Creativity – it’s catching!

Creativity – it’s catching!

Hi there.

Thanks for popping in

Been playing and prepping with Paul all day today. Getting all fired up about the HOCHANDA weekend launches.

I enjoyed the break, of course we did – and we needed one too – but I am loving getting back in the creative saddle again.

All the ideas which were surfacing and simmering while we were away have to come out!

Creativity. It’s in all of us I think. Especially when we’re young, and before they wipe it out, eradicate it, and replace it with life enhancing skills, like algebra and geometry. Yeah, right.

That’s why so many of us craft, I think. We still have it in us to be creative, artistic.

I get a real inner sense of joy when I am being creative, don’t you?

It’s like a calmness which wraps itself around me, and I can stay there for hours and hours. Whether I’m making a card with stamps, or a canvas with paint; whether I’m in the groove with parchment, or  sewing a cushion – yes, I do like to sew and embroider, too! The time goes by and I know not where, but suddenly it’s dark, and I am still lost in art, craft – whatever label you choose to give it.

I think that often we compare ourselves to others, and that’s where the rot sets in. But you can’t compare yourself  with Linda or Lucy. Linda does what Linda does, Lucy does what Lucy does. You do you and I do me. If I start the comparing game, I start feeding a little demon in my head, who wants me to NOT be creative, who wants me to doubt my ability.

Chances are we even marry somebody who’s best mates with that demon, and by the time they have both worked on your confidence for 20 years, you daren’t even hang a picture, let alone paint one, for fear of getting it wrong. I was married to somebody once, who humoured me at best. Like a kind of pat on the head when I created something. Patronizing I think the word is. It crippled me for years.

But that little kid within us is still there, you know. I was watching our dear friend Leonie on telly today. Now there’s a creative soul who’s not afraid to have a go, skip and trip down the arty path and see where it leads her. I noticed as I was watching her dive in and play, that she kept squealing with delight. And it reminded me of that inner child, just rolling up her sleeves and going for it. Fabulous, and very contagious.

 

I read a beautiful little anecdote recently, which I would like to share with you.

A young child was drawing a picture.

“What are you drawing?” asked the teacher,

“God.” replied the child.

“Nobody knows what God looks like.” said the teacher.

“You will when I’m finished!” responded the child.

 

Time to call it a day for today. The jetlag is a monkey this time.

 

Love & Hugs,

Barb

xxx

30 thoughts on “Creativity – it’s catching!

  1. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Leonie today. She is such an inspiration and its lovely to see hoe much she enjoys her work. She certainly has made me look at my stencils in a different way (including the ones which are in the post
    on their way to me!) Can’t wait for them to arrive so I can have a play and maybe channel my inner child 🙂
    Gayle x

  2. I am so glad you are back and enjoying getting back on the bike. Am so looking forward to the shows at the weekend but not sure my bank manager will be quite as excited as me!!! Lol xxx

  3. Lovely to have you back and that you are enjoying the beautiful craft we all love as well. Fred is very supportive of my crafting, whatever I make. must get Leonie’s programme on catch up, I have been busy today blitzing my craft space. Very tidy now , not sure it will last. xx

  4. Hi Barb – yes crafting and creating is such a big part of me too. Started off sewing and making and encouraged my daughter to do the same. She too has a love of crafting and I have been a big part in that and I love to see what she now produces. She is encouraging her 2 boys in the joys of making – be it baking, drawing or making.
    Really looking forward to all of the new products at the weekend and beyond, I have just been looking and laughing at the comments on Facebook regarding the release of the new Clarity Dies! We are all doomed to be penniless haha! Love and hugs, Gilly xxx

    1. Hi bloggy friends – a much nicer day here today. I hope that you have been saving your pennies – yes, not just you Alison!
      Donna – where did we put those cushions!
      Love and hugs to you all, Gilly xxx

      1. Haaa, haaaa, Gilly I put my cushions into a locked cupboard so I would be good…..needless to say I’m now picking the lock so I get them strapped on ready! Xx

        1. Hi Gilly,
          How can I save my pennies when there are such good bargains to have, new stamps, plates, iibooks and now to top it off new dies!!! Donna can I borrow your cushions!!! Dave has just informed me that as he has paid for the holiday next week ( a fortune!) I have to buy all of the drinks! I haven’t told him we’ll be on tap water for the three days!! Love and hugs, Alison xxx

  5. Just watched Leonie’s first show. Her joy in creating some artwork is infectious. I have also been creative most of my life although only got into papercraft in recent years. When I was a teaching assistant and helping the children with their art and mounting it up for display I always felt I wanted to do something but didn’t know quite what. When I finished work I discovered Create and and Craft and stamping and then parchment craft and then Clarity. I still do knitting and crochet but my hands are too sore to do much cross stitch. I crochet what my granddaughter calls circle blankets. She has two and plays picnics with her dolls and teddies and snuggles into them to watch TV. The rest go to charity shops. I’m also knitting baby blankets and bonding squares for the maternity hospital. It keeps me from falling asleep in front of the TV! xx

  6. You are so right and I wish that I had explored more craft in years gone by, but no point in regret and I aim to try as much as possible in the years ahead, whilst I am able.
    I was thrilled to get your e mail today, with news about the new dies, which look amazing. Die cutting was my original ‘thing’, until I discovered Groovi. I was never a stamper, but always admired your work and I think that it is great to provide the inspiration and tools for a variety of crafts, to suit different people. Also remembering that as well as an inspiration, you have a business to run! I cannot understand people who criticise you for not being a ‘purist’. You provide the inspiration and tools for a wide spectrum of crafters and work hard to support a life for yourself and your family. Well done and thank you. Annette X

  7. I am really happy tonight. Not because I enjoyed watching Leonie today, or because I had a lovely lunch out with a good friend, but because I succeeded at creating a groovi piece using my left hand (I am right handed), just a week after getting four pins put into my right shoulder. I struggled with some pain setting everything up, but it was worth it. The piece I have done isn’t the best ever, but I did do it, and it filled the creative gap that I have had since I fell.
    I totally agree that creativity is educated out of a lot of us; I thankfully come from a creative family, so was always encouraged to make and have continued that with our kids too!

    1. Oh well done Fiona! I bet you had a real sense of achievement and rightly so. Hope you’re not in too much pain and also that your hubby is making good progress. Love and hugs,Alison xx

  8. Evening, oooooo looks exciting can’t wait for the shows. I was secretly hoping for a paper cutting book, so I was kind of along the right lines! I think you are right about just being our own artists, crafters, makers, stampers, parchers, etc. I sometimes get hung up in the prickly area of feeling like my things are not as good as others, not worth posting on FB or sharing with people. Usually go back to pieces and then think they are not too bad after all. Love watching Leoni craft on Hochanda, a real natural talent. Xx

  9. I haven’t had a chance to Craft for a couple of weeks because of holiday and a busy lead up and I’m missing it. It was good to catch up on some reading on holiday though. I’m getting back into cross stitch too, just small cards. Looking forward to grooving again though ! Must catch up with Leonie later. X

  10. Evening bloggy friends, hope everyone has had a good Wednesday. Roll on the weekend to see the new stamps and dies!! Xx

    1. Hi Donna,
      I know what you mean about the “ hang up”, I feel just the same. It was a real ego boost for me last week to see my card on the blog and to read all of the lovely comments. I never think that mine are as good as other people’s. Looking forward to the weekend shows too. Love and hugs Alison xx

  11. Have to thank a much loved Aunty Peggy who taught me to knit, crochet and bake. The love of craft is still with me, and I try to learn a new skill each year, this year is getting to grips with stamping, along with all the other crafting I love. Crafting brings people together, young and old, may we all continue doing what we love. love and light, Donna

  12. Evening Barbara. You are right about how distracting crafting can be. I got all engrossed in some artwork today and when I looked it was almost 3pm! I will need to catch up on Leonie tomorrow!
    I also know what you mean about drawing comparison…. It breeds self doubt all the time! So I try not to but it’s so hard!
    However I do think that your crafty mojo is like a muscle…. If you don’t use it it wastes away but exercise it and it gets stronger. That’s my excuse for crafting everyday if I can!
    Really looking forward to the clarity weekend ahead! Lots of treats for everyone whatever crafting you enjoy!
    Love and hugs xxx

  13. I loved watching Leonie today ! She got me all fired up too! I was just saying that sometimes I have to create something totally random and messy to get rid of my crafty blockages! There is something in that spray weather it’s paint or ink that just gives you license to let go and see what happens!

  14. Hi Barb,
    I think my love of crafting was passed on to me by my Mam, she was a seamstress and was always making clothes, curtains, etc. She also taught me to knit and embroider – she did attempt to teach me tatting but that was too much for my brain to cope with! I used to do a lot of tapestry work and remember doing one of Henry VIII & his six wives on a blank canvas – it involved doing so many different types of stitches and looked so opulent and lovely when it was complete. It was framed and hung in my parents’ house until we had to sell it. I donated the tapestry to the home where my Mam spent her last days and they were delighted to have it. Now my time is spent knitting and of course Grooving ans stamping, but I feel that die cutting might just be popping back too! I love my crafting and my reading and can lose hours in a day doing both. So looking forward to seeing all of the goodies this weekend, but not too sure my back manager will be. Love and hugs Alison xxx

    1. Hi bloggy friends,
      Hope today has been as good as possible for you all. I think I need some therapy for my Clarity addiction! I’ve now got dies to tempt me as well!!! Love and hugs Alison xxx

  15. Hi Barbara and all, must catch up with Leonie been out all day lots of jobs to do.
    Looking forward to the weekend ,looks like lots of things to tempt us all.
    I love my craft even if I sometimes miss days as busy doing gardening act but will sit down at night and do my parchment .
    Glad you are both back Dave and sound.
    Take care all.
    Lynn xx

  16. Crafting is my ‘me’ time, whether it all goes well or goes in the bin! Love it and have crafted one way and another since I could hold a pencil or scissors. Indeed my first ‘foray’ into a kind of stamping was when my mam was clearing out some old embroidery transfers and I asked if I could have them… you’ve guessed it she helped me iron the designs onto card and I then proceeded to colour them in with my crayons…how’s that for initiative. Reckon I must have been around six or seven years old (possibly slightly younger) but that was my beginning into cardmaking. Trying to be good but feel that Tina’s new books may just have to head my way this weekend! Right off now for an early’ish’ night as have to drive down to North Wales in the morning, then driving back again in the evening so going to be a long day but it must be done. xx

  17. Like bed watching Leonie this morning and pm fantastic work she does she does it so easy just flows I agree it’s the inner child when we let the child out in use allow creativity to flow we do better work some tomes I think to hard and loss the flow had one of those days today. Tomorrow is a new day so hopefully will be better. Looks bing lots ok of the dies coming out 😍😍 hugs xxx

  18. I couldn’t live without doing something creative but unfortunately my time to craft is usually when I should be in bed, as I am a true night owl. I watched Leonie today and she is so enthusiastic and will give everything a try, and I wish I could be more like that. I do too much thinking instead of just getting stuck in. It was great to see that Clarity was the order of the day with some wonderful stencils and canvases too. Looking forward to your shows at the weekend. x

  19. Hello Barb, never a truer word said. Creativity is a medicine for the mind and soul. Like you I can get lost for hours, and sometimes even forget to start dinner. Leonie’s attitude is infectious, just have a play. Looking forward to the shows, as I have seen the sneak peeks. Take care all. Bx

  20. Oh Barbara, how do you .know what I am thinking, then to find the reason and to go on to provide the answer. Thank you.

  21. Hi Barb,
    Was not planning to spend much this month but you’ve done it again! Looks like I will be spending with Clarity instead of buying a new outfit. I know the feeling of regularly being told I was useless and having my work belittled. Eventually I had enough and left the parental home, bought a house, and thrived. Then I found a wonderful man who gives me lots of encouragement and fills me with love and laughter. We all need to be ourselves and enjoy our lives. Love the anecdote-he’s a great kid.

  22. Hi Barbara
    Sorry I’ve been missing the last couple of days but it’s been all go here. Wow oh wow love the new stamps and oh you’ve got dies coming too, it’s a good thing it’s my birthday this month. I’m so lucky to have a crafty husband who likes making things too, I know life could have been very different. I hope the jet lag is starting to subside, mind you enthusiasm and adrenaline are probably keeping you going. Looking forward to seeing the shows, I think I might need to rest my arm at strategic times throughout the weekend haha.
    Love Diane xxx

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