Procrastinate for creativity

I have discovered that procrastinating is my time for finding INSPIRED photos of oddity and interest.
I would go so far as to say that during times of dormant creativity all I need to do is be set a task that I don’t really want to do, but has a deadline attached to it and ‘/ping/’ I am suddenly inspired to do all manner of creative things other than the task at hand.
I have started to keep a notebook to hand in work, for the ideas that pop up, out of a rebellious brain…..

So without further ado, I introduce you to  the fruits of my procrastination – A selection of hats:
First up is a fabulous and frivolous man hat:

followed by his friends with their strictly-no-kissing hats:

And lastly a hat and a weapon for the modern miss about town:

All images found here: http://www.retronaut.co/2011/04/historic-wtf-part-2/

Missing, Creativity. Last seen…

The last two posts from my sister were about her sleeping creativity.

I read them, and breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t only me!

Image source – unknown

How much of the worry and anxiety we face in life would be alleviated by realising that another, if not ALOT of others were going through exactly the same, or similar emotions as we were.  Today I listened to two girlfriends talking about fear, and during the conversation they realised that they were both experiencing the same emotions, on the same topic.  Although neither actually “sorted out” the issue for the other, I noticed that both were visibly lightened after the realisation.

So having avoided my poor blog for the last week, I sat down feeling empty and thought I would attempt another ‘I have nothing much to offer you right now’ posts…and I was greeted with two posts on the same problem as mine!

I no longer feel exhausted.

I no longer feel empty.  I have spent the past couple of weeks painfully sketching in a visual diary, but apart from that feeling as though my creativity had fled me….NEVER to return. (I’m such a drama queen!)

Now I feel as though I still may not have huge inspiration or offer as much as I would like, but it will come back.

I found a couple of quotes that make me feel more assured;

“I haven’t a clue as to how my story will end. But that’s all right. When you set out on a journey and night covers the road, that’s when you discover the stars” – Nancy Willard

”You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” — Rabindranath Tagore.

Now. Stop panicking. Stop catastrophizing. Stop eating that giant bar of chocolate and reach for some paper.

Write these words — slowly.

• I am still creative
• I still have the ability to create
• I will create again

Put them in front of you.  Read them.  Read them until you feel them.

Read them out loud.  Keep repeating the words until you feel the conviction.

Do this every day when you feel stifled, or you feel your creativity has fled you.

Remember these three things, repeat them until you feel them, and you will start to relax. The more you relax, the sooner your creativity and inspiration will return.

And in the meantime…JUST DO IT. (As I,  AND Adidas said!) It doesn’t have to be good, or even interesting.

Keep DOING…it really matters not what you do, as long as you do something!

Now go forth and capture, or draw, or cut, or paint, or play, or dance or sew…

ENJOY!!! ♥

How to make a calendula infusion

I really like this post on how to make a calendula infusion: CALENDULA.

It has been hacking down all day and I have been thinking about what to plant this year…

I’d like a whole bed of marigolds in the raised bed….in and around the non functioning raspberry cane. It knows if it doesn’t kick into action this year, it’s OUT!

I’ve been thinking about my snoozing creativity and where it leaves me…..

I found this quote (here) by Ira Glass on creativity really dinged a bell in my brain:

“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not.

But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story.

It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

….so listening to these very sensible words, I sat down and made something….and I will again tomorrow….and maybe that will coax the sleeping bear out of its cave…..

How To Steal Like An Artist

Just finished reading a brilliant post on art and creativity by Austin Kleon, an artist and writer from Austin, Texas.

How To Steal Like An Artist (And 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me) – Austin Kleon.

READ IT!  It’s oddly inspiring!

Enjoy! ♥