We all need some extra clarity and direction once in a while.  We all need a clear vision of our life’s mission. 

Here’s today’s simple thought….

What one thing do you really what to be known for?

What one word describes your life and gifting so well that if it was taken away from you… it would shake you at your very core?  What is the legacy of your life?  Who are you designed to be?  What makes you feel complete?

At first, this may seem easier than you think.  I suggest taking a note pad and writing down all of the things you think this one word might be.  Filter them and let them sit.  Go back to it again later.  The word is often an adjective.  It is usually an action that you are at your core.  It is the way you think, what you base your world-view on, what you prioritize everything against.  It is the beginning of all your passions and dreams.

So… once you discover what that word truly is…. are you living it? Does this word help clarify and simplify your life, or are you letting the life complicate your word?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Winter Day!

Today we are going to think creatively with all this winter that surrounds us.  I think it’s so easy for winter weather to make us less creative, so today I want to use it for INSPIRATION!

Yes, today I would like you to ‘think outside the box’ and be inspired by snow, shades of gray and simplicity of landscape.  At first glance, it seems colorless and almost lifeless.  But… wait… there is beauty and inspiration there, we just have to slow down to take in all of the details. 

Okay, I know there are some readers who do not have snow outside their windows.  If that is you, I envy you a bit… but I believe you can still gain some inspiration from this post, so, please read on.  (Maybe consider remembering a time you were in a snowy landscape or browse some online resources- photos, blogs or the like, to find some wintery scenes to pull inspiration from. Try here at Anna Malin’s blog or here at haus maus .)

Now, for the details that will allow us to create in a new way….

In a typical winter scene, there seems to be lack of color, but it’s really abundant in color, one just has to spend some time really looking.  The twigs, trees and wood that are exposed have many shades of gray, brown, gold, tan, and even some purple or red hues in them.

Where there is snow that has fallen, it can be heavy and wet, icy and hard, or soft and clumped.  What do those textures represent?

Look at the sky… the various shades are determined a bit by the time of day.  Maybe some early morning pinks and purples, afternoon blues and grays, and possibly some evening color with a bit of orange or magenta.

How does the landscape lay?  Are you looking at fields of softly blanketed white, a backyard of greenery laden with heavy snow, or a city boulevard with homes and buildings lined up like soldiers along a snowy avenue?

Now that you’ve really spent a few minutes looking at the details, how can you use that information to inspire your creativity today?  What did you gain from looking at the scene outside your own door or window?

Can you imagine creating a piece of art with those colors, textures and details?  Would you like to take a photograph to capture the beauty?

Would you like to pull your gardening books and make plans to update your garden areas to better compliment a winter landscape?

Would you like to gather some friends and enjoy a day outdoors sledding or going on a quiet winter walk?

Are you compelled to plan a menu to incorporate hearty comfort foods to share with friends on a cold winters eve?

Would you like to nestle in and knit a sweater for someone special with the colors of winter?

Are you inspired to redecorate a bit, embracing the hues and textures outside your window?

Creativity can take us to new places.  When we take the time to really look at the details around us, we take those details with us to other parts of our lives.  We can be changed by nature and our surroundings when we slow down and take the time to welcome those bits of beauty that can often go unnoticed around us.

What beautiful things did today’s winter scene inspire you to do today?

Supplies:

Large bowl, tray or low vessel to fit your dining table

Assorted pumpkins, silk or dried flowers, fruits, artichokes, leaves, branches, and greens

Scissors, floral foam, pins and tape (optional)

Any other accessories, ribbons, green or spanish moss, do-dads, or fun things that you would like to be part of your table decor

Here is an example of what I’d like you to assemble:  (in your own creative way of course!)

I’d like you to fill your vessel with the elements that you have gathered.  Don’t worry about being too stylized, just make a loose arrangement of fall gatherings.

To Start:

Use your largest item as the first piece in, building around that.  I like to put in off center, if possible. (My largest item is the twig pumpkin.) 

Next:

Cut a square piece of floral foam to sit next to your largest item.  This doesn’t have to too big, just an anchor to build up some height with your next items.  If you can gain height without adding the floral foam, no need to follow this step.

Next:

Now the rest of your pieces just get layered in, so just go ahead and just start arranging in the objects that you have collected. Vary the height, color and texture of your collections.  If you have any open spaces that you want to fill, add some green or spanish moss to fill those areas.  The moss also is a great “bed” for everything to lay on.

Final touch:

Add a few ribbons to your arrangement.  Don’t worry about making bows per say, just use some floral tape or wrap, tie or fold them into soft loops to fill in and compliment the other textures in the arrangement.

Now, you’ve just made a super easy centerpiece that didn’t take too much time and will be the perfect centerpiece when the table is all set.  Remember to keep your arrangement low, it’s much easier to talk and see your guests when they don’t have to crane their necks to see over the centerpiece.

Good job- what part of this challenge did you find the most fun?  The part that challenged you the most?  Thanks for participating! 

Today’s Daily Creative Challenge is spurred on by this lovely autumn weather we are having.  I think nature is our biggest source of inspiration.  It almost instantly de-stresses our bodies and minds, allowing us to be creative, along with giving us endless inspiration to draw from.

So… I would like you to get out there over the weekend to enjoy it… but there is a small catch!  I want you to play with your camera while enjoying the bounty of fall. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or amateur photographer, or even someone who “just owns a point and shoot”.  You can play with your camera creatively!

First, don’t worry about what you’re going to do with these photos.  You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want!  I just want you to see nature’s gifts through the eyes of your camera.

Take photos, lots of them.

Take them up close and from a distance.

Photograph leaves, mums, pumpkins, kids, blue sky, the lake, farm land, it doesn’t matter.

Just take photos and really SEE what surrounds you.

If you’re able, try to play with light, shadows, contrasts and even backgrounds.

But mostly just let yourself be creative!

That’s it… just enjoy the lovely weather and colors and try to see things you wouldn’t notice if you didn’t have a mission.  We all miss so many of nature’s delights because we are just too busy or preoccupied to notice them.

Have fun and don’t forget to stop back and leave comments about what you photographed and what you really saw through this challenge!

Blessings for your journey!

Well, blogs are really like that.  We think we just can’t manage reading another one, and then we fall in love with another.  Being at the Creative Connection Event last week, introduced me to so many wonderfully fantastic new women, that I just know not only am I going to have so many new friends, but so many more new blogs to read too!

Blogs are a great way to grow friendships as well.  I can follow my new friends and colleagues on their blogs to see what they are up to, what creative projects they are enjoying, and to celebrate their journey with them.  I can comment and add praise when a post asks me to and I can feel like I’m a part of their world, even if we live a world away from each other.

So, today I want to share with you 5 New Creative Blogs that I was introduced to at the Creative Connection Event:  (Okay, to be honest, a couple of these I followed a bit before the event, but since I was able to meet the authors in person, I am even more excited to follow them each day, and besides if I count them, I can share them with you, right?!)

1. Debbie Dusenberry from the The Curious Sofa: Debbie owns a boutique shop in Kansas City that is known for it’s collection of furnishings, uncommon finds and great gifts.  I have had her shop on my list to visit for several months, but until I get down to experience the wonder for myself, I must live vicariously through her blog.  On her blog, Debbie shares her decor and shop inspirations, day-to-day happenings at the Curious Sofa, and other life experiences of being a creative entrepreneur.  I think you might find her blog and shop inspiring!

2. Lisa Tutman-Oglesby authors Celebrate Creativity: (I know, I fell in love with her blog name, since we obviously think alike!)  I met Lisa briefly, but since our blogs share a similar name, I really wanted to check out what inspires her and what her blog is about.  Lisa recently blogged a fantastic review about the Creative Connection Event, and it was like reliving it again.  Some of my other favorite things about Lisa’s blog, included the directions for sewing and crafting projects, along with some book and project guide reviews.  If you are a crafter, or would like to be, Lisa’s blog may give you some inspiration for that next project!

3. Suzanne MacCrone creator of Italian Girl in Georgia: Suzanne first caught my eye with her gorgeous presentation for one of our meals.  Jo Packham and Nancy Soriano, creative co-founders of The Creative Connection Event, chose one artist to feature at each of the meals we shared.  Suzanne’s presentation was really simple, yet timeless and beautiful.  Her light neutral colors graced the tables and entry to the ballroom location with vintage newsprint and typeset pages for the Editorial Breakfast.  Suzanne created wreaths, runners, and centerpieces out of vintage paper- see them here.  Gorgeous and simple at the same time…  So, along with her Etsy shop creations and her beautiful photos, you can enjoy Suzanne’s creativity on her blog.  Stop by soon!

4.  Vicki Howell can be found at Vicki Howell.com and at her blog. She is an amazing powerhouse that is transforming the way we look at crafting.  She is a blogger, author, spokesperson, marketing consultant, television host, knitter and so much more!  I am amazed by all of her talents.  She is bringing a hip passion to knitting and the needle arts, along with everything else she touches.  Check out her blog and find movie reviews (with a knit fashion inspiration), kids’ crafts, home decor, and free projects, among so much more!  Discover the creative in you!

5. The Pleated Poppy’s Lindsey Cheney has a fun thing or two over on her blog for you as well!  I have read Lindsey’s blog in the past and I think you will find something you will like as well.  A bit of creativity combined with snippets of her life as a homeschooling mom to three little ones, who runs her creative biz at the same time.  Find out how she does it, what her inspiration is, and how she maintains a business amongst the daily.  Her beautiful hand-sewn creations are fun and colorful, from bags to notebook covers.  Take a break and check out her site, her blog and her shop!

Now that I’ve shared with you 5 New Creative Blogs, I can tell you that I will have to return with some more.  I want you to be able to meet so many more creative and fantastic women.  I am passionate about sharing creativity with others, and that includes sharing other artist and creatives with you. I will be starting a Monthly Feature to be able to share more great blogs with you!  I do highlight blogs in my posts from time to time, but I want to put even more focus on it, but hosting a little Monthly Feature that will really showcase not only creative blogs, but any that I think you might find give you inspiration for your journey of Celebrating Life Everyday!  (More Feature details coming soon…)

I want you to be able to meet the women who spend their days creating everything from art, to sewn creations, to designing fabric, jewelry and homes.  When we support each others talents and really invest in heart-made creations, we not only support an artist in their craft, but we bring a whole new level of wonderful into our homes and lives.  What better way to live than to bring handmade items into our lives to help us celebrate the daily?  If I spend my dollars with an independant artist or business owner, instead of at the big box stores, I commit to making a statement that real live artists are more important than the bottom dollar for a big corporation.  I want to chose who gets my dollar and my support.

So… please discover these talented women and consider making a purchase from them, or any other artist/ local business person, that is out there to make our lives more beautiful, functional, organized, or meaningful with their heart-made creations.  YOU deserve it.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment or two on what you discovered while visiting these blogs… I’d love to hear your thoughts.