Finding inspiration for your designs

Inspiration is all around you. Today it came via the USPS. I got this book from the Ukraine: which is a wonderful smorgasbord of crochet delight. There are no patterns for the clothes. They are just there to show how you can use the motifs and stitch patterns in the book. And even though it …

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Chipping away the chip on my shoulder

A couple of years ago I started taking the steps to turn my life around. I spent a lot of my life thinking something was wrong with me. When you have that kind of mind set it’s hard to find any kind of peace. It’s a constant struggle to prove (and “improve”) yourself and get …

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Scarf into Dress

My new post for Handmaker’s Factory is up. I turned an ordinary scarf into a one of a kind summer dress.

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Finding the Good in the Bad and the Ugly

Life has a wonderful way of reminding us that we are not perfect. These little lessons usually aren’t pleasant or easy. I had a close encounter of the “I’m only human” kind just last week. It was Friday and I was in a good mood. Did I mention it was Friday? We can wear jeans …

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Ask the Right Questions

The Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching (KMCC) model is all about enjoying the process and following the non-linear path of the creative journey. When you focus on a goal (i.e. write a novel) at the end all you have is a product. When you focus on the process (be a writer) you end up creating a …

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Finding inspiration for your designsChipping away the chip on my shoulderScarf into DressFinding the Good in the Bad and the UglyAsk the Right Questions

Apr 27

Finding inspiration for your designs

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The Creative Life

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Inspiration is all around you.

Today it came via the USPS. I got this book from the Ukraine:

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which is a wonderful smorgasbord of crochet delight. There are no patterns for the clothes. They are just there to show how you can use the motifs and stitch patterns in the book. And even though it is in Russian, there are diagrams and clear pictures so that anyone with a basic knowledge of crochet could figure it out. I already have several of these magazines and each one has more than enough inspiration to last a lifetime.

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Stamps from the Ukraine – inspiration all on their own

I also get a kick out of the stamps, which are often charming and inspiration in their own right.

The second book I got was from Japan. A quick glance through the book and I’ve already found motifs for several projects I’ve had dancing around in my head.

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But the wonderful thing is that inspiration is often in the unlikeliest places. I was waiting for a friend and noticed this fence. I’ve seen this fence a lot but this was the first time that I really noticed it. Maybe because I had been pondering crochet patterns and how I could mix and match motifs, stitch patterns and edgings. This time when I looked at the fence, I saw my pattern, except it was upside down. The top of the fence will be the bottom of my garment. The circles will be motifs and the vertical bars could be a lace insert or a cable or some other textured stitch pattern while the empty space would be a double or treble crochet.

Look around – what’s right in front of you that could be inspiration?

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Can you see the crochet pattern in this fence?

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Apr 25

Chipping away the chip on my shoulder

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Coaching

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chiselA couple of years ago I started taking the steps to turn my life around. I spent a lot of my life thinking something was wrong with me. When you have that kind of mind set it’s hard to find any kind of peace. It’s a constant struggle to prove (and “improve”) yourself and get other people’s approval to validate yourself. You end up in a vicious cycle and ultimately failing, which left me drained. I was drained of any type of satisfaction, joy, contentment or peace. I went from the highs of “you can do this” or “they like me” to the lows of “what’s wrong with me” or the bitterness of “I’ll show them”. It affected not only me but also all of my relationships because I was in a constant state of judgment – judging myself and others. Life was a battle and there were only winners and losers.

Finally, one day I had a revelation. There was nothing wrong with me.

From that moment on, my whole life opened up to me. I wasted so much time trying to get other people’s approval and trying to fit in that I gave little consideration to who I was – my values and beliefs.

When I had my epiphany, the weight just lifted off of my shoulders. It wasn’t about “fixing” me, it was about honoring me. I had been trapped in a mindset that believed I needed external validation to be whole, worthy or valuable. It also bred a “me or them” type of mentality. Black or white, right or wrong, me or them. It eliminated possibilities and limited options. Hard to move forward or find joy with that belief.

Once I accepted myself as is, warts and all, (and trust me, I’m still working on this), I started tuning in to how I operate, becoming more sensitive to how I felt, how I processed information, what came easy to me and what I valued. I steam rolled over my feelings a lot in the past. If something made me uncomfortable, I buried it or became defensive and overly sensitive. Or if I was scared, I’d just quit, usually under the guise of “losing interest.” I let myself be driven and controlled by outer circumstances rather than my values and using my intuition as a guide.

These days, if I feel scared, angry or hurt, I step back and try to figure out the thought behind it. I have found that when I have these feelings, it’s usually because I am trying to prove something, exert some kind of control over someone, or convince them that they are wrong and I am right.  Then I ask if this thought is serving me. If it flares up combative or defensive feelings then it’s probably not. Once I become aware and reframe my thoughts to allow for different perspectives and possibilities, I suspend judgment and lean into my vulnerability, opening up communication and options. Sometimes it’s just reminding myself to be flexible and that in the grand scheme of things, “this” doesn’t matter. It’s amazing how often this is the case.

Sometimes the line has truly been crossed and it is even more vital to be level-headed and not jump to conclusions so that real communication can happen, a solution or compromise can be made and you can move forward.

The bottom line is that once I decided my core values and started using them as guiding principles for living my life, once I looked inward, I found myself moving more freely in my world. I am more compassionate towards myself and my imperfect human-ness. It’s no longer a contest of who’s better or right. It’s about focusing on what’s working, how I can be better, what I have learned, how I can be part of the solution rather than the problem – moving forward, instead of beating myself up which leads to a dead end.

Once I changed how I relate to myself, it’s changed how everyone relates to me. Life’s not perfect, I’m not perfect but letting go of judgment and criticism opens up a whole lot of space for kindness and compassion. And I’ve been able to experience true peace.

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Apr 23

Scarf into Dress

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Refashioning

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Irish Crochet scarf dress

Irish Crochet scarf dress

My new post for Handmaker’s Factory is up. I turned an ordinary scarf into a one of a kind summer dress.

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Apr 20

Finding the Good in the Bad and the Ugly

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Coaching

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Life has a wonderful way of reminding us that we are not perfect. These little lessons usually aren’t pleasant or easy. I had a close encounter of the “I’m only human” kind just last week.

It was Friday and I was in a good mood. Did I mention it was Friday? We can wear jeans on Friday. I don’t know why that makes such a difference, but it does. When I arrived at my day job, I fired up my computer, as usual, to check my email. I was greeted by a vague email from an unhappy customer. I say vague because this person was apparently upset enough to air her complaints in a public forum yet she never gave me any indication that anything was wrong and her email didn’t indicate what the problem was either.  Just that she hoped I gave more thought before I put someone else through what I put her through.

This post isn’t so much about my mistake (I dropped the ball on my final follow up) or how I handled it (own my mistakes and sincerely apologize) but how I emotionally processed it.

Our thoughts are powerful and can either build us up or tear us down. They can paralyze us or help us move forward. My initial reaction was the typical butterflies in the stomach variety and I automatically became defensive. But I stepped back. I gathered up the facts as I knew them. For the most part, I couldn’t find anything that, from MY perspective, would be worthy of such an extreme measure. I was honest and upfront about the process, I got touched base when I said I would. I was appreciative of her patience and was friendly when I met her.  But if there is one thing I learned it’s that perception varies greatly from one person to another.

That was lesson number one:  check in. Whether you are dealing with a spouse, child, friend, co-worker or customer, check in every once in awhile with that person. I assumed everything was OK and I never bothered to get that verified. Just because no one is telling you something is wrong doesn’t mean that everything is right.

After reading the email, my brain quickly supplied me with all sorts of excuses but I quickly chose vulnerability over defensiveness. Defensiveness is a natural instinct. Our primitive (emotional) brain perceives a threat and it goes into self-preservation mode which will override our cognitive (thinking) brain. Unfortunately, all this really does is drag things out – the stress, the negative inner critic, the bad feelings. Vulnerability is not about being weak, it’s about taking responsibility and owning up to your actions and that’s lesson number two. No matter how right I think I did everything, I did  failed to make a final follow up call. I could make excuses but they serve no healthy purpose so I fessed up. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing fun about telling your boss about your mistakes, but once you own them, they no longer have a hold on you. “I did this, I’m sorry, what can I do to make it right?” It diffuses a lot of the emotion, yours and the person you wronged, so you can concentrate on the important part – coming up with a solution, making amends, learning your lesson, whatever it may be.

I still don’t know what I did wrong, my phone calls have never been returned nor has my letter of apology been acknowledged. I can only speculate at this point,  I did reach out. But I’m not obsessing over it. It’s not because I don’t care, I do. It’s because I can’t control other people’s thoughts and actions. I’m only human, I make mistakes and the best I can hope for is the benefit of the doubt and a chance to make it right. It’s a huge change from how I would have processed this situation in the past. A much healthier change.

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Apr 18

Ask the Right Questions

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Coaching

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The Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching (KMCC) model is all about enjoying the process and following the non-linear path of the creative journey. When you focus on a goal (i.e. write a novel) at the end all you have is a product. When you focus on the process (be a writer) you end up creating a life. Goals can give you tunnel vision whereas being open to the process allows for creative detours and exploration. Focusing on the process takes into consideration that there are many different ways to get from point A to point Z.

All the “experts” preach goal setting (although I did just read somewhere that the famous study that followed college graduates, tracking the success of those who did and did not set goals, was a fake). For years I blindly followed that and other “expert” advice. I set goals and rushed through trying to achieve them only to become blocked and scared so I would retreat back into the safety of my comfort zone. Then the cycle of blame, shame and self-loathing would begin.

We get so caught up in our habits of thought that we never question their validity. I would berate myself – “What’s wrong with ME?” (Why did I even jump to that conclusion?) First of all, that line of questioning is NEVER productive. Our brains love questions and will do its best to come up with an answer. With a question like that, the only answer can be that you are somehow flawed. Not helpful. No wonder I was stopped dead in my tracks.

Second, it assumes that there is only one way to do something and since I didn’t seem to be able to do it that way, it was my fault and it left me with no other options. The question that I needed to be asking myself was “Is this the right method for me?” or “Is there another way I can go about this?” These questions open the door to possibility and leave my self-esteem intact. The right question will help move you forward.

Pursuing your dreams isn’t easy to begin with and so many of us make it even harder because we never challenge our assumptions and thought patterns, all of which are totally under our control to change. Change starts with awareness and you can ask yourself if that belief /thought/assumption is serving you. If not, how could you reframe it so that it does? What question can you ask yourself that will invite options instead of build walls?

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Apr 10

Profiles of Creativity – Susan Seitz

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Profiles of Creativity

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Susan_600pixI’d like to introduce you to Susan Seitz. I met Susan in my Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach class. In class, we were paired off so that we could each practice coaching and Susan was my coach. Susan has such a joyful spirit – she constantly brought a smile to my face. Her answers give you a glimpse into her jubilant personality. Enjoy!

How do you define creativity?

An expressive moment in time ~ where you get to witness and experience a transformation and share it with yourself and/or the World.

Do you think you’re born with it or can it be taught?

In my humble opinion:  Creativity is found in our DNA.  I’m pretty sure if we were to invent a microscope that could look closer into our DNA, we would find little tiny paintings filled with magical swirls of the rainbow.  How do I know this?  My creativity just told me so … and she never lies!

What is your favorite medium to express your creativity and why?

I’m smiling.  One … because I really don’t have favorites, I love them all, two … if I thought I had a favorite, it would be changing in the exact moment I thought it, three … refer to number one.  Currently working in acrylics, but love photography, watercolors, writing, dancing and singing … although dancing and singing in the super market with my children is never favorable!

What other ways do you like to express your creativity?

Every way possible … writing, speaking, playing, dancing, the way I look at the world, the way I view life internally, in conversation … every moment I can express creatively, is a gift to self.

What are you working on now?

Answering this questionnaire … it’s very entertaining!  I’m also working on some new paintings for an art show coming up in May, marketing for my Creativity Coaching, marketing for my summer workshops, and art camps, planning for new shows this year, website awareness, graphics for new business cards & posters … it is endless Fun!!!

Summer Joy by Susan Seitz

Summer Joy by Susan Seitz

Are you self taught or do you have formal training?

Don’t get me started!!!  LOL … Well … since I believe creativity is found in our DNA, I believe we can do whatever it is our soul desires … as long as you believe.  So I just pick up the paint brush … and paint.  I just pick up my camera … and take a picture; I just listen to the words in my head and type.  I create for me.  It’s really cool that others enjoy my work, but everything I create is for me and from me.  Therefore, no training needed.  And yes, along the way, I observed other artists, attended workshops, read books, watched videos and inhaled galleries ~ none of which I wore a tuxedo too!

Any pivotal moments in your creative journey?

Each and every day I experience one.  Each and every day I am in awe of how life unfolds in ways that are sometimes undesirable and somehow, I understand that it’s because of these moments that my creativity is fueled for another day.  On the flow side to ebb, there is much to be grateful for.  And it is in these moments that encourage and support and fill my wellspring with “ah yes, I am exactly where I need to be!”  These moments, each and every day ARE pivotal for me … as I embrace the process and experience my journey … one day at a time.

Did/do you have any mentors?

As much as great artists have influence my work, my most favorite is working with children.  They have such a gift to share … the ability to be free in their moment of creation ~ without judgment, without hesitation … a pure sense of Joy can be felt and witnessed when a young child adds color to paper.  They teach me so much.

How would you describe your creative process?

Along the Line by Susan Seitz

Along the Line by Susan Seitz

Standing naked in a meadow, on top of a hill, surrounded by a mixed forest filled with sounds that sooth the soul, smells that enhance the mind, tastes that entice the lips, sights that inspire the spirit and touch that reminds me of who and where I am … in this moment … the dance of all my being, ever present ~ without judgment ~ without expectations … unfolds … one small brush stroke at a time.  When I am in this space with my process … great things unfold as magical wonder!

What’s your favorite part and why?

I’m smiling … again!  Every part is my favorite … without each and every step … it wouldn’t be whole.

What is your least favorite part?

I am in Love with every morsel of it.  Seriously.  Without the perceived struggles, I wouldn’t experience the perceived highs.  It’s all a part of the dance and feels complete with all the twists and turns and twirlybirds.

How do you get through a block?

I walk up to it.  Introduce myself ~ and walk straight through.  The introductory part has a variety of lengths, depending of the block and the stage … but sure enough, as the path I leave behind me can contest … I eventually walk straight through.  I have found, it’s the only way to get to the other side.

Do you work on one thing at a time or do you have several projects going at once?

Oh most definitely working on several pieces at once.  And sometimes … on rare occasions … I will even eat a piece of cake at the same time!

Where do you look for ideas/inspiration?

Where ever my eyes take me … nature, mother earth, dust bunnies … they all have a little something to share in the creative process.  I just have to open my eyes and allow the journey to begin.

Oh to be Rooted by Susan Seitz

Oh to be Rooted by Susan Seitz

How do you celebrate the completion of a project (or the start of a project)?

The completion IS the celebration ~ the start IS the celebration ~ and all the inbetweenies.  To be in a creative moment in any given time IS the celebration.  Be with the moment … be with the process and inhale all that that moment has to offer … celebrating moment by moment is what this creative journey is all about.

How do you handle criticism and judgment?

I create a sound proof wall with a little peep window that has a sign hanging outside “Do Not Enter”.  The window is so I can stick my tongue at the “outside judgment world” once in a while … why?  Cause it’s a very cool, naughty creative thing to do!

What are your future plans?

I’m not the planning type … but I have this enormous intuitive ability that senses there is something really super duper juicyfruit explosively exciting waiting around the next field of daisy’s … I’m tempted to run to catch up to it … but then my creative soul reminds me of this moment that I am in … and all that really matters is now … and that in itself is very juicyfruit delicious!

Anything else you would like to add to the conversation?

Yes.  When you feel like life is getting you down, or you don’t know which way to turn.  Or things are thrown at you in such a way that you just can’t tuck and roll anymore.  Take a moment, and look inside.  There is a little voice that has been whispering … and sometimes we just have to be in silent in order to hear her magic.  We are all creative beings … it just might be your day to make a change ~ a creative change.  That is what I did.  That is how it all began for me.

You can find out more about Susan at www.susanseitz.ca

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Mar 28

Tips for Success

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Coaching

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I read this article over at the Harvard Business Review blog. It’s a good article although I am not a “goal” pusher. I prefer setting intentions rather than goals, but that’s a discussion I’ll save for another post. The one thing that did resonate with me was:

“Focus on getting better, rather than being good”

The short version of this is figure out how you can improve rather than trying to prove yourself.

Haven’t we all been caught up in this trap? I know I have.

To quote the author, Heidi Grant Halvorson:

“Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality and our physical attributes are fixed – that no matter what we do, we won’t improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.

Fortunately, decades of research suggest that the belief in fixed ability is completely wrong – abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable.

…People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.”

It’s a fact of life that you get what you focus on. When you are focused on trying to prove that you are good enough, what kind of mindset does that put you in? It is outer directed. Who determines that you are good? It could change by the minute, depending on who you talk to. You end up spending a lot of time and energy spinning your wheels. The whole trying-to-prove-myself mentality just reeks of desperation.

Focusing on getting better puts you back in the driver seat. It’s empowering. You have a reference point in which you can see progress and chart your course. You can focus on the task at hand (i.e. learning how to use new software) and gain new skills or knowledge, which builds confidence and increases your comfort zone to take on new challenges.

Where in your life are your trying to prove yourself? How different would it be if you stopped and working on getting better?

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Mar 26

Button Jar

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Please check out my new article at Handmaker’s Factory Blog.

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Mar 22

Bread!

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Nothing beats the smell of fresh baked bread. I used the this recipe as my starting point although I didn’t have the exact ingredients. I substituted oat bran for the barley flour and skipped the millet seeds. I also added more pumpkin and sunflower seeds than the recipe called for.

I can’t wait to slice this up for grilled cheese sandwiches. Or should I slather a big slab of butter on it and have it with my black bean soup?

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Mar 06

Creativity in the Kitchen

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The Creative Life

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There are many ways to be creative. Most of us think of art/craft, inventions or innovation but I’m always interested in ways I can apply creativity to anything in my life.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis month I decided to be creative with my budget (I’m not talking about creative accounting here…) and wondered how far could I stretch $100 worth of groceries (to feed myself and 17 year old son), I’m trying to make it last a month. Given that my lunches alone cost more than $100 a month (Amy’s Broccoli Cheese Pot Pies at about $3.49 each – I swear they have crack in them, because I am addicted) this was going to be quite a challenge.

A challenge like this really gets my creative juices running for a variety of reasons:

 

 

  • I like to cook and bake. And once you start thinking ahead (like figuring out how to use that ½ can of pumpkin puree) and know enough about cooking to improvise, it doesn’t really take a lot of time
  • I get a kick out of being frugal (note: frugal does NOT mean cheap or depriving oneself. I like how this blog defines it). I think I would have made a great pioneer woman because I enjoy (yes, enjoy) being resourceful.  It’s empowering.
  • I like the planning process, researching ideas, etc.
  • Contrary to popular belief, having restrictions or limits enhances creativity (here’s a good article about limitations and creativity). Not only does it provide a framework but it forces you to stretch your imagination.

I started with what I already had – much of the basics like dried beans, grains and baking supplies. My plan was to make big batches and freeze leftovers for lunches or dinners later in the month so I came up with a menu and shopping list.

On my first shopping trip I spent $83, leaving me with $17 for the rest of the month, which I hope to use on fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and milk. Over the weekend I started cooking and stocking my freezer.  Just in case you think that $100 will only get you Ramen noodles and boxes of macaroni and fake cheese, here is what I’ve made so far (everything is made from scratch – even the pasta dough for the ravioli, I’m crazy like that):

Ravioli (2 kinds: spinach/cheese and pumpkin that was leftover from a batch of muffins) – 6-8 meals

Black bean soup – 4 meals

Tuscan chicken (chicken, garlic, diced tomatoes, black olives and beans in the slow cooker) – 4 meals

Chocolate chocolate chip muffins (son’s breakfast)

Banana nut muffins (son’s breakfast)

Chocolate chip cookies

Lentil Patties (8 lunches)

I can’t remember when my freezer has been this full. Oh wait, yes I can, it was when my refrigerator decided to break and I had a big gooey mess, but I digress.

Other items on my menu for this month include:

Macaroni and cheese (we’re talking homemade with real cheese and a bread crumb topping,)

Calzones (with ground turkey/mozzarella filling)

Spaghetti

Zucchini Risotto with turkey sausage

Ramen noodle vegetable soup (OK, this is the lone pre-packaged item. I actually like this soup and usually add fresh carrots, potatoes and corn)

Frittata’s

Lentil and buckwheat salad

Grilled cheese made with homemade bread

Ricotta pancakes (you have to try these, they are so yummy that they don’t require syrup or any kind of topping but they are a little tricky to turn)

Oatmeal (my breakfast)

Waffles

Stuffed Peppers

As you can see, we’ve been eating healthy, (mostly) nutritious and delicious food. It’s required a little bit of a time on the front end but the return will be worth it and since I enjoy cooking, I consider it fun, not a chore. But then again, if you are finding something to be a chore, maybe you need to get creative with it.

What areas in your life could benefit from a little creative ingenuity?

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