More 30 Days of Creativity

Day 23: Listen to a favorite song or artist and create something inspired by that music.

Earlier this year, I created some doodles inspired by Maroon 5. (Oh how their music just rocks my world!)

But since Christmas and holiday music is, well, everywhere, it seems fitting to share with you some wintery pieces I’ve doodled recently. This one was from my new smart phone?! RotoDoodle is such a cool app – I can spirograph anytime, anywhere!

spirograph-project.tumblr.com

Snowflake spirograph

Day 24: What is your “Creative Bucket List”?  List 12 creative things you want to learn more about.

1. Soap Making
2. Quilting
3. Embroidery
4. Chinese Watercolor Painting (I’m attempting a few cards this week… talk about last minute.)
5. Mixed media
6. Knitting
7. Crocheting
8. Photography
9. Jewelry
10. Photoshop
11. Furniture refinishing
12. Vintage art

I’m curious what creative things everyone else is learning about, or wants to learn about – feel free to share in the comments!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

(A little backwards today -  Day 17: Sing.  Sing a song… make it simple to last your whole life long!  How did that feel?)

I’m so excited to see Maroon 5 this week. So. Excited. Missed them in October, so I made sure I bought tickets early when I found out they were making another stop here. My kids are looking forward to it, too – so much so that we’re jamming along to the albums and practicing on Band Hero.

So, yes, my husband and I are taking them to the concert. It’ll be fine, it’s outdoors… the weather is supposed to be fantastic. I’m just a little worried that they’ll be too tired and miss the songs they want to hear, or the little guy will miss seeing Adam Levine in person. You can’t imagine how angry Ollie gets. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.

Day 16: Do you create best when your emotions are high?  Do you turn to creative endeavors when you are sad, angry, or just filled with joy?

I used to think I created best under pressure. It’s just that I finish projects under pressure, self-inflicted or not. Creating for me isn’t when emotions are high; inspiration seems pretty random for me. Whatever I’m feeling, when I create, I’m transported, distracted for a little while. I empty my head, and fill my heart. Does that make sense? Then I finish, and voila! – I return to my routine.

So I offer my Maroon 5 inspired art. Music moves me… what better way to get in a creative mood than to immerse myself in their albums? Try it sometime. Listen to your favorite artists and create. Maybe you already do.

Can you guess which songs inspired which pieces? (Click on the thumbnails to zoom.)

All Tangled Up, the “Monster” and last little inchie (number 7)… really like those.

Color, pattern, texture, shine…So simple and brilliant. It’s my favorite design rule, and I’m still learning (since I’m not even close to having studied art design). The best part is it works for putting together an outfit, a room, a gift tag?! Actually, it didn’t start out that way, but when I looked at the final products it sort of jumped out at me: red, lots of patterns that give off lots of texture and the tag is shiny. Last week, I was scribbling and working on the last of this series of five when I accidentally spilled my tea on them. Ugh. After some quick blots and a night sandwiched in paper towel and phone book pages, they survived with little water scarring. Sharpies are awesome.

These tags were meant to be maybe a first offering on Etsy… maybe…with Valentine’s Day and all. But, with the slight water damage, I wouldn’t feel right about selling them. So, I started on some other ones. The third from the left isn’t quite done. Then I tried one with the new Copic Multiliners; that one smudged.

Scribble art turned gift tags

Shiny paper and Copic markers don't work as well

While I took a small break from putting away Christmas decorations, I started thinking about Chinese New Year, the next holiday we’ll be celebrating in this house. (I have Holiday A.D.D.) There are these Chinese zodiac rubber stamps and a variety of Asian themed stamps I want to use.

Let’s see how this pans out over the next week or so. I should have some time to work on them with the big snowstorm and freezing temperatures coming our way.

This past summer, I attended the second Chicago Craft Social and led a table with this craft, Beaded Book Marks (a.k.a. Book Thongs or Book Wedgies). I had no idea how busy I would be at the table, but it was a great showing. I took no other pictures that evening. I wish I did; it was tons of fun. I really ought to post a tutorial on these, eh?

So, I’m leading a table at this Friday’s Craft Social (Holiday version)! I’m going to tailor my latest obsession, scribble art (or doodling), into something people can learn and take home. From this…

… I started documenting the different patterns I use. Sort of backwards, but that’s okay. Work in progress.

Tonight I took my notes, made a one page dictionary that I can hand out, and I’m planning on demonstrating the more complicated or complex designs on my daughter’s white board. None of them are really that difficult, but they might look incredibly intricate. Makes me feel like I’m brilliant.

From twenty different patterns, you can mix and match (I’m bringing multi-sided dice, more than six sides), do little variations on them, and voila, you too can doodle crazy little things and maybe make a holiday card, gift tags, an iron-on t-shirt applique… the possibilities are endless. I’m working on our family Christmas card in black and white. This picture was a first attempt.

Hope to see you at my table!

Hard to get motivated when I’ve been a little under the weather, but life goes on. Ollie took a few pictures of me yesterday as I was trying to rest on the couch. Two-year olds don’t understand the concept of resting, and I’m not sure how to more clearly explain that “Mommy is not feeling well. Mommy is a little sick.”

He said, “I ts-icky, too, Mom! Chin mine chin, Mom. ” He doesn’t say “my”. Chinning: that’s just one of his ways of snuggling. He totally gets that way when he’s super tired or just wants to say he loves you, and I’m so glad I had a moment to capture it. I love when he smushes his little cheek onto my cheek, or his forehead against my face. It hurts a little now that he’s older, though. Thanks, Little Man, for sympathizing. I sat on the floor afterwards and played a little Candyland with him.

The upside to sitting on the couch, while the fever shivers are subdued by Tylenol, is having a little time to sketch another piece.