Encouragement from Stacy Julian

As a constant source of inspiration, I like to read the blog by Stacy Julian. Recently she had a post which affected me profoundly.

She said: "When it comes to creative expression, we sometimes (quite often) get hung up on all that we aren’t doing or finishing or ultimately accomplishing. This is wholly unfortunate because generally speaking, it isn’t the end result that changes us. It is the very act of making time to pursue and practice creativity that matters. It is the process that will heal you and shape you and guide you in a more inspired path."

See: http://stacyjulian.com/sprinkles/

This has stuck with me in the last few days, and I want to share my pursuit of Creativity, my practice for inspiration, my works in progress....

At my job we always get a million small cardboard boxes, and I have taken to bringing them home knowing that I could do something with them --- until now they have sat in a pile, gathering dust, and looking repugnant in the brown-cardboard-box-color-with-writing-on-it. So, I covered them with brightly colored non-brown paper so that as organizing tools they are more inviting.... Now the job is to utilize the organizers, instead of just letting them sit!

And now we view the unholy mess that I created yesterday. Inevitably, during the organizational process, things must be un-done before they can be re-done. .... Hopefully sooner rather than later... (Perhaps the fact that this is Sunday makes me review the comment just listed, and think of it in different light-- aren't we too needing to change and improve, and often that process is done by undoing our previous actions or habits in order to re-make ourselves into a better image of our Savior.)

Now I know that Stacey's blog was more towards the ideas of craft projects that are still in the works, but this is my craft Room, which holds all the projects I'd like to finish, but have trouble accessing easily. So for me, first comes the room to finish, then I can focus on the others. But as she says, it is the creative process that changes us, that guides us, not the finished project. (In the case of my room though, I sure hope the finished project can then lead me to process creatively everything else!)

Cloth books have always fascinated me, so for the birthdays of my sister and friend I made them a wallet-sized 'book'. Each have pockets, little details and embellishments specific to each, along with papers, quote, pictures and more.

The inside detail here shows a bit more of this simple construction, and the individualized panels on each 'page'.

Just a little something I've been working one, something I might have to play with more!

These round larger beads in the top picture are ones that I have had for a while, but I haven't found something to do with them yet besides making earrings. This bracelet was a trial, and I wasn't too happy with the result, so we took it apart. The green bracelets below are the sister ones that Emily and I made. We are so happy with how they turned out! The green glows in the light, and each bead is different. I am still experimenting with the stretch cord-beaded bracelet idea, normally I prefer line and clasp.

Busy as a Bee

Today was such a productive day! Don't we just love times like that, when our plan-to-do list actually can be done... I am not always able to say that I finished my lists, inevitably I add more and more 'hopefuls' and then get less done than originally planned. But today I finished two bags, cleaned my house, did massive amounts of laundry, changed my bed and aired out my house. Ah, the strength of sunshine!

This latest bag I am quite attached to, I don't know how I'll bear to give it away. But it is posted for your viewing pleasure! My favorite parts are the outside ragged seams, and the jean-back-side pockets that I used for the inside pockets in this bag!

Admittedly, my color palette tastes run more conservative that others.... but with the fabric already picked out, and upon request, look here!

This bag I fashioned for my mother, along with her love of spring time and bright colors. There is no doubt about it, this is a bright bag :) And she loves every bit of it.

We used bright green thread along the handles and along the top, bringing out the beautiful colored dots on the lining fabric.

It turned out pretty well!

Coming soon....

For my one and only follower (at this point)

I have a hard time realizing the true purples with my pictures... The top one is a little blue for me, but the bottom makes the white fabrics look more creamy/muddied than they are in reality. In reality, the colors are vibrant, lush and all purple... no pink-purple confusion here. Maybe you will just have to trust me. :) I am so excited for how it will turn out!

Things to contemplate

I love fabric. I do. I have enough to keep boxes too heavy for moving convenience, crowd my work table and over flow my scrap box.... but not enough to keep me away from the fabric store.... some of my latest acquisitions have my mind smiling with possibilities!

This fabric I am using for a bag for my mother--her desires are for a bright spring bag before she returns from her trip to visit my sister and me . I hope that we can complete it soon! I wouldn't have chosen these colors myself... so it's a good thing she came along to specify her preferences!

This is a sad representation of my new favorite material. This is also going towards a bag.... which will be very hard to let go of. I'm hoping I'll be able to make two!

Red isn't a color that I immediately pick, I prefer mauve, burgundy, garnet or raspberry. I know, small delineation, but an important one. These reds are closest to the 'true red' idea, but do have some darker hues to them. Sorry, no fire engine yet. Only available upon request!

These colors I like together. Eric, my husband, wasn't as sure that they should belong together.... but I shall see what comes of this. I was thinking a light-thin bag, like one for groceries or the like.... reversible, or something along those lines.