Tag: mixed media

Creative Schizophrenia: Let’s Talk

Sooo…anybody familiar with creative schizophrenia? Anyone have an artsy habit they can’t quite corral into one genre? Do you feel like your creative endeavors are wanting you to do everything…and nothing? Well…let’s talk.

This can get bad…like really bad. (and that makes me want to do this…)

Martinis are vegan!
Martinis are vegan!

 

I find myself wanting to create for my jewelry line so off to the studio I go. I arrange my things, start with an idea, begin putting it together…and boom! All of a sudden my paint starts calling my name…what if when this thing is done I paint it? So I go get the paint out and start playing with that. Halfway through I notice there’s a piece of fabric on the floor…oooh! That might work too. Maybe I can sew it together for a packaging idea. So I play with that for awhile. Out comes the sketch book so I can see if my ideas will work together. What about ribbons? What if this thing had some tied onto it? And out comes some ribbon. Oooh…but maybe it needs resin? Maybe the pieces would look good glossy…and layered….and …and….and…

By this time I am working in four square inches of my table and not much is getting completed.

 

messy worktable 1

 

What is it with this? And what are your tried and true ways to keep your creative schizo self in check? Bah….

Here are a couple of things I find helpful when I cannot for the life of me get this under control…

  1. Set a timer and a simple goal…for instance I want to ready some of my shrink plastic. I set my phone timer for 20 minutes and that’s all I do until the timer rings. Guess what? I finished something!
  2. Clean or organize. Again I might set my timer for this or just make note of the clock then find a spot to re-organize. Moving things into order allows me to clear my brain and do a sort of re-set. I do this for about half an hour and find that my brain is much more ready to focus on the task at hand.
  3. Go do something else! Maybe it’s time for lunch or a snack. Perhaps laundry needs some attention. Have you talked to your Mom lately? Choose anything that has nothing to do with whatever task you were having issues with.

Those are my three go to’s when I get stuck inside my creative schizophrenia brain. Inevitably one will work and I can get back to accomplishing things.

Try it and let me know how it works for you…or maybe you have a better idea? Would love to have you share it!

Until next time,

Susan

 

 

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Decisions, decisions, decisions…

One of the things that keeps me from this blog is always some kind of decision. What should I talk about? What will anyone be interested in reading? How much should I show? Maybe a peek, a tutorial, a personal look at something? This goes on for long enough, and enough decisions are made on everything else, that I never get into the blog at all. Anybody else have this problem?
Addiemenose1
Then there’s always the “to do” list. Finish designing the stuff on my desk, prep for this weekend’s show, run errands, get change at the bank, order supplies, fill out your calendar, re-arrange your desk, mail out your orders, check social media, schedule social media, delete 900 e-mails, try to put out a newsletter, do tomorrow’s to do list, etc, etc, etc…
Then there’s the family “to do” list…collect all the laundry, call the Doctor, cook breakfast, go grocery shopping, wash the dog, advise child #1, clean the bathroom, wash the car, take a shower, drop the kids at sports, call your Mother, sweep the floor, wash the other dog…ad nauseum..
Gigantic bears at Costco
Gigantic bears at Costco
…you get the picture. More decisions. On everything.
But do you see “write on the blog” anywhere? Blog doesn’t show up, does it?
Not first…or in the middle…or at the end. Too many decisions and I can’t decide where to put it.
Sooo….time to make one more decision…what the hell am I finally doing here? Well…I guess I decided it was long enough. That I needed to try this again.
For how long and how often? No clue and I don’t know.
What will I bring my self to write about? Well…art…creativity…daily life stuff…basically I will be winging it and post things that tickle my fancy dependent on what day it is.
So about those decisions…I think I just made one.
To quit.
Until next time,
Susan
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Wild Wonders

cheetah1

Just a quick reminder that some of my pieces are made for, and of, the creatures of Wild Wonders. Isn’t that face up there wonderful?

From their website:

Welcome to the world of Wild Wonders, Inc. where kids and adults can “tame” their curiosity for “wildlife.” Through live interactive programs and tours at our site or yours, our wildlife educators and our 150 animal-ambassadors will take you on a dynamic adventure you will not forget. Our goal is to excite the public and foster a desire to preserve and learn about the wildlife and the important role they play in the planet we share.

In order to help support their journey I get to make wearable jewelry pieces from their wonderful collection of critters that are Wild Wonders!

Mix of Critters

Zoo items that you purchase from me either in person or from my online shop section “The Art That is Wild Wonders” sends 20% of the profits back to the zoo! (click on the word “shop” at the very top of the page and all the sections will show up, then click on “The Art That is Wild Wonders”) If you happen to be visiting the zoo in person they have a gift shop area and anything you purchase of mine donates 50% of back to the critters!

bgreyfox2

Do you have a favorite animal that isn’t shown? If I can get a picture then we can make a custom piece for you…drop me an e-mail lets chat about it!.

Take a moment and peek at their website for special events or to make a reservation to visit!

Until next time,
Susan

 

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ICE® Resin Design Team Everyone!

Here is a list of all the bio’s and the artsy members of the ICE® Resin design team for 2015!

Creative Team 2015

Don’t miss any of them! All of the design team members are crazy talented, have unique points of view, and include interesting tidbits about themselves.

Chantal Johnson

Heather Widener

Sandy Martin

Clare Horner

John Creighton-Petersen

and ME!

 

 Until next time,

Susan

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Arc Planner: My Daughters Point of View

Hi! Hello! I’m AdaLee, and I’m writing a guest blog post for my mom about our Arc Planner!!

Recently my mom and I both started to get more organized and we got ourselves an Arc planner organizer and notebook.

AddiesplannerAddiesplanner

The Arc planner is disc based, not three-hole-based, which means that instead of the normal three-hole rings, they have 11 discs as the binding. We both have a faux-leather cover arc filled with dividers and paper and what nots of our choice.

Addiesplanner (1)

Mine happens to have normal three-hole-punched college-ruled paper, graph paper, and even some blank paper. Since these papers are not already compatible with the Arc because of their inferior three-hole-punches, the Arc planner has a punch system that makes pretty much any kind of stationery into something that can be put into the arc!

arcplannerpunch2

I love this thing. I honestly do.

I had a super lame three-hole binder that had d-shaped clips instead of the default O shaped or C shaped ones normally in three-hole binders. What the meant was that papers in the binder would be incredibly difficult to maneuver without putting unnecessary stress on the punched holes. This resulted in a lot of torn paper, including some that was (or would be) important to class.

Addiesplanner (6)

 With the arc, I can now not have to worry about any paper tearing too much, for the way the Arc punches the paper that fits in it, individual papers put under too much stress simply pop out.

 Addiesplanner (4)

No worries. No damage. Just pop them back in again and
***ta da!!!*** you’re all good!!

On top of that, having to repunch and reformat all of the paper that I put into this thing requires me to be more organized about my schoolwork. My failed organizational days are gone!

Thank you Arc!!

 

 

 

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