creativebebe

StitchMap and Color Theory

Over the holidays, I went on a creative frenzy searching for Brazilian Embroidery tutorials, which led to not so popular embroidery stitches and crazy quilting, which then led to midievel embroidery techniques, finally getting me to a one stop group called StitchMAP. This is a group of Mentors, Angels and Apprentices who teach, learn and pay forward the arts of all things stitching, fibers, floss and creativity. After anxiously waiting for a month, the pre-requisite class to all classes, Color Theory Course has begun! As a fine arts major in college, I had taken this class and was less than enthused about taking this class...again. But as I went through and did the first exercise, my perspective in how I saw my stash of embroidery and tatting/crochet threads in a whole new light. I realized how much color I had and the treasure of supplies that sat, collecting dust until such a time as this. This time in my life to rekindle the creative hunger of color, creativity, and joy in making something out of what others consider nothing! If you are looking for a very active, lively group that is all about teaching, learning, sharing and paying forward the blessings of creativity and life in general, then come on and join us! I have posted a purple Yahoo Groups button to the left. We have members from all over the world and every class, challenge and topic posts are all teaching and learning tools, from each other. This is not a place where egos and self promotion are priority, but of honest and real sharing and encouragment. The foundation and meat of true friendships with a common passion for the arts in fiber, thread and unlimited possibilities! I will end this post with a picture collage of my first exercise as a teaser. I will not post anymore on the classes, as these are proprietary, even though EVERY class and aspect is free of charge. Enjoy and if you have the passion, then join us!

 

 
Blessings!

~creativebebe

DE-CLUTTERING....ORGANIZING....IDEAS

I have been in a balanced state of decluttering my life this past week and does it feel GOOD! Purged purses (how many arms do I have to carry so many...!?), christmas decor (half the box was full of tissue used to wrap the glass ornies...), tea and snack cabinet, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. As I was going through my emails this morning, I came across one of those google ads on some website with the headline, "Clever Storage Ideas to De-clutter Your Home". It is one of a plethora of articles I have read over the years in the hopes of finding the magic solution to my clutter problem. Then it hit me as I was about to click the link....maybe it's not about storage solutions, as much as it is about just getting rid of the crap you don't use or need! Cue the lightbulb and sweeping orchestra music in a soft, but motivational crescendo! Could de-cluttering really be as simple as that!? Why did I never think of that before? What was going on in the complex, grey-matter electrical grid of my brain that this option was not at the forefront with all my other great ideas? Was it the B-Complex and Emergen-C I've been taking? Did that kick start the organization genius part of my brain somehow to finally have the real answer? However it came to be, the fact is....we are an obese nation....in body and material possessions. Why else would pseudo-reality tv shows like, Clean House, Hoarders, Storage Wars, etc be so popular? Because our nation can relate to the poor, unwise saps who allowed themselves to be filmed for the entire nation to see their drama being played out. Granted, in the end of some of the shows, the clutter has been conquered...but has the mind-set been conquered? It has to start from a new perspective. I remember the days when all I needed for furniture was a bed, dresser, side table, couch, coffee table, end tables, tv stand and dining room set. Some plants and a few decorator pieces such as a painting or two and some beautiful vases or sculptures. That was it. Simplicity. Practicality. I used to have more time for people, now I am giving my time to my things....to clean, organize, rotate and sometimes actually use. No more! This year, I have had a mind-set changing, perspective altering epiphany....get rid of the crap and don't buy storage solutions...because those are now part of the clutter mess as well! HAHA How freeing it is to be free mentally....which in turn has made me a speedy gonzales of de-cluttering now! I'm addicted! Get rid of it! I need more boxes for give-aways! Freecycle....you are my new best friend! Let's do it together! Letting go of the material things and striving for more relational things. Happy New Year!