Around The World In Creative Ways

Last week I wrote about "Tribes".  This week the focus is on the big wide world of creativity.   As many of you might remember, I create and play a lot on a site called Swap-Bot. (www.swap-bot.com)  It is an amazing resource of creative ideas and community.  Over the past year I've gotten some fun swap items that were hand crafted from all parts of the world.  I've connected with some fun folks and I've crafted and discovered things I could and want to do.  I love Swap-bot.
Recently, I joined a swap that was promoting other member's blogs.  I got to check out some amazing folks.  I think if you have the time they are worth a check out as well.
My partners were Bluecranyons, viridanmuse, silvermoonsnake (who hosted the swap), collenfranks and springknitter. As part of the swap, we are to give a bit of a review and hopefully be skillful enough to get you to click over and check them out, which I hope you do.

http://craftingwithblue.blogspot.com 

So fun and colorful!  This is a blog that is jammed packed with ideas in paper.  Scrap booking and card making.  She is nice enough to add patterns and templates and some tutorials. (Unlike yours truly-).  Her Valentine heart card...so cute.  Printed it out to use all year around and really for next Valentine's Day!

http://bone-needle.blogspot.com

WOW!  This is a wonderful blog for an old costume lady/history buff like me.  She is from Finland and love Medieval needle work and costumes. Amazing.

http://vintageterrace2.blogspot.com

This writer is a crafter and creative mind who lives in the Ukraine.  I've been following Colleen's blog for some time now, as I often find amazing ideas on her site.

http://theviridianmuse.blogspot.com/

If you love Fairies, this is your blog site.   She creates a line of the cutest Fairies ever!  I giggled as I checked out her blog.  It made me feel like a little girl.  Very sweet.

http://bpositivebfree.blogspot.com

Okay.  How could I NOT love this blog? Or anyone else for that matter?  She's got her own Positive Campaign going on over there.  Lovely Lovely insights!  Wonderful heartfelt writing style.  The post about raising and saving a mouse.  I cried.

This swap was great for me to do. Because sometimes, I get so wrapped up in my world of creating that it is good for me to step out.  It's good for us to see the world from different angles, even if it is done from the internet.  I hope you will take a minute and look at these folk's blogs.  I think it will be worth the trip.

Until next week create to feel great!  16 projects complete 36 to go!

And speaking of Around the world...this week's project is a Sewing Machine Cover...for another swap partner.  It is on it's way to France as I writing this!  Another design created using no pattern!  I didn't even peek on the internet to find a DIY.  The fabric I got at S.C.R.A.P.  which if you live in Portland and love to make things and haven't checked this place out.  Get off the internet and go now...!

Finding One's Tribe

Have you ever met someone for the very first time and just knew they you had known them all your life?  There is the comfortable feeling of "home" with them.  It's like picking up where you left off.  Yet this is odd, because the two of you just met.   Well, that's someone from your "tribe".   People who understand who you are on every level of your being.  Nothing is forced.  Everything is comfortable.  I can't even question it.  It just is.
Finding one's tribe is one of the most valuable gifts a person can have in one's life.  It is bigger than family, even though it really feels like family.  I call it my soul's family.  It is supportive without confusing lengthy explanations.  Then there is that feeling of safety.  That feeling of "I can try anything.  I can be really be who I am." and they accept me.  It is a magical ease being apart of tribe.

How in the world does one find their tribe?  I do know one can not set out to find their tribe. The best way is being aware in the moment. Trust you will know when you meet them.  A tribe can sort of find a person.  If one is not being themselves in the moment and being aware in the moment, they will miss their tribe.  Your tribe is personal to you and you alone.  Some of your tribe will know and get along.  Some will not have the same connection.  What is important is your real and true connection to your tribe.  I've also found that real and true members of your tribe bring out the best of you, not the negative side of you. They are a force for the positive. 

I feel I've been blessed over the past few years to connect with more and more folks in my tribe.  It grows by the years.  It is helping and supporting me to be a fully realized healthy person.  I had the opportunity this week to spend time with some members of my tribe I had not seen for awhile. That time brought it home just how important they for me and how much it contributes to my positive well-being, my creativity and my life.
My tribe knows who they are.
Thank you for all your many many gifts.

Have you started to find members of your tribe?
Until next week...create to feel great!
15 projects complete! 37 to go!

This week's project is called Valentine stuffers.  A really cute way to give a Valentine.  They are stitched paper hearts, filled with whatever your gift is.   Mine were some sewing notions for a friend.
They can be stitched by hand or if you don't have that, glue works as well.  Just clamp it down so it sticks.
I also thought of yarn and a big needle.  Maybe using a hole punch to help if the paper is on the heavy side.

I Knew It!

Perhaps it is the first of the year "let's all get healthy" frame of mind folks adopt, but this last week I've seen more and more stories and articles on the relationship between being happy and positive and good health.   Our outlook on life effects us physically.  This might be a "well, duh" moment.  Yet what I love about all this is that it is coming into the light.  Negativity isn't good for us.  It eats at our bodies. It makes us sick in our hearts and our soul.  It just makes us sick.  Yick!  Now the scientific community is supporting this with hard findings.
So, why do we want to keep poisoning ourselves with the negativity?  I've said this several times here...
cause it is easy.  That's why.  There is sooooo much negativity out there.  Sooooo much support for being negative and holding on to the negative attitude.  Why not being negative?  Well, at some point it catches up to us.  With illnesses, aches and pains, a shorter life, poor quality of life. We would not knowingly put rotten food in our bodies and expect to remain healthy.  Well, negative thoughts, words and actions can be the equivalent to ingesting rotten food and expecting to stay healthy.
Everyday, we can decide to be positive or negative.  We can be sunny or gloomy.  I know all this first hand. I know how to be just as negative as the next person.  Three years ago, I decided to work on that.  Shift the tide. Change my life.  It works.  Come on over to the positive side of things. One step at a time.  One reaction at a time. Your body will thank you for it.

Is negativity living in you?  What small small step can you take today to move towards feeling positive.  Viewing the world through positive eyes?  Then  like the shampoo bottle says...rinse, lather, repeat.

Until next week...create to feel great!

14 projects complete! 38 to go!

This week's project...pattern weights.  I'll admit it right here...I watch way too many sewing competition shows.  Project Runway, The Fashion Show, 24 Hour Catwalk...  They designers all use pattern weights to hold down their sewing patterns (what no pins!).   They are expense to buy.  I made my own! Using fabric yo yos (as much fun to make as they are to say) and heavy washers. Decorate with a cute button and let's sew!

It Takes Courage

Last Saturday, Broadside's company had a gathering. They always throw a nice party and I love talking with his co-workers.  They are great group of creative, funny and intelligent people.  One of his co-workers asked me what I had been up to.  I listed off my projects, among was my creativity coaching.  He asked me what was the one thing a person needs in order to express themselves creatively?  Good question.  One of those that made me stop a minute and gather myself.  In coaching we would call it a "Powerful question."  Many things flooded into my mind.  What came out of my mouth was one word.  "Courage."  He looked a bit startled.  I went on to explain my answer.
See, I feel it takes courage to acknowledge that we want to express ourselves in creatively.  It takes courage to put our creativity out into the world. It takes courage to keep on expressing ourselves and creating no matter what.  It takes courage to say "shut up!" and shut the door on the negativity and negative voices we hear and often focus on.  Once we have found and mustered our courage, then we can gather what we need to create.  A person who is willing to express themselves creatively is a courageous person.  They maybe a lot of other things, but at the core they have courage and are strong.
So, what is courage?  For me, it is my ability to face what I'm most afraid of and push forward.  Move past my fears.  It is saying, "Get out my way!" The the voices of Can't and Negativity.  It is listening to my intuition, and knowing I can do it.
It is very easy to just sit back.  Not move.  Not realize the fullness of our lives.  Our purpose.  To allow fear and negativity to rule us.  It is so easy.  Yet there is strength  and power in courage.  Taking courageous steps in our lives, whatever they may be for you and only you.  That's courage.
Hum...maybe that's why the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite characters.  As I write this I think of the song he sings in the movie, he longs for courage (and discovers he had in him all along.)
"Courage! What makes a King out of a slave?
Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?
Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder?
Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? "

If you were going to take one step of courage this week (however small or large it may be) what would it be?
Until next week...create to feel great.

13 projects complete! 39 to go!

Of course Mr. Gus had to give a try as well!
 He likes his leopard print as well- just don't tell anyone.

This week's project... a new hammock cover for Mrs. Mickeygrrrl.   A friend gave her this about 13 years ago.  It is one of her favorite spots in the house.  Her old cover was really worn out and not supporting her.  She's loving the new look.  Girl loves her leopard print.

Nice Diversion Tactic

The other day I saw a T-shirt that said, "I knit so I don't kill people."   Too funny, 'cause it is true.  I started knitting hardcore to release stress from horrible job I had years ago. Knitting is still my go to craft for stress relief.  There was a time when I didn't knit to divert stress, I ate.  And ate.  Years of mindless eating has taken it's toll on me and now I'm working to break that pattern.  So, I knit.  Way more fun for me.
Stress is a fact of life.  It's a fact of feeling.  Any time we are connected to anything or anybody, stress can occur.  Finding healthy ways to deal with stress is vital to our well being.  It is good to have a kit bag stuffed with healthy ways to deal with stress.   How do you know if you are doing something healthy to divert stress?  The first sign for me is that I'm present and in the moment with the activity I'm using to stress bust.  The activity takes me away from the stress, but not my present moment. Even if the stress has followed me into the present moment, it doesn't get to demand my attention.  After engaging in the activity, I'm usually not feeling the stress and I'm feeling more connected to the positive side of things.  I'm more in a happy place.  More times than not, I have a strategy for eliminating the source of that stress all together.
If you don't have an arsenal of healthy stress busters.  Perhaps start building it up with something simple like talking at a supportive positive friend or go for a walk or take a hot bath or craft something or knit.
Just starting packing that bag with healthy stress busters.  One can never have too many around these days.

What are some of your healthy stress busters?  Can you use a few more?
Until next week...create to feel great!

12 project complete.  40 to go.

In keeping with the knitting theme, I created a knitting needle/knitting supply roll up bag.  Perfect for double pointed sock needles and other knitting items.   Again...I created the pattern and design.  I'm diggin' the results.

Getting A Move On!

Time for a New Year's post.  Resolutions are useless in my book.  They get broken like so many champagne glasses on New Year's Eve and often quickly after the resolution is made.  They seem like a fight against will.  A forced action.  A shoulda, woulda, coulda sort of thing.  Not good.  No fun.  Who would want to keep a New Year's Resolution.  Not I.

Now Goals.  Good.  Stronger.  Focused.  Engaging.
Here's what I like to do with  setting Goals. (Not too many.  You can always set more goals as you complete the list.)  Then I combine it with a Theme.  Themes are what I want my year to be about.  It helps to put the creativity in action.  It can and is good to support the set goals. It is like planning a party or event. Once the theme is chosen, we don't usually create an event with items that don't support our theme.  A theme for what we want our year to be about, helps to support our set of goals.
 A sidebar here- it is also good to get support around working on goals.  Good support can really mean the difference between  success and failure.  Set up a strong support system.  It that's your only goal this year.   I now return you to our blog...in progress.

I also love to mix in a question that helps me stay focused on my goals and theme.   A strong "centering question" can help me get back on track, on those times I want to stray or forget my goals. Plus all this is fun.  Working on most goals is work, so why not allow some fun to mix in? (Hint- Having fun makes work and life a lot easier.)

My examples for this coming year...I have my goal of writing more. Getting some writing published/sold.  Learning more about my life interests.   I'm also working on walking more and eating healthy.  My goal is to do three walking events this year.  Fairly challenging ones at that.  In that also lose another 30 to 40 pounds of body weight. And of course complete another year of my Campaign.
My theme is Moving Forward.
My question is How will I move forward in the world? I can also ask Will this action or thought move me forward?
These might not mean much to you.  They really shouldn't, afterall these are my goals, my theme and my question.  I'm putting it out here, to illustrate what I'm talking about and hopefully generate some thinking in you.  I want everyone to have a strong year.  The year of dreams coming true, whatever they maybe.
Hopefully, these tips will assist you in creating a focus that assist you in creating a fabulous year.
Here's to a great year!

What are your goals? Do you have a theme?  What you want your year to be about?

Until next week...Create to feel great!
11 project complete 41 to go!

Project of the week...a free form painting.   I usually paint with purpose.  The only purpose  here was to paint and create.  I call it My Backyard.  I think I would like to do more painting, it is so fun.

Had to put a Bird on it.

Marvelous!

"Do you know what you are?  You are a marvel.  You are unique...You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven.  You have the capacity for anything.  Yes, you are marvel." ~ Pablo Casals

Christmas Eve day, I was out for a lovely lovely long walk.  I was picking up some last minute dinner items, some odds and ends.  I stopped off at Walgreens to pick up some large Hershey Chocolate Bars for the guys who camp out on my office's parking lot.  There are two guys, for some reason I picked up the special of 3 bars.  I figured they will get eaten.  I was two blocks from my house, and stopped at the cross walk.  I heard a woman's voice behind me say, "Oh, girl!  You are looking good.  You've lost weight and your are getting so healthy.  You are dressed so cute today!"  I turned around to face woman who looked like Whoopi Goldberg, if Whoopi had been living on the streets for years and hadn't eaten on a regular basis.   Her eyes danced and she smiled a huge smile at me.  We were the only two people standing on the corner.  I looked her in the eyes, to say thank you.  She beat me to the quick.  "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, you wonderful child of God!"   Her face beamed with joy.  She looked down at the bag I was carrying.  "So, what did you get me at Trader Joes?"  She was laughing.   I remembered the extra chocolate bar.  
"Do you like chocolate?" I asked.
"Well, I'm a girl.  Of course I do!"  She laughed.
I gave her the extra chocolate bar.  You would have thought I gave her a million dollars.
"Oh, sweet one!  Thank you!  You are going to have so many blessings.  You are going to be the richest woman in town by the end of the new year! I get happy just looking at you knowin' all this!"
The signal light changed.  We started to walk across the street.  Or at least I thought. I turned around to see if my new friend was behind me.  She wasn't!  Furthermore, she was no where to be seen on this busy busy street.  She had vanished!
Later that day, I told Broadside this story.  He looked at me and said. "You met your guardian angel."
Yes, I did.  I met up with a reminder of all the good things I have going for me and my life.  Perhaps a hint of what is it come in the new year. It was marvelous.  I hope to see her again sometime.  Yet I feel her presence and see her huge beaming smile.
With this new year, as with every new day, the possibilities are endless.  There is so much to create, so much to experience. So much to discover about myself and the world.  It is marvelous.
How will you create a marvelous new year?  What do you want to create this year?
I would also be curious to hear from any of you who feel that they too have met their guardian angel.

Until next week...Create to feel great.

10 projects complete.  42 to go.        


This week's project...a Kindle case for my new Kindle. Reading was never so wonderful!