You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion
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What have you made lately?
Yay! I made this to sell on eBay and now she wants a matching hat too. Woohoo! I'm going to start on the newborn baby hat with teddy ears hopefully today or tomoz.
That's great, Sarah! Maybe you could start your own little shop on eBay? :)
Beautiful, Sarah. How many hours it takes you to do one of these bears?
Thank you both =] It didn't take long at all. He's about 5 and a half inches tall. I made him in 4-5 hours I think. I made him over the course of a day and a half. I'll time in next time. I'm tempted to make a shop on Etsy and eBay and people can choose what they'd like and then I make it for them.
It's a great idea, Sarah. You are very talented!
I think it's a good idea too, Sarah. I reckon you could get a nice little business going.
Such a cute little teddy .. Great work.
Worked on this for like 1 week .. I made it differently than the pattern .. So I had to open it and re do it dozen timeshttps://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/...
Those are very cute!I have made several pairs of gemstone earrings, am working on mounting 5 paintings and have started repairing/restoring an old batik of my Dad's to make him smile :)
Thanks guys .. I've been busy crocheting lately .. Made a doily and a voodoo pincushion I should get back to reading soon .. Will share the pictures next time ;D
Deborah wrote: "Those are very cute!I have made several pairs of gemstone earrings, am working on mounting 5 paintings and have started repairing/restoring an old batik of my Dad's to make him smile :)"
I love the look of batik though I have never tried it myself - is it hard to do?
Sarah wrote: "I made a cute Stegosaur for my bf's nephew, it's super cute I want one for myself.Love the stegosaur
"
I've been doing textiles since forever and I would say it is 'easy' to do BUT the more time one is willing to take at every stage of the work, the better the outcome. It has taught me to overcome the hurry for an outcome to which I was prone when younger. Also - it's easy for me to say it's easy! I find it interesting and challenging but it can be very straightforward for a beginner. I'm hoping to start teaching a creativity class for people who think they are not creative - it's my belief that everyone is creative but most of us lack confidence and fear failing, so never find out what we might have done. Lucky for me I am stubborn by nature so when I mess up I just go back and try again.
Deborah wrote: "it's my belief that everyone is creative but most of us lack confidence and fear failing, so never find out what we might have done."I had two teachers in high school that were husband and wife; The husband taught art, the wife English/Literature. The husband believed that anyone can learn to be artistic. The wife believed that it was a God-given talent that not everyone was born with. I tend to lean towards the side that artistic ability and creativity are something that you are born with. And I was not blessed with those talents.
I wish I could learn to be creative, I can copy some things (making jewelry for example), but when it comes to inventing my own ideas, I draw a blank 99.9% of the time. And even when I have something I'm trying to copy, I can visualize it, but my hands just don't seem to be able to do what is needed to make whatever it is.
If you were closer, I would totally take your creativity class though, Deborah! If it can be learned, I want to learn! LOL.
KimeyDiann - I would agree people don't all have the same level of ability at ANYTHING, that wasn't my meaning at all! As to thinking up original thoughts/ideas - I don't think there is any such thing. A lot of work is frankly derivative - and so what? Other stuff is covertly derivative haha! There's not much original about me or my creative stuff. What I realised years ago is (this is a secret - shh!) that I don't care what the onlooker thinks. I have a modest talent and a whole lot of chutzpah, basically. And that's it! Aside from that, get a bunch of clothes out and play with colours - put them next to each other and look at how the colours modify each other. If you can't see that happening then I would say colour isn't your creative thing. Because what is being creative?If you sit down and 'try' to have a creative idea, you'll mainly draw a blank. If you go to an Art gallery/a garden/the beach/shopping/poking about on Pinterest etc you will see lots of stuff and think - oooh! I could do that or - how was that made or - I wonder if I could put that on fabric instead of carving it from stone etc......that IS your own idea! You juxtaposed the concepts your own self. You don't have to do anything WITH the idea to be a Creative Person - but it's lovely fun to try!
Your hands - well, mine wouldn't do what I wanted them to do - so I did it over and over and over - and that's how you gain a skill, it's not inborn. So, most people can learn to trust their creative impulses and most people can learn some skills, if they can be bothered to practice. And I also think most people who can be bothered to practice can do both of those things. So, we are all creative and the more we do stuff, the better at it we get.
It CAN be learned! Am I convincing you? :D
Oh, and PS - being creative doesn't inevitably involve Art - I have a client, very elderly and VERY inventive! He should patent some of the devices he cobbles together from bits of junk. Or - ever made a new filing system? Signed up for a course about something new to you?Make the time, take the time and don't give up if it doesn't do what you want it to do immediately. I wish I could have you in my class too!
Same thing here .. I really suck in creating new things when it comes to crochet, I have to follow a pattern, otherwise I'll end up doing something funny ! I guess some people have it in them naturally, like they were born having the ability to make something out of nothing and being creative ..
But I also believe that everyone of us has a special thing which no one else has ..
I've been a busy bee with crochet lately. I managed to sell 2 sets of a teddy with a matching hat for £10 each and she got them today and loved them and wants other things now, I'm quite pleased, I feel like I have a bit more meaning in my life now.
Sarah wrote: "I've been a busy bee with crochet lately. I managed to sell 2 sets of a teddy with a matching hat for £10 each and she got them today and loved them and wants other things now, I'm quite pleased, I..."That's really great, Sarah! I'm so pleased for you! :)
Awesome, Sarah! They look so cute!
Way to go, Sarah! They are very cute.
They look lovely Sarah .. Nicely done
Love the matching hats and teddies. Good to hear you were able to sell some.
Deborah wrote: "KimeyDiann - I would agree people don't all have the same level of ability at ANYTHING, that wasn't my meaning at all! As to thinking up original thoughts/ideas - I don't think there is any such th..."I think there is a difference between having a learned skill and having creativity. Have you ever heard someone play the piano or some other instrument that the music just seems to flow from them? And then another person that just plays the music? S/he has learned the fundamentals and can play beautiful music, but it isn't a natural talent, but is instead a learned skill? Even if they are both playing the same piece of music, you can tell a difference between them. That difference is what I refer to when I say some people are born with certain talents and others aren't.
I think I'm defining "creative" as taking your own ideas or imagination and making art or inventions from them. It could also be defined as the ability to bring something new into being... which could be from your own imagination or by following a pattern. When I hear creative I automatically think of my definition above, which I think is something we are born with. The second definition is definitely something that can be learned. I've given up on being the first kind of creative, but I try to be the second kind whenever possible. Pinterest was one of the greatest inventions for me in that instance! LOL.
CFDeeDee wrote: "But I also believe that everyone of us has a special thing which no one else has ..
I've always thought that too. I've just never figured out what my "thing" is.
This reminds me of this little funny, because no doubt (to me) that some authors were born with a LOT more creativity and imagination than the rest of us (LOL):
I think I have been somewhat misinterpreted; I did not say that learned skills equate creativity. What I attempted to say is that creativity without learned skills is an empty vessel. No-one, no matter how talented innately they may be, can create to their fullest potential, out of nowhere, without honing their skills. 'Creative' may never leave your head - it is the imaginative function. 'Creation' is its child, made into something. Use your talents and they will multiply and grow.Being creative is innate to being human. It is what allows us to develop empathy, for instance.
What have I made lately? Hot water actually. My Mother-in-law is visiting form England and our weather is beautiful today so I suggested tea in the garden (yard in American). I warmed the pot, made the tea, set out the tray with biscuits (cookies in American) but somehow forgot to put the teabags into the pot...oops.
That's hilarious, Joan. :D
I get what you are saying, Deborah. I apologize if I came across as argumentative, I didn't mean any of it that way, I promise. :) I definitely agree that that without practice and work at a skill, it goes to a waste. I'm sure Da Vinci, Monet, Bach, Elvis, etc. were none the masters they became without lots and lots of practice and failures. Again, sorry if my post came off in a negative way, I really didn't mean it that way. I'm very analytically minded and not very "creative" (for lack of a better word lol), so your post about teaching creativity was extremely interesting for me. I think we define creativity in different ways, and that is okay... what fun would the world be if we all thought exactly the same way? :)
Joan wrote: "What have I made lately? Hot water actually. My Mother-in-law is visiting form England and our weather is beautiful today so I suggested tea in the garden (yard in American). I warmed the pot, made..."Too funny, Joan. I think we had a long discussion thread about tea vs. just drinking hot water and decided that was called un-tea.
nice to hear that I am not the only one that has made untea.
Untea is good for your health. No allergies or intolerance risks!
It is really easy and doesn't cost much either.
And it is most mothers in law's favorite.
Love your story Joan! You could put some lemon juice in it and call it weak tea. Isn't hot water with lemon juice supposed to be healthy?The last thing I made was a big batch of food for Callie - roast chicken with rice, green beans, and sweet potato (with a pill snuck into one serving every day ☺ ) She's been eating better than I have. I think I'll make a glass of port tonight when I get home. I haven't done anything crafty in so long, and when I see all the wonderful things here I feel so envious. Maybe when my deck is rebuilt I'll get back into growing herbs. I used to love searching for things to use as flower pots and containers.
Sounds very funny Joan.In that case, I guess I make new things everyday, since I cook lunch for my family every day .. Chicken, meat, fish, shrimps .. You call it, I make it :P
Sarah, you are so incredibly talented! I love all of your critters, but I really want that stegosaurus for my niece.
Haha =] I've only been doing it since September last year and I'm hooked, here's Fred the Frog Prince =]
Jmom, would you like me to make one if you message me on here with the colours you'd like I could do it for £12 including postage which would be £3.50 here, I checked for dollars; I have no idea whether it's correct but $17.40
I love the Frog Prince! Also, how did I miss your stegosaurus? He is so cute!
The Stegosaur and unicorns are my fave so far I think. I'm going to be making one for myself =P I can't resist hehe. Thanks Lisa =D
The frog prince is too cute!
You'll love this one...!! A book club & more
Books mentioned in this topic
Dark Witch (other topics)The Fox Wife (other topics)
The House of Lost Secrets (other topics)
Somewhere Beyond the Sea (other topics)
Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jennifer Chiaverini (other topics)Paulo Coelho (other topics)
Fumi Hancock (other topics)
Yes, I think that was my bf's dad's mother. I shall find out more next time I go.