Finding My Creative Style

Tuscan Style

I've been doing a lot of thinking about being creative and what it means to be creative.  I've also been thinking about what my design style is.  I haven't really decided what my style in general is, never mind my creative style.  I starting to come to terms with the fact that like in my professional career, in general and in being creative, I am more eclectic than anything else.

Bohemian Design

Sometimes, I think I am Bohemian.  Sometimes, I think I am Classic or Vintage or Traditional.  Sometimes, I think Country, Tuscan, or even French Provençal is really what I like.  Then there is the whole shabby chic style that I love too.  Other times, less often, I think I am modern.  As I think about it, I honestly think it is how I am feeling in the moment.

French Provencal

When you don't have a style, it makes it very difficult to design your house or your creative projects.  Then again, it can be fun to have eclectic tastes.  It isn't boring, but is makes it difficult to to be cohesive when decorating or trying to decide what colors and patterns to use when making something.

Modern Fabric

So not only do I have a hard time figuring out colors and style, I have a hard time figuring out what it is that I love to do, what I love to create.  I love to quilt, I love to do needlework, I love paper crafts, and I love making jewelry, I love clay work.  It's not a problem that I love all of these things.  The problem is that I am not proficient in any one area.  I also don't know where I'd like to focus to get proficient.  I guess, making jewelry is something that I do well and am somewhat proficient.  I actually feel pretty proficient in English Paper Piecing.  I would also say that I can knit pretty proficiently.  Now I just need to find the time to get more proficient in all the other things that I love!

One of these days, I'll figure out how to combine all the things I love and learn all the things that I want to.

Amy

My Latest Projects

I forget what inspired me to actually start this project, but I decided to pul out my jewelry supplies and attempt to make a wire wrapped puzzle piece.  Actually, I think that I was looking at the build-a-bear website, since I pre-ordered an autism bear, and that was what inspired me.  We had a very lazy Sunday and I played with my jewelry supplies.

I initially used my wire jig and made a large puzzle piece.  It was a little large for what I initially wanted so I set it aside and worked on making a smaller piece.  I photocopied it at 50% and it was a really good size.  At that Point, I just decided to free hand it.  It was much easier to free hand the pattern than I thought it would be.

The ultimate outcome of this idea was a wire puzzle piece pendant with blue stones dangling from it.

I thought about the larger puzzle piece that I had made with the jig and decided to put it on my wrist and bend it around a little.  I then put a pink Swarovski butterfly and Swarovski blue bead in the middle.  I had thought about putting a beaded bracelet to attach to my wrist, but I decided to use a large chain instead.  The outcome:

I put pictures on Facebook and got a lot of comments and likes.  My sister, wants a set and I have a friend who is interested and who shared the picture on her page.  Now I have to figure out how much to charge for things.  Maybe this is actually working.  Maybe I will be able to sell things I make.  I may not or I may be able to make a living at this, but maybe I'll be able to recoup some money to buy new supplies instead of just spending money!

All I know is, I have fun when I create, and if I can make a little money while I do something I love, how can that be bad?

Oh, and since my inspiration for this was the Autism symbol and since Michael has Autism, I will donate a percentage of my earnings to an Autism fund!

Amy

Latest Projects

As I've written before, I am trying to make time to be creative every day.  This week, I have been trying to finish up some WIP's (works in progress), while attempting to use up some of my stash.  I had already finished my daughter's, and last night I finished her twin brother's.  I now have to finish my older son's afghan, a shawl or maybe lapghan for my mom, and start on for me and my husband.  I am also making some doll size ones to donate to my mother of twin's group for their table at the annual convention.  I am only hoping that they will like them.  I know that one that is almost finished is one that I really like.

Thomas' granny square afghan

The one for me and my husband should be interesting.  He has asked me to also make a quilt the same way.  See, his legs get warm at night, so he likes having them uncovered.  He has requested a quilt and/or an afghan that is in the shape of an L so that I am warm and his upper body is warm, but his legs stay cool.

I LOVE MAKING GRANNY SQUARES!  The afghan's I have made have all been granny square afghans so far.  This will actually lend itself to the L shape that my husband is looking for!  I just pinned a ton of granny square things to my crochet board.  I'm hoping that the weather stays nice and the kids can play outside while I crochet some more and maybe finish a couple more doll afghans sooner than later.

Oh, and I made a pair of earrings and a hand stamped washer pendant this week too.  I am hoping to donate some handmade jewelry to the twin's group too!

hand stamped washer pendant

earrings

Amy