This week's winner is Lucid Moon Studio. Congratulations!
You have won a set of lampwork beads by Kelleysbeads. Send Lorelei an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you!
Hmm, my studio for the last few weeks has been a beach. I'm actually taking a much needed vacation and enjoying recharging my batteries.
Favorite ways to renew my creative state:
1. Go to the beach
2. Spend time with loved ones
3. Eat delicious homemade meals with said loved ones
3. Laugh, laugh, laugh
4. Guilt-free naps!
5. Sketching
6. Trying something new - it's watercolor right now
7. Visit visually beautiful places
8. See art shows or visit handcrafted markets
9. Read
10. Enjoy nature
What's next:
When I head back to the studio on Tuesday I'm going to take a day to reflect.
1. What's working?
2. What am I enjoying about my business?
3. What's not working?
4. How can I streamline my product line?
5. What direction do I want to go with for new products for the fall and 2011?
6. What can I delegate and where I can use an extra set of hands?
So now for the question of the week: how do you recharge your creative batteries? Leave a comment and one random winner will receive a set of starfish charms - shown above in those earrings. Looking forward to reading your comments!
34 comments:
I like to go to a museum. Seeing loads of colors, textures, etc inspires me and I can't wait to get home and get to work.
I recharge my creative battery my playing with my bead stash. Just taking a fresh look at what I have makes me me all excited to start sketching and beading. I also thumb through back issues of my 'bead' magazines. Then walks with the dogs in my back yard among the pine trees helps me iron out my new ideas.
Similar to you - on the beach, best on a place far away from home so I do not get distracted by dirty laundry, dishwashing or other cleaning chores. Sun helps a lot.
And thank you for the reflecting idea. I think I will take some time and do the same, I feel it will help me to attack the not-so-efficient parts of my life...
Sometimes I recharge my creativeness by blog hopping or just surf the web. There are so many wonderful artist out there to get inspiration from! Sometimes I just spend time outside. Mother nature has so much to spark you creative side! I might pick up a art magazine to get me going also. I look at something and it gets the wheels turning and I am off to my creative place once again!!
Hugs
Cindy
Both mom and I seem to go in spurts on the creativity front. I think we both need to just sit back and be away from doing anything creative for a while. Then when we come back, we are more ready to create than ever.
Your beach inspired pieces are lovely!
When I need to recharge my batteries I flip through one of my favorite magazines or a bead book. Sometimes even cleaning gives me energy and satisfaction. Spending time with my family or friends is another favorite way to recharge.
I like to flip through the latest Vogue or Bazar to get ideas. Don't get me wrong, I don't wear those fashions but I get motivated by the seasons colors and styles and then I look through my stash with new eyes.
An entire day in the pool in an innertube usually does it for me. I just lay there and float thinking about things I can do and things I can change. It's so nice, quiet and relaxing.
I recharge my creative battery by doing a number of things. If I really need a break, I watch some mindless TV or movies for awhile, something that has nothing to do with business or crafting in any way. Most times, blog hopping, browsing Etsy and Artfire (along with many other online bead shops), looking through my collection of beading books/mags, etc.
I give my self permission to have FUN!
I create something with no thought to sales trends or fashion favorites. I just play with my clay and enjoy the process.Some of these creations make their way into my shop. But ,many end up in my "what was I thinking " drawer.No matter,I always feel recharged after a day of pure play ! m.e.:)
I like to see what other artists have done in the past, including how they put various colors together. That usually inspires me to try the color combo in many different ways...jewelry, card making, collage, etc. Other artists really inspire me to try new things and new techniques...
How do I recharge..I would say I do this by not going into my Studio..leaving it alone. I come back with fresh renewed ideas. Also by getting away and doing something different! Say to the next town over into the countryside..getting a bite to eat them looking at antiques!
I used to go to the city, New York City. It would get me so charged up that I would be super productive for weeks! I haven't been there in about a decade. Now I am more of the resort recharge. Lay by the pool, have someone cook good food for you, etc. After that, work is always better!
Ann
http://www.mycriticaleye.com
Trying a different medium has always worked for me. Primarily I make jewelry, but when I hit a slump, I'm decoupaging, sewing, or (like today) baking. Other than that I pore over old art books or, like EB up there, just stop for a while and put it away.
It may sound odd and even a little kooky but I clean, I organize, I declutter. It takes a deep conviction for me to walk away from my "studio" and do this but I know every time I do I come back renewed and energized!
I'll usually take a break and when I start itching to get back to creating I'll go through my back issues of bead/jewelry magazines, and also stroll through the craft/bead stores. This usually gets me excited to get into my own bead stash and get going.
I often buy a new bead book,sometimes an art book from one of my fav artists.
My number one boost for my creativity? More sleep. When I'm tired, I become uninspired and frustrated but after a really good night's sleep I'm full of mojo and ready to get creative.
I read blogs or organize my beads to boost my creativity. I often see new bead combinations when I am just cleaning my studio.
I browse magazine and website, plus sometimes I get a few beads out and play with them. I haven`t been too inspired this summer but last week a friend asked me to make a bracelet as a gift for a colleague - just enough of a creative push to get the muse back in the house.
Oh what a good question. How do I recharge my batteries? Well, heading into the incredibly busy season of winter holidays, yes it has already started, I find that taking a day just doing nothing at all is good. I lay about reading a book, disconnect from the internet, and cook something really nice for dinner. Just one day like this can be like an entire holiday on a Caribean beach for me.
I take a walk or drive and see what newness has popped up around me while I wasn't looking. Also, looking at great art work inspires me and makes me want to create.
Checking out all the great inspiration there is to be found on beady blogs!
I find meditation helps me. Nothing fancy or complicated - sit about 5 minutes where it's quiet to clear my head and focus my energy.
I recharge my batteries by going for a walk while listening to favorite music via MP3, all the while taking notice of nature and all its natural colors. Summertime brings endless colors into view. Look at nature with intense concentration and really take notice of everything, even a wildflower along the side of the road, even a dandelion's coloring. It's free, always available, not having to travel to some distant vacation spot (they are especially nice, but when not possible), you can recharge yourself and your creative juices get restored. Try it! =)
Chris
Since I live in Lake Havasu City (AZ)you would think it would be the lake, but I have a best friend that lives in Palm Springs and she manages the resort style "Sundance Villas"...each Villa has it's own pool and spa, the weather is gorgeous, the views of the mountains are great, the best resturants & shopping, my long time friends company & laughter, and I feel like a Princess when I'm there. So fabulous for the soul and I come back home ready to design & create.
If you ever go to Palm Springs (CA) for a visit it is a must to stay there.
Thanks & Smiles, Pam
Today I am working in the Gallery Q where my exhibit is taking place. I love to have the quiet of this place around me as I take my time to view this beautiful art all around me. I also love to come to this blog and all the hundreds, literally, of others that inspire me daily. Thanks for your inspiration, Heather!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Would love a chance to win a set of these starfish charms. The bracelet above is just fabulous! Love it. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. Nancy
When I lived in CA I would drive 10minutes and be in the mountains and that healed everything. Not so close here in VA so I have several CD's that really soothe and recharge me. Those starfish are incredible.
I recharge my spirit in the best possible place for me. I grab my towel, book and walk the 8 block to the beach. Just the sound of the waves begins to clear my mind ans clens my soul. :)
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx
These are beautiful star fish pieces! Being in nature usually recharges my batteries.
I like to take an hour and just surf different jewelry sites that I like and look at things other people are doing. That often inspires me, although I am always careful not to steal someone else's design!
Erin
When I'm feeling left in a creative lurch and need a recharge, I sit down with my 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son, and watch them create. They're spontaneous, don't know the rules, and just simply love making a mess. They're also unaware of what's right or wrong, what's trendy or hot. They just let themselves be creative. What's not inspiring about that?
When I need to recharge, I love to go walk about the waterfront. Just the sound of the waves help. I also tend to recharge if I spend time reading a good book
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