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| Download our Button over on the right.... |
I'm sitting at Starbucks...
sipping on my...
Iced White Chocolate Mocha...
3 Pump...
No Whip...
Decaf...
And it's softly snowing out...
Go figure!!
Reading through blogs...
I think a lot of us are stuck...
we need inspiration....
snow day upon snow day...
not being able to get out....
not being able to see the sun...
Or maybe we can get out...
but still need a little pick me up!
I thought we could all share what we do...
to snap us out of the
Winter Doldrums!
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| A Page from my Sketchbook (Everything Book) |
Here's what I've been doing;
I'm going to share some pictures of my "Everything Books"
that I take
with me.
EVERYWHERE!
(Don't laugh....they are pretty raw...
I'm putting myself out there gals...)
These sketchbooks have changed my Creative Life!
I take them to class with me...
to the bookstore...
out to restaurants...
on the road...
I post lists...
Books I want to Read...
Books I want to Buy in the future....
Books I want to check out at the library...
Places I want to travel...
Movies I want to watch...
Artists I want to look in to...
I sketch...
ideas for new quilt designs....
Block of the Months...
Embroidery doodlings I can incorporate...
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| Rough sketches of a Christmas BOM I am working on... |
Scrapbook ideas...
Class Notes....
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| From K. McTavish's Quilting Class... |
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| More notes from the McTavish class... |
Ponderings...
Desires....
Goals...
etc.
I paste magazine clippings...
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| Some feeble attempts at sketching... |
Several trips to Borders is top of my list for inspirational jaunts.
I grab a pile of Stampington magazines to peruse and maybe even buy...
Cooking Magazines,
Home Dec Magazines...
Cooking Magazines,
Home Dec Magazines...
I go to the Craft Section...
there are all kinds of books on creativity there.
Books that have 365 prompts a year...
one for each day.
I picked up a new book called
The Artistic Mother...
that is great not only for young creative mothers...
but for those of us whose children have long gone...
She tells us to create an Artistic Vision Statement..
(this should reflect who you are, and where you want to go with
your artistic pursuits
outlining the big picture)
She works with us on Long Term Goals...
(Where do we want to be with our art in 5 years)
Short Term Goals
(this is the road map to the above.)
I read about Creating Rituals
to trick one's self into getting up and doing your art,
sewing..whatever Creative Journey you
are pursuing.
Such as...
putting on certain music...
putting up an image board
with words to inspire...
Quotes to inspire...
lighting a candle...
find out what works for you!
Something else I do...
is tell myself...
okay I'm going to work 30 minutes on this....
just 30 minutes!
When 30 minutes is up...
I tell myself
just 30 more minutes...
before I know it....
I have had hours of productive creativity!
Another HUGE thing I came across...
that stopped me in my tracks....
was...
acknowledging how much time I spend on the internet.
And how this ISN'T pursuing my creativity.
Figure out a certain amount of time that you are going to
go blog reading...
and then stick to it.
Does anyone else have this problem...
or is it just me?
Another thing I do...
is go into my own personal library...
and choose a book that maybe I haven't read in years....
realizing it inspired me at one time....
maybe it will jump start me again....
and I read.
So share with me in the comments what you do.
Let us all share....
let us reach out and help each other...
in the bleary weary days
of winter....
Winter Hugs...
Wow I could use some creative stimulation right now. I've been in a slump, and I can't seem to find my way out of it. I want to sew and quilt, and even though I tell myself - I am going to start/work on/finish a project, when it comes down to it, it doesn't get done. I go into my sewing area and just look and then walk out :-( You have some good suggestions, but I think it really has to come from the heart.
ReplyDeleteLove the skechbook.. really fun. Thanks for sharing photos of it!
ReplyDeleteHo hum...yep, that's what I'm feeling.
ReplyDeleteI do spend way too much time blog reading. I am cutting way back. Skipping through a bunch out of need. Just reading my favorites.
I did recently find a nice big library in our area. I have been checking out all kinds of books...both personal and for craft inspiration. It does help. I am not a good doodler because I can't draw, but I do write down lists of ideas. Just this morning I dug an old list out that I made last summer. Fun quilt ideas. It did help!
Get your inspiration back and let us see because I enjoy watching you!
Oh sweetie - I have notebooks everywhere - I do the same thing. My most productive notebook time is sitting at the Y, waiting for the boys to finish swimming. I'm FORCED to be creative, and I love it.
ReplyDeleteYour sketchbooks are wonderful. Packed with creativity!
I do think the internet, while opening up the world, has diminished my creativity. Before I found blogging, I created a LOT more. Time to cut back, I think. Or give up sleeping!
Well, considering I'm in the Palm Springs valley I don't have to worry about cabin fever much! Short sleeves or three-quarter length, SPF 15 or 30, Mexican food or Thai, bike or walk....tough decisions like that are all I have to struggle with!!! I've finished two quilt tops and four shams for the inn and am starting on a duvet cover in Hawaiian fabrics. But if you can believe it...I actually miss a cozy day inside while it snows and waking up to a winter wonderland in Panguitch. Being a SnowBird is the best deal ever!!! Sure miss you Girlfriend...you can always come see me if you need a warm up. Hugs, Peg
ReplyDeletelove the name ''everywhere books'' and yours are great, they seem to flow. Mine are a bit stiff, contrived. I also love how you have so many annotations, fantastic..
ReplyDeletelove the way you use your sketchbook. thanks for sharing. i came over from karen ruane's blog.
ReplyDeleteYour everything book is fantastic!!!! Is better than the scraps of paper I doddle on and hope to keep but end up throwing out...hummmm
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas. Wonderful post!! I think the book ideas is awesome. I just might try that. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with the "too much time blog reading" group. This is a busy time of year for my work and it is hard to get to my stitching so diving into creative blogs and enjoying the inspiration others are so generous to share is uplifting. I can read a few blog posts between batches of emails at work or start the day off viewing and reading about what I love (quilts!). I also keep a journal but you've inspired me to include more in mine.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, John'a Lee! For me, being needed is all the inspiration I need - when the call comes to our quilt ministry, we have to search and find inspiration fast - no excuses! We're working on four quilts this week for the ministry - it keeps us hopping!!
ReplyDeleteLove your notebook. You have a creative mind. I have a planner I use for everything. I have learned that if it is written down then it will happen. I have to use a timer when reading blogs because I get lost in blogland. In fact I use a timer for everything because it saves time. Sounds funny but it works! Try it.
ReplyDeleteMarge
By the way, your sketch book looks wonderful (and let's see if this comment does better than the last one!) ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow - what a great post! I really enjoyed the sketch books - think I'm going to get me one! Thanks so much for all of the great tips, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat post John'aLee. Your sketchbooks are wonderful. My problem right now is there are too many ideas floating around in my head that I can't settle on any one. I flit from one thing to another and accomplish very little. New Year's resolution #1 - Be More Disciplined! lol
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely comment, our place is fine, only garages full of water, so we are lucky compared to others, esp being so close to the river. The offending sashing has been ordered into place! I love your blog it full of such interesting stuff, glad to have found you!
ReplyDeleteYour sketchbook is as inspiring as your sewn pieces. Thanks for sharing, it is so nice to see the creative mind at work!
ReplyDeleteI love the sketch book and your idea of taking it with you everywhere. Thanks for sharing such wonderful suggestions.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! Great minds think alike.. I keep something similar for painted furniture designs! You've inspired me to maybe do a similar post sometime! How fun to meet you and thanks for joining me at Dandelion House Home Arts! I'm your newest follower and I'll be back! I love your blog too!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Just stopping by to say thank you for visiting/ following my blog!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a notebook you carry around with you. What a creative idea! I might just have to try it myself.
Yes, I also find I spend probably too much time on the internet, reading about all the things I would like to try or do instead of just doing them! I liked your suggestions for setting time aside, even just 30 minutes for the projects I want to get done.
Just love your blog...and loved your sketchbook..Just wish I had made it to your store in Panguitch before you moved on. You are so creative..and I know I spend way too much time in blog land....
ReplyDelete