaves of proof that words were typed. Some embarrassingly melodramatic, some restrained and sublime. Keep it all.

Message from The Market: Do You Need Pruning?

"Old Blue" in all her pruned, fruitful glory

If you grew up in the '70s, you probably heard the Byrds cover of "Turn, Turn, Turn." The song was written by Pete Seeger, lyrics from the Book of Ecclesiastes. It seemed every wedding I went to as a child had this song sung during the ceremony. I was unimpressed. A time for planting, laughing, weeping, nothing at all about a wedding. Except maybe the "time for embracing" part. Boring. How about something creative, even surprising? "You Sexy Thing," for example. " I believe in Malcolm! Way from, you sexy thing, you sexy thing, you!" Those are the lyrics, right? You do believe in Malcolm, don't you?

Well, the "to every thing there is a season" concept that I took to be a yawn-fest as a child, has become a cornerstone of my adult life and decision making. Things change. We change. What worked before may not work quite as well now. Relationships we thought we'd die without, are just not as central any longer. It's tempting to feel guilty and think, "What am I doing wrong? Why am I feeling restless and unsatisfied?" You probably aren't doing anything wrong. You might just need a pruning. 

Pruning is essential for a full, healthy plant and a full healthy life. Like Pete Seeger, I borrow heavily from God with this analogy, but I believe there is wisdom to be found in the pruning concept no matter what your beliefs or spiritual inclinations. So, instead of the vine and branches, there is a blueberry bush in this story. I'll try to be brief.

Once upon a time there was a blueberry bush at my childhood home....blah, blah, blah...parents moving, blah,blah,blah..... "over my dead body" blah, blah, blah ....rope around bush attached to Suburban, blah, blah, blah....we have a "new" blueberry bush! With sentimental value! Emphasis on the 'mental'!

With so much invested in this dang bush's existence, I am loathe to cut ANYTHING off at ANY TIME. I have nurtured this baby. Miraculously, it bore many blueberries almost immediately. But, as the years went on,  I noticed the blueberries getting tinier and tinier. They looked like little American Girl Doll berries. I kidded myself, "Wow, look at all the concentrated flavor, ( imagining the shrinking process just like  the freeze drying process?) you don't find these at any old grocery store!" The truth was, the berries weren't extra delicious. They were, however, so painstaking to harvest that, for a year or two, Old Blue was little more than a landscape plant. Deep down, I knew what the bush needed, but I pushed those thoughts away. I avoided pruning by upping the fertilizing and watering. I think Kubler-Ross would call this "SUBCONSCIOUSDENIALBARGAINING."

You know where this is going. Berry research was done. Opinions were sought. Pruning did occur. And the bush bore-eth a multitude of large, delicious fruit and lo, it was good.

In this story, we want to emulate Old Blue, not the deluded, enabling gardener. Actually, let's be Blue with a mindful, caring gardener who has Blue's best interests at heart. Here are some thoughts and questions to assist you in determining if pruning is needed and which branches, once removed, set you free to move forward and be more of who you are truly meant to be.

List any obligations, activities or commitments you dread or find dissatisfying. Have you always felt this way?

If you answer "yes" but the obligation is a normal part of being a grown up (like laundry, feeding your children or paying bills) star those items as "non-negotiables." Give yourself a pat on the back for being a responsible citizen and good neighbor. Smile at yourself in the mirror and say, " Wow, these things are a drag but it's good to do the right thing."

If you answer "yes", and the thing isn't essential, then It could be you have entered into this obligation for the wrong reason(s). The joy of approval and the novelty of new activity quickly feels wrong if we said "yes" for the wrong reasons.Here are some reasons we say "yes" to things that aren't in our best interests:

-wanting to please the person asking/inviting      

-wanting to escape the "non-negotiables"

-fear we may never get another opportunity that is better suited to us

-pride because we are flattered and want the prestige afforded by our role

-Do any of these ring true? What other forces may have influenced your "yes"?

Identifying these things and being humble enough to admit we may have been mistaken is HUGE and wonderful. Well done! Begin your exit strategy....(cue sound of pruners being sharpened).

If no, I haven't always been dissatisfied with this thing, what changed? Examples: my goals/priorities have changed, I have new interests that keep pulling me away, I gave myself a pass to not do this, but now I want to step it up, etc.

 

If you're not sure what changed, ask yourself, when did it change? Examples: After a loss or life change? As a loss or life change was about to occur? After an argument or misunderstanding? Because of health issues?

Is it my attitude/way of thinking that needs changing or is the needed change external? 

If your answer is "I'm the one who has changed, and not for the better" what needs to happen in order for you to be happy again? Examples:  I'd like to forgive and forget, agree to disagree, lower my expectations of myself and others, stop the negative self talk,etc.

If the change needed is external, either begin mapping out an exit strategy or TAKE A RISK and begin this new change! Try to be direct, honest and gentle with yourself. Respect any others involved by giving them room to adjust, permission to have their own feelings about your decisions.

Throughout the pruning process, take a step or two back to see the big picture and how these changes will fit with the overall plan and purpose of your life. Taking time to consider what needs to be done at this particular time will enable you to avoid the impulsive, rash actions of one so uncomfortable with their dread and restlessness that any change is seen as relief. "Not so!" says the voice of Experience! Effective pruning is deliberate, gentle, and timely. It is done for the benefit of the whole organism, freeing it to grow wild, wonderful, and beyond anyone's expectations.

Message from The Market: The Role of Your Surroundings in the Creative Proccess

Inspiration is the SPARK that ignites your creative engine. How does one get inspired?Cue  patchouli scented middle aged woman in flowing garments, armfuls of bangles with lilting voice,"Why darling! The world is so magical! Inspiration is EVERYWHERE, just open your eyes!" Gak. Get her outta here. The fact is, Heaven, or Nevaeh, or whatever you've decided your spirit name is (I'm pretty sure your real name is Barbara) inspiration may be everywhere, but there are some very practical thoughts we can think and questions we can ask ourselves in order to find the spark that ignites our creative engine. I don't know of any other way to explain how environment inspires me, other than to take you through, quite specifically, my most recent creative endeavor. Here's how it went....

I love all the red, white and blue around in the summer - starting with Memorial Day. It's almost 4th of July. That's my Grandpa Roy's birthday. I miss him. I miss my Grandma Margaret, too. She had a lot of style. She liked to shop. Hey, she bought me that blue and white chinese box at Prange's one time. I'm going to get it out and find some red in this messy house so I can enjoy my own little "red, white, & blue" theme. 

I am obsessed with this whole Chinese porcelain vibe I got going here. Look how the "X" pattern on the box echoes the lattice print on my chair cushion.This would be a cute outfit. Am I crazy?? I cannot justify purchasing clothes or even fabric right now. I could make jewelry. I wish I could paint and fire porcelain beads. Blue and white beads would look clean and fresh but classic. I don't see any old chinese porcelain beads on eBay. Dang. Wait a sec! I have WOODEN BEADS in my stash.  I have paint.....Hmmmmm.

 

I like painting beads. It's interesting how close I can get the paint mixture to a true cobalt blue. Success! Mixing paint is fun. Painting tiny beads is quite a challenge - even with my soon to be patented soda straw bead holder I've contrived. These beads don't resemble the picture in my head but I think they are sort of charming. I need practice painting with this ridiculously teensy brush. I will keep going. When Phil calls, I'll ask him to bring home "Special Dinner" because I am in the creative zone - no time for food preparation! This Chinese porcelain idea reminds me of Wedgwood. That sort of medium blue. Make that color.

Now for application. I want a necklace. A whole necklace looks a little too busy. Hows about I pick one bead and make it the centerpiece of a plainer necklace? Too plain.That single bead looks better jazzed up. What other junk can I put on them?

Oh look! Catherine put some peacock feathers in a vase. They are so gorgeous. Love the golden/yellow with the blues and greens of the feather....must.....paint....more.......beads.

These are so colorful and fun for summer. I think I'll make some for The Market. I hope people like them. I think they will. So cheerful, almost endearing -  all the more so for their organic imperfectness. They possess a certain "folkloric" quality. Didn't Phil say, "Hey, those remind me of those Russian nesting dolls." Is that a good thing? I think it's a good thing. They make me smile! Smiling is good. I feel happy. And creative.  

So that's the way the whole bead thing went down. Hidden in the narrative above were some thoughts and questions bouncing around my head and heart that I've listed below. Taking a minute to answer/ ponder them would be a fun creative exercise every once in awhile. As for your answers, journal them, jot them on an envelope, or just think about them. In doing so, you run your creative engine, enabling it to take you to a richer, more interesting, more mindful life!

Creative Exercise: Your Surroundings

Look around you. What is attracting your attention? 

Take a minute to ponder what is appealing about this thing. 

Do you see it everyday or only certain times?

What can you note about the color? Texture? Shape? Memory Association?

If this thing made music, what song would it be?

How does it/would it smell?

If you had to incorporate this element into your life, how would you do that? How would it translate into your wardrobe? Your home decor? Your garden? Your cooking? Your workplace?

Looking at your answers above, do any appeal to you? Then incorporate away! But only if you want to bring a freshness, an excitement to your life!

We'd love to receive your comments and learn about your experiences with creativity. No matter how big or small, share. They are sure to be inspiring!