Plan a Creative Day

Our lives are filled with deadlines and lists of tasks, that can damper our creative spirit. That's why its important for inspiration and motivation to have a day devoted to being creative. This will be your time to concentrate on experimenting and perfecting the craft that makes you happy and fulfilled.

Steps for planning your day:

Eliminate Distractions

Unplug phone, turn off cell phones, and stay off the Internet for the whole day. You will be surprised how much extra time you will have.

Have the right tools ready

This may be the time to try out new tools, or to purchase supplies you have been wanting to try. Don't forget your sketchbook, you will be surprised how the ideas start flowing when you have time to concentrate on your craft.

Go to your creative space

Put yourself where you are most likely to succeed at your creative goals. If it is beautiful outside and that's where you think you will be most creative, set up a table and work outside.

Make yourself happy

Put on your favorite sweater or top, eat candy you usually avoid, do whatever makes you smile.

Do something special

If there is something you don't normally do, because you don't have time or you don't want to spend the money, today is the day to try. Go get that manicure or massage, enjoy a glass of wine, hang out with friends, this is a perfect way to end your creative day.

Find a way to create your own creative day. It's important for your art, for how it makes you feel, and a way to recharge your life.

How do you recharge your creativity?

Winter Winter go away

I woke up this morning to a freezing cold house and SNOW. I can't even tell you how sick I am of snow. The snow is so heavy it knocked out the electricity all over our neighborhood. It finally came back on and we are warm once again, but what a morning.

Winter Beauty

Sweet Sixteen

Friday 3/27 my little girl turned 16! I can't believe have fast the time went, and my once little girl can drive now.

This weekend turned into a sweet 16 weekend. For the first time since she started school spring break was late enough for her to have her birthday during school. She was thrilled and of course the queen for the day. That night she lets us take her out to dinner, and the restaurant created a menu just for her.

Saturday was an all day party (after we cleaned of course). Friends came over, we had a pizza and cake, and then everyone went skating, and then a sleep over with lots of very loud Rock Band.

Now that's it Sunday and everyone has gone home I think the party is over.

Oh, to be 16 again.

Fashion & Jewelry 2009 Trends

As the season changes spring trends are on every one's mind.

This week I did a blog post with hot trends for the season from Esty artists - check out Accessory Style.

I also found some great information on how trends get started and a list of sites to check out for more fashion information - check out Who Started that Trend?.

Well I found another great blog post with all the jewelry trends for the season - check out Spring/Summer 2009 Jewelry Trends from the Jewelry Artisan Market Place on 1000 Markets.

With all this trend information we should all be prepared to look our best this spring and summer.

Cool Art

I confess I am a magazineaholic! I love them, I keep them and they stack up all over my house. Well for the last couple of weeks I have been going through them removing items I want to keep and then recycling them. Its really hard to give them up, but my house looks better already.

In this process I have found some cool things. Check out these photo's, art that looks like fabric, but really is liquor bottle caps put together with copper. They are amazing.

Liquor bottle tops, copper wire 488 x 457 cm, 2003Photo: Courtesy of Oriel Mostyn Gallery, London

Liquor bottle tops, copper wire 297 x 347 cm Photo: Courtesy of Oriel Mostyn Gallery, London

These photo's are from Surface Design the Journal of the Surface Design Associations Summer 2005

Thursday's Thoughts

"Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the enjoyment of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Accessory Style

Top trends for spring 09

Gradient - Looks like tie dye for grown ups

Hand Painted Silk Scarf by Oceanavesilks

Shine - Metallic finishes mix well and add instant glam

Copper Vinyl Bag by annaladesign

Bigger Bangles - Make a strong accessory statement

Leather Bracelets by oolalaa

Flowers - on anything

Flowered Washer Necklace by Additionsstyle

Ruffles - For that little bit of feminine glam

Custom Merlot Skirt by ArmoursansAnguish

Try one or all for an instant update to your spring wardrobe.

Want to see some more spring trends check out the websites and blogs from the post Who Started that Trend?

Overcome your Creative Fears

These last few months have been a challenge. Creating a cohesive line, getting everything online, promoting and marketing on the computer. Everyday is a learning experience, their is so much information on the web sometimes it's hard to know where to start. Many days I let my demons take over and its a battle to urge myself to keep working. So today I want to share with you some fear's and how I learned to overcome them.


Image Source: Accredited Distance Learning


Don't let a daunting project scare you. Failure is important to success!


Negative Talk
Become aware of the negative messages you give yourself. Then begin to verbalize positive ones instead. Continue to remind yourself that you have great potential.


Fear of Failure
Make a decision and look at each failure as a step toward success. Failure is a learning experience that will lead to growth.


Fear of Risk
Free yourself about how you think a project should go. Take risks. If you don't your work won't change, you will be bored, and you will be cheating yourself out of creative discoveries.


Lack of Discipline
Set up a schedule to work on your project. Protect it, tell everyone that this your time and keep that commitment to yourself. The more you keep your schedule the easier it will be to establish discipline.


Isolation
We all need human contact to keep the spark alive. Get out when you can, take a class, join a group, have coffee with friends, this will help keep your creative juices flowing.


Perfectionism
You may not think it's perfect, but every creation is worth something. Sometimes you just have to put your project aside, when you come back to it you may see it in another light.


Fear of Rejection
Don't let your fear of rejection hold you back. Take that next step, try something you have never tried, don't place your worth on one opinion. Trust you instincts no matter what anyone else thinks.

What are your fears and how have you overcome them?

Spring is in the Air

I did it again. More flowers for my Etsy shop. Check out these two new pieces, just in time for your spring wardrobe.

Who started that trend?

Ever wonder how trends get started?

These days the designers, editors of magazines, and all types of fashionistas are using whats called Reverse Trend Forecasting. They are using what they see on the street and read on fashion blogs, written by people like you and me, as inspiration for their new looks.

Sites to check out for cool trends and inspiration.

Lookbook.nu - where fashion forward members post photo's of their daily outfits

Fashionindie.com - a blog & social network targeting emerging fashion lover

The Urban Socialite - a blog about being a trend setter

The Coveted - a blog about fresh inspiration for your wardrobe

Independent Fashion Bloggers - Want to find a fashion blog? This is the place

Where do you find your fashion inspirations?

Ten Things about Me

1. I am married and I have a teenage daughter and 2 dogs


2. My sister and I are best friends - even though she lives in a different state


3. Besides making jewelry I love to sew


4. I enjoy cooking


5. I prefer to take vacations by car - I like to see the country


6. My favorite place to hang out is the library or a book store


7. I am not very organized - but I do try


8. I like to drive - with a teenager I don't have much choice


9. I spend a lot of time on my computer


10. I hate to do housework
    

I would love to hear about you - tell me 2 things about yourself.

From Idea to Reality - Design Development

Design development should resemble a voyage of discovery. On that voyage you will discover a distinct direction for your product development, materials you want to work with, and relevant concepts to build on.

There are three basic elements to developing your design:

Identifying the question

Here are a few examples of questions you might want to start with...
What do you want to create?
What is the message you want to send?
What shapes should I work with?

Thinking Laterally

This one took me a long time to figure out, but basically it means to look at something and seeing past the obvious.

• Try this exercise - Take a common object like scissors, tools, or even a cork screw and start drawing it. As you go through the process change each drawing as you go, make it narrow, wide, do different directions, just draw it parts changing the shapes as you go, put it back together in different way. This will help open up your mind to looking at things differently and seeing all the potential inspiration around you.

Consider your Elements

Here is the basic design checklist of essential elements you should consider during your design development.

Shape - Is it appropriate for your concept? Is the scale right for visual balance?

Form - Have you considered the piece from all angles?

Texture - What finish should your piece have?

Color - What does the color need to achieve?

The 5 senses - How can you make your piece to engage them?

Function - Will the piece be able to perform the function you want it to?

Materials - Are they suitable for your design?

Process - What will you need to do to create your piece? Will it be cost effective?

These are simple ideas. If you incorporate them into your process when you are creating, it will save you time and make the process of taking your idea and turning it into reality.

Thursday's Thoughts

"We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let our dreams die, but others nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days till they bring them to sunshine and light"
Woodrow T. Wilson

Spring Fever

I'm not one of the girls who likes flowers and girly stuff, but I have just created this new piece and I love it. Who knew you could take an industrial building washer and make it feminine and pretty.
Check my Etsy shop for more information.
What do you think? Are you as ready for spring as I am?

Business Tip Tuesday - Blog Ideas

Have you ever sat in front of your computer screen needing to write a blog post and not having any idea what to write? I have. In my pursuit to have a better blog, I have come across a few ideas to help in the process of finding ideas to keep your blog fresh.

Here's a few I found...

Keep an idea log
Use a notebook you can carry with you, so you can jot down ideas as they come to you. I use mine when I am surfing the web, reading, or just hanging out. Sometime the best ideas come when you are not sitting in front of your computer screen, but when you are out and about.

Explore blogs in different categories
There is so much information on the web and if you limit yourself to just your medium you are limiting your idea possibilities. I read blogs about fashion, business, trends, being a mom, anything to stay informed.

Check comment sections
When people respond to your blog posts they tell you what they liked, sometimes they ask questions, or share experiences, use that information to expand on a post you have done. Also when you are reading other peoples blogs if you read a post you liked check out the comments, it may spark an idea for your blog.

Do something different
Do a blog post that is all pictures, give something away, write a list relevant to you audience, create a poll. You don't aways have to write a post to get your point across.

Step away from your computer
Sometimes its best to stop trying so hard and just turn the computer off and do something else. When I find my self stuck I go to the library or book store and read magazines and check out new books. When I do this I always come home with a notebook full of ideas.

Next time you need some ideas give a couple of these ideas a try.
I would love to here how you come up with idea's, leave a comment!

Thursday's Thoughts

"Art is the great democrat, calling forth creative genius from every sector of society, disregarding race or religion or wealth or color"
John F. Kennedy

Sisterhood Blog Award

I"m so thrilled my blog just received the Sisterhood Blog Award from Daria at D'Luxe Design Blog.

Now I get to share the award with other great blogs.
This is how it works:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I'd like to congratulate my choices for this award:
1. Dancing Mooney
2. Handmade Whimzy
3. Book Wormz
4. Livngood Jewelry
5. Shimmer Me Blue Design

Please visit their blogs and congratulate them!

I made it into a Treasury

Found this piece in a Etsy treasury this morning - Just Screwing Around. A great collection of items with a hardware theme. Check it out.

Yellow, Yellow everywhere

In my hope that spring will come soon to the Midwest, today I thought I would post some of my favorite thing in this springs hottest color YELLOW.

All of these wonderful finds are from Etsy shops.

(click on the photo to go to there shop)

From Idea to Reality - Tools

A sketchbook is an essential tool for your design process. It’s your diary of your design journey, with your observations, visual images, and ideas explored and developed.

The wonderful thing about a sketchbook is you don’t have to know how to draw to use one. I love my sketchbook. I use it everyday, and take it with me everywhere. You never know when inspiration will hit you.

The process for design is different for everyone. You may like to just start a project with no plan, just jump in with both feet. You may draw everything out from every angle and have very detailed plans. You may be more like me where I sketch to get the ideas down on paper and use them loosely depending on the materials available. Sketching can be your thinking process, how you fine tune your ideas, working things out before you start working with your expensive materials.

Use your sketchbook for your ideas, and as a technical journal. Record experiments you have tried, material you have worked with and techniques that did or did not work. Keep your sketchbooks, you will be surprised how often you go to them as a source of inspiration. Plus it fun to look back and see how your work has changed over the years.

Once you get started with sketching out your ideas it you will be surprised how the ideas will start flowing. It take practice to get into the habit and remember sketching is just for you, so no need to make them perfect. Try these exercise to help develop your mind-hand connection making sketching easier over time.

♦Make on-minute gestures drawing familiar objects or the scene outside a coffee shop
♦Use simple lines or scribbles to capture shapes
♦Doodle – Set your mind free and see what happens

Here are a couple of resources for making your own journal and on how to keep a sketchbook. Check out these Etsy shops that offer beautiful handmade sketchbooks (click on the photo for the shop).

Create your one moleskin sketchbook

How to keep a sketchbook

Question – How do you design? Do you just jump in working with the material you have or do you plan out what you are going to do?

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs

Over the last week I have been checking out blogs. So I thought I would share with you some of the blogs I enjoyed.

Try Handmade
Funky Finds
GilBea's Fashion & Handmade
Shop N Blog
Make It
The Boss of You
Miss Malaprop - Green and Indie Finds
Tip Junkie

Thursday's Thoughts

Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it has not before possessed.

Joseph Addison

From Idea to Reality - A Series

Since the launch of my new collection ♦VIBRANT ♦ HARDWARE♦ in my Etsy shop, I have been thinking a lot about the process of coming up with a design and making it a reality. I did a lot of research for my new collection, on products to use, design concepts, and of course color choices.

In this series I will share with you design concepts, tools, ideas, and an exercise or two, that you can use in your own process to create new products.

It's important to remember that how each person approaches design will differ, for some people design is and extension for their love of crafting and for others a desire to express something that inspires them. Either way design is about enthusiasm and commitment, and I will share with you the tools I learned for designing and creating new products.

Even if you are not a designer, it will give you insight into the design process.

I want to make this series interactive, let me know what you think, share your process, if you have photo's you would like to share please do. I want to hear from you!

This week's question: What part of the design process do you find most difficult when you are creating?

♦VIBRANT ♦ HARDWARE♦

Six new piece have been added to the
♦ VIBRANT ♦ HARDWARE ♦
collection now available in my Etsy Shop!


Purchase any item in the new collection and receive FREE SHIPPING (until 3/8/09).


Check everyday, new items will be added all week!