A friend I met on Facebook, who owns a creative arts studio, has been asking me to teach some classes. I haven't summoned up my courage to teach a class yet, but hopefully will summon the courage soon. She also wants me to join the Art Collaborative of Wakefield, a group of locally based artisans. I have put it off for some time, but am now, really considering joining. I am hopefully going to meet a bunch of people who are part of the collaborative on Saturday.
I am still nervous that I am not enough of an "artist". If anything, I consider myself a handcraft artisan. But, in reality, I don't know that I feel like an artist or an artisan. I wonder if I am still just thinking that this is a hobby but I want it to be more. I want to make it more of a central part of my life.
With that being said, I think a large part of my issue is time. I have 3 kids, a husband, a house, a part time social work job, and making handcrafted items. I spend way too much time on the computer and not enough time doing what I should be doing. I plan to unplug for a little bit. I am only join to use Facebook for when I need to communicate with others and that is my only means. I have enough projects that I can work on, I don't need to look for more. I plan to quickly blog, but no spend too much time reading blogs. I plan to limit myself to maybe an hour a day and that is a lot. The internet is a wonderful thing, but it can be too addicting. no more spending hours on pinterest and pinning things that I never actually work on. I will still go on pinterest, but will again limit my time.
My hope is that if I spend more time creating and less time pretending to create (by being on the computer looking for things to create), I will start to feel more like an artisan and not just a hobby crafter! Maybe then I won't feel like I don't belong in the collaborative.
Amy
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Creativity
It took some time, but I have decided that I don't want to limit myself to one creative medium. At one point, I was thinking that I need to focus on one area and become totally proficient and perfect at it, but I don't think that is what I want or need to do. There are too many creative avenues that I want to experience and I can't imagine limiting myself to only one.
I do need to spend time getting proficient in each area that I like, but I don't have to only, for example, make quilts. I can make paper, scrapbook, quill, make jewelry, create with clay, create with class. I just need to spend time doing each of the things I like and learn how to get good at it.
There are some things that I am comfortable with my level of proficiency, but there are other areas that I need to learn more. Some of it is just practice, and some of it I really need to learn more. I am pretty proficient at making jewelry. I'm sure there are a lot of things to learn but I know the basics. I know the basics of quilting, but I could practice more. I know the basics of hand sewing and embroidery but can practice more. I know little to nothing about glass and want to learn more. I feel very comfortable with making soap. I feel pretty comfortable with most paper crafts, but I know that there is more that I want to learn.
When I thought of not creating with a certain medium or only creating with a specific medium, I just really got sad. I love creating so much that I can't imagine limiting myself. On the other hand, I also know that there are things that I don't enjoy as much. Taking a painting class is ok, but it's not what makes me smile. Playing with finer makes me smile. Glass makes me smile. Paper crafting, in all forms, makes me smile. Clay makes me smile. Photography makes me smile. And, finally, making jewelry makes me smile.
I like smiling! Smiling is good for all of us! I think we all need to figure out what makes us smile and then do it! Now I just need to figure out how to do what makes me smile for a career!
Amy
I do need to spend time getting proficient in each area that I like, but I don't have to only, for example, make quilts. I can make paper, scrapbook, quill, make jewelry, create with clay, create with class. I just need to spend time doing each of the things I like and learn how to get good at it.
There are some things that I am comfortable with my level of proficiency, but there are other areas that I need to learn more. Some of it is just practice, and some of it I really need to learn more. I am pretty proficient at making jewelry. I'm sure there are a lot of things to learn but I know the basics. I know the basics of quilting, but I could practice more. I know the basics of hand sewing and embroidery but can practice more. I know little to nothing about glass and want to learn more. I feel very comfortable with making soap. I feel pretty comfortable with most paper crafts, but I know that there is more that I want to learn.
When I thought of not creating with a certain medium or only creating with a specific medium, I just really got sad. I love creating so much that I can't imagine limiting myself. On the other hand, I also know that there are things that I don't enjoy as much. Taking a painting class is ok, but it's not what makes me smile. Playing with finer makes me smile. Glass makes me smile. Paper crafting, in all forms, makes me smile. Clay makes me smile. Photography makes me smile. And, finally, making jewelry makes me smile.
I like smiling! Smiling is good for all of us! I think we all need to figure out what makes us smile and then do it! Now I just need to figure out how to do what makes me smile for a career!
Amy
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
"Unprocessed October"
I'm taking some inspiration from my Facebook friend and fellow twin mom over at http://bonusrounds.blogspot.com and challenging myself to follow through with my reasons for starting this blog. For the most part, I shop the perimeter of the store. I tend to try to make my own foods, but lately have become lazier than I would like. I have also become lazy with my dairy free, gluten free diet. With this being October 1st and the start of the fall season, I am challenging myself to really be focused on what we eat and how much of it is processed versus how much I make myself.
One thing I have started making from scratch is yogurt. I used the "recipe" over at http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html and have loved how it comes out. It is definitely thinner than store bought yogurt, but guess what? All you have to do is strain it and then you have greek yogurt and it is delicious, thick and Creamy!
I plan to make my own gluten free bread today after I get home from a play date. Unfortunately it is from a mix, but I had already bought it and don't want to waste it. I plan on making up my own gluten free pancake mix, my own granola and granola bars, maybe even my own nut milk. I am hoping to get back in the habit of cooking healthy foods for my family.
Along with cooking, I am also planning on continuing to research more about art therapy and how I can make it a career. Being creative is something that is very important to me, including being creative in the kitchen. Being as natural as possible is very important to me. I am hoping to get back on track with following my beliefs and living a handmade and natural life as much as possible. As the title of my blog states, there is definitely a balance, but my goal is to be more natural than processed!
Amy
One thing I have started making from scratch is yogurt. I used the "recipe" over at http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html and have loved how it comes out. It is definitely thinner than store bought yogurt, but guess what? All you have to do is strain it and then you have greek yogurt and it is delicious, thick and Creamy!
I plan to make my own gluten free bread today after I get home from a play date. Unfortunately it is from a mix, but I had already bought it and don't want to waste it. I plan on making up my own gluten free pancake mix, my own granola and granola bars, maybe even my own nut milk. I am hoping to get back in the habit of cooking healthy foods for my family.
Along with cooking, I am also planning on continuing to research more about art therapy and how I can make it a career. Being creative is something that is very important to me, including being creative in the kitchen. Being as natural as possible is very important to me. I am hoping to get back on track with following my beliefs and living a handmade and natural life as much as possible. As the title of my blog states, there is definitely a balance, but my goal is to be more natural than processed!
Amy
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