Tag Archives: building creativity

Low Cost Idea- Spray Your Way To Improvement

5 Mar

Club Creative Studio blog

Club Creative Studio loves to share creative low-cost ideas on Two-Cent Tuesday.  Today, the blog has a focus on an inexpensive project that will improve or change your world with the use of spray paint.

If you want a dramatic look in lighting, consider spray-painting your fixture black.  I recently took this photo of a beautiful crystal chandelier at The Union League in Philadelphia.  I thought while admiring it that this look could be replicated easily and cheaply with black spray paint.  If however, you have a metal light fixture or anything made from galvanized steel, there are considerations for paints.  Galvanized steel is a metal for example that is difficult to paint.  So, knowing the material you are working with first and foremost is important so that you are not wasting your time or money in your creative process. Check the can labels to recognize the best spray can type for your projects.

Getting back to Galvanized steel for example, that material cannot be painted with normal alkyd-based paints, which almost all spray paints are based. It is suggested that if there is any “alkyd…” don’t even think about using it on your steel project.  Looking on the aisle shelf, the brand “Rust-o-leum” does put on the back of their spray paint cans a warning not to use their spray paint on galvanized steel.  However, beware that most spray paint companies do not include this warning.

So what makes that metal so difficult? It is steel that has a zinc coating to increase the steels corrosion (rust) resistance.  It’s “hot-dip galvanization” is a process that makes it similar to steel with large visible grains. Using spray paint to other materials is not as difficult to choose.

Need ideas on what to spray in your home for a new creative twist? How about these suggestions: cabinet knobs and other fixture handles, frames for photos or mirrors, light switch plates, file cabinets or storage furniture, light fixtures, lamps, chandeliers, candle holders, appliances, radiators, steam risers, and even plastic, wood, wicker, and metal furniture.

A pro of using spray paint over brush application paints is that spray paint creates a smooth surface as opposed to brushing on paint. Faux textures like stone and granite as well as unique finishes like a clear coating and metallic are available for your experimentation. Suggested tips for great results are on all can labels.  You may need to gain extra supplies and endure additional steps besides a quick spray. Primer, sanding, or wire-brushing may be needed, depending on the object and the paint. So while this process can be low-cost, it does have a small percentage of cost associated with it depending on the size of your project and the type of spray paint you require.

No matter if you are making a cosmetic change or improving a home item like a flaking barbecue grill, spray paint is a great option to a quick change or improvement. Using spray paint for an improvement is a low-cost idea that can help in a creative improvement solution.  Let us know if you have used spray paint in a recent project. Taking a before and after photograph can be helpful to appreciate how far a project has come.
                              
                              
                           
                         

Sharing Bead Soup

17 Feb

IMG_8222

Portion of the Bead Soup I sent to my beading challenge partner Susan,

Club Creative Studio is taking part in the Bead Soup Challenge #7.  It will be fun sharing Bead Soup.

Please review past posts regarding the details of this wonderful sharing and creating challenge for those making hand-made beads and jewelry from them. Since the arrival of my beads from my bead exchange partner, Susan I have had time to simmer the ideas I have and will soon begin my creative thought process and my design using the beads she sent me last week.  I am looking forward to the creative growth.

I have not gotten official word that my box has indeed arrived to New Hampshire however, it has had adequate time. With that in mind, I would like to go ahead and share what I included in my package of fun. The idea of sharing is to highlight some of your own hand-made beads and pair them with interesting items that can be utilized in a creative challenge for the artist on the receiving end to express in their own style.  Lori Anderson is the host and brain-child behind the organization of this particular bead challenge.  It is perfect “soup” , warming my soul on a cold winter day for me living in Philadelphia.  I welcome the challenge.

I included a variety of supplies and I hope she is inspired to do something fun and add her own components if she desires as well. I included items of stone, Czech glass, hand-rolled clay beads, hand-twisted wire worked beads, seed beads, ceramic, rhinestone and metal charm elements just to name a few.

Perhaps she will blog about her experience. I plan to document my creative journey on the Club Creative Studio Facebook page with photos and within this blogging platform. I am happy to share the experience of the creative thought process and creative expression of this beading challenge by sharing my Bead Soup Challenges.

It is my hope that you find the steps that I take interesting and keep in touch as I share the trials and tribulations of this beading challenge. Please check back for future posts on this topic here and on the page: http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio

Club Creative Studio Bead Soup Challenge 7 IMG_8220 IMG_8221 IMG_8222 IMG_8223 IMG_8227 IMG_8233

The Bead Soup Challenge

11 Feb

BSBP7-beaders

Club Creative Studio is one of over 500 participants in the 7th Bead Challenge and Blog Party. Wonderful artists, wonderful talents, wonderful art, wonderful blogs and wonderful opportunity to learn about beads and beading.

Good Luck to all who are creating with beads for the love of art.

What would be reasons why someone would desire to participate in a bead challenge?

1. Taking part in a bead challenge is a creative growth step. Anyone who takes part in a bead challenge has a will to grow creatively.

2. Taking part in a bead challenge allows you to discover the power you have within to create with unknown factors and become successful from that.

3. A beading challenge brings together like-minded persons who create and design items using beads. They also bring together friendships with common grounds.

4. Taking part in a bead challenge is a welcome challenge for many to become aware of talents of others who are creating hand-made beads and items from them.

Here is a list of those who are participating within the 2013 creative journey alongside of me. I am happy that so many are inspiring and expressing with art. Thank you in advance to anyone from this list who stops by this blog to visit, or who follow my creativity on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio and who take time to browse or order from the Club Creative Studio website at http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

Alicia Marinache
Adlinah Kamsir
Agata Grygiel
Agi Kiss
Alenka Obid
Ali McCarthy
Alice Craddick
Alison Sachs
Amanda Tibbetts
Amber Dawn Goldish
Amy Severino
Amy Sims
Ana Cravidao
Ana Krepel
Andra Marasteanu
Andra Weber
Andrea Glick
Andrea Trank
Andria Poole
Angela Perkins
Anitra Gordy Boyers
Anja Schultz
Ann Sherwood
Anna Nordeman
Annette Rivers
Annita Wilson
Anu Tuppurainen
April Grinaway
Arlene Dean
Astrid Boyce
Audrey Bélanger
B.R.Kuhlman
Barb Fernald
Barb Solem
Barbara Bechtel
Barbara Mason
Becky Pancake
Beti Horvath
Betty James Hoppensteadt
Bev Breisinger
Billi RS Rothove
Birgit Klughardt
Birgitta Lejonklou
Bobbie Rafferty
Bonnie Coursolle
Brandi Burdick
Brandy Thomason McNair
Breana Fry
Brenda Sigafoos
Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Bridget Torres
Candida Castleberry
Carmen Lau
Carol Dee Myers
Carol Dillman
Carol Wilson
Caroline Dewison
Carolyn Chenault
Carolyn Gebert
Carolyn Lawson
Caron Reid
Cassi Paslick
Cassie Donlen
Catharine Temaluru
Catherine King
Catherine Turrell
Cathy Jakicic
Cece Cormier
Chandra Merod
Charlene Jacka
Cheri Reed
Cherrie Fick
Cherrie Warzocha
Cheryl Brown
Cheryl Dunham
Cheryl Foiles
Cheryl Gangle
Cheryl McCloud
Chris Eisenberg
Chris White
Christa Murphy
Christina Hickman
Christina Miles
Christina Stofmeel
Christine Hansen
Christine Murrow
Christine Stonefield
Cilla Watkins
Cindy Cima Edwards
Cindy Ritchie
Cindy Wilson
Claire Lockwood
Clare Etheridge
Colleen Vinthagen
Cory Tompkins
Cris Peacock
Crystal Thain
Cynthia Abner
Cynthia Riggs
Dagmar Liebisch
Dana Fowler
Dana Hickey
Dana James
Danielle Kelley
Darlene Fortier
Deana Hager
Deanna Cox
Deb Brooks
Deb Fortin
Debbie Rasmussen
Debi Levine
Deborah Read
Debra Behrends
Dee Elgie
Denielle Hagerman
Denise McCabe
Denise Milward
Diah Anggreni
Diana Frey
Diana Gonzalez
Diana Welte
Diane Valasek
Dini Bruinsma
Dita Basu
DiYana Alcalde
Dolores Raml
Donetta Farrington
Donna Millard
Doris Stumpf
Dorota Żerańska
Dot Lewallwn
Duane Clark
Dyanne Cantrell
Elaine Robitaille
Eleanor Burian-Mohr
Elisabeth Auld
Elizabeth Bunn
Elizabeth Drake
Elizabeth Jones
Elizabeth Owens Dwy
Elizabeth Stolarczyk
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca
Ema Kilroy
Emily Greer
Emma Todd
Enikö Fabian
Erin Grant
Erin Guest
Erin Kenny
Eva Kovacs
Eva Sherman
Evelyn Duberry
Evelyn Shelby
Evie and Beth McCord
Fay Wolfenden
Francesca Watson
Francy Inman
Gen Smith
Gina Hockett
Ginger Bishop
Ginger Davis Allman
Giorgia Rossini
Gloria Allen
Grace Rotenberg
Gretchen Nation
Hajer Waheed
Hannah Annear
Hannah Rosner
Heather Davis
Heather Marston
Heather Otto
Heather Powers
Heidi Kingman
Hope Smitherman
Ildiko Jarai
Ilenia Ruzza
Ilona Hegedűs
Ine Vande Cappelle
Inge von Roos
Ingrid McCue
Iveth Caruso
Jackie Locantore
Jackie Ryan
Jacqueline Keller
Jacqueline Marchant
Jan Petek
Jane Pranata Lim
Janeen Sorensen
Jane-Michael Stallings
Janine Lucas
Jasvanti Patel
Jayashree Paramesh
Jayne Capps
Jean Peter
Jean Wells
Jean Yates
Jeanne Steck
Jelveh Jaferian Johnson
Jennifer Cabic
Jennifer Cameron
Jennifer Davis
Jennifer LaVite
Jennifer Reno
Jennifer Tough
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Kyrlach
Jenny Robledo
Jenny Vidberg
Jessica Brower
Jessica Klaaren
Jill MacKay
JJ Jacobs
Joan Williams
Jo-Ann Woolverton
Joanna Matuszczyk
Joanne Tinley
Jodie Marshall
Johanna Rhodes Nash
Joyce Becker
Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs
Judy Riley
Judy Robinson
JuLee Wolfe
Juli Cannon
Julia Gerlach
Julie Anne Leggett
Julie Bowen
Julie Panusis
June Butt
K Hutchinson
Karen Martinez
Karen Mitchell
Karen Vincent
Karen Williams
Kari Asbury
Karin King
Karin Slaton
Karin von Hoeren
Karla Morgan
Karyn Bonfiglio
Kat Barron Miller
Kat Douglas
Kate Dufour
Kate Mulligan
Kate Richbourg
Kathleen Gallant
Kathleen Lange Klik
Kathrin Lembke
Kathy Lindemer
Kathy Stemke
Katie Nielsen-Nunez
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic
Katy Heider
Kay Bolton
Kay Thomerson
Kayla Potega
Kelley Fogle
Kelli Jacobson
Kelly Patterson
Kelly Ramstack
Keren Panthaki
Kiersten Kern
Kim Hora
Kim Houston
Kim Sparks
Kimberly Idalski
Kirsi Loponen
Klaudete Koon
Klaudia Tóth
Krafty Max
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Krista French
Krista Quantrill
Kristen Stevens
Kristi Harrison
Kristin Oppold
Kristina Hahn Eleniak
Kristina Johansson
Kumi Fisher
Kym Hunter
Lana Kinney
Laney Mead
Lara Lutrick
Laren Dee Barton
Laura Bracken
Laura Demoya
Laura Guenther
Lauren Fenty
Lauren Potts
Laurie Hanna
Laurie Keefe-Cecere
Laurie Vyselaar
Lea Avroch
Leah Curtis
Leah Tees
Leanne Loftus
Lee Anne Messerschmidt
Lena Adams
Lennis Carrier
Lesley Watt
Leslie Schenkel
Leslie Wayment
LiliKrist
Linda Anderson
Linda Djokic
Linda Kropp
Linda Murphy
Linda Newnham
Linda Sadler
Linda Younkman
Lisa Boucher
Lisa Johnson
Lisa Liddy
Lisa Suver
Liz DeLuca
Liz Engriser
Lizzie Clarke
Lola Surwillo
Lora Bright
Lorelle McIntyre
Loretta Carstensen
Lori Anderson
Lori Bergmann
Lori Bowring Michaud
Lori Finney
Lori Lochner
Lori Poppe
Lori Schneider
Lucie Bouvier
Lupe Meter
Lyn Foley
Lynn Jobber
Maddison Langford
Magdalena Sikora
Malin de Koning
Mallory Hoffman
Mandi Effron
Marcella Austenfeld
Marcia Dunne
Marcy Lamberson
Margareta Saari
Maria Clark
Maria Rosa Sharrow
Marianna Boylan
Marianne Baxter
Marie Covert
Marina Dobrynina
Marina Kosovic
Marion Simmons
Marita Suominen
Marjolein Trewavas
Marsela Schroth
Martha Aleo
Marti Conrad
Mary Ellen Merrigan
Mary Ellen Parker
Mary Govaars
Mary Harding
Mary K McGraw
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens
Maybeline Tay
Mea-B. Uebler
Megan Milliken
Melissa Meman
Melissa Mesara
Melissa Trudinger
Menka Gupta
Merja Sundström
Merja Syrjämäki
Michaela Pabeschitz
Michelle Buettner
Michelle Escano
Michelle Tucker
Michelle Wigginton
Milla Hope
Mimi Gardner
Miranda Ackerely
Mischelle Fanucchi
Molly Alexander
Monica Phillips
Mowse Doyle
Mrs M Makes
Nan Emmett
Nan Smith
Nancy Boylan
Nancy Dale
Natalie Davidson
Natalie Moten
Natascha Marty
Nikki Banham-Hall
Niky Sayers
Noemi Baena
Norma Turvey
Pam Chesbro
Pam DeBoer
Pam Farren
Pam Hurst
Pam Sandy
Pam Traub
Pamela Gangler
Pat Haight
Patina Queen
Patricia Buchanan
Patricia Johnson
Patti Pruhs
Patty Miller
Paula Hisel
Peggy Gabrielson
Penny Houghton
Penny Mills
Perri Jackson
Pia Kaven
Rachel Baron
Rachel Stanley
Rachel Van-Walsh
Rain Hannah
Rana Wilson
Rebecca Anderson
Rebecca Sirevaag
Regina Santerre
Regina Wood
Renetha Stanziano
Robin Reed
Rochelle Brisson
Rosanagh Watson
Rose Johnson
Rose Rushbrooke
Rosemary Cheslock
Rossana De Gaspari
Roxanne Blanc
Ruth Szapa
Sabine Dittrich
Sally Russick
Sam Waghorn
Sandi James
Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff
Sandra Pendragon
Sandra Wollberg
Sandra Young
Sandy Richardson
Sarah Goode
Sarah Singer
Sarah Small
Sarah Strover
Shai Williams
Shalini Austin
Shannon Hicks
Shari Replogle
Sharon Palac
Sheila Daniels
Sheila Davis
Sherri Stokey
Sherry Baun
Sheryl Stephens
Shiraz Biggie
Shirley Moore
Sierra Barrett
Silke Gröber
Silvia Sernicola
Siobhán Keogh
Skylar Bre’z
Solange Collin
Sonya Stille
Staci Smith
Stacie Florer
Stacy Alderson
Stacy Pomerleau
Stefanie Teufel
Stephanie Haussler
Stephanie LaRosa
Stephanie Stamper
Stephanie Weiss
Sue Burleigh
Sue Hamel
Sue Rennie
Sumi Rani
Susan Bowie
Susan Kelly
Susan Kennedy
Susan McClelland
Susan of Libellula Jewelry
Susan Sheehan
Susanna Lehto
Suse Stelljes
Susie Hibdon
Suzann Sladcik Wilson
Suzanne Fragiacomo
Suzette Bentley
Tamera Norris
Tammi Sloan
Tammie Everly
Tania Hagen
Tania Spivey
Tanya Goodwin
Tanya Wiles
Tara Plote
Tari Kahrs
Terri G.
Terry Carter
Terry Matuszyk
Theresa Buchle
Theresa Frank
Tiffany Smith
Tina Bosh
Tina Holden
Tina Noonan
Toltec Jewels
Tracey Nanstad
Tracie Dean
Tracy Bell
Tracy Choy
Tracy Kruse
Tracy Stillman
Valerie Norton
Veralynne Malone
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom
Vicki Holliday

 

Special Arrival: Box of Beautiful Beads

9 Feb

Hand-made Glass BeadsBead Soup 7 Challenge Beads 

Club Creative Studio’s post today highlights the special delivery from the mail this afternoon. My special arrival came today, it was a box of beautiful beads. The beads in my photograph were sent to me specifically for the Bead Challenge called:  Bead Soup Challenge & Blog Party, #7.

Susan Sheehan is my Bead Soup Bead Challenge Buddy.  We were paired from over 500 participants in Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup and Blog Party Challenge. She is from New Hampshire and works primarily in glass, creating wonderful beads, many with the floral motif theme (which is right up my alley). We exchanged boxes and I received mine today! She should get the box that I sent her by Monday.

The excitement starts to build the minute you are assigned your bead partner’s name and location. I had a chance to look on Susan’s website and read a few blogs once I knew she was assigned to me.  With exchanged contact information we are able to keep track and communicate along our creative journey.  It is wonderful that we have put together totally different packages to inspire each other.  She creates in her studio and can be found selling her art at: http://www.susansheehan.etsy.com  The challenge aspect comes next as we sit in front of the bead stash wondering what to create and how to use the elements in front of us.  I anticipate using a few of my own items as well, but, the majority of the supplies will come from the pile she has gifted me.

 What’s in her shared treasure box?

 

Admiring this selection, the first impression that I had was she has a great sense of color. The combinations are wonderful and I am inspired to create starting with a good color palate in front of me from the get-go. She included an array in styles of beads which will certainly make for an eclectic feel of whatever I end up creating from this collection of bead types. I am faced with working with a variety of shapes, sizes and weights of beads and that is a challenge unto itself.  I am not afraid of mixing metals so the copper-colored chain and the silver clasp and bead caps don’t frighten me.

Susan has challenged me to basically create using pink, turquoise, and brown. There are many larger beads all of which can combine to become focal beads or serve as a focal bead all alone. The obvious choice is using the large amber-colored glass round as the main focal bead.  It made me think immediately of using it as part of a center tassel, at first glance so I will see if that changes when I hit the design table or not.

The tube beads dotted with mini-seed beads and floral theme motif are about one inch long, there are four of those. Two brown rounds are not identical but have been made with the same feel. She included six interesting pink glass mosaic feel beads that shimmer in the light, those are cool as well.  With an interesting mixture of tiny crystals and Lucite, I can  imagine using them as little accents of color and dangle beads right now at first glance.

The highlight of her box are of course her hand-made glass floral beads. She has included ten for me to use in my creation.  They are dotted with spots of turquoise, pink, brown, orange and a little bit of purple. Wonderful!

After I let my  “soup” simmer overnight, I will think about what I want to create and then sit down and design, arrange and question.  I plan to document my creative thought process and share the development of my special arrival…my box of beautiful beads. Be sure to visit this blog again as well as the Club Creative Studio Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio for updates on my beading challenge process.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy Bead Soup

8 Feb

Club Creative Studio Bead Soup Challenge photo

 

Club Creative Studio Bead Soup Challenge photo

It’s winter where Club Creative Studio is located and  it’s cold.  It’s time to enjoy a little taste of bead soup.  No, I have not decided to actually EAT, sleep and breathe beads no matter what others think that I already do.  I am taking part in a beading challenge called Bead Soup founded by artist Lori Anderson.  This bead soup challenge pairs up persons creating hand-made beads and places them in a challenge together where they put together a goodie package and mail them to each other, challenging them to create from the stash. 

This challenge has three separate reveal dates so that bead artists have time to complete their projects. Most like me, plan to document the journey.  This is the first time that I am taking part in this event.  I first got word that my “Bead Buddy” Susan was from New Hampshire a few days ago. We have a means to communicate and keep in contact throughout this project.  

The full content of our packages are supposed to be a secret until they are received by mail. We are allowed however to give sneak peeks or “teaser photos”. These are two photos that introduce with curiosity concerning what I have included for this challenge.  When I asked Susan for a hint of what she was going to send me in her package, she said with a bit of wit and humor that my beads all had holes…included something old, something new, something purchased, something hand-made, and something blue. Hummm…I can hardly wait!

My reason for taking part in this beading challenge is to experience a creative challenge and go through my steps of creative thinking with beads sent to me.  I am also in total support of the artist paired with me as I am of all of the artists also taking part in this creative process (which totals over 500 participants).  They all eagerly use their creativity and talent to make hand-made beads and share with others for artistic growth.

Please stop by this blog often as I continue to share photos and information about how my first Bead Soup challenge is going. I am ready and willing to enjoy my Bead Soup and share it with you.

Creativity is Expression

7 Feb

Club Creative Studio- Creating allows you to express yourself.

It is no secret that creativity is a form of expression.

Have you discovered the reasons why creativity allows you to express yourself?  There may be several reasons why allowing creative thoughts and actions into your life can benefit you. In today’s Club Creative Studio’s blog post I want to touch on  few aspects explaining how creativity can  help you define who you are.  While it is true that “you are you” as a unique being and you are capable of expressing your individuality in several ways, how you express your creativity is where being creative comes into play.  Being creative and allowing yourself to be true will give you the chance to express yourself to the fullest.

Let’s say you are naturally a shy person. There is nothing wrong with having this quality at all, I am thinking of a word that has a reference to a characteristic many seem to want to overcome in some degree level.  Some people wish they were more outgoing, more brave and daring, louder, more showing of self-confidence.

Whatever the challenge we see as a potential shortcoming which by we identify with for any reason, I believe that by adding creativity into the mix, we  allow ourselves to tackle those challenges more readily.  Art therapists will probably be among the first of many to tell you that the use of art in many forms will free you of many things. I too believe in the power of art as a means of expression and a break through to many situational problems or concerns.  Letting out what is inside is a release of sort that can have a healing and revealing process associated with it. Do you know how being creative can benefit you?

 My Five Benefits to Being Creative

1.  Release.  Using creativity as a means of release can free you up of unwanted stress and tension. Free your mind of worries for a bit, or share what is considered over-load information in a different venue.

2.  Answers an Inner Need. Being creative allows you to be satisfied with the needs that you have to express what your imagination fosters. Do you have a need to be expressive and share your inner thoughts? No matter if a creative need is expressed to yourself in a private journal entry or sung out loud to the roof tops, creativity can call upon your inner needs and be filled.

3.  It’s Natural.  It may not seem that way sometimes but, we all have the potential to be highly creative. It is only when we become older that we lose sight of how easily creativity can flow because of all of our hang-ups. Being creative can become automatic and freeing we can appreciate the natural built-in drive to strive to be creative we already have, naturally. Creativity is natural and it is contagious. Creativity begets Creativity.

4.  It’s a Brain Game.  Looking at creativity growth as a personal challenge is a way to increase it with intended purpose. It takes practice to be creative without having to think about what you are doing.  The more times you are calling upon yourself to think or act on a creative thought or impulse, the faster those opportunities appear when you need them the most. Your out-of-the-box thinking concepts will become more frequent when you train yourself to be more expressive and imaginative every chance you can.  I believe being more creative can become a personal challenge and attainable goal.  Practice of anything will bring about a change.

5,  Shake It Up. Expressions of creativity shakes up our senses.  Adding a new view to a situation, a twist on a solution, or a vision of enlightenment stemming from a creative thought adds spice to life.  Even if you are not the one being creative but you are listening to a creative person or thought, their creative actions or words can inspire you to act in a creative manner as well.  Why not use creativity to shake up your world?  The world needs MORE creative thinkers. We need different solutions, we desire our days to be exciting and worth remembering. When creativity shakes up and changes something, we take notice.

If creativity or calling upon your creativity is not your strong suit, I guess I made this list for you in mind. If you can find one of the numbers helpful to inspire a creative spark and reason to be creative today, I’d love to hear about it by a comment below this post. Have a great day being “Creative Everyday”!

My Latest Beading Challenge

1 Feb

Be supportive of fellow artists, they are just like you- creating with love.

Be supportive of fellow artists, they are just like you- creating with love.

Image: prettythingsblog.com

Image: prettythingsblog.com

Welcome to the Feature Friday post on the blog with a focus on creativity from Club Creative Studio.

Today I would like to highlight the efforts of those working with artist Lori Anderson from her Bead Soup Bead Challenge. There should be a message to this madness and it could be to BE CALM and LOVE JEWELRY, while taking part in a beading challenge.  Ready? Set? Bring on the beads!

I have had my share of taking part in beading challenges. Some situations were formal and some projects were casual.  The main characteristic known within a beading challenge is that there is an organizational factor associated with the challenge and there is a level of commitment that is demanded to take part in a beading challenge.  Beading challenges allow you to reach deep within and try your best with what is on hand or work within a box of limited creativity to the fullest.

If you have decided to dedicate your efforts to a challenge of any type dealing with creativity, take a few deep breaths and dive right into the creative building phase.  Use the opportunity to express your creativity and build to new heights.

My latest challenge dealing with beading is going to be an interesting one.  Two artists who are creating hand-made beads are paired together and are asked to exchange beads and create using them.  The person who as founded this has been offering this opportunity for seven years.  She is seemingly extremely organized and has a great system for getting from point A to point B.  This is one reason that I was drawn to take part in her beading challenge. She recently sent me an e-mail and explained what she was up against in her beginning stages of setting up our beading partners. I give nothing but credit to her and her husband for dedicating their time and love of beading to bring others together in the same love of beads.

1) Visit Blogs. Lori takes time to look at all of our blogs because some are just contest entry blogs and that is not in our interests.  Some of our blogs weren’t entered correctly and she had to physically find them.  She takes steps to do this to insure that we are paired with someone who doesn’t work in too similar styles.  She uses a spreadsheet  to track what each person works with in their beading, and finds that out by visiting all of our blogs.

2) Highlight Participant List.  There are 142 international people taking part in this year’s challenge.  Many are in Canada and the UK, but  she reports that there are some from Bahrain, France, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland, among a few other places.  Her system involves matching bead artists who have requested to be paired within certain areas or other needs.  There are three separate “reveal dates” that the artists get to chose from for their projects.  So, knowing that date is another aspect that she pairs us with the best she can.  Those who have indicated that they have no preference to their reveal are probably her instant friends (Smile). Her husband on a second computer helps at this point and together they work out the pairing.

Last year’s Party.
3) Separate Information.  Because she had three different reveal dates, she uses those spreadsheets in a separated manner, and starts her pairing from that point.
  
4)  Email Contact.   This year in Bead Soup Blog Party Seven: there are over 500 participants. For each pair she personally e-mails the partner’s name, e-mail address and blog site associated so that we can keep in touch with our progress. This gives me a headache just reading about all of those addresses and messages. Thank goodness for cut and paste and cc options, right?

It is said that she normally gives herself a week to complete this task but, I know that there are many more sleepless nights  and excitement associated with the planning of this event. Lori has started her seventh challenge and I look forward to taking part in my first challenge with her at the helm. She is busy using her organizational skills in a creative way for many. Cheers to Lori today as she carries on in her efforts at http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2013/01/sign-ups-are-open-for-7th-bead-soup.html.

 

To keep track of how I am fairing with this challenge be sure to check back on this blog and keep up with posts on the progress on the Club Creative Studio Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio

 

Getting close to 555

31 Jan

I look forward to having you join the page as a FANTASTIC FAN!

I look forward to having you join the page  FANTASTIC FAN!

Welcome to the Club Creative Studio Blog. This space is a place where the focus is on creativity.

Several times a week, I share creative prompts, project ideas, inspiration, and featured art on this blog.

Daily, I share similar information on the Club Creative Studio Facebook page.

If you have not visited lately or you would love to follow the creative trail as a FANTASTIC FAN,

please click the “like” button you will find on the page:  http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio

I have a FANTASTIC surprise for the 555th FANTASTIC FAN FOLLOWER on FACEBOOK!

Will it be someone you know or did you help them find this page?

 

Creativity: Where Is It?

29 Jan

Thomas Merton quote.

Thomas Merton quote.

Club Creative Studio has a few questions for you to ponder today.  Concerning CREATIVITY…do you know where it can take you?  Hopefully you do not have to look long or hard to find it. Creativity can be found within yourself or within others.  So knowing that; where is it? Do you know where to look or who to look at? Do you know what it can do for you? Where it will lead you?

Discovering creativity levels within yourself or others is a growing and learning process.  As the quote from Thomas Merton suggests, art  (or creativity in general) enables or allows us to find ourselves. We can discover what is deep within us or at the top of the surface.  Merton also goes on to say in the quote that we can also lose ourselves at the same time, meaning that we can set ourselves free and experience creativity at its fullest, not paying much mind of other things going on around us. Creativity never grows old or goes out of style. Creativity may grow stale but we can always revive it and relive it and improve.

Creativity Never Goes Out  of Style

One place to start looking is quite obvious. Merely look ALL AROUND! Yes! Creativity is all around us, I have always said this many times. Open your eyes to discover the unique qualities of life around you. How can you get lost in creativity and where will it lead you?

While I was a classroom art teacher, everyday I would strive to stress in my students the importance of seeing creativity around us. Expressing it and experiencing creative venues gave our students the chance to see where creativity could take them.  Maybe they were introduced to a new concept. Maybe they found a new talent or practiced a new skill. Perhaps during our lessons, they grew appreciative of other’s creative efforts or served as inspiration to another as they expressed their own creative thoughts.  Taking extra steps to recognize where creativity is affords us the opportunity to search it out when we need it.

Where will creativity take you? The creative journey can be as long and as exciting as you make it out to be. It can be shared and appreciated.  A creative journey does in fact allow you to find yourself, express yourself and understand yourself. Creativity also lends the opportunity to get lost in the process, lose track of time and lose our inhibitions and fears about art or any other creative thought process or expression. Dance, prose, visual arts, theatrical arts etc., they all are expressions of creativity that take us to places we have never seen before. Relish in the creative process. Look around to gain it and foster it to grow it.

The aspect I love the most about being an artist is the fact that what I create can be shared and appreciated. While creating, as I continuously find myself and lose myself in art, I also get the thrill of giving and sharing art.  To view results of  my creativity, please take time to view creations on the website. The inventory is updated and evolving often.  The creative spirit is there to inspire, appreciate and best of all, purchase! Enjoy! http://www.clubcreativestudio.com

 

Inspired By Creative Quotes

26 Jan

Great reflection quote for the creative person.
Great reflection quote for the creative person.

Today, Club Creative Studio shares a quote that has inspired me and is proven to be correct for correlation in the world of the arts.  Creative quotes can be great reflective words and inspire on many different levels. The words of Vincent Van Gogh can transform your way of thought with a certain focus.  These three simple lines can become your everyday challenges for your creative spirit.  Are they words that you can relate to, or hope to incorporate into your creative world?

I Am Seeking

Are you a person who seeks out creativity or yearns to explore new adventures?

I feel that as a creative person I am always seeking. I seek to find the time to create, and stay motivated. I look to find the best materials, new materials. I seek knowledge and wisdom from others in the arts. I search for the best technique to incorporate in my creations. I seek to become a better artists on a daily basis. I am seeking answers to my many questions. Yes, I am a seeker, are you?

I Am Striving (And Thriving)

Are you a person who is striving to thrive in your environment?

Are you one who wonders how and if you are actually doing a good job in your creative life? Do you know what it takes to thrive in your own creative level or situation?  If you have creative goals and are striving to obtain them, it is more likely that you will have milestone successes and can relate to the reward of thriving in your field.  Does your current creative journey give you satisfaction and joy?  If it is not are you taking steps to get you to the point of thrill? I feel that I am striving everyday to perfect a technique, try something new, or maintain a productive status.  Thriving in both my art and business is among my most general and continual efforts.  Whenever I am given the chance to express and provide art and help another side step and overcome ordinary, I know I have just experienced a slice of “mission accomplish”.  I am doing what I have set out to do each and every time I create Art That Sets You Apart! Learn to evolve.

I Am In It With All My Heart

Are you dedicated to your creative tasks?

Being a creative person calls upon the inner strengths. Are you the type of person who can stay focused from start to finish of a project? Are you dedicated to the progression of your art or craft?  Your productivity depends upon your work ethic and dedication.  My personal mantra: Be Creative Everyday reminds me that I am “in it with all my heart”. I own the idea that I can express myself through art every day in some fashion or form. Past, present and future are all markers of time that has or will show me that I am indeed involved with creativity with all my heart.

This notion of knowing that I have my heart involved with my work helps me shape creative efforts in my workspace: Club Creative Studio.  On many levels, the past has been a part of this creative growth.  Love of art and hands-on creativity has proved to be a creative outlet for me. In experimentation and creative growth, the experiences of the past have taught me to use those events as background starting points of prior knowledge and skills. Your art may feel like a thing of the past but, it is what also helps propel you into your present art and your future creativity.

In present-time, knowing that I place my heart and soul into creating art gives others the opportunity to see what the creative spirit can offer and share.  In future-times, maintaining the drive and personal attachments of art created proves that an artist does put their personality and a bit of themselves in all creative tasks, resulting in expressive, personal and unique creative endeavors.

Caring And Sharing

I would love for you to visit the Club Creative Studio website to see for yourself how I am creative everyday. 

http://clubcreativestudio.com

I care about you and your creative processes.  I am also happily sharing art and information about Club Creative Studio on the Facebook page.

Please join us there and consider clicking the “like” to enjoy sneak peeks of hand-made art and gain inspiration, learning about creativity.

http://www.facebook.com/clubcreativestudio