We see many ways people have "creatively" solved a problem, but that is really an act of ingenuity. The clever or inventive solution. In fact creativity starts really when the needed acts of ingenuity are done. The artistic endeavors that are manifestations of truly creative efforts, have nothing to do with the practicalities of problem solving. They react to the emotional aftermath of the immediate. We see the creative in so many histories and cultures. Even ancient peoples, whose identity we can barely discern, exhibited creativity, cave painting for example. Too often it gets interpreted as having some kind of deep religious meaning, but if they had only been dealing with the day to day acts of eating, mating , and staying safe, they would not have used the creativity to find the pigments and the tools to put those pictures on the wall. Was it solving a problem? No, it was creative.
While people have often told me I am clever, I sometimes hesitate to say I am very creative.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
leading from the middle of the pack
It was brought home to me once again that it is not those figures of leadership that bring innovation or creativity or even drive to any given enterprise. It is those in the trenches doing the day to day work who see how things can and should be changed to the improvement of all.
I have often thought that those who engineer or design an item should be willing to spend intimate time with it for several weeks. Those who lead troops should be on the battle field. And doctors should be the ones responsible for dealing with any aftermath. But it is the consumer and the soldier and the nurses who really know the shortcomings and improvements that need to happen, but the willingness of those with the power to direct widespread change seem too often deaf to the value of what their subordinates are telling them.
But I will try doing my part. I will continue putting forth ideas for improvement and change where it affect me.
I have often thought that those who engineer or design an item should be willing to spend intimate time with it for several weeks. Those who lead troops should be on the battle field. And doctors should be the ones responsible for dealing with any aftermath. But it is the consumer and the soldier and the nurses who really know the shortcomings and improvements that need to happen, but the willingness of those with the power to direct widespread change seem too often deaf to the value of what their subordinates are telling them.
But I will try doing my part. I will continue putting forth ideas for improvement and change where it affect me.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
in search of something lost
I have spent more than a month and a half on a quest to recover my self. It started with an operation to remove my uterus because of massive fibroids. I was assured it was something I would not regret because my life would be so much better without all the side effects of the tumors. and being nearly fifty and beyond "safe" child bearing years even if the damned thing was working right this seemed like a wise idea. I had enough sick leave for the projected recovery period and a job where I could go back to work in a light duty capacity and do fine.
I am choosing to forget the hospital stay and dealing with the pain and coming out of anesthesia.
after the staples were removed 9 days later the insicion had not closed properly and an infection had set in.
Extreme buggies. an anerobic bacteria and a drug resistant bacteria were the main culprits.
Since then my whole being has been focused on healing and coping with the frustration of being off work, having little energy and taking drugs to kill buggies and deal with the pain.
Creativity needs a different venue to fill my life. I can only hope I find the space for creativity again soon.
I am choosing to forget the hospital stay and dealing with the pain and coming out of anesthesia.
after the staples were removed 9 days later the insicion had not closed properly and an infection had set in.
Extreme buggies. an anerobic bacteria and a drug resistant bacteria were the main culprits.
Since then my whole being has been focused on healing and coping with the frustration of being off work, having little energy and taking drugs to kill buggies and deal with the pain.
Creativity needs a different venue to fill my life. I can only hope I find the space for creativity again soon.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
cabin fever
How do you find the time to be creative in the midst of chaos? With so much happening around me, my brain finds no way to take stock of new ideas. With so many other things to be done my brain gets no chance to capture the fleeting thought that could lead to something. Making some time and space becomes more and more critical. A feeling that I may lose myself, melting into the chaos, teases along my nerves and the peace and quiet I crave becomes as important as air to my survival.
But try living with someone in a tiny one room cabin. The desire for solitude pushes them out the door. And why not not me out the door? Because I have no place to go for the solitude. The world out there is full of people and I need the space to talk to myself, dance, sing, sketch, curse or just think. The someone though doesn't spend all day every day of the work week surrounded by those with needs and time sensitive tasks.
Maybe I can learn to ask a bit more nicely.
But try living with someone in a tiny one room cabin. The desire for solitude pushes them out the door. And why not not me out the door? Because I have no place to go for the solitude. The world out there is full of people and I need the space to talk to myself, dance, sing, sketch, curse or just think. The someone though doesn't spend all day every day of the work week surrounded by those with needs and time sensitive tasks.
Maybe I can learn to ask a bit more nicely.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
8 ideas for decorating the tree
If you just can't afford the shiny glass balls and the sparkly plastic tinsel and garland or if you want to make your tree a one of a kind work of art, here are some great ornament ideas.
Christmas ornaments
Some cheap/free ideas for homemade ornaments that can look very nice.
There are many ways to add sparkle and color to your Christmas without spending a bundle.
1.Use a heavy aluminum foil pan trace out stars and other shapes. color with permanent markers and punch a hole and hang.
2.Create stars from small "tin" cans. Cut off the upper rim and cut the sides into 1/4 inch strips down to the bottom rim. Cut some similar strips off another can, they should be about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide. twist and bundle the strips on the first can in groups of three, fours or fives depending on the number of strips and how tall you can was. wrap a free strip around the bundle about 1/2 an inch from the lowest end. crimp it tight. use pliers to curl the ends of the bundled strips. do this for the whole can. Use spray paint to add color. Be careful the cut metal can be sharp. The end effect can be very ornate. Try cutting cans of different sizes and stacking the stars to make a wall decoration. I use a tomato paste can or small juice can for my small stars.
3.Cut the 1/4 inch strips off a large can and punch a hole in one end. Twist them slightly and hang as icicles from the tree.
4.Use small scraps of wrapping paper to make origami ornaments. There are tons of directions on the internet.
5.Make large size beads out of magazines, newspapers, bread dough clay, or salt dough. String them into a garland. Find instructions at your library or on the internet.
6.Use ribbon as streamers and bows on the tree.
7.Cut the top and bottoms off of aluminum cans and use a craft punch to make shapes from the light gage metal. Use markers, finger nail polish or spray paint to color.
8.Use small scraps (6 inches or so) of heavy gage copper wire. bend these into coils, spirals, zigzags. Use baking soda to clean them. paint them if you want or leave coppery. string an few beads onto the hanging loop for extra color.
Many of these ornaments look nice enough that I have actually made and sold them at craft fairs and people could not buy them fast enough.
Christmas ornaments
Some cheap/free ideas for homemade ornaments that can look very nice.
There are many ways to add sparkle and color to your Christmas without spending a bundle.
1.Use a heavy aluminum foil pan trace out stars and other shapes. color with permanent markers and punch a hole and hang.
2.Create stars from small "tin" cans. Cut off the upper rim and cut the sides into 1/4 inch strips down to the bottom rim. Cut some similar strips off another can, they should be about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch wide. twist and bundle the strips on the first can in groups of three, fours or fives depending on the number of strips and how tall you can was. wrap a free strip around the bundle about 1/2 an inch from the lowest end. crimp it tight. use pliers to curl the ends of the bundled strips. do this for the whole can. Use spray paint to add color. Be careful the cut metal can be sharp. The end effect can be very ornate. Try cutting cans of different sizes and stacking the stars to make a wall decoration. I use a tomato paste can or small juice can for my small stars.
3.Cut the 1/4 inch strips off a large can and punch a hole in one end. Twist them slightly and hang as icicles from the tree.
4.Use small scraps of wrapping paper to make origami ornaments. There are tons of directions on the internet.
5.Make large size beads out of magazines, newspapers, bread dough clay, or salt dough. String them into a garland. Find instructions at your library or on the internet.
6.Use ribbon as streamers and bows on the tree.
7.Cut the top and bottoms off of aluminum cans and use a craft punch to make shapes from the light gage metal. Use markers, finger nail polish or spray paint to color.
8.Use small scraps (6 inches or so) of heavy gage copper wire. bend these into coils, spirals, zigzags. Use baking soda to clean them. paint them if you want or leave coppery. string an few beads onto the hanging loop for extra color.
Many of these ornaments look nice enough that I have actually made and sold them at craft fairs and people could not buy them fast enough.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Happier Holidays
Besieged by the holiday buying madness, when you know the money just isn’t there? Discounts here and coupons there still compete with the messages that we need to buy buy buy, whats hot, whats cool or whats the most fun. But the reality is some creativity and a little time can make you anything but scrooge.
Games
Make a tic tac toe board out of a scrap of wood that has been sanded and stained. Paint or wood burn the lines and then provide the pieces. Game pieces can be anything from flat marbles, painted stones, golf tees with the bottoms cut off. Do a little research to find other games you can recreate.
Memory is also a fun game to make. Just draw a series of doodles that are about 2 inches in size, you will want about 24 of them. Make sure each one is different. Make a copy of your work. Then cut out the pieces and glue them to pieces of poster board and coat them with a clear finish. Lotto is version where the second set of doodles get glued onto cards in sets of six. The objective is for players to draw the six pictures that match their card.
Knitting a scarf. Hand knitted scarves are very popular and you can create a very nice one for the cost of the cheapest skein of yarn you can find and a set of knitting needles. This a great beginner project with practical use.
Candle making, there are tons of fun and interesting techniques for making one of a kind candles for the small price of some wax and some crayons for color.
Roll up tool kits and make-up kits are an easy project for beginning sewers as are fleece hats. Monster dolls are popular and take very little sewing skill to make.
Artistic wind chimes can be created from odd bits of hardware and some monofilament.
Beaded jewelry can be simple, elegant, and cheap. Use monofilament and string a random assortment of beads in a strand long enough to go over your head, tie the ends together and tuck them back through a few beads then clip.
You can create beads from paper or wire to uses in your work.
Bird feeders and bird houses are easy projects working with wood. Books and on-line directions are readily available.
Old, torn clothing can be recycled into handbags and grocery bags and even quilts if you want a big project.
Looking for more ideas, check out the items being sold on Etsy or eBay. Some great sources for project directions can be found with a little research on-line or at your nearest library. Most of these projects can be made in less than an hour.
These are all things you can find for sale at craft shows and even on-line stores, but you can make them yourself and no-one need ever know you spent so very little money, because you gave them something from your heart.
Games
Make a tic tac toe board out of a scrap of wood that has been sanded and stained. Paint or wood burn the lines and then provide the pieces. Game pieces can be anything from flat marbles, painted stones, golf tees with the bottoms cut off. Do a little research to find other games you can recreate.
Memory is also a fun game to make. Just draw a series of doodles that are about 2 inches in size, you will want about 24 of them. Make sure each one is different. Make a copy of your work. Then cut out the pieces and glue them to pieces of poster board and coat them with a clear finish. Lotto is version where the second set of doodles get glued onto cards in sets of six. The objective is for players to draw the six pictures that match their card.
Knitting a scarf. Hand knitted scarves are very popular and you can create a very nice one for the cost of the cheapest skein of yarn you can find and a set of knitting needles. This a great beginner project with practical use.
Candle making, there are tons of fun and interesting techniques for making one of a kind candles for the small price of some wax and some crayons for color.
Roll up tool kits and make-up kits are an easy project for beginning sewers as are fleece hats. Monster dolls are popular and take very little sewing skill to make.
Artistic wind chimes can be created from odd bits of hardware and some monofilament.
Beaded jewelry can be simple, elegant, and cheap. Use monofilament and string a random assortment of beads in a strand long enough to go over your head, tie the ends together and tuck them back through a few beads then clip.
You can create beads from paper or wire to uses in your work.
Bird feeders and bird houses are easy projects working with wood. Books and on-line directions are readily available.
Old, torn clothing can be recycled into handbags and grocery bags and even quilts if you want a big project.
Looking for more ideas, check out the items being sold on Etsy or eBay. Some great sources for project directions can be found with a little research on-line or at your nearest library. Most of these projects can be made in less than an hour.
These are all things you can find for sale at craft shows and even on-line stores, but you can make them yourself and no-one need ever know you spent so very little money, because you gave them something from your heart.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
creativity vs popularity
When I indulge in my creativity I so often hear a cheer leader in my head encouraging me to make the best... ever. I get these thoughts about making money or winning prizes and I know its very unlikely for several reasons. For one, I find these days I get bored with doing anything over and over again which makes developing a business based on my creativity a challenge. I also have the struggle between making something to satisfy me or something that will be popular and sell well.
Another reason is that the outcome of my efforts never quite matches my vision and as a result I am not entering anything into a contest to win prizes.
These days my creativity has been subverted to making stuff to sell to raise money for our school garden. As a result the popularity of what I am doing figures prominently in my actions.
I have a friend who writes novels. She is struggling with writing for market or writing to tell the stories she wants to tell as she wants to tell them.
Its a struggle common to many of us I guess.
Another reason is that the outcome of my efforts never quite matches my vision and as a result I am not entering anything into a contest to win prizes.
These days my creativity has been subverted to making stuff to sell to raise money for our school garden. As a result the popularity of what I am doing figures prominently in my actions.
I have a friend who writes novels. She is struggling with writing for market or writing to tell the stories she wants to tell as she wants to tell them.
Its a struggle common to many of us I guess.
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