Before heading into today’s post, let’s pause for an important announcement. Today is the official day of notification of all prizes won through last month’s Grow Your Blog event. And so that means thanks to the magic of drawing a name of the hat (actually I used a real hollowed out and dried cacao pod – it felt like the proper Valentine-y thing to do) we have a winner.
In case you’re wondering who supervised the drawing, here is pictorial evidence all was on the up and up. Or perhaps that’s on the down and down with head-resting-because-this-is-such-tiring-work. In any case Jupiter The Cat was official overseer.
And as you can see, the winner is: Janet Hovde. I’ll be in touch Janet for your mailing info. And thanks to everyone who stopped by and left a little comment love. You are loved and appreciated!
Here’s a photo of the giveway – an origami box I folded and a beaded bangle I wire-wrapped – both quite Spring-like in appearance I think. Just the ticket for pushing past mid-winter doldrums.
And now to return to our regular programming…
If you’ve been regularly following my posts you likely know I’m playing in a group that’s been working through the SoulSpace book together, working on creating spaces that perfectly reflect us on every level. And as with any big project, there are always ripples into other areas. This whole releasing stuff, organizing stuff, dreaming about what I want, and then creating it has opened me to thinking about those things in all aspects of my life – particularly my business and my creative work.
Of course those are things I think about quite a bit anyway since they’re hugely important to me, but the pieces that I’m currently rolling around in my mind are more about looking for new ways to experiment with timing and production and when and how to give my attention to things.
This always feels like a bit of a tricky area to me because I’m such an adamant advocate for following my inspiration, my intuition, and my heart. But lately I’ve been dreaming about a system where I had better visual access to projects calling to me.
I know some makers, particularly when they’re creating for buyers, have project tables. So they produce things in the order in which they are ordered. I’d love to have a space where I had a long table I could line up little gatherings of projects – I think that would be fabulously fun and likely spark all kinds of additional creative inspirations as well.
I think because I’m visual I like seeing things next to each other. I know this is particularly true when I’m creating jewelry or talismans. I like to have a bunch of stuff out so I can see and feel how the various bits connect and combine energies, and colors, and forms. I find it very exciting. So I think a “project table” would be an equally interesting variation of that.
But given that I don’t actually have the space for the kind of table I’m thinking of, I’m trying to figure out what might be a perfect-fit solution for me that delights and inspires, without overwhelming or turning into a jumbled mess that is discouraging and chaotic. I don’t know if I want a projects board, or an altar to hold ideas, or a tiny multi-drawered cabinet I can leave little symbolic representations sticking out of drawers, or something altogether different that I haven’t thought of yet. None of what I have imagined feels exactly right, but the illusive alternate hasn’t appeared either.
So I’m asking for ideas. Do you have any suggestions? Something that works for you, or something you’re thinking about? How do you keep track of your myriad of inspirations that have moved from inspiration stage and are ready to be implemented; and how do you keep them up front in actionable mode rather than hidden in journals or lists? Please share – you know I’d love to hear.
Maybe you could go vertical instead of horizontal since you’re lacking space for a table (I know that feeling all too well). A couple of shelves, a small bookcase, and just work up to down instead of from one end of the table to another. It would still be visible and that seems like that would make it more top of mind than a journal.
That well may be my solution. On the other hand, I’m still holding out that childhood wish (remember?) of discovering a secret room. How awesome would that be as a project holder?
With something like that, where you are trying for visual appeal, glass jars are good. Or glass containers of some kind, depending on the size you are looking for. If it is art pieces, perhaps putting up a bulletin board to be able to add and remove inspirational pieces to help you along? You could also try for one of those tables that has a glass top to work on, but has a shelf underneath it where you could put your inspiration pieces.
All great ideas Amy! All the windows in my studio space are lined with glass jars, filled with beads and other treasures that simply delight me when the light pours through. The idea of clear shelving or a table is excellent.
Love the glass jars. Mine have ribbon scraps, buttons, and of course beads. Still way too much STUFF!!! SoulSpace is not happening fast enough for me, because there’s just too much STUFF!!!
I have a favorite recurring dream where I open my closet and find the most incredible things, and am always a bit disappointed when those treasures aren’t there when I wake up. But how fun would it be to reverse things a bit and have my dreaming self do some of the SoulSpace clearing and saving the waking me for the treasure gathering. 🙂
Wishing you all the best with the SoulSpace work and releasing what isn’t a treasure.
I too am committed to following my heart inspiration Deborah, so I understand the desire for both spontaneity and a system to support it! I love the ideas already shared, and I’ve just recently put up some small “floating” shelves (you can’t see anything holding them up), and I just love them! Nothing to distract from what’s on them–but it seems you have that taken care of with clear jars!
The other thing I’ve done, since I did a lot of moving these last five years, was create wall space that was/is part appreciation wall, and part creative inspiration. Rather than using pins like you would with a bulletin board, I use products that allow me to move the pieces around, and never mark the surface. You can even buy small hooks that are easily removed and don’t leave any sign they’ve been there! So my designs are changing and evolving all the time, and aren’t only two dimensional. The only requirement to being put up is a “Yes!” to the question, “Does it light me up and make me smile?” I’ve just recently landed in a place I plan on staying for a while, and now I have one spreading on the wall behind my art table where I paint. Inspiring reminders every time I look up! 🙂
Oh beautiful Julie – the does-it-light-me-up criteria is perfect and I love it! And I love the idea of floating shelves as well – thanks!
Deborah, Thank you for pulling my name out of the cacao pod, no wonder this chocolate lover won the beautiful origami box and bracelet.
Re organizing your creativity, what popped into my head is photos of the types of works-in-progess, collaged in http://www.picmonkey.com. Then you could scroll and see images right on your computer whenever you need a visual nudge. Though of course, there are times when hands-on is best!
Oh Janet – that’s a fabulous idea about PicMonkey and a screen saver! Thanks.