Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Muse is In: An Owner's Manual to Your Creativity

Hello creative souls!

I want to share with you a book that immediately captured my attention with its colourful and playful look.

The Muse is In: An Owner's Manual for Your Creativity by Jill Badonsky

The Muse is In
And it's not just the cover that attracts the eye with its bright fun images. Every single page of the book is carefully illustrated to the smallest detail. You know right away that this book is about creativity. Its pages are filled with fun images and useful advice. Jill Badonsky addresses various artist's roadblocks, such as fears, insecurities, confusions, frustrations, etc., that hinder one's creativity and offers "Troubleshooting Directions" or ways to overcome those feelings. 

Here are some of my favourite points the author makes in her explorations of creativity:
  • The arts might not be a way to make a living but they make up life and, as I personally feel, make life worth living.
  • Being in a creative flow makes you physically healthy.
  • Creative people are more interesting and magnetic than the rest. (Although everybody gets to be creative).
  • Daydreaming is a valid part of a creative process.
  • Procrastination is a form of punishing yourself. (Not to be confused with daydreaming!)
  • Taking really small steps and lowering one's expectations of oneself (to 60% from the usual 200%) lowers the pressure and eliminates the internal resistance.
  • "Perfection is spelled PARALYSIS." - Winston Churchill
  • Thinking of your creative endeavour in the time between activities counts as being creative.
  • "Being absurd can transport one's mind out of the mundane and the trip can refresh a brain into seeing beyond the habitual."
  • It's better to be absurd in your actions than to be inactive! (My personal favourite!)

Many more gems of advice are hidden in between the colourful pages of this Manual. The beauty of this book is that you don't have to read it in sequence. If you are feeling stuck you can just open up a random page and find a tip which just might get you moving. Try it! Let me know what you think.

To being creatively absurd, inspired and enthused!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

New Year Party Dresses and Gifts

Hello dear all!!!

I hope you had as much fun this past New Year's Eve as I have. How did you celebrate? Me and my fiance hosted a big party which lasted until about 6 a.m. It was fantastic to see our friends some of whom we have not seen in months! It was especially magical because my sister came to visit me and celebrate with us! It goes without saying that I prepared something special to wear for the New Year's party!


My sister chose to wear the dress I made from Butterick pattern 5324. She makes it shine! And it perfectly compliments her sky blue eyes! As for myself, I wore this yellow my number. Yellow is my favourite colour. I wore the dress with the red coral necklace I bought in the Dominican Republic during our friends wedding trip and the peach pumps, a present from Shannon the designer. I like how these colours contrast with each other.


And then of course there is this glorious moment of opening New Year presents.

Excited about my gift!
I lucked out this year because my fiance gave me something that will allow me to diversify my designing and making techniques. It is a hand press machine that can do grommets and all kinds of snaps! My fiance knew exactly what I wanted! Here is the beauty:

My New Year gift!

So my New Year resolution this year is to make more pretty clothes!... with grommets... and snaps!...Don't be surprised if you notice a surplus of these design details on my future creations...  (Blame the man!)

How did you celebrate? What gifts did you get or give? What did you choose to wear?  Do you like to wear something special to mark the beginning of the New Year? What are your resolutions? 

Happy New Year Everyone!!!