Create, Shine, Blossom

This is going to be a bit of a long winded post, but I'll try to say what I mean. Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about creativity and something that one of the glow girls talked about in a glow blog post, about creating something every day. Here is what she said: 

‘Create for the sake of getting your hands dirty, create cause it makes YOU smile.

Put a poem, or a drawing, or a story on a piece of paper... if only to fill in the empty blank space.

Create a [SOMETHING] everyday... No matter how big or small.’

(Jaime Lyn Beatty) I really like this. The idea of creating just BECAUSE. So many things that these girls say are wondeful and inspirational. I really need to save them all in the same place because I always lose those quotes I love. Anyway, I try to create every day. I try to write every day, because I need to and it just makes me feel so much better.

But I find myself experimenting with other ways of creating too. Like over the summer I told you all that I got into bracelet making - both friendship bracelets and beads and I LOVE doing that. I also like drawing, and baking, and recently I've started to get back into little sewing projects because I used to do that a lot when I was little, and also photography because I have a groovy amazing new camera. And I have learnt to knit! I have also, very very recently started something that I've wanted to play around with for ages and finally because of an amazing blog I found (Daisy Yellow) have started. And that is art journalling. The idea of creating a notebook/sketchbook full of just paint and sticking things on and words and all that sort of stuff has always fascinated me, but I have been too scared to 'do' art. Having read a few things, plucked up the courage to join art soc, and started helping with this kids art group I have finally got round to doing it. And so far it is so much fun. I think in a way it is freeing to know that NO ONE has to see this. I know it's the same with other stuff, but I don't know, sometimes you just have to do something for you, and it's nice to do something really new. Especially when it's raining so much and I daren't take my camera out :( And doing other stuff like that gives me new writing inspiration, and especially as I am doing a creative writing MA I think it is important.  It kind of extends the whole drawing thing too.

Do some of you find that? You have to experiment with other creative stuff, which influences/recharges your writing?

Anyway I'm really excited about this new 'venture' of sorts.

So I said this was going to be longwinded. The other thing I wanted to write about, connects up with all this creating and creativity and glow.  I think a while ago I wrote about Glow* and how awesome and inspirational it was? (Glow) and of course I started this post with them. Well anyway, a post on the site inspired a group of us to get together and create a forum space that allowed one another to create and support one another, and help one another grow in confidence with their work, and in sharing it. We chose to name this project shine, because creating should make you shine and blossom. The website is now live here, with a link there for the forum so do check it out, and as many of you are writers it may appeal. It is all still being tested and worked out, so this is still a work in progress! At the moment the community is built around those who have come from glow*, a very safe sharing community, but we would love to welcome more people who love to create ANYTHING!

Phew.

Thanks if you read that far.

August Madness

The Olympics have absoutely flown by; I can't believe it's the last day tomorrow! I have got so into it, I have become totally absorbed by it all and have loved every minute, particuarly the tennis, sailing, swimming, diving... and so much more! So over the moon that Murray won a gold, and a silver. That was amazing!

And it's August, how did that happen? The last few weeks seem to have gone incredibly quickly, and I haven't been blogging as much as I would have liked. Oh well, life happens. I have been busy reading, writing and making lots of braclets (fantastic while watching olympics). Writing has been going well; I wrote most of a short story yesterday, which I was pleased with, and most of a chapter of something else. I really need to do some editing however, and I am clearly putting that off. I will get down to it. I will.

I am also trying to sort out all the details for my MA starting next month (next month?! That's awful scary really). I need to choose my modules and everything, and I'm also beginning to work out when to move back and all of that stuff. Where did the last few weeks go?

I'm excited, but things are becoming very real and I'm relucant to let go of the summer yet. I know I still have a month or so to go but still.

Also, over the summer I have been making lots of bracelets and I'm thinking of trying to sell them. Any ideas/tips?

Being Creative

Wow! July, when did that happen?

It is the Men's Quarter Finals at Wimbledon today and once again Murray has reached the semis - it's going to be a tense afternoon! I can 't believe how quickly these two weeks have gone though. The rest of the summer is going to speed by too - my graduation is coming up in a couple of weeks (scary) and the rest of it is going to sped by. We have had some lovely days weather wise, with lots of reading and writing outside, and I have got into bracelet making and have just ordered lots of beads and stuff (very exciting) and I've been teaching myself to make exciting friendship bracelets I always wanted to know how to make, and it's surprisingly easy! Need to buy some more thread though, which is irritating. Feeling quite creative at the moment, with lots of ideas buzzing around, not just for stories and writing, but other things, which I like. I like this feeling of proper creativity. On glow* there is a post (I must find it - visit glow knowyourglow.com it's amazing, it is really inspiring) about doing something creative every day, and that's what I try to do, because I know it makes me so much happier. I know I have editing to do too - and I'm going to do some this morning as it's rather gloomy out. The worries are also settling in about other stuff, which isn't helping. I know that really I need to get a summer job, but I can't really find anything at the moment and it's difficult and worrying me a little bit now.

Well, I'm going to go do some editing and writing now. Enjoy Wimbledon (if you're following that is!).