My Creative Process

My first blog posting was on January 18, 2009. In this debut post I mentioned I would , at a later date, give a little insight into my creative process. I stated "I have always had this energy within that calls me to create things with my hands. I feel a deeper sense of accomplishment and ownership of my handmade creations. It feels as if I have called something into being. The final product is a piece that I can proudly stand back and say "Yes! I did that. I made it happen".

That is the most honest statement I have ever made about the creative process within me. Creativity is not of me but a process by which I am called into creation. Each item I make be it a sewn, baked, written, drawn or photographed represents a piece of my being. A part of myself that needed to be released from my inner depths. My creativity keeps me honest, sane, challenged and even a bit afraid at times.

When I begin to fret or let my inner critic censor me then whatever attempted to come to the surface gets lost. I can feel it rumbling around within me, desperately seeking a way back to the surface. It becomes a sadness that feels me with longing. "Please come back to me" I call to it, "I promise to be here for you". Sometimes it returns.

I can't do artistic expression in a controlled environment. I thrive in the chaos of my creation space. The scattered papers and books, the bits of fabric and stray pieces of thread, the dust of flour and splatter of batter, the digital camera photos waiting patiently to downloaded and then called to life in new form, each of these represent the phantoms that hoover, float and glide through me. Each one patiently awaiting my attention. Each one eagerly guides me when I relax and listen. When I am in the mood to sew. I sew. When I am in the mood to write. I write. When I am in the mood to bake. I bake. I don't argue with it anymore. I don't tell myself this is not the time or place. I don't insult my creativity with practicality. Creativity is not practical. That is not its role. It is sacred space.

When the completed creation presents itself before me, I can't help but marvel at it. I am grateful for the beauty of its being.

And the Winner is...

Spelt!

There is a wall you reach in your daily diet once you remove animal products. The grains, legumes and vegetables that you grew up eating quickly become tiresome and boring. OH! Corn? How ever, shall I make it? Rice? How ever shall I make it? Beans? How ever shall I make them? You don't need to be pushed out of your childhood food nest because you leap to escape the monotony of it all.

Legumes were the first area I choose to explore. I quickly realized I require my legumes paired with some sort of grain. I did try making salads that included legumes. The only one that didn't offend my tongue when mixed with lettuce was the chickpea.

Rice was in heavy rotation. I swapped it out with groats. I found groats to be a wonderful and sustaining substitute. Quinoa intimidated me. I made it once but couldn't decide if I liked it or not. That bothered me because my food preferences are normally cut and dry. I like it. I don't. Ain't no half stepping...except with Quinoa.

Well, tonight was grain adventure night. I decided to try out some spelt I had in my pantry. May I just say, my curiosity about this grain was rewarded. This stuff is fan-freaking-tastic! I am a fan. Spelt stands alone.

Goggle search shows that spelt is one of the 9 original grains mentioned in the bible, was grown in the Fertile Crescent as far back as 5000 BC, is the grandfather of wheat and is nutrient and fiber rich.

There is a fabulous spelt soup simmering on my stove. I am so looking forward to having a bowl. Spelt. It's what's for dinner!

Living in America

First, I am grateful to have a "I was there..." story that brings me to a place of civic pride instead of horror and dismay. It was tough at work. I fought like hell not to succumb to emotion and remain professional. Needless, to say I was reduced to a blubbering mess at various times throughout the day.


After the November 4, 2008 election, my friend called from Ghana saying "You Americans are a great people!! A great people!" He is absolutely right. It feels good to be American. E pluribus unum-Out of Many, One.

So, now the work of begins for all of us.


***Here is an interesting tidbit taken from Wikipedia.***
"Never codified by law, E pluribus unum was considered a de facto motto of the United States until 1956 when the United States Congress passed an act (H.J. Resolution 396), adopting In God We Trust as the official motto."

Random Thought of the Day:
The national motto always makes me wonder whose God do we trust and why?

Inauguration 2009

Today is Martin Luther King Day and the eve of the United States inauguration. As set out in the 20th Amendment of the US Constitution, Barack Obama, former community organizer and law professor, will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Tomorrow history will unfold itself for me.

Recalling the election night victory still fills me with a sense of pride, joy, disbelief and awe. But, as I experience this Obama induced euphoria I can still think rationally. There may be a decision or policy that calls forth the spirit of my inner shoe thrower.

That being said, the vocal styling of Billy Holiday singing the line "the memory of all that, no, no they can't take that away from me" captures my feelings about the election and inauguration beautifully.



Random Thought of the Day:
"I wonder what Michelle is wearing?"

A Machine and a Dream

2009 is gearing up to be an amazing year. My ongoing list of things I will accomplish this year just got a bit shorter. Last night, I used my new sewing machine for the first time.

My sophomore year in high school I had a home economics class that briefly touched upon sewing, among other domestic duties. I do vaguely recall my mother sewing things on occasion but I never got into sewing.

I have always had this energy within that calls me to create things with my hands. I feel a deeper sense of accomplishment and ownership of my handmade creations. It feels as if I have called something into being. The final product is a piece that I can proudly stand back and say "Yes! I did that. I made it happen". (I will blog more about what my creative process entails, later.)

My first sewing craft accomplishment is the pair of hemmed blue jeans I am wearing right now. I am now converting an old over-sized, light blue turtleneck into a cute gathered shirt with 3/4 length sleeves. I got the idea from a sewing blog where a woman used an old t-shirt to do the same thing.

A major aspect of my sewing adventure is the reuse and reconstruction of clothes I have but don't wear anymore. My mini goal is to make cute craft items such as stuffed animals, bags and cards to sell at local farmers markets. I will stress the "reuse and reconstruct" value inherent in every piece I create and present for sale.

One major creative challenge for me is parting with the pieces I make. I make something and end up thinking "Oooh. I really like this..." and then it is over. The piece gets added to my personal collection. I am my biggest patron.

My next sewing adventure? Aprons! Retro-aprons. I promised 3 friends handmade retro-aprons. The pattern I bought gives instruction for 3 different types of aprons. It will work perfect because the individual apron styles compliment the different personalities of my friends. Photos will be coming! I am going to blog/vlog the whole process.

Well, I am off to visit a few sewing/craft stores near my area. I live in downtown Seattle. I will head up to a cute local sewing shop called Stitches. Normally, I would not plug a business on this blog but I find the staff there so freaking friendly and helpful I have no choice but to send them a shout out.

Random Thought of the Day:
"I'd like to be deep and profound but I'm drawing a blank."