From Blank Slate to Creative Overdrive! A journey from journal to mixed fiber and stitch Fashion scarf

Have you ever reached a point in which you feel that you have explored every angle of your art?  That you have nothing new to add to your art?  Find yourself descending into boredom with your work?  I have been in that slump for the past two months.  For as long as I can remember, there has not been a day that has passed in which I did not have either a hook in hand, been hypnotized by the hum of my sewing machine, or spread out a mixture of beads and baubles in front of me with a wire spool on my wrist.... at least that has been my routine until the past few months- Bam!  out of nowhere came a blank board in the place my creative thoughts once were...  If you have found yourself in that same place then you know how depressing it is.  I felt completely listless- directionless- absent.  What does one do when they find themselves in this slump?



First I scanned the web trying to find something that would throw a spark at me and maybe I could fan the flame.  The spark did not come in the manner I expected, instead it came in an entirely new aspect of the creative process.  I happened to stumble upon a few incredibly interesting blog that showcased art journals and altered books.  I have dabbled a little with a journal or two, but can never get "into" the process- In retrospect, I think maybe I wasn't "ready".  I have adhered to a very specific method of creating.  I normally come across the trigger, maybe a skein of great yarn, a cool pendant, a great bead... and then I build around that ingredient.  I spend a lot of my free time reading books and articles by talented artists who share their techniques.  I have historically focused on the technique instead of the process of inspiration.



Well, I wasn't creating anyway, so why not open myself to a new method?  I can not stress to you enough how amazingly freeing and invigorating it is to create carelessly!  To let each item, scrap, piece, word, thread, etc. lead to the next- and how exciting it is to look at the completed page and wonder to yourself, "how did I end up here when I started there?"  I have had so much fun with this- In fact, I am in a non stop creative state.... I can not seem to walk away from the journals once I start them.  Every little trinket or scrap I come across throughout my day puts me into an anxious frenzy until I get home and can explore how it can be added- what meaning this little item can add to my page- or how this unique tidbit can take the page into an entirely new direction.  This has been a journey, and each encounter gives me a new adventure. I am not "journaling" every day with my thoughts or feelings- I am not keeping within a true theme throughout the pages- instead I have been letting each page determine the idea for the next page- but, that is what is so cool about this process, there are no rules- there are not specific procedures- you can do whatever your creativity leads you to do....



And this desperately sought after spark has led to a bon fire!  One of my pages focused on tree's, leaves, and my love of hiking the woods near our family rents a cabin each fall- This page opened up some gorgeous color mixtures for me and reminded me of the many different textures and layers that we encounter on our long walks in the thick woods- A blend of wines, burgundy, sage's, green's, tans, honey, browns, and more- the mixture of plants and growth made me think of blending multiple stitches and fabrics in my crochet work-



Here is what I have developed..... A mix of varied fabrics, including organza- a blend of fibers such as eyelash yarn in a sage and brown blend- these were all crocheted into a scarf utilizing 4 variations of stitches.  Once I thought I was done, I realized it still needed that "pop" so I embellished the entire scarf in the scraps from the fabric strips- it is full, soft, and allows for a unique textural adventure! 



What do you think?

 Well, I have shared my creative adventure with you- but, now I would love to hear how you turn that spark into a flame- how do you become inspired?  What brings your muse to the forefront?  Have some prompts to get us in the artistic mode?  Well, share them here....













Thanks for sharing your time with me today- and please feel free to comment- I look forward to your input and help in my attempt to grow and find my creative voice!  Share your thoughts and experiences- we learn when we share with one another... 

Please take a moment and visit my website at http://www.mommytyme.com   - if you would like to link your blog or website to my site's friends page, just email me through the website.  Just for visiting, you can grab the coupon code and nab an extra 10% off at my Etsy shop!

http://www.mommytyme.com
http://wwww.MommyTyme.etsy.com
http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com
http://wwww.artfire.com/users/MommyTyme

Making a purse from an old book- First altered book project!

 

And here is what I have been working on lately.... An altered book that turned into a purse... I decided to focus myself on creating for the purpose of creating with this piece instead of attempting to direct my work towards a visualized end result, and the outcome was fantastic (I think).  I had so much fun with this project and the processes involved actually engulfed me.  I had a difficult time waiting for stages to dry, as I was so involved with the techniques and methods while working on this.  I did not set out with an expectation of what I would create, instead I just let myself create without pressure or stress.  What I started with was a Readers Digest hardback condensed book, and I new I wanted to take a stab at trying to alter it- but, I did not intend on creating a purse.  Mishaps became blessings in the process and when one avenue did not work, I just allowed the work to head down a different path.  I did photograph each of the steps and plan to make a tutorial in the upcoming week.  I hope you like this as much as I do. I used the butterflies on the front to symbolize the flight and freedom of the project, and the bicycle represented moving forward on the path.  The purse has a fabric lining and the entire exterior has been lacquered to preserve the design elements.  A mixed medly of techniques and applications were used including collage, image transfers, sewing, painting, stamping and embossing (to name a few).

I hope you take a few minutes to explore the wonderful creations of others presented at the parties I plan to participate in with my purse- find them at the following:








Have you visited the Mommy Tyme Gifts blog lately? http://mommytymegifts.blogspot.com Hope to see you there- eventually my goal is to have this blog moved to that spot, and put all my ideas, thoughts, marketing goals, etc. in one place to share but I have not made that leap yet! Oh, and stop by the new website at http://www.mommytyme.com and see the latest from Mommy Tyme including tutorials, new jewelry ideas, fashions, and fun gifts!

Jewelry, Accessories, Gifts

Link

Tons of new listings! Come check them out! Crochet wire fall colors jewelry and fun fashion trendy scarves and cowls!

Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts: I'm Back!

Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts: I'm Back!: "Wow- so,it has been a few weeks since my last post! I have really missed my weekly posting and have a ton of things I cant wait to share- I..."

Promote yourself!

I am always trying to find the great resources out there that will help you excel in your endeavors! Well, if you are looking for a fun way to get your items seen... just pop over to Creations with a Heart! Every week she showcases some awesome items from fellow artisans! The collections are just wonderful! And if you want to grab her eye with one of your creative pieces, simply comment on the showcase she currently has up! That easy! Once your comment is posted, Creations with a Heart will explore your shop and find an exciting item to share with the world! So, stop by and take a peek... Just click the button below- and remember to tell them Mommy Tyme sent you!

Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts: I'm Back!

Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts: I'm Back!: "Wow- so,it has been a few weeks since my last post! I have really missed my weekly posting and have a ton of things I cant wait to share- I..."

Tweeting and POH

Thanks for all the entries!
Wow! We will have a gorgeous May full of beautiful works for the Pursuit of Handmade! I have been tweeting and posting your links! I hope you will all help with this, too! just do a search for #POH and you can retweet the posts of your fellow artisans! Or grab the URL's from the comments and share share share!

Hop over to Mommys Review and see our first Participant! Wow! Gorgeous! http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com

Enter the May Pursuit HERE!

I think I may have been confusing everyone with my change of venue with the blog! So sorry! I would like participants to the May Pursuit of Handmade to Enter here with a comment! Just comment with your URL to the item or place where I can find it! If you want to share a little something about your item, that would give it a little more "juice" when it is featured, that would be fantastic! So, comment below!

Remember- the Tweet along- just tweet or share others and yourself, add the hash tag "#POH" at the end, and I will find you, Retweet you, and share! You can do a simple search and do the same.

May's Theme- "Something for Someone Special" Any item that one could give to that someone special in their life- The theme is in appreciation for all those special people who help us along in life that may not fit under the Mothers Day umbrella!

So, come on, post post post

Tweet A Long!

Want to participate? Have your items retweeted over and over? Well, this is a two way street, buddy! You have to help, too! (just kidding!). Here is how it works-

Comment and add your link to your item you have entered into the Pursuit of Handmade

Others will click on your link and then SHARE it with a share button or you can copy and cut the URL and add it to your twitter

Before you post, add #POH at the end of the tweet

Whenever you or others go to twitter, they can do a search for #POH and then all of the other posts that related to Pursuit of Handmade will come up! Just click the retweet link! Simple, easy, and helps one another, right? Well, get busy then!

May's Pursuit of Handmade

Announcing May's Pursuit of Handmade-

For some Mother's Day is a wonderful moment of sharing and appreciating your family- for other's it can be a painful, lonely day... Families are blended and full of so many different caregivers, that Mothers and Fathers day may not apply in the Hallmark meaning, but in so many other ways that are just as meaningful! So, I wanted to go beyond Mother's Day for May and find "To give someone you love..." That is pretty open, and can mean anything you want it to! So, list your item link here by commenting! Than hop over to Mishaps of Mommy at http://mishapsofmommy.blogspot.com and sign up for the Pursuit of Handmade Tweet Along- share your link again, and if you want- a story of inspiration about the item, about you, or what this theme means to you! We will show you and your fab. item off here!



Add your link, a story about your item, and then start sharing everyone else's entries! Just click on the links in the comments and then Share, Share, Share!
Remember, whenever you post your Pursuit of Handmade item, or another person's who is participating here- add #POH at the end so we can all just search and Retweet!

I am so glad you came to join in the fun! Dont forget to add yourself to the Tweet Along, too!

Take A New Turn

Well, I have decided to make some changes with this blog... Unfortunately there just are not enough hours in the day to do everything I want to... I have spent the last year sharing ways to grab traffic, promote your biz, etc. here at Mishaps! Now, I am going to focus on promoting, uniting, and working together with other sellers or biz's who are to break into the world...

With that in mind, hop over to Mommy's Reviews at http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com This will be the blog for promoting and exposing all of my new friends, and future friends! This blog, however, will focus on the information, nuts and bolts of getting ourselves out there and noticed! Everyone is moving into the handmade arena (which is fantastic!) but, sometimes we get lost in the crowd! Often, we don't have a sale for a while, we started doubting ourselves, and we lean towards throwing in the crochet hook! Don't do it! You just need a pick me up, and here is where you will get it!

Every month I try to do a "Pursuit of Handmade" which exposes or shows off sellers who create products in a chosen theme line... Well, I am going to broaden those themes, and then do a little publicity for one another when we participate!

Here are the things I think we could do to help each other-

1. Participate in the announced Pursuit of Handmade (that is the anchor to the entire operation!)

2. List your link at Mommy's Reviews (http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com), thus you get immediate linkback and exposure- no waiting for you to be featured! You just add your link to the item that you think meets the theme.

3. Here (Mishaps of Mommy http://mishapsofmommy.blogspot.com) again list your link to the item in the comments section, AND share a little something about the item, the inspiration, the theme, whatever... I will expose each participant individually on the blog

4. Whomever is being featured that particular day, share it! We need to share each other on twitter, facebook, digg, all the social networks and sites. It is very easy, just go to the upper left corner of the blog and hit share or you can use the share button I have added to the bottom of the postings at http://mommysreviewsyoucanuse.blogspot.com

5. Click on all the links to the items under the comments and share them with twitter, facebook, etc. For example, if it links to an Etsy item, just click the share button to the bottom right of the page and you can share it with twitter, digg, facebook, all of the great sites! Share your items, share others items. It is all about promoting and exposing one another- A team effort, so to speak!

6. Finally, I will have a post below the pursuit for that month here at Mishaps of Mommy http://mishapsofmommy.blogspot.com You can add your link to the "Tweet A Long" We will all tweet each other followed by the hash mark #POH which stands for Pursuit of Handmade. This will increase exposure and seems to be a great tool many groups and teams are using! Whenever you are on twitter you can do a quick search for #POH and all the tweets will pop up, then just click "re tweet" and we can promote each other some more! It is a group effort, a combined force!

Make sense? We will just work on it as we go along... if you have ideas- share them and we can promote, expose, show off, and learn from one another-

The jist of the entire post is, this blog will focus on ideas, sharing and helping one another, while the Mommy's Review blog will focus on finding new customers, linking customers with sellers, and getting our names/products out there!

So, are your ready? See the above two posts for the Tweet along and the Pursuit of Handmade announcement for May!

Good luck and happy sharing!

A few opportunities you might find interesting....

All Marketing Content



PLR Running Article Bundle

reBlog from Mommy Tyme: Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts

I found this fascinating quote today:

With all of this in mind, I decided to take some time and evaluate my ingredients, procedures, and purposes of some of my products. I have revamped and create some new items I am excited to show off in the next few weeks- I have been working on these for a while and have a ton of ideas for more... but, I wanted to have a few items to introduce along with Earth Day. I have created this blog to focus on How To's, ideas, products and ways that we can continue to focus on tomorrow by our actions today- I hope you will stop by and offer a comment or thought at http://mommytymegifts.blogspot.com (bookmark it or add it to your favorites!) To really kick off the new blog, I will be offering some freebies, prizes, and give aways! Make sure to follow the blog, comment with your contact info. and enter, enter, enter....Mommy Tyme, Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts, Apr 2010

You should read the whole article.

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Mommy's Reviews you can Use: Contest at Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts~

Mommy's Reviews you can Use: Contest at Mommy Tyme Bath and Gifts~

Come check out the giveaway going on! One week left! Easy entry!

A fun way to get your items or products noticed is by entering contests and showing yourself off! One great place to really compete with some interesting themes is the Inspiration Avenue Blog-

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Biggest Put Offs For Etsy Shoppers – Part 1

If you sell on Etsy or any of the handmade marketplaces, you do not want to miss this article! Well written with insight from shoppers on what they look for in a shop! Check it out, then come back here and leave a comment!

Biggest Put Offs For Etsy Shoppers – Part 1

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