the Creative Thursday blog

Creative Thursday Gift Guide 2014

A personal selection of some of my favorite things by my favorite people & makers!

After running the Kickstarter campaign a couple of  months ago, I realized more than ever how important community support is, both online and in person ~ especially for small businesses. Creative Thursday was built and still continues to grow and rely upon the generosity of others spreading the word. In gratitude {and because it's holiday time and you might want some more fun giftie ideas! for you! and for those you love!} I've compiled my first ever gift guide, featuring 20 selections including my new coloring book. I know every one of the makers and either already own {or will own something soon!} from each of them. I am sure you will love their beautiful creations too. As of this email launch, all of the items featured above are available. Many are handcrafted and made in small batches, so if you miss anything, more will be made! 

Featured above 1. Mati Rose {abstract painting} 2. Petit Pippin {soft toy} 3. Melissa Moss {zipper pouches} 4.Outi Harma & Bonnie Solomon {oracle card deck} 5. Lisa Gillespie {artisanal soaps} 6. Cathy Nichols {original painting} 7. Whimsy & Spice {cookies} 8. Laura Nelkin {knitting books + kits} 9. Frantic Meerkat {cards} 10. Betz White {sewing projects book} 11. Jenean Morrison {notebook} 12. Mincing Mockingbird {calendar} 13. Cotton & Flax {pillow} 14. Jaime Derringer {art print} 15. Christine Mason Miller {original painting} 16. Darling Design{holiday cards} 17. Woodmouse {ornament} 18. Creative Thursday {coloring book} 19. Mabel {magazine for the creative life} 20. Aureata {jewelry}

 

Support your favorite Makers and Small businesses this season and all year through!

getting help with your book

 

So I’m back on Facebook, podcasting again and blogging more….Another plan I have with Creative Thursday is to introduce you to and/or update you on projects by creatives/entrepreneurs I personally know, more often. Now, just for the record, I know there are a lot of affiliate recommendations happening these days and this is not one of them. Should I ever be an affiliate to a project I support, I will let you know.

As I’ve mentioned recently, for me: the internet is becoming saturated with voices, products, classes...While I believe the cream will always rise to the top, why not do what I can to get it there a little faster? One of the ways I would like to help cut through the saturation is by recommending people I am inspired by, know and trust. 

Christine aka SwirlyGirl is one of those people. You might already know her, or remember her? as I’ve mentioned her here many times throughout the years. My first commenter, the first person I reached out to online, who became an in person friend, and one of the first to support my work, not only by buying some of my very first daily paintings, but also by sharing my blog and my podcast with her online circle of friends way back in 2006, remember those early internet days…!

We also did a podcast when she self-published her first book. You can still listen to it here.

Relentlessly supportive, honestly she is one of the few people I know who will think of helping others, often before herself. She started and ran a successful creative company long before the internet. An eloquent, thoughtful writer, she has since had another book published. And organized, did I mention how organized she is? This awesome lady knows her stuff. 

Christine is not only a friend but we’ve worked together as well. We’ve taught classes and joined forces on a few projects including a couple of art shows. One thing you learn is that not all friendships can become working relationships, but Christine can bridge that gap. She is a great collaborator.

 What I’m saying here; If I were looking for guidance with my book, Christine is the one I would want to help me.

That’s why I have to share her newest project with you “The Conscious Booksmith” - even following my earlier post addressing too many 'online classes' - this should tell you just how much I recommend Christine as a teacher. And seriously, just watch the video above. Knowing Christine this is one of the best, most sincere videos out there in promotion of a course. There are a few, just a few offerings that I do recommend and this is one of them. I know, Christine will go above and beyond to help you develop and share your voice.

 

More about the “The Conscious Booksmith” from Christine:

The course has been carefully designed to provide a solid foundation and organized structure to support you in the process of creating your book. At the end of the course, you will have a beautiful binder full of downloadable tools, inspiration and resources and will be well on your way to holding your book in your hand.

The intention for the course is two-fold:

1. We will take your book idea – which usually feels huge and overwhelming – and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.

2. We will explore your values, priorities and ideals so the book creation process unfolds on your terms.

There are plenty of books, courses and encouragement for those wanting to pursue a six-figure book contract and the New York Times bestseller list. While I love big plans and grand visions, I believe any dream – small, medium or large – is best served when pursued with careful thought and intention. When our dreams are brought to life mindfully – and reflect our day-to-day lives – they are imbued with that much more joy, light and truth. Things like families, pets, grocery shopping and laundry are all part of the process and integral elements of our journey.

This is an invaluable opportunity to tap into to the knowledge, wisdom, experience, inspiration and encouragement of an artist, author and creative entrepreneur with 18+ years of experience who loves to support the dreams and visions of others.

Just For Fun {is here!}

For the first time in 6 fabric collections, with the help of some lovely and talented people, I am excited to finally share with you some ideas for how I envision my fabric being used.  Especially this collection, which is intended to be exactly as it's called: 'just for fun' for grownups and kids alike.

A few of my fellow creative entrepreneurs and I got together on the weekend. We combined our talents and our products and had a party 'Just for Fun'! 

The fabric is available in stores now and bundles were just added to the shop.  Hope you really do have a lot of fun creating with this collection!! From tablecloths, to napkins, aprons, dresses, bowties, bunting, party decor to pillows and quilts... that should get you started.

 

Fabric by Marisa  + Creative Thursday for Andover Fabrics. Invitations by Christine of Darling Studio. Desserts and Decorations by Emilyn of Love Em Sweet. Photography by Miha Matei. Sewing by Marisa and Jennifer Au Chon.

 

nesting

slowly but surely coming together over here. my favorite part of moving into a new space: making it feel like home.

also featuring art by mummysam and corinne dean

The In's and Out's of Textile Design - by Creative House

A chance meeting while both teaching at the Squam Art Workshops, plus 2 separate moments, 1 year apart when Lizzy told Marisa "YOU need to be designing fabric" has become a friendship and now a collaboration called Creative House.

Super excited about and really proud of this newest collaboration with my friend Lizzy. We love what we do. We want to help people find their way on their path to happiness and we believe that a large part of that has to do with finding fulfilling work that you love. We are creating products that we wish we had when we were trying to find our way. If you remember Lizzy wrote this e-book and {lucky for me when I tried to get into the industry I had Lizzy's book and her guidance} Now we've added on to that knowledge and experience with this podcast. So if you're interested in getting into the world of textile design as well as learning from two creative entrepreneurs who are always cheering you on, this new podcast might be for you. You can learn more about it, and watch us chat in a little video at our new site! The first of more collaborations to come for Creative House, so stay tuned.

{thank you again to Jo for the beautiful site design} 

Lisa's art workshop this Sunday in L.A.

Love this lady! Her art and her spirit. 

Lisa's a fantastic teacher too, so I have to share with you that she's having a very special one time only workshop this Sunday,  'Out of Bounds: Book Assemblage' April 15 from 1 - 5 pm at the Craft And Folk Art Museum for $65 and $55 for CAFAM members. To register online just go to www.cafam.org or email [email protected]

I have been meaning to share a post on Lisa's book since it first came out last fall, so now's the perfect time to tell you about it too.  'The Re-purposed Library' is beautiful down to every last detail. It's one of those books that you will make you happy just by  having it in your space and you will be inspired to think outside of the box creatively by re-purposing some of those books you have sitting on your shelf - or seek out some very special vintage ones on your next thrift store or flea market outing. 

Another favorite is the trailer that Lisa's brother Nate helped her produce. Pretty much sums up the vibe of Lisa and her work. She just moved to Southern California almost 2 years ago now, all the way from New Hampshire. Courage and a quest for adventure, that's what it takes to start over and build a brand new life for yourself especially in Venice CA.  It's been great to see Lisa jump in and get acclamated so quickly with so much bravery and enthusiasm to boot. And those of us  who knew Lisa before her move out west, are so lucky to have her creative spirit here to spend time with as often as we can.  You should definitely join her at her workshop if you can! Oh and! you might want to take home one of her bookmobiles too~

 

Eames, Pearl Jam Twenty and Amy Butler

Learning more about the people who inspire me and hearing their stories is something I've always been passionate about. Certain that I've mentioned this before, but studying these stories - it's how I made it here, and hung on to the dream of doing creative work I loved, especially on the days when I felt like giving up.  One of the reasons I love interviews and I LOVE Documentaries. As you know when I find good ones, I can't wait to share them with you.

Since we plowed through the latest seasons of our newest obsessions, Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey {could these be more polar opposite?} this weekend was spent catching up on and devouring documentaries that have newly been released. I've got two really good ones for you and both of these are available on instant streaming via Netflix. Meaning you could walk away from this blog post and start watching them RIGHT NOW. Which I highly recommend.

 

 

Eames: The Architect and the Painter. See the trailer above. Oh, seriously I think you're going to love this one especially if you are a multidisciplinary artist like me. 

 

 

Pearl Jam Twenty. A favorite band and vocalist of mine since they officially hit the scene in 1992, made by one of my all time favorite filmmakers Cameron Crowe.

And! I also listened to this wonderful interview with Amy Butler hosted by Monica Lee. Amy was one of the very first artists I found online in 2005. I just fell head over heels for her beautiful designs and lifestyle photography that is her brand. I finally had a chance to meet her briefly at Alt this year and she could not be a more gracious, nice, lovely person. It's so nice when the brand matches the person isn't it? After hearing this interview you will know why.  And Monica {spirited and lovely, who I've also had the pleasure of meeting several times} did a great job. It's going to be exciting to see where she takes her new project Smart Creative Women.

Hope you enjoy all of these links. Seriously. So inspiring. I am totally, creatively, fired up right now!

Art and Autism

What would you create if you stepped out of the box that you and/or society has put you in? 

How might you see the world around you differently? How might you express what you see? Sean teaches a comedy writing sketch class out of our home. One of his students May brought over these incredible sculptures and gave one to Sean as a gift from her nephew, Brian. Made entirely out of bag ties and paint, these are Brian's sculptures, or twisting as Brian calls it. SERIOUSLY. Can you believe the intricacy and detail with which these are created? I mean just look at that Converse high top.

Oh and on a side note, Brian has autism. I hesitated to even use the word Autism in the title of this post, as I know that Brian wants to be known for his art and not his autism. But I chose to title it this way, to make the point that if someone can pursue their gift within a challenging condition that many do not understand, then the rest of us really have no excuse. I have very little experience with this condition, other than having one friend who's young son is on the high spectrum of Autism and responding really well to therapy, and watching the movie Temple Grandin about Temple Grandin which was a beautiful film by the way. What Temple has accomplished with her life ~ incredible. My understanding is that many of the children coming into the world today are being diagnosed as Autistic, and that there is a lot of research being done and confusion about what exactly causes it? 

As May and I were talking more about her experience raising Brian, as she is his full time care taker, what came up again and again is how the school system could not support him. I know that autism presents it share of challenges but if we can't have an education system that knows how to support someone who is different?

Clearly Brian is a thoughtful, incredibly talented artistic person.  Each of the characters he sculpts are created from his imagination and I think May was telling me that they all have their own backstory.  When you take one home with you, they come carefully encased in this translucent cases, so you can see them in full action.

Looking at work like this, from someone that society does not seem to know how to support,  got me thinking about why everyone still needs to be in the same mold. It seems like we are only comfortable with people when they fit in the box that we've all decided is NORMAL. What is normal anyway? And if we aren't there yet, embracing the differences in others, we need to be soon.  I think that the world and many of the people in it are trying to teach us, slowly but surely, that normal exists within the uniqueness of each one of us. 

 

As artists we know this. That is why we've chosen this path. I'm honestly not interested in being like everyone else or following what everyone else is doing. I want to make my own way and explore territory i.e. thought that hasn't been explored yet. However the tendency for me to want to be accepted and conform into the 'normal' that society set for me growing up, still exists. I have to remind myself daily that I am whole and good pursuing my path on my own terms. 

{I love the little guy on the left, holding up his leg ~ that is what they look like before they are painted}

When I saw Brian's art I knew I had to share it with you, not only because it is amazing but because it is the perfect symbol for what might be possible when we embrace who we are, just as we are and create anyway...when we step out of the box.

If you are interested in learning more about Brian and his work you can visit his facebook page. He does sell his sculptures. To purchase one or find out when and where he will be showing next you can contact Brian via email: Brian.Tolley[at}yahoo.com. Last we spoke he was having a regular booth on Sundays at the Hollywood Farmer's Market here in L.A. 

Here's to a lot of continued success for Brian and his art!! 

desire to inspire

More love. Different Post.

As long as I've known Christine, this is her. She has a never ending desire to inspire. So it's fitting that this is the title of her new book. And it's fitting that this isn't just a book about Christine, but a book filled with insight and inspiration from twenty incredible creative women who share the same desire.

I often think back to our very first lunch that turned into hours of conversation that same afternoon. From the moment I met Christine, she was inspiring me, encouraging me to keep going on my journey as an artist. And these were the days, not so long ago, where honestly I did not know if, or how I was going to make it. I had a new friend ~ she had been where I was,  she believed in me ~ she was the first to share my podcast with her friends, buy one of my daily paintings and I think that she also left the first comment on my very first blog post. Those moments of support ~ and all the one's between then and now ~you never forget.

So when you get a chance to offer some in return, you jump at the opportunity. Run, don't walk to get this book. Filled with people I adore, who inspire me ~ I've flipped through the pages and it is beautiful in every possible. I would expect nothing less from Christine. In fact you may remember when she self-published her first book, Ordinary Sparkling Moments,  and the podcast we did talking about that experience.

Today, Christine is sharing an excerpt from her book and she is also giving away this gorgeous journal to one of you! Just leave a comment below, before the end of the day this Friday 11:59 PST.  You can just say hello or if you feel inspired, share what is inspiring you right now and how you most want to inspire others. 

Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is a collection of stories, exercises, images, quotes, and anecdotes from twenty extraordinary contributors, all sharing insights and experiences of how they create a meaningful life and, in turn, make a positive impact on the world. Each chapter discusses a different aspect of living a passion-fueled life, and this month Christine is offering a 60-Second Snapshot of each chapter as part of her Desire to Inspire Virtual Book Tour. 

A snapshot of  Chapter 10 ~ Declarations & Intentions, by Christine Mason Miller

“I have been working with mission statements throughout my adult life…Each has been in important tool regardless of the context because it provides, if nothing else, a marker I can always turn to for guidance.” ~Desire to Inspire

The day I began writing to Desire to Inspire, I created a one-sentence mission statement that I placed in front of my computer, where it stayed until the day the book was finished. Anytime I started to worry I might miss a deadline, or become fearful that what I was writing was meaningless, I turned to that mission statement, which read:

My goal is for the book to sell well because it is fulfilling its deeper mission - to inspire those who read it.

The mere act of selling as many books as possible was not why I was writing the book, but I incorporated this aspect of the publishing process into my mission statement as a way to honor that left-brained side of myself that loves practical details. While I understand that even if Desire to Inspire is, indeed, considered an inspiring creation by a community of readers, it still might not sell well, it was important that my mission statement reflect the foundation of Desire to Inspire as well as the more measureable, nuts and bolts component of book sales.

A mission statement does not need to be lengthy or complicated, it does not need to include bullet point lists or color-coded charts. All it needs to be is a guidepost – a marker to remind you of what really matters in whatever endeavor you are pursuing. A light at the top of a lighthouse, guiding you home every time. 

inspiring morran

Camilla was probably one of the very first artist's blogs I came to know. Maybe you too remember the moment when you suddenly became aware of just how deep the well runs with such amazing, creative, people who share a little bit of themselves, their work and their lives online.

For me that has always been Camilla. For years, at least six or so, I've been quietly visiting her blog. For some reason it took me until this year to finally comment. I think it was when I found out Morran wasn't well. Because, if you follow Camilla, then you also follow Morran.

Morran inspired so many of us for so long, that I think that when we found out she wasn't doing well ~ it was all we could do to express what she has meant to us. A number of artists started sending Camilla drawings of Morran and then last month Camilla came up with the idea to create a book made entirely of Morran drawings. She put a call out for submissions and hundreds of illustrations came in. The book will be available for purchase with all of the proceeds going to a charity. Oh. the drawings of Morran that Camilla shared so far. I cannot wait to have this book. These are the illustrations I submitted. The first painting was inspired by a favorite photo of Morran next to one of Camilla's crochet characters and the second was inspired because I painted the first.

How can we feel so connected to a little dog that we have never met? Because that is the world we live in now. That is the amazing part of this online space that we all share. That we can be half a world a way and feel like we know and care for someone {and their sweet little dog} who we have never met. 

Camilla's genuine spirit and wonderful work always inspire me. Her print that is hanging in my living room is still one of my favorites. Every time I visit her blog, I feel good. I feel inspired to be more. More genuinely myself ~ in my person and in my creative expressions, in my art. In fact I've always wished that I could write such perfectly succinct posts, in the way that she does ~ without almost every sentence being peppered with the words love :) But then again. I guess that's just me. Visiting Camilla and the chance to follow along on the adventures of Morran is just one more thing that I love.

Morran left this week. Camilla posted about it yesterday. Oh how she will be missed. It was an honor to paint her.