30 Days of Creativity - round-up

So, after a month of creativity, what have I learnt?

To answer that question, I popped back to my initial post about the challenge.

The 30DoC website used this statement: "Your brain is like a muscle. When you exercise it, it gets stronger." 

I have found this to be true in some unexpected ways. By pushing myself to create something new each day, I have been inundated with new ideas at other times. Although thinking up the task itself was sometimes very challenging, I have had several ideas for a range of Christmas items. When I turned my attention to menu planning for the month, I found that combinations and meal ideas came more easily than normal. With my focus on ways to save money this month, I compiled a huge list of things that we could try. 

This month has reminded me that, although craft is creative, creativity is not synonymous with craft. Creativity is a way of thinking that leads to new ideas in any area. Creativity adds flair and individuality to arts and crafts; it inspires business choices; it helps us play our sports better. It allows us to plan, problem solve and think outside the box. And the best thing? It can be applied to any task: no matter how small.

On a personal note, I have tried a few things this month that I've been meaning to attempt for ages. The hemp bracelets and the time spent experimenting with Paint.net were well worth the time spent on the process. 

I have also found that I enjoy the creative process. Making something for the second time is never quite the same, even with improvements and the chance of a more 'perfect' product. 

I have learned that I struggle to deal with mistakes and need to work on that. 

I have been reminded that creativity takes time and must be allowed time. It can't be rushed, forced or directed. If you think "I don't have time" then you will be proved right. Yet when you allow yourself to become totally absorbed in the process, time seems to stretch to suit the task.

And what about the impact on the stash? 

Well... 

I think that is best described as minimal...

It would seem that my creativity prefers fresh sheets of felt, empty notebooks and clean pieces of paper...

I haven't touched the beads, fat quarters, 1in strips, ribbons, sequins or buttons. I have used up perhaps a fifth of the wax I have saved from dead candles. And the box of felt scraps is almost as full as ever. They will be there for when inspiration next strikes.

I will be keeping up with the creativity - not every day perhaps but I think it is something that I would like to develop further. I'll keep you posted...

If you would like to see what other people have been working on, visit the Createstuff Pinterest pages.

30 Days of Creativity - Days 27 to 30

July is here and my month of creativity is over! Not that I will stop being creative, of course!

We have been tidying this week and, after all the paperwork sorting, have "created" a bin bag full of shredded paper and several carrier bags full of junk mail waiting for the next recycling collection. 

I was going to ask if anyone had any bright ideas for using up this pile of 'rubbish' but decided that I don't need another hobby just yet! 

Maybe we should just get a hamster...

Anyway, here's a round up for the last few days.

Day 27 - I made a mixed pair of Liberty fabric covered hairclips for a returning customer with the fabrics she chose...

...they seem to have gone down well.

Day 28 - On Thursday, I had another dip into the box of felt scraps and made some felt hairclips in a different style.

Day 29 - On Friday, I got a delivery of new bits and pieces including some mobile tops.

So I decided to make a few sketches of ideas for using them. 

Will have to get on with making a few of them now!

Day 30 - I decided it was time to do something with an ice-cream-tub-ful of candle leftovers that have been driving my other half nuts for months! I just can't bear to throw away the remains of candles, especially when it seems that more than half of the wax is left once the wick has burned through the middle.

So this week I finally bought some wicks ready to make new candles. 

I spent a happy few hours melting some of the candle pieces and pouring the wax into some empty candle holders. The resulting candles are not very beautiful (the inevitable result of mixing wax of different colours!) but I am quite happy with them.

Next time I will try and keep the colours seperate. I have a large bag of yellow wax and lots of blue still to use, so the resulting candles should be a little more attractive.

This has turned into quite a long post! I shall leave what I have learned from my week of creativity for another post.

30 Days of Creativity - Days 18 to 26!

Eek! Where has the last week gone!?!

This isn't going to sound like a very impressive list for the past 8 days. I have to admit to not being quite as creative as I would have liked this week. I've been a bit all over the place, to be honest, and am only just managing to get myself back on track. 

I've been pretty busy, don't get me wrong. Unfortunately, I don't think I can count the hours spent putting together an order from a craft wholesaler (catalogues are dangerous things...). Nor can I count the time spent on paperwork/budget reorganising/filing. 

I took a visit to Woodstock, on Thursday last week, with my sister. Woodstock is an historic town in Oxfordshire, probably most famous for Blenheim Palace. We didn't go into the palace itself, just had lunch and a wander around the town (between showers). There was a huge amount of very attractive iron-work on display on houses and other buildings.

 

 

I love the symmetry and grace that has been given to this robust material. On Friday, I had a go at drawing some of these swirling patterns. I am trying to draw with confidence: drawing the lines in one movement rather than in sketchy, short lines. I don't find this easy. Although it is much easier when drawing geometric patterns. 

I'd like to have a go at stitching some of these patterns soon.

Later on Friday, an order came in for 2 personalised elephants so that dictated the direction of my creativity for the weekend! I finished them on Sunday night, ready to photographed and shipped on Monday morning. They are to be well done gifts for finishing exams. 

There is one more photo, which shows the embroidered names, but I'll leave that one off until I know they have been received - just in case it spoils the surprise!

I think that's about it for this week - unless I suddenly remember something I have forgotten to show you. Only another four days to go so I think it's time for a final push towards the finish line!

30 Days of Creativity - Days 16 and 17

As you may have noticed, I didn't get the bear finished on Friday. Or yesterday either, if I'm honest.

The setback of the wrong joints completely put me off the whole idea. I hate making mistakes. It irritates me beyond measure. I don't mind mistakes that happen while I'm learning something new - those are a natural part of the learning process. But mistakes that happen because I wasn't concentrating, was trying to rush or simply wasn't in the right frame of mind infuriate me. 

I knew it would be a little while before I could face working on the bear again.

So I spent Saturday procrastinating instead. 

In a creative way of course!

I made bread: a loaf and some rolls. Our bread machine is broken so I made it by hand - more labour intensive but just as tasty. I made some oat and raisin cupcakes. I made some paneer (indian cheese) and a spinach curry to put it in. I omitted to take photos of any of these creations before eating the loaf; filling and freezing the rolls; freezing the cakes; and eating the curry!

And I made a gingerbread man. I have plenty of time to photograph him, since he is inedible. 

I have plans for this little fellow, but more of that in another post.

Today I determined to overcome the annoyance and frustration and forced myself back to complete the bear. Grudgingly, I restuffed the limbs and closed the turning/stuffing holes. Feeling slightly less grumpy, I attached the limbs to the body and tightened the joints. I stuffed the body with only a few muttered comments and closed the final seam. 

At this point I confess to breathing a sigh of relief and started to put the whole sorry experience behind me.

Ears, eyes and nose followed quickly after that change in attitude and, after a good brush, the little chap was ready for his photo shoot. 

And here he is...

 ... I say "he" because they usually are, but I can't quite make up my mind.

I am sooooo glad this bear is finished and none the worse for the traumatic joint experience. 

I will have to make sure I take my time and concentrate properly on the next one.

What do you do when a project goes wrong? Do you find it easy to just unpick and carry on?

30 Days of Creativity - Day 8

A super quick post today. Today I challenged myself to a spot of crochet. I'm a relatively new crochet fan (completely self taught from online tutorials!) and I am always looking to expand my skills.

So I decided I'd have a go at a pattern I've wanted to try for ages. Only problem with this particular pattern is that it's in French. Mum bought me this book a little while ago...

... and I've been wanting to attempt this pattern in particular...

...Irish rose buttons.

 Here is the finished article...

Front view

Back view

As you can see, it's not on a button. Reading the pattern in French beat me. I got the tension wrong so it's come out bigger than planned. I had to unpick and re-make several times before reaching this point. I just could not work out how to turn and do the reverse (which would have held it to a button). 

So I am left with a crocheted Irish rose. It's quite pretty though and I'm glad it's finished! 

 

(And before anyone asks, yes, I do know this book is available in English!)

See what everyone else has achieved here.

30 Days of Creativity - Day 7

Just a quick post today. I am so busy with getting ready for CraftFest and with a custom order that has just come in. It leaves very little time for even small creative projects!

A little while ago, I ordered some of the plastic make-your-own buttons thinking that they would be nice covered with Liberty Fabric or a simple embroidery. As is often the way with me, they have sat forlornly in a box ever since. Yesterday, in search of a quick, simple project I thought I'd do a few practice buttons and see if it was worth having a proper go at. 

 

Here are the finished articles.

Couched embroidery cotton

Lazy-daisy stitch embroidery

Liberty fabric covered

Check out everyone else's work here.

30 Days of Creativity - Day 4

Day 4 is here and almost gone. I have been out and about this lovely bank holiday Monday. 

The weather has been much better than  it was yesterday - but that wouldn't be hard! Everything looks green and fresh in the sunshine after the rain.

Today, I have been visiting my OH's family and wandering in their ever changing garden with camera in hand. 

There are some lovely flowers in bloom...

For my creativity challenge, I decided it was time for some experimentation with a photo editor. I have been using Paint.NET for a while (mainly to add watermarks to photos) but knew I had not even touched the surface of its capabilities. I have been promising to spend some time on this for ages but there have always been more pressing things to do!

Rose - radial blur

Periwinkle - Brightness/Contrast

Lupin - Hue/Saturation

Saxifrage - Emboss

Pink - Polar Inversion

Chive - Pencil Sketch

I'm not sure how I will make use of these techniques in the future but I have had fun and that's what 30DoC is all about, after all.