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This week's quote is available for purchase here. This will be my last weekly quote for the year. I've got two new quote-related items which I'll share in the next couple of weeks (both of which I'm very excited about!). Be sure to sign up for my newsletter for more details.
Happy Halloween!
My creative habit: Look closely at the photo above, and you'll see that the rectangle about Housekeeping is cut out and glued on. On the previous page, I had rewritten the section on G is for Guilt three times (thanks to the spiral binding, I was able to tear out the rejects), so when I made a mistake on the H page, I just glued over it. Done. Would I rather my book didn't have this little flaw? Sure. Is it going to be the only mistake I make? Unlikely. The key for me is to keep on keepin' on. (I is for Imperfection, coming next week!)
To me, there is nothing quite so uninteresting as a shining, perfectly smooth surface that looks as though it has never been used. George Nakashima
My creative habit: I've been working on this book regularly since late summer, first on the content, and then transcribing artfully into my book. I've reached that point in my creative process when I could easily lose interest. It's time to remember my goal: as I look back through the pages I've made so far, I'm not energized by the artwork itself -- and that's okay. My goal was not to create an amazing-looking art journal, but to focus on the content, presented Gina-style. I look forward to spending an hour or two a week on my book, which seems just enough to stay invested in it and not so much that I'm bored with it. (It also helps that I'm committed to sharing the pages here on my blog...until it's done.)
This week's quote is available for purchase here.
Remember this? I finished it.
Or maybe I should say, I've finished it enough to wear it.
The first time I thought I was done, I went back and added some darts to the collar.
Then the movie we were watching wasn't quite over, so I added some detail to one of the sleeves.
I can see this piece as the perfect canvas for trying out new stitches.
I'd like to share a couple of local events that are just around the corner.
On Saturday,October 29th, I'll be hosting a free Stitching Bee at Sewtropolis in south Minneapolis, from 9:30-11:30. You can see some of my stitching projects in person, and pick up a kit ($5) to sew your own reverse applique scarf.
On Saturday, November 12th, I'll be a vendor at Rachel's Holiday Boutique, also in south Minneapolis, from 10am to 4pm.
All the sales at this event benefit the Michelle Project. I'm keeping my eye on a headband from Urban Halo and some organic skincare from the lovely Anna Dvorak. I'm super excited to be in the company of so many amazing women. Last year we had a whopper of an early-season snowstorm on the day of the sale, so I hope to see twice as many of you this year!
My creative habit: I am learning that it helps to have portable work. Sometimes my office is not the most inspiring place to be (especially when I have both physical and creative work to do...it's too easy to be distracted by one or the other). I recently picked up a copy of A Writer's Space, and even though I'm not a writer, I'm sure I'll learn a thing or two. Most of my A to Z book has actually been written from my bed. We have a beautiful bay window in our room and I feel a real connection to the rest of the world when I write there. Sometimes I ship stamps from our dining room table, and I love to brainstorm at my local coffee shop. How about your work? Can anything be taken on the road (or down the hall) for a change of pace?
This week's quote is available for purchase here.
I was in a bit of a rush when I took these photos (one week till Christmas, and I had to get the package to Chicago). I put this book together for my niece, with photos I had taken of her through the years and song lyrics. It was especially fun to put together because she is so photogenic!
My creative habit: One of my favorite creative habits is to "build a bridge" to the next day's work. I try to leave my work at a place where it will be easy to start the next time. Who wants to pick up a project and spend time right away thinking about what to do next? I like to ease into it. When I'm handsewing, I always end by threading a needle & knotting the thread, so that I'll be ready to start stitching right away. When I'm working on a scrapbook page, I might set out some photos but not glue them down.
For my A to Z book, I try to sketch the next letter's title block in pencil, and then lightly ink over it so that I can begin by erasing and adding colored pencil. This habit is like a warm-up for my mind and my hands, a chance to stretch without requiring a lot of mental effort from the get-go. The hard part is making yourself stop when you're in the middle of something good!
