Monday, September 1, 2008

Welcome September :: The Creative Month

I've decided to designate September as "The Creative Month." Why September? For one thing, I'm participating in the Thirty Days of Nothing challenge, so what better time to turn away from consumption and embrace creation. The other big reason is that I now have a studio! Hooray!!! I can hardly express how excited and grateful I am to have my own little space for crafting.
I want to do a post later on the actual space and the backstory on how I got it, but for now here a few little glimpses.
Now about the creative month--I struggle so much over whether or not what I do is creative. I'm inspired every day by what I read and see on others' blogs. I know that my crafts are not original at all, but I feel creative when I am selecting fabrics and putting prints in combination and deciding what to make and how to use it. If I feel creative and good then I guess it doesn't really matter if what I'm doing is "creative". And ultimately my life is unique--no one else is living it--so maybe in the end it really is an act of creativity.
So, because I didn't get nearly as much sewing done over the summer as might have seemed possible, and because I am really only just now settling into my studio space, I've decided that designating this month as a time for creativity will hopefully spur me along to take studio time and do a little work here and there rather than going on-line in the evenings. I'm not expecting to produce a whole lot (because I work full time of course and time is extremely limited), but hopefully to put just a little extra focus on my creative life and see what happens. (Oh, the studio color? Sweet Rhapsody, totally stolen ("inspired") by Soulemama's beautiful (former) studio space--no, not original there, but I LOVE it).
And just a little action shot of Rainer enjoying the nature table. I love how full and messy it is as we transition from summer into fall and I love that my children are playing and interacting with the bits and bobs from nature (excuse that plastic egg shell--a stray from Easter and for some reason a favorite plaything around here).

Anyone care to join me in making September "The Creative Month"?

21 comments:

Shannon said...

Ok, first you are so creative and I better not ever see you type that you are not original! You inspire me so much with what you do and I get so many of MY ideas from you! I am going to have a very "crafty" month, I don't know if that is creative, but a me and a friend are shooting towards a booth at a craft fair! What is it about September that makes you want to hunker down and make things! I love September!

Rose said...

Are you kidding me, Harrison has a dozen plastic eggs, left over from Easter, that he recently discovered (in my not so good hiding place) and uses as "dinosaur eggs".

You are very creative and inspiring. One of the reasons I love to visit you!

Carrie said...

Less consumption, more creation!

Anonymous said...

you are most definitely a creative person! i feel the same way sometimes but try to remember the important thing about creating is the process, not how you get there (and why can't i learn that for myself when i'm constantly trying to impress that on my kids???) LOVE the craft room and i'd love to join in september-create-a-thon!!!

cathleen said...

Love your creative space. The colors are inspiring. Also, love that stack of fabric. Have fun with your projects. I am sure you will create some beautiful things.

Sue said...

If you make things yourself , then you are creative. It doesn't have to be your own design or idea, an inspiration is all you need and you have lots of those. You pass so many on to all of us as well.
Keep being creative!

Lisa said...

I love that color so much. I'm dying to redo my own craft area (not room, the rest of the room has another purpose). Your pictures are always so perfect too.

Chris said...

i am trying to put together a little crafting space, too, so i will try a little harder this month. thanks for all the inspiration!

ames said...

Congratulations on the studio! It looks perfectly lovely, and I *thought* that color looked an awful lot like Amanda's walls. Robin's egg blue, beautiful :)

I'd love to join in you with creativity month except it looks like I'm going to have a lot of freelance work in September :( Still creative, but not quite as much fun. I'll catch up in October!

Andrea said...

As always, so inspiring (your blog is one place from which I steal my own "creativity." I adopted your "notebook" system from a couple of weeks ago and it has transformed my life: http://www.remainsofday.blogspot.com/

Its_Lily said...

September is not my 'creative month'. (I wish it were) Instead, it's going to be the month I clean out the corners in conjunction with no buying or bringing anything else into the home. Ok, I'll create, but I'm going to try to focus on cleaning out. I can't wait to see what you come up with for your creations.

Its_Lily said...

Here's a nice surprise for you: http://blondeintaiwan.blogspot.com/2008/09/but-if-you-go-in-fall-youll-have-ball.html

She is in Taiwan with my son and found your blog through mine. She loves you!!

Meg said...

I love your new space! I keep wishing I could find a better space for my creative endeavors--we're bound to want to eat in the dining room eventually.

And I know how you feel about "creativity." I feel like I copy a lot of what I see on blogs. And I used to get worked up that I was copying and I wasn't original. But we're all different. I'm not doing it exactly like whatever inspires me--I'm putting my own touches on it. And if it brings me joy to make it, then it makes my life fuller and more creative.

I look forward to what September brings from your studio.

Katy said...

Can't wait to see more photos of your space. Love the color!

My children love to play with Easter eggs too. A month or so ago I let them get them down and have a hunt inside, and we are still finding eggs!

You are very creative and clearly and inspiration to a lot of women! I'll do my part to make September creative month, especially since I can't spend any money!

Amanda @ www.kiddio.org said...

I've been feeling much the same way--and have decided to devote this month to creating with my son (the neglected middle child). In fact, we're calling it 'boycraft month', and you can see more on my blog. I hear ya about reducing consumption by creating!

www.kiddio.org

Barbara said...

It seems to me every post of yours is about your own beautiful creativity so I look forward to seeing what you get up to this month.
I am having a bit of a struggle with my own creativity just now but I do have a list of things to make as Christmas gifts. If I manage to tick anything off the list this month I'll call it joining in with you and I'll let you know! Bx

lifewithquads said...

Having a space where you can create without having to clean up everyday or displace the rest of your family for the sake of creating is glorious. I recently took over the 'office' (one that we rarely even entered) for my craft room and I love, love, love it!! Here's to much creative energy for you.

crunchy peas said...

I love the color of your studio, everything around here is taupe. What I wouldn't give for some bright cheery walls like those! Happy Crafting!

periwinkle said...

your little space looks great - as for not being creative , you make me laugh. You are one of the most creative people I visit, what you do with your family is amazing - just because you don't churn something out thats knitted or sewn every other day!!! Have fun with what you do , thats the main thing :-)

Anonymous said...

I will wholeheartedly join you! Although my creations this month will have a higher purpose...I will be making things to auction off on my blog for a friend who has cancer. It's the only thing I coukld think of to do. Wish me luck!

Mon Petit Lapin said...

great colours in your craft space - love the walls!