Awaken Your Creativity - With The Right Book

I love journals and sketchbooks. I have several that I have never even used because I think they are too pretty to write in. That is the wonderful thing about journals and sketchbooks, their are so many to choose from that you can find something special to suit all your needs and moods.

These days you can find a book that suits your needs from pretty much anywhere. I recently saw some really nice books at my grocery store. When you are looking for a book, you need to find something that will work for your specific needs. If you are just using it for writing a lined journal may be best. If you are sketching, doing college, collecting things, then try a blank book.

There are many sources for finding unique handmade books. Etsy is a great place to start. Here are a few of my favorites. They are so beautiful, they are just waiting for you to fill the pages.

Butterfly Leather Journal by Kreativlink

Small Journal Pencil me in by nightowlcraftworks

Secret Treasure in Rainbow by journaljunky

Refillable Composition Notebook 41 by dailythreads

You can buy a nice simple blank or lined book and make it your own. Embellish the cover with photo's, college on your favorite items, cover it with pretty paper, that is the best part of a simple book, anything goes.

I created my own combinations by using a leather cover with a binder in the center and pockets on the sides, I added a sketchbook into one pocket, lined paper, a calendar, and my address book in the binder section. I really like having everything in one place, and only one book to carry around.

Remember to choose a size that works best for you. I have a small notebook I keep in purse for those notes I need to write when I am on the road. There are also fun shapes available too, so experiment till you find something you love.

Opening you book to those blank white pages can be daunting. Why not embellish them a little. Stamp you pages with encouraging words and designs, add a watercolor wash to a few pages for colored paper, or add envelopes or pockets for collecting thing. You can also do a combination of all these ideas, and I am sure once you get started you will come up with more ideas.

Remember keeping a journal is a journey of self discovery. Why not do it in a style that makes you happy.

Check out last weeks post for info on why keeping a journal/sketchbook is good for your creative process.

Have some ideas that have made your journal and sketchbook unique, I would love to hear them.

Do you make journals/sketchbooks? Share your link.

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Journal your way to Self Discovery

The road to finding inspiration is not straight and narrow, it's winding and unfamiliar. While on this journey keeping a journal/sketchbook gives your new inspired ideas a place to go. When ideas come you may not have all the details worked out, putting them down on paper will help you with the process.

Keeping a journal is not just about writing, it can be sketching, doodling, making lists, or even making a college. It's not something you have to do everyday, but when you are serious about growing and expressing through your art then it's worth taking a few minutes everyday to work out your ideas.

Remember, journals/sketchbooks are for all your ideas, good and bad. You should never filter or judge yourself on what you put down. These books are for your own personal thoughts and growth. What may seem like a bad idea at the time, may be your best idea ever when you look at it in the future.

The words and sketches you do will awaken your creative wisdom, which will help you make better decisions about the direction you take in your creative process, as well as set better goals that will be easier for you to reach.

Next week I will share journal/sketchbook options, from buying handmade, to creating your own, or embellishing a store bought book.

Share your experience about keeping a journal/sketchbook.

Anyone make journals or sketchbooks share your link for us all the check out!

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Your 2009 Success

As the end of the year quickly approaches, you start to think about all the things you did over the past year. You review your goals you set at the beginning of the year, you review your task lists, and it may not seem like you accomplished all that you had planned.

Instead of thinking about what you did not achieve, today I want you to focus on what you have done.

Make a list of your accomplishments for the past year. You don't have to do this all at once, take a few days or even a week and start listing.

When writing your list consider this...

New ways you promoted your business

New skills you learned and mastered

What you did to improve your online presence

People you helped

People you meet

What you tried that was completely new

Any causes you supported

New resources you found

What you did you enhance your work life

Grants/honors/awards you received

Articles written about your work

Once your list is written, give thanks for all the new people you meet, the things you learned and experienced. Take a few moments and be amazed at all the things you accomplished. Go forward knowing that you will be adding to those successes in the year to come.

What's the single best thing that happened to you in 2009?

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Journal Prompt

Grab your Journal, a cup of tea (or coffee), light some candles, find a comfy place to sit, and answer this question...

Are you ready for success?

It's always easy to say you are, but have you really thought about what your life would be like if you reached all your goals? And if you reach them are you ready for your new life as a success?

If you are having trouble getting started with this question, start with a list or brainstorming chart and then expand on those ideas. Try just free writing, writing what comes to mind, you will start with things that don't make sense, but the more you write you will soon get closer to answering the question.

Enjoy this time, if you don't get an answer, then just try again another day.

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Awaken your Creativity - Your Passion Statement

I have been reading about goals, creating plans, staying focused, and finding your passion, as I prepare for the new year. I have done a few posts to encourage you to start your planning process as well like What does success mean to you? What do you want in your life? and Creative Brainstorming.

Today, is about creating your Passion Statement.

It is similar to your elevator speech, but the focus of this statement is about the passion behind why you create or a have a business.

A passion statement also gives you the possibilities to transform your everyday experience. Read it everyday as a reminder of why you do what you do, and why you are working so hard to succeed.

Writing your Passion Statement

This is a quick and easy process. It's a process you don't have to do all at once, and it will be something you will revise often, as you grow as a person, a artist, and in your business.

Write whatever is in you head, use your brainstorming list from earlier this week. Pull out a few things that describe you as an artist/business person and, write your basic statement.

Keep your statement brief. It should flow freely, and every time you hear it you should get a shot of energy. Share it with your family and friends, let them ask questions, or see if it inspires them. Use their feedback to get you to your core statement.

Here's my statement. I just started working on it and it's a work in progress. I would love your feedback, what do you think?

I am building a blog community to focus on inspiration, creative process, and business. Together we can share our journey and support each other in our artistic endeavors.

Now it is time for you to give it a try. Grab your journal and start writing. I would love to see what you come up with, if you want to share, leave me a comment.

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Awaken your Creativity - A New Perspective

Do you ever get into a creative rut? Making the same thing over and over, or a different version of the same thing? Sometime you have to step back, and think like someone else.

Try looking at creativity from another persons perspective.

Choose a creative trade that is different from what you do now, but that you might enjoy.

Need some ideas:
Automobile designer
Lighting designer
Advertising
Fashion Designer
Architect

Now in your sketchbook or journal create a list of how they would find inspiration, skills they might need, what materials they would work with, how they would advertise their product.

You could also do this same project using a inspiring picture of something you love, and try to figure out their source of inspiration, what skills they used, the materials used, where you might find an advertisement for the product.

Take your time, you don't have to do this process all at once. It's just a simple exercise to help you look at things differently.

It does not matter which option you choose, when you are done you will have a list of new inspiration sources, possible new skills you could learn, new materials you could work with, and some new advertising ideas. Just adapt these ideas to what you have available, your time, and your skills.

Hang onto the list and refer back to it in the future or even when you are planning your goals for 2010.

What creative trade would you analyze?

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Journal Prompt

As we get closer to the end of the year, in the back of my mind I am thinking about my plans for 2010, and I am sure you are doing the same. In the next few weeks I plan to do a few posts on goal setting, planning for the new year, and growing our businesses. So today's journal prompt is to get you started with the process.

I know it is hard to think about that type of stuff when your busy with the holidays and shipping out packages, but as business people we have to make time, so we can have the success that we strive for. I promise to keep the ideas simple and easy to do.

Today is a journal prompt. It will require some time to think and you will want to write down things as they come to you. You don't have to do it all in one sitting, process it throughout the week, change your ideas as you go along, just make sure you include everything you come up with. What may seem like a bad idea now may be a good idea later.

OK, here is the question:

What does success mean to you?

Think about this question, be specific about your answer, consider things like:
→What would make you feel like a success?
→How many hours a day would you work?
→Would you work alone or have employees?
→What would you want your work space to look like?
→Create a list of what it would take for your to be a success.

Remember this is about you, don't compare yourself to anyone, or model your ideals around another business, concentrate on what it means to you. Once you have the answers, compile them into a statement that best describes what success means to you.

You will find as you move forward to setting your goals that this statement will be very helpful in making that process a little easier.

I will be working on this as well, I will share some of my plans and ideas with you in a future post. If their is any way I can assist you with the process or if anyone just wants to share please feel free to email me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com.

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Awaken you Creativity - Art Opportunity

I was reading the magazine Fiber Arts last week and in the back they have a listing of Competitions & Opportunities.

I saw this opportunity and I had to share

The Sketchbook Project: Library

Call for participants. Ongoing. Be one of the founding contributors to The Sketchbook Library by signing up to receive a sketchbook, filling it up with art, and sending it back. Sketchbooks offer a glimpse into an artist's life, which is why we want to make a publicly accessible library of sketchbooks that people can browse, peruse, and check out. This sketchbook collection has the potential to open a new line of communication between the artist and the viewer, since the experience of making and viewing are both so personal. Anyone can sign up to receive a sketchbook. Before joining our permanent collection, sketchbooks will be exhibited at select galleries across the United States. Each sketchbook will be barcoaded and cataloged, allowing visitors to choose what they want to look at via theme, medium, geographic location, name of the artist, etc. Sketchbooks will be shown in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Chicago, Atlanta, and St. Louis. To sign up to receive a sketchbook, www.thesketchbookproject.com. For more info on Art House, www.arthousecoop.com.

Sound like a great opportunity. Are you going to give it a try? Let me know. I would love to feature you on the blog.

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Creative Business - Make a List

Today is a quick tip to help you stay organized during the busy holiday season.

Write a To-Do-List everyday

The best way to do this, is at the end of your work day or before bed take 5 minutes and write down everything you have to do on the next day. Transfer over anything you did not complete that day, and add all the new things that need to get done.

Do you have goals set for the holiday season? Consider reviewing you goals and action steps once a week to make sure you are on track and to keep your momentum going. If not consider writing some goals for a successful season. Here are a few posts to help you create actions steps , ideas for setting goals, and staying with your goals.

You can do this in your sketchbook if you use it everyday or a planning calendar. I use a calendar so I can keep track of everything I need to do everyday, including what my daughter needs, and things I need to do at home. Try the ideas in this post for the best book to suit your needs.

Once you start creating your daily list it will easily become a habit. It is nice to know that you are achieving your goals and staying on top of everything.

Want to read more about To-Do-Lists

You are NEVER going to complete your to do list by Laurel Plum

5 Tips for Simplifying You Holidays by Laurie on Tip Junkie

Just a Little by Gordie Carver on Handmade News

Do you make a daily list? Do you find it to be helpful with your business and everyday life?

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Awaken you Creativity - Start a Photo Journal

A few weeks ago we talked about the different type of journals in the post Journal Styles. Each one serves a different function and can help with your creative process in different way. Why not start a photo journal, it can be a visual record of your various types of inspiration.

You don't need a special camera for this a disposable will work just fine. The main point is to take pictures of intersting textures, unusual details or general scenic shots to help you retain the flavor of your inspiration source.

To get the most out of your photographic experience, try these ideas for your interesting pictures.

♦Concertrate on things the naked eye usually takes for granted. Such as shadow, pattern, or the true shape of an object.

♦Create interesting views by focusing on the background and blurring the foreground.

♦Use your view finder to isolate interesting subjects and experiment with close up and far away shots.

♦If you want accurate detail shoot at midday or with the sun to your back. Want something more abstract shoot into the sun.

♦Want to study light and dark take your picutes in black-and-white.

Once you start your collection download them on your computer and print hard copies. Keep your hard copies in a book, something you can refer to often for inspiration, and have your computer download for backup.

Take your camera with you everywhere, you never know when inspiration will strike, be prepared so you can have that source of inspiration forever.

Journal Prompt - Look through some of your favoite photo's and create a list of one thing from each photo and how it makes you feel. Do you see a theme? Design something based on that theme.

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Awaken Your Creativity - Take a Hike

This is the best time of year. The trees change color and shed their leaves, and the air is cool and crisp.

A great way to awaken your creativity is to take a hike. It can be a in a city park, the country, or the woods, whatever works for you.

You will need a camera (don't have one try a disposable) on this journey or if you prefer a sketchbook with supplies, and a notebook or journal.

When you start your walk take your time, click pictures of plants, trees, stones, sticks, from a distance and very close up. Don't forget the birds and bugs, the colors on them can be amazing. Collect items for your visual journal or idea box, so you can refer to them in the future. And most important enjoy being outside and absorbing nature.

What nature can do to help with your creative process:

Plants can help you develop color schemes

Trees give you ideas for working texture

Stones can inspire new shapes as well as color

Birds and bugs are great for color, texture, and shape

It's nice to have time to let your mind wander and taking a hike will let you do just that. You will be surprised how the ideas start flowing while you are on your hike. Don't forget to write them down as they pop into your head, when you are on a hike there are no bad ideas.

Journal prompt - While on your hike take a few moments and describe what you see around you. How does it make you feel? What do you smell? What do you hear? Keep this info in your journal.

Where is your favorite place to awaken your creativity?

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Awaken Your Creativity - Journal Styles

Keeping a journal or a sketchbook is a personal experience for everyone, and only you can find the best approach to suit your needs for creative expression.

Lucky for us their is more then one way to keep a journal or sketchbook, and more then one type of journal/sketchbook you can work in.

Besides a written journal where you can work out the emotional aspects of your art and process, or a standard sketchbook where you work out your design development, you can also have a visual journal, a technical journal, and a business journal.

A Visual Journal - is used to record, collect, and explore objects, subjects, situations, and experiences. The information in your visual journal should expand your design thinking, explore your aspects of visual design, and become a central resource for your work. Your visual journal could include sketches, drawings, diagrams, sample objects, photo's, literature, or anything stimulating.

I love art and jewelry magazines for inspiration, so my visual journal is a binder with ripped out pages from the magazines in page protectors. It also helps so I don't have stacks and stacks of magazines all over my house.

Find a way to collect your inspiration in a format that you will have easy access for everyday use.

A Technical Journal - can be used as part of you regular sketchbook and journal process. Save some space to record your process of exploration, and the outcome. Think of it as a recipe book. Use it to record supplies, where to purchase them, how they are used, and special requirements. A technical journal is one way to avoid having to constantly reinvent the wheel.

A Business Journal - is a place to track your business activities connected to your business. I use my planner to track my business activities, and with the information I gather I hope to be able to set better goals for next year.

Which ever type of journal you choose to use, each one will help you discover your creative style and guide you to create and run your business.

Have you ever tried any of these types of journals? Share your experience of how keeping one has helped in your creative process.

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Awaken you Creativity - Journal Time

Here are a few tips to help you use your journal/sketchbook often, and to get those creative juices flowing.

-Schedule your journal time
-Do it daily
-Find some quite time in your day to get you started
-Clear your mind
-Consistency will help to maintain a schedule
-Stick to your schedule
-Take your time seriously
-Learn to recognize your own resistance, so you can overcome them
-Develop your own approach

Your journal is your place for your inner vision to imagine,what a thought, feeling, or emotional reaction would look like, and you can express it as a color, shape or image, not just in words.

Journal prompt - What does being creative give you?

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Journal Prompt - Your 2010 Creative Plan

Over the past few weeks I have shared some ideas for setting goals and making plans for the new year. You can check out posts like What does success to mean to you? What do you want in life? and Creative Brainstorming for ideas for your planning.

When you make your plans for 2010, don't forget a creative plan for learning new skills, growing as an artist, and to help you creatively stay on track.

The easiest way to get started is create a list of all the skills you want to learn, new techniques you want to try, and what type of new items you want to add to your collection. Give each item a number of importance, and add dates for completion. Use a whole journal page, take as much time as you need, then when you are done you will have something you can review often.

What do you want to learn new to expand your creativity this year?

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