X is for “Xmas”

Club Creative Studio’s blog post today has a focus on the letter “X”.  You already know that there are not many words that fit into that category that may apply to creativity.  I will have to go with a more obvious choice.  X is for “Xmas”.  To highlight art that I created specially but not limited to the Christmas (Xmas) season, I’d like to share photos and descriptions of Club Creative Studio’s Artisan Beaded Hanging Ornaments. Our one-of-a-kind items are created from hand-made, hand-rolled polymer clay beads, charms, crystals, ribbon and wire.

It seems that hand-made items are popular for gift-giving occasions when the holiday seasons roll around. Why is that?  Maybe because they call for a special touch, a meaningful item with a lasting memory, or items like this are easily found at holiday themed craft fairs, bazaars and gift shops.

Whatever your reason for giving a hand-made piece, you have selected items that have a special attraction to them.  The artist and the art do have personal connections associated with hand-made items, and they happily pass that aspect on to you.

Hand-Made Beaded Artisan Ornament from Club Creative Studio.

Artisan hand-made beaded ornaments are one-of-a-kind creations.

As I think up ways that I can incorporate my hand-made beads, sometimes the ideas come readily, and sometimes I have to tweak the thoughts and experiment on the best way to highlight my beads.  The Christmas ornament idea came quite easy because there is a popular need to decorate Christmas trees and purchase special keepsake ornaments for them.

Close-up. Hand-made polymer clay beads incorporated into hanging art.

Looking at an item that seemingly has a specific function, and imagine other uses for it is what CREATIVITY is all about.  I’d like to offer suggestions on how you may enjoy what I first created as an Christmas Ornament.

What else is this useful for?

This item can displayed in other interesting fashions.

Use this decorative item in unique ways.

1. Christmas tree hanging ornament
2. Wreath focal point
3.  Attach to a suction cup and admire from a window
4. Hang from a table lamp at the switch location
5. Adorn a vase by placing around the rim/brim
6. Wrap safely around the top of a candle stick base
7. Add a bit of bling as you dangle from a view mirror in your automobile
8. Use as a decorative bow on a gift that is wrapped
9. Display as fashionable curtain tie-backs
10. Dangle slightly under a framed photo frame from the wall
11. Add to a cabinet knob or door handles
12. Embellish a wine bottle neck
13. Add to a table scape by attaching to a pot lid or serving dish handle
14. Highlight art from an individual hanging display made from wire
15. Hang from a garden stake in your flower bed or bottom of a wire frame hanging basket

Do you have out-of-the-box suggestions that you can share on how you might use this Club Creative Studio art item?

Feel free to share your creative ideas in a comment post below!

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Creativity- 6 Ways to Lean Forward

Learning how to confidently steer your creative energy into something that is productive is important.  This Club Creative Studio post  informs you of this “learned art” of sorts.  Sometimes we need to allow opportunities into our life that stem from our creative thoughts.  Doing this, can lead to a more satisfying creative life. There are ways that one can improve on or foster visual thinking skills. We need awareness and practice.

The key to reaching creative potential  lies in understanding how to be open to change.  Just as young children explore, communicate and share their ideas in affective and cognitive expressions.  We too, as adults need to recall how to function by feeling what we think and think of what we feel.  You may agree that to grow in creativity we need to include the acceptance of disorder,  attraction to mysteries, conflict or puzzles, courageous  risk-taking, embracing natural playfulness, and letting go of emotional sensitivity and perfectionism.  Are you ready to grow your creativity in the right direction?

Lean forward to become more curious, be flexible in your approach to reach a new level  or version of yourself.  Consider  my six suggestions for starters that can be viewed as building blocks to creativity.

image:www.arthursclipart.org

1. Understand Creativeness

Recognize that you are a creative being and are capable of being interesting in many different aspects in your life.  Appreciate that you have the means to be an individual and are called to express that in many different ways in your life.  You can be creative at work and at play.  Be accepting of your mistakes but quick to praise yourself at the same time.

2. Provide Environment

Provide an appropriate space to stretch intellectual muscles. This area should primarily focus on creative stimulation. Maybe it is as simple as an inspiring classroom, designated floor space or a small tabletop designated as your special workspace.   With quick access to art/office supplies, games, books, textures, colors and  interactive fixtures, your mind can have a jump-start area to expected creative thought.

Important aspects to the effective environment are space and climate. Do you have a personal work space where you might leave unfinished tasks for completion another day?  This can be crucial to your creative process and growth.  Adequate space and lighting is important.  It is helpful to move and actually see what we are doing.  Do you have comfortable seating?  Place an importance on your physical comfort to do your best for any length of time.

3. Emphasize  Art and  Spontaneity

Heightened creativity can be present whenever we experience something new in our environment.  Real life observations and hands-on activities often serve as springboards for creative expression.  We just have to use our senses, be willing to experiment.

Showcase accomplishments. Nothing sparks motivation more than seeing how your efforts or the work of others has evolved.

“Sharp (2001) found  that creative arts serve to enhance children’s listening, problem solving,  critical reading and writing skills. In addition, the arts engage children’s  kinesthetic and cognitive experiences, amplifying concrete as well as abstract  learning abilities. Tacker and Tracey (1998) report that music education is  therapeutic because it raises self-esteem while honing creativity, offering  children an avenue for expressing their emotions in nonverbal ways.”

Creativity cannot be rushed or forced into existence. Parents and educators must be patient. If a child  says “I can’t or I won’t,” the best response is “I’d like for you to try, see what you can do, experiment.” Leading by example can also help stimulate growth opportunities. When I was a classroom art teacher often times, when I actually drew for the students to illustrate a concept the students  removed their own barriers as well.  Creativity and confidence were allowed to flow more easily.  This is the reason, I feel for a “rough draft”.  It allows you to not be afraid to make adjustments.  You are free to experiment and learn to grow in creativity.

4. Opportunities for Growth

Educators  and staff members in the workplace alike can act as creative guides by listening carefully, observing any emotional cues of others, encouraging work and being cautious not to interfere.  Open-ended or brainstorming opportunities incorporate creative expressions and growth.  Creative solutions can also be born from large group settings.

Self help activities such as thought-provoking questions to yourself can help develop your own creative process. Asking the “What  would happen if…?”  question is a good start.  Another type of questioning is to ask is ”how-many-different-ways can…”  You may be surprised to brainstorm with self or others.

In most  instances where a hesitation or doubt of being creative occurs, we can grow from this behavior.  Maybe the right balance of spark is not present yet.  Sometimes it takes being part of a group with enthused and strong creative ways to get the juices flowing.  Maybe it is the challenge of the task at hand, or maybe it is an attempt to be expressive for personal gains.

5. Seek Out Creativeness

Inspiration can come from many different places within others, watching t.v., reading books, movies, media. The use of our own intuition and thoughts can be turned into what we need to gain the spark to start, and eventually continue and finish the creative process.  This impulse can be planned or unplanned. Common activities that will lead to seeking out your creativity include construction, painting, music, dramatic  play, dance and telling imaginative stories, and  problem solving.  Look for those opportunities, seek out what will lead to creative growth.

6. Practice Confidence

Being able to be expressive in some form daily is important for future growth.  Like any skill that you wish to develop, you need to practice it often.  My business mantra is: BE CREATIVE EVERYDAY at my work space called: Club Creative Studio (http://www.clubcreativestudio.com).  I belive with this daily practice creativity comes to fruition very easily, willingly and strongly. You can become more confident in your creative adventures if you continue to foster creativity in yourself and in others.  Good luck in your continued will to add practice, confidence and skills to your creative growth.  Don’t lean backwards, giving up and saying that you are “not creative”.  Lean forward and embrace your creative potentials!