>Dream On…Creative Dreaming

>My secret to getting many things done in a single day-  I do not sleep many hours.  When I do experience a really deep sleep however,  it is sure to be accompanied by great or strange dream, all in color, of course! I try to dream possible, not impossible. This meaning that I plan to use my dreams in a creative way later, making my dream a possible useful element in my creative endeavors.   I try to incorporate my dreams from my “sleep life” into my “awake life”, it helps me create.

Dreams are a great source of information about yourself and what you’re doing in your world, as well as a stimulus for creativity. Their vocabulary is everything you have ever done, seen, thought, and felt, etc. –in other words, an ever-changing palette totally unique to you.   Dreams may reveal inspirations, give you motivation or spark a new notion or solution.  Learn to pay attention to them, even if in part so that your dreams can become as possible as you want them to be, in helping you become more creative.

As I attempt to discover links between any of my waking and dreaming minds (which are totally separate ideals)  it becomes a highway with an increasing amount of traffic of creative ideas.  This also gives me the feeling of being more connected and complete.  Recreating something out of my dreams or out of my norm is a whole creative journey upon itself.  Your brain is brilliant.  Dreaming for possibilities gives you drive and focus.

I have created from time to time items based on an image, or a thought, from a dream.  As an example, I recall one dream including a group of many women, each wearing large and decorative hats.  Each lady showing off unique, strange and colorful creations- all atop their heads.  The ideas stimulated by that dream were easy to replicate in clay even if they were not exact because the whole idea from the dream-like image, was out-of-the- norm for me and I knew just how I wanted to be inspired from it.  To make it work for me- the completed art was turned into a series of Club Creative Studio brooch pins.

The techniques I used in the above art were color mixing my own shades, sculpting as relief, stamping, carving, caning, and mixed media (added wire and beads). This creation ended up becoming an accessory piece of jewelry as a brooch pin.

While the image above was symbolic of the images I saw in my mind as a random dream there is also a term that can be used to describe a different type of dream, “intentional dreaming”.

To induce intentional dreaming try the following:

1. Write, read, or think about a topic you’re interested in just before going to sleep (writing seems to work best)
This serves to bring your brain’s attention to the subject and put it on notice that you’re serious about whatever the topic.

2. When you first wake up, or in that beginning stage of waking/drifting:
Notice the first image or scene that comes to you even if it seems unrelated, and if you write down what you “see” you will remember the image longer. Analyzing dreams and decoding them is a science and I can’t give you answers on deciphering them or interpreting them but number three point may help you understand more.

3. I can tell you that if you ask yourself specific questions before sleep, you may awake to hold some insight into the requested answers you seek.  The information you sift through may not seem to be anything that you asked for but you have to associate and relate your images to understand  what it “means” to you.  How do the dream images fit back in to the story of your dream?

4. Another way to begin getting the outer and inner parts of your brain closer together is to draw (and/or write) a scene(s) from your dream.   This seems to put your brain more firmly in the track of  documenting and integrating your symbolic experiences. Call it a “dream book”.  Use a notebook,  decorate it and review it to see how you can incorporate your dreams and visions in to your daily creative life.  Dream on!  Dream Possible! Dream with a creative purpose!

>Club Creative Studio Art- Changes Like Weather

>Club Creative Studio art changes like the weather.  Is there a connection? 

SNOW ON THE BEACH!  There is a whole lot ta whoop la going on today in my world about getting to see snow along the east coast.  It doesn’t happen very often.  The sheer anticipation has been building for a few days.  I am looking out the window at a beautiful and steady snowfall, as I write this blog.  Today is not the first time for snow in our area but still, in my neighborhood some do not have shovels, an ice scrapper, hand-warmers in the glove box or the notion of how to build a snowman in their front yard.  We are simply  not as prepared as we could be.  Most of us were lucky enough to get information about this in a timely manner and  we experienced anticipation until it actually became part of our life early this morning.  It’s a time to really pay attention to happenings around us.

I especially took note of this predicted snowfall because I knew it was going to have a direct impact on my plans for the day and maybe the whole week.  I subconsciously also had the idea of making an analogy comparing this weather and my business efforts.  I started to think of the correlations, and decided to blog about my thoughts and comparisons.

For days now, the weather updates have been trying to prepare us of what we may encounter.  The anticipation has been building.  The first aspect that came to mind  as a business connection was the Club Creative Studio Facebook page.  On that page, I too share information about what fans can look forward to seeing as they prepare to visit the website.  I often post “sneak peeks” of art not yet posted online, in the same sense that the weather anchor gives us a picture in our mind as to what is heading in our direction.  I provide images of what to look forward to seeing and perhaps even purchasing.  My special feature section recently added a spot where I can highlight an item and expand on a bit more detail about it.

Snow in NC- 1-10-2011

Once the predicted weather is actually part of our day, the reports switch to looking around and noticing what needs to be done to insure that a situation gets better.  I too like to look around and try to figure out how I can share art with those who are both familiar and new to our creations. After all, I am trying to make the fashion and home decor situation better as well, visually better! I strive to be creative everyday.

Continued updates and newsflashes give us more information on the weather at hand. I’d like to think that I can be like the scrolling inclement weather advisory at the bottom of the television screen.  I too can inform and update quick notes via the phone, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and by using photos and video.  I can prompt you to visit the online store, take note of the special feature section on the website, read a new blog,  or meet me as I display art in a specific venue. 

Once the weather condition has passed, we look around and reflect on how it made an impact on us.  As a comparison, it is like seeing the beautiful photos that people send in of the scenic beauty in their own backyard after a snowfall.  They use their camera or words to describe their personal experiences and  desire to share their image with the public.  For me, a similar reflection comes when a customer shares a testimonial with me.  They are valued testament of  satisfaction in product and service. Written or verbal, the approval reactions are valued and contribute to the whole story.

Like the weather, my art is ever-changing. The one-of-a-kind status of each item lends itself to a inventory that is updated frequently.  You’ve got to keep up if you want to see how we are evolving, and what is available.  Those qualities are what keep us challenged to be creative everyday and we enjoy the opportunity to keep in touch with you with any news.  How can your business relate to the weather report- are you open to change? Do you bend with the wind?  Are you prepared to weather each storm? Make sure you have a sunny outlook and take each day as it is given to you.

In closing, I think one main difference between me and the weather reporter is that sometimes the final outcome is not accurate to what was first reported.  I thought of how I do provide accuracy.  I provide detailed descriptions about my art on the website and  I provide the best photos I can in natural lighting conditions.  These factors along with continual truthful communication give me an edge to remaining accurate in what I report: Our Art  Sets You Apart!

>What If…Ask the Q’s and Get the A’s

>Curiosity is good and questions take courage.  Ask questions to learn and share your new-found knowledge with others.

Ask yourself this question:  “What if…?”  What if you could own something that no one in the entire world would ever have, wouldn’t you feel special?  Wouldn’t you value that item for the worth it contains?  What if the one-of-a-kind item could also be on display for people to admire and comment on, could you share the details of your discovery with excitement?  What if your item was so affordable that you could easily begin a unique collection or share in gift-giving to others, would that make you happy?  What if these situations were real, wouldn’t that be cool?  Final answer:  YES!  I have created ways to make this possible for you!  Everyday, I am taking creative steps to produce: Art That Sets You Apart!

This situation IS real.  Anyone that gets or gives a hand-made item from Club Creative Studio can answer all of the above questions with a resounding YES!  You can own something that no one in the entire world will ever own because each hand-made item is one-of-a-kind, hand-made and never duplicated. You can value the artistic characteristics by knowing that each hand-rolled clay bead or hand-torched Italian glass bead incorporated is unique and created by a talented artist just for you.  You can be excited about sharing the details of how your art was created and the steps it took to expedite into existence.  You can afford to treat yourself to art that will set you apart from the normal mass produced artistic items around in the local stores.  Club Creative Studio art is accessible online with secure and easy payment options available.  Please, visit the site often as inventory changes because each item has a one-of-a-kind limited status.

                  http://www.clubcreativestudio.com/