Meditation and the Creative Process

Meditation is the art of silencing the mind.

A mind that is relaxed and clear of clutter is a creative mind.

There are many benefits to taking time everyday to meditate:
• Improved concentration - making you more productive and inspired
• To aid in letting go of the little things - if you get upset or anxious easily this is a great way to calm your mind.
• Better health - there have been many studies that show the benefits of meditating on your health.
• Better understanding of your inner self and your life's purpose.

I like to meditate when I get up in the morning. It helps me prepare my mind for the work I need to do for the day, and to start my day off in a relaxed state of mind. I have has some of my most creative ideas during those few minutes I take to meditate.

You can meditate anytime of day, and for as little as 5 minutes. Choose a time that works best for you, and try to stick to a schedule. Once you start and experience the benefits of practicing it will easily become a habit.

Starting a meditation practice is very simple. All you need is a chair and a quite space. There is no right or wrong way to meditate. Do what feels right for you, because you should always be comfortable and relaxed when you are meditating.

 If you have never meditated before there is is wealth of information all over the web to help you get started. YouTube has a variety of videos on how to start, as well as guided meditation if you find it difficult to clear mind. Your local library will also have books, Cd's, and other information to help you get going as well.

I highly recommend giving meditation a try! It will give you a boost of creativity, and peace of mind. It takes very little time out of your day, and it will be worth your effort.

Do you meditate?

Shopping Local

I was hunting around on Etsy recently and found some cool stuff from artist that are local in the Chicago Market. Shopping local is one of my goals this year, so I was thrilled to find all these fun designs.
I love the shop local button on Etsy!

Turquoise blue porcelain sea pod by robertapolfus

Finger less gloves arm warmers by Brendaabdullah

Thank Your Card Sampler by orangebeautiful

Silhouette 8 clock No 004 by OryxandCrakeDesign

Sterling Silver Necklace by moiraklime

Modern Succulent Arrangement by ArtsFloralDesign

Hand Stamped Sun Keychain by DreamNColor

What are some things you found local lately?

Your Competition

When was the last time you looked at your competition?

I'm not talking about the entire online community that creates what you create, but those few selected artists or business owners that are working in the same medium, style, or have the same product.

Keeping up with what they are doing, their prices, packaging, new products, shows they are attending, will give you insight into what's going on in your industry and with your customer base.

As a jewelry designer when I am looking at what people are selling on Etsy I don't look at the jewelry category.  One because it's just too large, and two because I don't consider everyone who makes jewelry as competition.

I only look at a couple of categories, artists who are making jewelry with hardware and industrial items. By doing this I can see what people are buying and the designs that are selling.

By keeping an eye on what's happening in my niche market, it's easier for me to make plans for my own business. I know the market is big enough for all of us, but by checking out my competition I know what I need to do to make my items stand out.

Now it's time to check out your competition:

• Make a list of other artists or business leaders, who are working in the same niche, that you admire.
• Review their website, and check out their feedback.
•Create a list:
  What do you admire about them or their work?
  What tool are they using to promote their business? (newsletter, social media, etc...)
  What are their policies? Customer service?
  What makes them unique?

Now look over your list, do you notice any patterns? What are they doing you are not doing? Can in incorporate of those ideas into your business?

Checking out the competition on a regular basis should be part of your monthly or quarterly plan. The more you know the better your business will be, and that will guide you to become the business that everyone wants to admire.

How often do you look at your competition?

Motivation Monday

                         Source: google.ca via Valerie on Pinterest

It's never too late to change plans

John Lennon was right...

Life is what happens while your're busy making other plans.

Plans are guidelines.

Not regulations.

If they don't fit the circumstances.

Change them.

The greatest skill isn't planning ahead.

It's being able to adapt to life's unexpected obstacles.

And still look ahead with a smile.

It's Never Too Late... by Patrick Lindsay

DIY Friday - Beauty Products

Creating your own beauty products can be a fun way to spend an afternoon. The best thing about creating your own products is you know exactly what is in your beauty products, and you can create things in the exact color you want. Here are a few DIY ideas to get you started.

Lip Gloss

Eye Liner

Nail Polish

Face powder

Beet Blush

Makeup remover

Solid perfume

Body butter

Have you ever created your own beauty products?

Are Your Ready to be Completely Organized?

Being organized is what we strive for in our business and in life. 

Being completely organized is relate to efficiency, productivity, and achieving simplicity.

We face challenges trying to achieve total organization. We set up systems to help us get things done, but we don't always stick to them, or the system we create is not really helpful.

Every time my sister comes to town she helps me organize my work space. She is really good at setting up stations for me to do my tasks so I can be more efficient, and I try my hardest to keep it up and stay organized.

Did you know that real organization starts in the minds. Take a moment to contemplate this question:

What excuses are you using that make you fall short of meeting your organizational goals?

Once you have answered that question, you can work on eliminating those excuses from you everyday life and create the systems you need to put in place to meet your organizational goals.

Being organized is a tool that takes you to having a more empowered life.

Chevron Inspiration

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”
-Mary Lou Cook

Phone Distractions

I spend most of my days by myself working in my studio. I communicate with my sister on a daily basis usually via Skype Instant Message, my husband and daughter via phone, and I have a few random calls from other family members and friends.

Some days I can have all this happening all at the same time. Just last week I was on Skype with my brother, my sister called on the phone, then my husband, and my daughter was sending me text messages. 

For some reason, if I am talking with one person another person calls or texts at the same time. Sometimes all these distractions can really cut into my productivity. 

Do you ever have that problem? 

Lots of calls and texts distracting you while you are working.

If this is a problem then starting a phone free hour might be helpful. Choose in hour in your day where you turn off your phone so you can be free from distraction and get some real work done.

I suggest you let your family know that you are turning your phone off, so if they do call they don't get worried. I know it drives my daughter crazy if I don't respond to her calls or texts right away.

I know that when I let everyone one know I need time to work, those are the most productive hours of my day.

Could you live without your phone for an hour or two each day?

Motivation Monday

                         Source: moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com via Valerie on Pinterest

What you think about is what you attract.

So fill your mind with peace, love, joy, and strength, 

and your life will reflect what you're think of!

Instant Happy by Karen Salmonsohn

DIY Friday - Fun with Ribbons

Ribbon comes in different colors, textures, and sizes, and is the perfect medium for embellishing and giving something old a whole new look. Try a couple of these ideas the next time you want to give something a little extra color and style.

ribbon lampshade 

ribbon flowers

ribbon pillow

ribbon necklace

ribbon collar

ribbon art

What have you created with ribbon?

Happy Valentines Day

My Valentine to you is a collection of photos with hearts found in nature. Enjoy!

Source: revuh.nl via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: pinerly.com via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: a-love-train.blogspot.com via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: theexposuresgallery.com via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: besttravelphotos.wordpress.com via Valerie on Pinterest

Source: pinterest.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: funmag.org via Alicia on Pinterest

Source: tariqweb.com via Jen on Pinterest

Source: webworm.deviantart.com via Jane McWilliams on Pinterest

Happy Valentines Day!

Enjoy your day!

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation is a new series, of community conversations about inspiration, creativity and business. Every new post will have a question and responses from bloggers in our community. Then, you the reader, will have the opportunity to answer the question in the comments. I look forward to having you Join The Conversation!

Question:
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
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Val from Miss Val Creations - For me, I enjoy the relaxing feeling that goes along with being creative the most. It is great for maintaining sanity. The days can be filled with stress and craziness and making jewelry feels like my "me time"!

Shop ♦ Blog

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Edi from Memories for Life - I love coming up with new ideas and making them a reality! When I new idea comes together just as I had imagined it, it just makes my day!

These little Owl Earrings are one of those ideas. I engraved the owl before, but never cut it out completely. I just LOVE how these turned out!

Shop ♦ Blog

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Janell from Dancing Mooney - I love to do a variety of things, and am always looking for new ideas. Which means my favorite part of the creative process is often somewhere in the area product development. I get excited when I connect with a new trend, or an idea I've found, that I can't get out of my mind. For me, creating is a journey of exploration, so trying new things, and putting new ideas to the test is always where I am most excited to spend my time.

 I am a visual person, so I love design-seeds.com for color inspiration, and searching Pinterest and Google/images for project ideas, once I have something in mind that I'm wanting to explore.

Shop ♦ Blog

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Now it's your turn to answer the question. Share your answer in the comments.

Books as Art

I could never imagine using a book to create art since I'm a crazy bookoholic, but there are some amazing artists who use books as their medium and create art that is visually stunning. Enjoy this collection of unique book sculptures.

Source: kopfdreck.tumblr.com via Recyclart on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: orientaltiger.tumblr.com via Joⅆi on Pinterest

Source: recyclart.org via Recyclart on Pinterest

Source: urdustar.com via Recyclart on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Hoi on Pinterest

Source: ihlet.com via elle.eye.ess.eh on Pinterest

Have you ever used an old book to create art?

Motivation Monday

                         Source: piccsy.com via MydlarniauFranciszka on Pinterest

Savor the Seasons

Welcome the variety in nature, its ever-changing cycles.

They make sense of growth and death and decay.

They bring home and renewal.

They give us a glimpse of eternity.

Their relentless passage brings optimism and harmony.

Now Is the Time by Patrick Lindsay