I use to be afraid that school depleted me of all creative energy. I remember when I was a kid, I loved getting projects because that allowed me to make things, not just study them. All sorts of images would pop into my head of the projected end product and I'd be busy busy busy making, drawing, cutting, pasting... creating!I think I was influenced by my sister, the ultimate Renaissance woman, both intelligent & artistic. When we were kids, she'd yell at me for coloring in her "Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers" coloring book with her crayons, and not only that, but I'd be coloring too hard. She also turned an egg carton into a full-fledged studio apartment, which must've later given her the idea to empty out our eggs while still maintaining the shell and eventually turn them into all sorts of various jungle animals. Whatever it was that she made, I just remember that I wanted to make it too! I don't even know if she still remembers half the things she did; I only remember them because that was the kind of influence her creativity had on me
now that I have the summer off before grad school, I've decided to relax, which has given me a lot of free time to create. In fact, I finally got my little craft corner set up! It comes w/office supplies, books, pattern/idea notebook, ball winder, yarn box, caddy fully stocked w/knitting and crocheting equipment, and plant. It's not much, but it suits my needs. I'm trying to think of some clever, witty name to call it so that I can vaguely hint at what I'm doing. Something to the tune of, "well, time to drop the kids off the pool..." but you know, more on the funny, less on the TMI connotations
I feel that having this creative outlet, some of the juices have come back! For instance, the other day, it just occurred to me to make an alphabet-themed toy & letter plate set for my nephew. I've been knitting and crocheting all sorts of toy animals with no particular purpose, but to make them and learn some techniques along the way (I have plans to design my own pattern some day). So for each letter of the alphabet, I'll make him a little animal accompanied with a card representing said letter and animal and an interesting fact about it. This would give him something to play with, two- and three-dimensional objects to visualize, teach him the alphabet, AND expand his knowledge of the animal kingdom. I'm also hoping that his parents will take the letters of his name and maybe hang them up on his wall?but anyway, I've only got B is for Beaver done. This will definitely be a summer-long project because this one letter alone amongst all the other things that I have to do, has taken me about 3 days...
Hurrah for your creative juices returning! That's a really cute and educational idea -- I'm sure your brother and Zine will appreciate it. But when I look at that card, all I can see is "B is for Baga-anan" :P
ReplyDeletethanks! I'm wondering now if I should nix the "fun" fact bit though. I don't know, with the text, the letter card feels kind of busy
ReplyDeleteI see with you mean. Less is more! Maybe save the text for when he can read ;) Two other questions:
ReplyDelete1. Does the black beaver have two front teeth?
2. Why is there an alligator on the B card?
black beaver? You mean the crocheted one? He has 2 front teeth too, but you can't see them with this angle. They're under the jowls, hehe. As to the alligator, no particular purpose. I have a ton of leftover stationary from years past that I never used, so I decided to use them for this project and the sheet for the B had a random alligator on it. Thought it was cute and went well w/the color scheme. BUT, I will be working on A is for Alligator next. Perhaps you'll see a beaver in that. Perhaps not. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteYes, sorry -- I did mean the crocheted one when I said "black beaver" :) You should doodle a little beaver for the A is for Alligator card!
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome that you have a creativity station set up! The animal/letter cards are a great idea too. I love the first card that you came up with.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can't believe that you remember those hollowed out eggs. That was back when we were living in the apartments even. Man, I need to get back into some sort of creative mode.
Speaking of which, I need to think of good yarnbombing projects. My friend Val was joking that I needed to do some sort political yarnbombing. I said I needed a good concept, but then it occurred to me that since I live in an urban area that is considered a food desert, and I like making fruits and vegetables, I should hang them around to comment on the lack of real ones in the area. I'm just thinking now whether I would want to make realistic fruits and veggies or if I want to do crazy color ones but real shapes. Anyway, this is still in the early planning process.
would your fruits & veggies have facial expressions? That could be cute!
ReplyDelete