OH... Now, I See

Several years ago when I had my eyes checked, I was so excited to possibly get the news that I needed glasses.  I very much wanted to be able to wear a fun and funky accessory and take on a new style that was seemingly more "artsy".  I was going to be so cool!

Oh... the visions I had of modeling colorful styles, a sleek frame, any welcome of a look that I could call attention to an artistic personality.  I was so prepared and willing to add the fashion statement to my wardrobe.  I was ready to transform myself.  I could hardly wait.

To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.



Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Much to my surprise- the doctor pretty much informed me that maybe I would be in need of glasses in five years but, not then.  I could not believe the results and practically begged for reconsideration.  I was insistent in my mind that I should be able to see more clearly than I was at the time.  I was shocked and then disappointed.  I felt no relief at all from the fact that I had healthy vision.  I just wanted to wear glasses for goodness sakes!


Several years passing from that initial vision test and now being much older, I have a new concern.  I actually need glasses and I do not want them!  I have felt the sting from the realization that I now require vision aid!  This time in my life, I just feel plain old!  I could care less if I look any more "artsy" than I already am.  Admitting I can see better now just means that I am old and my vision is the first sign of going down hill from here on out.  It is depressing, really.
Well, while the need for real glasses is limited (at this point in time)  I do appreciate that my improved vision is a huge help in my creative day.  My bead-making takes less time, I am more focused and my product details are more clear to me as I create for hours at a time.  As it turns out...I now see much better.

OH...I see the whole picture much better now.  I see that change is good in any form and most times for the better.

The best vision is insight. -Malcolm Forbes

Myth Buster- "I Am Not Creative"

Have you identified yourself as not being creative?  It's a myth!  It's not obvious to all so, let's bust it this very second. If you have said, heard or believe that you are not creative, please read on to realize that you are mistakenly WRONG.  I have had my share of hearing this sad statement from all ages of students and adults alike. Over the years, especially in the years I have spent in classrooms as an art educator,  I have heard a lot of people say a lot of  things about creativity. Some of those things, I hear again and again.  Many of those complaints – or myths – about creativity are contributions to this negative attitude towards the creative process.

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono



“I am not creative”.  I wish that we could erase those combination of words and the statement from world language.

When I hear someone precisely say those words, I cringe.  The truth, of course, is that we are all creative.  And while some people are naturally more creative than others, we can all have very creative ideas. The problem is, as we grow older, most of us learn to inhibit our creativity for reasons relating to work, acceptable behavior and just the notion of being a grown-up.  Pablo Picasso, Spanish Cubist painter (1881 - 1973), made an epic statement and observation when he said: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."  The child-like, no fear attitude is inhibited somewhere along the line as we grow older and the notions that we are no longer or were never ever creative in any way take over our being. When we lose that, we have to fight harder to be free to express our creativity.

Image:brainzooming.com

“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” — John Steinbeck

Some think that “Creative people always have great ideas”,  That is certainly not true but we still think that creative people  always have ideas.  Well, newsflash... we all have ideas.  Maybe creative people tend to share or act on their ideas and that is one reason why they seem to always have them in the first place. Over time, we may then tend to forget creative people's weak ideas and remember their great ideas because they have made points to express them or act on them.

People say they are not creative to colleagues, family and even to themselves. Indeed, this is one reason why people believe they are not creative: they have got into such a habit of censoring their creative ideas, by telling themselves that their ideas are stupid, that they no longer feel creative. Next time you have an idea you think is stupid, don't censor it. Rather, ask yourself how you could improve on the creative idea that you do have.

        “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” — Albert Einstein

Club Creative Studio has adopted a working motto that serves as inspiration.  As we continue to do things to: Be Creative Everyday", we are less likely to set aside ideas that we may think are not "creative" and it is an ongoing process to not sensor the ideas but test them out and proclaim the results to others.  We are creative everyday, and you can be too.  Be creative in thought or action.  Challenge yourself to recognize when you're creative and continue those contributions.

What If...Ask the Q's and Get the A's

Curiosity is good and questions take courage.  Ask questions to learn and share your new-found knowledge with others.

Ask yourself this question:  "What if...?"  What if you could own something that no one in the entire world would ever have, wouldn't you feel special?  Wouldn't you value that item for the worth it contains?  What if the one-of-a-kind item could also be on display for people to admire and comment on, could you share the details of your discovery with excitement?  What if your item was so affordable that you could easily begin a unique collection or share in gift-giving to others, would that make you happy?  What if these situations were real, wouldn't that be cool?  Final answer:  YES!  I have created ways to make this possible for you!  Everyday, I am taking creative steps to produce: Art That Sets You Apart!

This situation IS real.  Anyone that gets or gives a hand-made item from Club Creative Studio can answer all of the above questions with a resounding YES!  You can own something that no one in the entire world will ever own because each hand-made item is one-of-a-kind, hand-made and never duplicated. You can value the artistic characteristics by knowing that each hand-rolled clay bead or hand-torched Italian glass bead incorporated is unique and created by a talented artist just for you.  You can be excited about sharing the details of how your art was created and the steps it took to expedite into existence.  You can afford to treat yourself to art that will set you apart from the normal mass produced artistic items around in the local stores.  Club Creative Studio art is accessible online with secure and easy payment options available.  Please, visit the site often as inventory changes because each item has a one-of-a-kind limited status.

                  http://www.clubcreativestudio.com/

Jump Start Your Creativity or Look Stupid Trying

I found these tips on how to increase creativity recently and I wanted to share them with you.  They are ideas with a bit of a twist to gain more creativity in your everyday life. First of all, it suggests you to try an activity or two that is sort of out of the ordinary.  And secondly, they are  free to try.  Good luck!
                                                          
How to Increase your Creative Mind:  By Rodney Stevens, eHow Member

With the world expanding everyday with new ideas, we need to learn how to keep up the creativity of the world. Ideas start from a thought, and that thought comes from a creative mind. Use these tips to improve your creativity.

Things You'll Need:
Yourself
A quiet place to think

1.  Learn how to be ambidextrous. This causes you to use both sides of your brain. One side for logic and reason and the other side for creativity. If you can activate both sides of your brain frequently then creative ideas will flow to you much easier. Try doing many things that involve using both hands and switch hands often.

2.  Move your eyes back and forth for thirty seconds. This activates both sides of the brain quickly for some quick creative thinking.

3.Daydreaming is an effective way to boost your creativity. Just letting your mind wander gives your subconscious mind time to wander and come up with new ideas.

4.  Try walking backwards when visualizing or problem solving. This stimulates the brain in a sense of being in an unfamiliar situation which cause you to think differently.

Let me know what works best for you and your creative work situations.  Please feel free to laugh at me if you see me in my neighborhood walking around backwards.  I will be doing that while holding my jewelry making tools in both hands, with my eyes dashing side to side from ear to ear and looking like I am in a deep relaxed stare in a subconscious state of mind!

.

Sweet Serendipity

Sweet Serendipity!  The word means to "dip" into life with serenity.  Serendipity is closely related to creativity in that often you may set out to create one way and in the process accidentally discover a different way that works better for you or your art.   It can end up being a meaningful part of your whole creative thought process or progress.

Serendipitous connections with people or your creative projects can open up your eyes to lead you to a whole set of circumstances. 

Club Creative Studio's 3-D pendants.

Sometimes, when not expected, you will naturally bend in a direction that may first seem accidental.  It is a discovery in growth and your creative spirit being set free.

It took me nearly a year to reach "sweet serendipity" on a recent project I had been involved in creatively.  This is what sparked me to write about it here in this blog.  I want this short story to inspire you to step back or take time to creatively work through challenges or roadblocks, even if it may take a year or more!  I first formulated what I refer to as my "square beads".  They are small one inch by one inch creations that start out on a flat base and then are built up with layered art clays, textures and finally paints and a finishing gloss.  When I first started making them I envisioned each square to be linked to another, completing a bracelet.  It seemed like a really cool vision and possible to do on top of that.   What I soon learned after having a sizable pile of these small squared art sections stocked up was that it did not work the way I thought it would.   I did not throw away the small squares because I knew deep down that I would find something to do with them at some point.   As I mentioned before, it took almost a year to pass before the new idea came to me on how to better utilize the creations.


After I took the time I needed to reassess the art and it's function for me,  the revisit to it was an awesome 'aha' moment.  About the same time that I discovered a new medium on the market, I immediately knew how I was going to incorporate my 'new' square beads.  By also combining my time-tested methods to this new project, I gave birth to the successful results of Club Creative Studio's 3-D hand-made bezel pendants.  Looking back, it is a far cry from the bracelets I initially set out to create.  I love creating these one-of-a-kind necklaces now.  Give yourself the gift of time that may be needed for critical analysis to overcome your obstacles and gain the sweet feelings of sweet, sweet, serendipity.

Measure Up to New Heights

My physical stature may be a mere five foot tall frame but, my creativity height makes me a giant!  How can I grow even taller in creativity?  It is not only a talent...it is a skill.  Around this time of year we all think of the visions of sticking to a routine that will make us grow into a better person.   Maybe it is to eat healthier, maybe it is to act in a more favorable manner.  Whatever the goal, we have to make adjustments to get that growth.  Creativity is both inborn and learned.  What does not come naturally to you may need to be practicticed.  We feel the need to grow in creativity when life around us is flat in flavor and we feel that our actions can step things up one notch higher.  Do you want to become a creative giant?

Do you have a creative buddy? Sometimes artists are known for being a "different breed" and for those reasons, we don't seem to always see things the way the norm does.  I have found it extremely helpful to seek out other "artist types" or highly creative people in guilds, groups and businesses.  Being in contact with others with creative minds are helpful to fuel and stimulate my own creative ways of thought.  Gather with like-minded folks to grow and develop your creative ideas.  You will not regret having that support system to bounce your creative ideas off of from time to time.

My cat Nymbus is sometimes a fixture in my creative zone work area.

Do you have a creative zone?  Do you have a special place to visualize your goal?  It doesn't have to be a rented studio loft or store front on main street.  You may utilize an end of a small table, find a quiet nook, or use your outdoor patio or garage. A nice space or separate room will allow you to focus and routinely spread your creative wings in thought.   Your creative zone is the space where you know you can expect great creative thoughts, actions, and productive products.  I have a cute wooden plaque that reads:  "Mom is crafting...go ask Dad!" It serves a a fair warning that when I am in my designated creative zone- I may want to be alone with my creative thoughts and project at hand.  It's ME time!

Consistent creativity tests will make you automatically and painlessly used to the challenges of looking outside of the box.  When your mindset has no boundaries, there is no limit to the creative endeavors you will want to both discover and develop.  As a rule of thumb- if there has to be any level of rules here- use tactics for your benchmarks.  In other words, if you feel like trying out a new product or technique take your time to learn a bit first.  Maybe, you want to experiment with a new medium - let's say oil paints instead of acrylics.  You surely do not want to invest your hard earned money or time jumping into getting the needed supplies and then later find that you do not care for the medium.  Take small steps when you are creatively trying something new.  Take time to research a product or technique before you decide to jump into a new venture with your whole heart.  This does not mean that you are starving your creativity.  This does mean that you can be just as creative taking small bites of new information so that you can properly digest and successfully enjoy what you are learning in your new creative experience.

Seek out "creative buddies", spread out your supplies in your "creative zone", and be prepared to challenge yourself with use of your creative bursts of energy.  You are sure to sprout in a higher degree of creativity if you allow yourself to grow!

Breaking Down the Greeting

Happy ~ New ~ Year!  As we welcome 2011 into our lives, let's take a minute to break down the greeting.  Blog readers:  I wish you a very HAPPY/ NEW/ YEAR.  We have heard those three words, we have proclaimed the saying to others, we've seen it in print in many different places.  Now we are left to live it.  Live the meaning for an entire year.  Break it down into more than a greeting.  Break down the greeting into an obtainable goal- a lesson to live for, three words to live by in 2011.

HAPPY- Take to heart the words "Don't Worry, Be Happy".  That is also the title and principal lyric of a song by musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988.  We are going to have problems this year.  Reality will dictate that fact.  In our personal and business life, we will have times of challenge.  We might as well work on lowering our blood pressures this year and practice being happier at the same time.  Tell yourself to be happy, or better yet... make someone else happy.

NEW- If you are alive and well this very second and you are reading this...you have been given the gift of new.  It is up to us what we do with this day and the newness it brings.  An Oprah Winfrey quote can sum up what I mean when I ask to celebrate the word new: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

YEAR- O.k. friends, many things can happen in a years time. Right now we think that we have plenty of time to hit those resolutions, obtain those goals and strive to be a better person with a better life.  It will flash before us like the rest of the years have done.  If we get distracted along the way- and we will...keep these three words in the forefront of your mind to help you keep on track to remaining happy and new during this year.  All and all  G.K Chesterton sums this up nicely in saying that "The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul."
H A P P Y                        N E W                          Y E A R !

Happy New Year wishes from Club Creative Studio.  I wish you happiness, a new beginning, and a great year in 2011.