Creativity Is Not Dead!

At the beginning of the summer, I set a goal to try to be more creative. For the most part, I was successful. However, as with any goal I seem to set, I got lazy, and eventually quit.

One thing that I tried that I got “hooked” on was painting pottery. Our local pottery studio has a “ladies night” once each month, and for 5 months I’ve been going with a group of girlfriends and painting pottery. I’ve missed the past two months because of vacation and conflicts. But last Thursday I returned -- and this is what I made –

Before:



After:



I’m not an ARTIST – but I find painting pottery is very forgiving. I wanted to make something for Halloween – preferably a candy bowl. But I decided “pumpkins” were more holiday-neutral. I have since decided to give this to my Mom for her birthday. Probably the 1st homemade gift I’ve EVER given her in my life!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Art Project #2

My summer of creativity continues. Last week I created this with my pottery peeps.


Paint-your-own pottery night has become the highlight of the summer. We’ve turned our monthly night into a mini-enrichment night for our Relief Society. My knitting plods on…I’ve re-started my scarf so many times I’ve lost count. Just when I think I’ve got it down, I drop a stitch, get my yarn twisted, something to stop my progress. But I haven’t given up!

Book group is Thursday. I’m leading the discussion so I’m cramming the last 100 pages of the book. I seem to procrastinate the book club book until the last few days, because I find if I read it any earlier I forget essential parts! Can’t fake it when you are the discussion leader! We are reading Peace Like a River. Wow - - this book has been radiant. Lief Enger is so eloquent he could write scripture. But don’t tell Moses that. I can’t wait for the discussion! And treats! I think I’m going to make the following (the cake, not the beans). Looks YUMMY!

If you are a bibliophile like me, I receive this great email daily from Penguin Books. It’s a mini-book club sent to your inbox. I get a lot of great book ideas from Suzanne! One of my favorites is her Classic Book Club. This quarter she is reading, The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. I read this book years ago in my DC book group. I remember very little of it, so I may have to add it to my Goodreads list as a refresher.

Now, what should I put in my vase??!!

Creativity Boot Camp Week 2

I’ve been a total slacker on reporting how my creativity book camp is progressing. I’m just now finishing week 2 (yes, this is taking forever!) – but my “Artist’s Way” work book is set up with tasks that don’t necessarily coincide with a 7 day week. The first “week” included 10 days worth of tasks and the 2nd week 8 days worth of tasks. Sneak in a trip out of town for three days, and you have a boot camp that is really going on 4 weeks, but I’ve only gotten thru two.

So, how’s it going? Here is my report:

1. The daily morning pages that originally were inspiring and refreshing have become laborious. I really thought the more I wrote the easier it would get. But it’s become much more difficult! There are mornings that I just stare at the page thinking, “what on earth am I doing up at this ridiculous hour?” I’m getting up at 6am (this is SUMMER for crying out loud!) so obviously, my brain is still asleep. So I rearranged my morning to where I’m now walking first and then coming back to my writing assignment. Did it help?? Not so much. Instead of writing motivational epistles to myself, I find I’m doing nothing but writing a bunch of slosh. Granted, in the work book the author says that’s OK. But I’d rather write lyrically. Ha! I’ve also noticed that as soon as I get a page or two written my kids wake up and demand breakfast, so I don’t finish the 3rd and final page. Seriously – do you think the Artist police will come after me??

2. I love my “artist’s dates.” I just finished my knitting class – which I loved. I wish I had a picture of my finished project, but, guess what, it’s not finished! I’m working on a scarf, so my goal is the first frost – and in the South, that could be November. My problem is I’m still such a novice that if I drop a stitch or mess up, I don’t know how to fix it without going back and starting from scratch. Maybe my goal should be November 2010? Here is what it should look like – hopefully!


3. The daily tasks have been very thought provoking. Some of them have been: List 20 things you enjoy doing; List 5 imaginary lives you wish you could lead; Write about a success you have had in your life and how did it make you feel? I’ve enjoyed digging deeper into my gray matter to find out what makes me tick. Sometimes it’s painful and I’d rather shut the cover of my workbook and walk away. But mostly, it’s reminded me that even in middle age I can still have dreams and achievements – and hopefully, dreams that come true!

I thought I would share today’s task – List 10 changes you’d like to make for yourself (for example: paint my kitchen, buy an extra pair of sheets, go to China…):

Here is what I came up with:

I would like to lose 15 lbs because I know I would feel better.
I would like to landscape the backyard.
I would like to have peaceful feelings.
I would like to vacation in Nova Scotia.
I would like to play tennis.
I would like to ice skate
I would like to paint – even if it’s a paint by number set.
I would like to live overseas.
I would like to visit Ireland and Scotland.
I would like to be a better mother.

The author says, “pay attention to our current lives, a small shift like a newly painted kitchen can yield a luxuriously large sense of self care.”

Do you have an “I would like to ______" list?

This week I think I’ve regressed from being Van-Gette – maybe I’m more abstract, like Picasso!

Week 1 Art Project

It make not look like much, but this makes me enormously proud! I love my daisy plate! (not quite sure it is a daisy – but it’s a flower nonetheless!)

Two girlfriends and I went to a “paint your own pottery” store last week and this is what I created. Does it look like a grade school project – possibly – but I had SO MUCH fun doing it I don’t really care! It’s mine and I made it and I can’t say that for most things.

My kitchen is accented with bright colors – I collect vintage ‘50s Pyrex bowls – so my wall color and wall paper could be described as “retro.” I have a bright green accent wall covered with plates I’ve collected at antique stores – this will now find a permanent place among my collection.

Painting pottery is now a monthly date.

Contests and Knitting

Today I won this:

from The Book Case, a literary blog I follow. It is described as, "...a hilarious novel about one woman's quest to redo an old house . . . and her life." This is the second book I’ve won this year! Now, if my luck would extend to Powerball.

I also started my knitting class last night. Who knew casting on stitches was much like neurosurgery. Domestic arts may not be my thing. But I have two more classes. I’m determined to make something like this


for our local children’s hospital Knitting for Noggins campaign. It is a wonderful service project that enlists knitters from all over the state (and country if you are a knitter!) to craft knit hats for discharged children during the winter months. I have a hospital kid, so it’s a project I want to complete. I have ALL summer. Surely I can do it!

Creativity Boot Camp Week 1

My creativity boot camp got a late start, so I’m just now finishing my 1st week of “training.” I had an artist’s date with myself last Thursday at a “paint your own pottery” studio and had a great time! My plate that I painted looked much like what a third grader’s, but since my creativity level is that of a third grader, I’m stoked about it. I pick up my fired plate on Friday and will post pictures of my creation. It’s a gerbera daisy – my talisman – I thought it would be appropriate for my first project. I start my knitting class tonight. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve never been crafty, but knitting is something I did in a previous life. My mother taught me how to cast on and off when I was but a wee thing. I just haven’t done it since then. I also crocheted at one point too. I made a beautiful afghan for my grandmother one year when I was in High School. When she died, and they were auctioning the items out of her home, I found the afghan stacked in a pile of blankets and linens to be sold. I nearly died! My one creation sold to the highest bidder! I rescued it and it now resides in my cedar chest.

My thoughts on my daily tasks and exercises after week 1:

1. I love writing my morning pages. At first it was painful – literally, painful. I haven’t written anything long hand since college (I’m not a regular journal keeper). My hand was cramping after the 1st paragraph. But there is something magical about seeing one’s handwriting at length on a page. My handwriting is almost creative itself, if I could read it! I also like the format – it’s completely stream of consciousness. I don’t have to have any agenda when writing in the morning. I could write, “I have nothing to write about” for three pages, if that’s all I had to say. But I’m surprised at how easily ideas come. And how random they are. Anything from “I love watching the bees in my lavender bushes” too “I can’t forget to get milk at the grocery store.”

2. I’m surprised that I like getting up at 6am to get my writing tasks done. It’s not easy – the snooze button gets hit several times before I am out of bed -- but once I’m up, I’m glad I have time to myself. It’s oxymoronic to think I’m getting up in the SUMMER at 6am. Normally, my alarm goes off at 7am – and during the summer – it’s a crap shoot. The house is so peaceful before my crew awakens. I have a special bag where I keep my writing notebooks, my pens and workbook in the kitchen. I grab it, fix my lemon water tonic, and spread out on the kitchen table. This morning I had a tougher time, but there is something to be said for D&C 88:124 (I went to bed WAY TOO late last night).

3. My writing has made me very conscious of all the negative things I have to say about myself during the course of a day. Part of the routine of morning pages is turning those negative “blurts” into positive affirmations. Trust me, it’s so much easier to say, “you stink at _____” than it is to say, “you are really AWESOME at ________.” But I’ve made a concerted effort to stop the negative talk. I’m not always successful, but I’m trying.

4. After I finish my writing exercises, I put on my walking shoes and head out the door for a long walk. I try to go 3.5 miles, but this morning, because I took longer to write, I only did 30 minutes. My mental writing exercises have had a profound effect on my physical exercise – I now walk with much more energy and authority than before. And my mind is significantly more lucid. They truly have been “power walks.”

It’s been a great week. I’m looking forward to the rest of my week – I have Enrichment tomorrow night, where I might actually dress up (we are supposed to come in costume as if we were attending an awards show). Normally, I would reject the idea as childish -- but I’m feeding my inner creative child, so what the heck. I also have book group, which is the beacon of not only my week, but my month.

Week 1 down, 11 more to go. I’m not Van Gogh – but I’m getting closer to being Van G-ette!

The Take Yourself on a Date List

My life seems to be guided by lists: to-do lists, to-be-read lists, goal lists, kid lists, calendar lists, blog-idea lists, grocery lists, lists of lists!

The to-do list today was a variation of the following:

Vacuum
Laundry (mostly, putting it away)
Unload/load dishwasher
Call dermatologist to reschedule appointment
Water vegetables so they don’t die (thank goodness it rained!)
Fax real estate documents to the bank
And this:




My kids unceremoniously dumped all of their school supplies on the dining room table yesterday when they returned home from school after cleaning out their desks. I am my own worst enemy because I think what proceeded this deposit of rubbish was my statement “please don’t dump it on the floor!” I didn’t realize the dining room table was the next best alternative. In addition to my above “to-do list,” I planned on tossing, sorting, recycling, through their school things so I could reclaim my dining room. But when my morning started I realized this was my last day sans children for three consecutive hours for the remainder of the summer. I’m really looking forward to my kids being home, but I wasn’t going to squander my last three hours of freedom on their superfluous junk.

Instead, I made a date with myself. My date coincides with my creativity boot camp. “An Artist’s Date” (as it is called in my training manual) is a block of time, an excursion all by yourself at least once a week, to “nurture” your inner artist (sounds silly, doesn't it?). It can be anything you want to do…from bowling to sitting at Starbucks with the newspaper. I decided to treat myself to my favorite activity…browsing the shelves of my favorite used books store. My used book store is a fundraising branch of our local library system. They have used books, gifts and a gourmet lunch counter. I prepared in advance by studying my Goodreads list to see if there were any titles that I was in desperate need of adding to my “to be read” stack. I came up with at least 20 selections.

I could spend hours staring at book shelves. I become transfixed by all the spines. I came away from my hour retreat with three $3 paperbacks – Suite Francaise, by Irene Nemirovsky, Crow Lake, by Mary Lawson, and A Woman of Independent Means, by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey. My original plan included lunch too, but the business crowd descended on the boutique restaurant, and I wasn’t willing to stand in line.

My to-do list reads much like it did this morning. Hopefully, I can knock a few things off the list tonight after the kids go to bed (or recycle a few hundred pieces of old homework!). Or I can postpone the to-do list one more day and extend my date with myself as I break open one of my newly purchased books! Which one do I start?? Hmmmm...

The Uncreative Goddess….

I haven’t read Sophie Kinsella’s novel of a similar name, but I do feel like I could be the central character in such a story.

I have been a member of the church my entire life, but somehow have failed to learn any of the creative arts normally associated with most LDS mothers…I neither sew, craft, quilt, paint, decorate, bake, can nor party plan. I can put together a meal fairly effortlessly, but I wouldn’t say I’m a gourmand of cook, in other words, I can follow a recipe with the best of ‘em. I was raised by parents whose talents were elsewhere – my mother was a dance teacher, my father a football coach, so our at home activities focused on numerous ballet and tap classes and sports, sports, sports. Neither was musically inclined, so music lessons weren’t high priority either, but how to dribble a basketball, recognize a cover 2 defense, or do an arabesque, were.

I also married much later than the general demographic of the church – so whether that contributed to my continued lack of creative talent or not, I’m not sure. But I do know that I’m significantly more comfortable speaking to a group of 200 people, than I am staring at my very high-tech, but rarely used sewing machine. And don’t think I haven’t tried – I’ve taken sewing, quilting, upholstery, drawing and water color classes. All have ended in utter failure. My quilting class was comical, when I realized and had to do MATH to cut squares! Or in my water color class when I realized I had to DRAW the picture before actually painting it. Same with upholstery – I thought, how difficult can it be – rip off some old material and staple on new. No one told me I had to use the evil sewing machine to create cording and chair skirts.

My children are the unintended casualties of my uncreativity. They will never have cute Halloween costumes crafted by their mother. Or sentimental scrapbooks with every “first” recorded in creative splendor. Or “themed” birthday parties with homemade masterpiece cakes and awesome party favors. They will however, be able to enjoy a book, because I am VERY good at reading…lots and lots of reading.

With this in mind, I’m undertaking a 12-step program. No, I’m not a closet addict in need of treatment. I am, however, an uncreative specimen seeking a creative boost. I’ve discovered a “how-to” manual to help in my endeavor – Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.” I think this is considered “boot camp” for the creatively-challenged. Ms. Cameron claims that after her 12 week program, my repressed, creative juggernaut will be released in all of its glory. I doubt I will have mastered all of the aforementioned Mormon talents, but I do hope I see creative aspects in my life that went previously unnoticed. She advocates writing 3 pages, in LONG HAND, every morning before the day starts – stream of consciousness style. With summer here and the children sleeping later than normal, I think that is a goal I can manage before my sleeping giants awake. There are other tasks and assignments that she suggests, that I hope I can commit myself too.

I look forward to this challenge. I’m curious to see who emerges on the other side. I will be posting updates as the week’s progress. I’ve purchased new pens and notebooks, like I’m heading off to my first day of class. Maybe I need a pencil box too?? Possibly a backpack? If anyone wants to join the training program, climb aboard!