Two weeks ago, time spent at Qugrainne’s site lit the fire to finally get going with rearranging my basement.
Qugrainne did it again…got me thinking, with this post.
How do you cultivate creativity in your life? Have you found the things that make you come alive? Are you doing them?
The easy answer is yes…and no.
Encouraged by a little self-therapy and a few gentle kicks in the butt from the host, I decided to ‘cultivate my creativity’ this past weekend.
Qugrainne mentioned my blog as an outlet for my creativity, which is certainly the case…at least most of the time. As we all do, I occasionally mail it in, but more often than not I agonize over the way my posts look, read, feel. I don’t know that I can break it down to a set of rules or anything, but I certainly have expectations when it comes to what sees the light of day. I would argue that all of us who blog exercise a certain level of creativity. But how else do I cultivate creativity?
Home decorating is one of the areas with which I satisfy the creative muse. Mary has always allowed me the freedom to decorate the house. I love using the house as a canvas to showcase the things that we love and the things that influence our lives. Mary and I are big readers, so you’ll find books everywhere. You’ll also see nods to British comedies and period films that we love, color schemes that fit our personalities, etc.
Back to this past weekend. Remember this?
Although much of the basement library work was done there was quite a large mess that still occupied my upstairs office space. Part of cultivating creativity this weekend involved getting the office back in shape. I am happy to report, “Success!!!”:
After a month of being surrounded by stuff, I am free!
As I sat there Sunday evening after it was all done I was almost in shock. I experienced the disorienting sensation that the room had doubled in size. I love it when everything is clean and in its place. Giving rooms a deep clean always feels like a creativity session to me as I rearrange things, consider different ways to display items, etc. I felt the glow of satisfaction of a job well done.
But that is not all.
Saturday and Sunday found me moving our old kitchen cabinets around to complete a sort of walled off area where the downstairs library is. I also used my sawhorses and our old, solid front door to create a work area, something I’ve wanted downstairs for awhile.
It lacks a certain charm, for the moment, but the area now serves the function that I wanted it to. I wanted an area to work on art and craft projects set up in a way that would provide inspiration.
Opportunity remains to cultivate creativity in this space. I want to add backing to these cabinets, paint it black, and use it as an area to display framed art that inspires me…my Anne-Julie Aubrey postcards and Jennifer Gordon postcards will certainly find their way there. I have started and need to finish filling these cabinets with all the odds and ends of craft material, wrapping paper, art supplies, etc. that are scattered around the basement.
It was quite the satisfying weekend. In the midst of the work I managed to spend some good time with the family as we made our way through the first 8 episodes of season 6 of Deep Space Nine (loving it!), celebrated James’ birthday at a fantastic (read: great food and company!!!) party hosted by his wife Jules, and watched part of the Olympics. In addition I got this year’s Fantasy Football league set up (The Conqueror Worms rule!!!) and made my way through some comics and graphic novels.
So…creativity…
How do you satisfy the muse? How would you answer the question I found on Qugrainne’s site (asked by Becca, by the way)?
How do you cultivate creativity in your life? Have you found the things that make you come alive? Are you doing them?
I know that I want to do more focused art projects in the future to satisfy that muse. I want to try new things in those areas. I also continue to try to mold Stainless Steel Droppings into a site that both satisfies my own needs and supports artists and readers alike. Books and art are of prime importance to me and if I can continue to encourage people to read and can support authors and artists I will be a happy man.
I would love to hear about your inspirations, your creative outlets (even those you may not be cultivating right now) and though Monday has passed, what did you do with your weekend?
And one last question, why is my muse blind and carrying a sword? 🙂
Cool! What a great post! You have inspired me to start cleaning out our tiny spare bedroom. I’ve been wanting a library/writing area for years, but just haven’t wanted to tackle the clutter that accumulated after my oldest 2 daughters moved out.
Great photos! I love the Forbidden Planet poster! My hubby and I collect vintage movie posters as well.
The muse is blind and carrying a sword because she is so dang sick of watching games, and if she sees one more fantasy football player she is likely to chop off his silly head!
Wow, Carl. I don’t think you slept this weekend – how satisfied you must feel.
Command central looks wonderful, cool stuff vibrating in the air, waiting to come to fruition. I know what you mean about a cleaning session feeling creative. There is creativity involved in arranging inspirational work and fond memories around a room – and it does seem to be followed by productive time.
I am so happy for you, to see that work space next to the library. Perfect spot for further invention, and I will be watching closely to see what emerges from that space!
My weekend was mostly about family, which was nice because they do not live in the same city, so get togethers must be arranged. I did think about/planned some clothing/art projects that have been percolating on the back burner. I have been collecting ‘stuff’ all summer, like ribbon and buttons and those pictures you can iron on… so hopefully in the next two weeks something will emerge. I will have to clean my desk again to have a work space with room for a sewing machine. That once upon a time clean and organized area tends to disappear pretty quickly. Your work has inspired me now.
Thanks, Carl. SSD is doing a great job, and definetly fulfills your mentioned goals.
Bobbi: Thank you so much. Its good to be giving some inspiration since I have been receiving so much lately. I hope you’ll post pics of your before and after and let me know when you’re done. The voyeur in me loves to see other people’s spaces.
That Forbidden Planet poster is one of my favorite vintage reproduction posters. I collect postcards like this and have a couple of books with old movie poster images in them. They don’t make movie posters like they used to, more’s the pity.
Qugrainne: (For those of you who don’t know, Qugrainne was born on a Monopoly board and since that time has developed an abject horror of games! 😉 )
I slept a little…and was sleepy a lot! Thanks again for the inspiration. Of course knowing that your desk is now messy and that you have to clean it up gives me that Star Wars “the student has become the Master” voice in my head. Ha!
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. My wife and I, along with our friend Keri, are going to go meet Colleen Gleason this coming weekend which should prove to be a great deal of fun!
Yes, Master. I will go home and clean my desk this afternoon. My excuse is my daughters see that nice, open space, and figure they should do their stuff there, too. (I can blame them because they won’t be reading this.)
Colleen Gleason? I am so jealous. I had to request her first book be sent to my library – I could not find it at the bookstore. Go figure. I plan to take it to the cottage this weekend, and I am looking forward to diving in.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Wow! Do you hire out??? Here’s an idea for a new career … you can travel around the world organizing all our basements–books and nooks! Seriously, though, you are inspiring me to take on some of those organizing projects! Thanks!
Hello Carl, thanks for your kind words about our home on wheels… Glad you enjoyed your wander at the Hermitage 🙂
All the best to you and your projects. I do like that trunk you have in your basement there 🙂
Rima
Robin: If I could actually make a living doing that I would be all over it in a hot minute! Being able to go through other people’s collections while organizing them. Wow, what a fantastic job that would be!!!
Rima: You’re welcome that place is awesome. For those of you who want to see something amazing…okay, many somethings amazing (she is a great artist as well), go here:
Into the Hermitage
And thanks Qugrainne for the link.
Thanks for the inspiration! You’re area does look a lot bigger and a great place for creativity.
Wow! now that was inspiration!.. oh, and I want that trunk! heh.
oh what i’d give to be able to have “my own space”, I could cry. but then I do that all the time anyway. The bookshelves I’d build and the posters would be all over my walls once again!!
I had a nearly 3 year writing experience .. ideas still float in my head for more but I can’t seem to get there again, and wonder if I ever will.
My reading is out of hand. (I say this because I know I shouldn’t be spending the money on books and there’s no library I can get to here) one day soon, like all else that seems to make me “happy” I will be sorry I didn’t save the money instead of “enjoying it”… ah well..
My weekend was spent going to the hospital and watching the olympics.. oh how I love the olympics! I think I like it so much because each and every person there is living their dream, how wonderful that must feel ! There’s no real loosing at the olympics as far as I’m concerned..you don’t loose when you are living your dream.
How right you are Deslily, the Olympians are indeed living their dreams. I love all the personal stories and give heartfelt congratulations to all who qualify as that is the result of a great deal of hard work and dedication, to be sure.
That quote “If I have a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes.” by Erasmus describes many of us! 🙂
The trunk is my wife’s great grandmother’s, I believe, and it is a great piece.
I hope all is going well for you and your brother.
Although I hate cleaning up after myself, the feeling of having it all put away and looking so neat is just an intense high. I wish I took the time to do it more often, but motivation tends to be lacking.
For me, I find that either scrapbooking or writing are good creative outlets.
This is a great picture for a muse! I showed it to my husband and he your muse is blind because she is onanistic.
Of course my second rate education means that I had to look that up…very funny!!!
that was quite the reorganisation. fancy sorting my life out for me!? kudos mr c. i’m finding my creativity stifled at the moment, and i’m sure it is linked to the chaos in my house.
that is indeed a fabulous trunk. i’m after something like that myself at the moment. my family’s hand me downs aren’t quite to my taste!!
Sure, just give me directions and I’ll be right over! 🙂
It is hard to want to do anything creatively when there are still messes around. I have a garage to clean and reorganize plus a little more to do in the basement. Need to ride this wave and get that done as well.
Nice re-org, Carl. Mine is in the way of a re-sorting, re-alphabetizing. I’m not moving any furniture or rearraingeing any spaces the way you’ve done. Good job.
Thanks. I enjoy decorating. My tastes aren’t for everyone, but Mary and I are both proud of our little home and love the way it reflects our interests.