Creative Meditation

I had a wonderful, media free day today. I went to the lake armed with a picnic, a book and yarn. It was the most tranquil day I've had in a while. The water was mesmerizing while the wind blew hard and cool.

Completely media free I had no camera and decide to leave the phone in the car. I listen to the wind and my own thoughts for hours and I was very creative. I try to do this for a little while everyday. Today it was 6 hours. I feel like I wiped the cob webs from my brain. I usually enjoy all or part of my exercise time media free. It is like watering a seed and giving it time to germinate. I keep a pad close by because I often have inspirations at those times.

I prepared myself for success today. I brought my copy of Ready Made, several balls of t-shirt yarn in various colors and a crochet needle. I had a location for my family to hang out and have freedom. I could see them from my cliff perch while I played with my yarn. I let my imagination wonder.


I also spent a good deal of time just enjoying the view. I listened to the wind the other people and watched the animals. Because I gave my mind a chance to do nothing it was free to make something. I will do this sooner than later and maybe expand my daily quiet, media free breaks. Creativity is as important to me has good food or a healthy diet. I need to spend more quality time nurturing it.


Steps to Creative Care?

Ask and You Shall Receive!

I have had plans to make a certain item and was collecting material and out of no where came an offer. I love the universe. Well, I have a large bag of blue jeans from a BabesinBiz member. Thank You! I am making test pieces as soon as I get the jeans out of a hot wash. So far everything looks great can't wiat to share. I'll do pitures asap.

Patterns, Pillows

I saw patterns int he t-shirts. As I was cutting down the shirt remnants to yarn I found I had some cool elements I could mix with other fabrics. All the fabrics are reclaimed from stained items or unusable things. I have problems cutting up items that can be used for their original purpose. I move those on to Goodwill, freecycle, friends and family. But worn out, stained, out of date items will be recycled. I'm working on these pillows. I will add a few more elements before the are available on my etsy craft site Badart.

La Pena

On my regular art trip through Downtown Austin and found that La Pena now serves coffee, Mexican Soda and Breakfast Tacos. They said it was a way to pull a broader audience to view the art. I never needed an incentive to visit this little gallery. I am always eager to see what ever artist they have. This month they have a show from students at Sanchez Elementary. The children's art is great. Each painting is full of rich detail with visual storytelling and they have traditional PAPEL PICADO or cut paper. The designs are simple but elegant. I wish I had been there for the formal opening with the students, music and festivities. If you live in Austin this should be a regular stop, the tacos were tasty and the art is always sweet.

Rags To Riches

As a sustainable artist I work backwards. Once I have supplies I decide what to make. I wrote about a bag of t-shirt remnants recently. Well, that bag is full of great colors and I am about half way through the laborious task of cutting the shirts down so thay are suitable to crochet. I am very excited by the color and have many ideas for this batch of yarn. I am happy to turn this bag of wastful scraps into beautiful rugs. I am trying to hold back until I see exactly what I have. Here is a sample of the colors I have so far. LOVE IT!!

Earth Day Exchange

I made a wonderful Earth Day Environmental Exchange. A few months ago through Linked in I logged in as a sustainable artist Chris Wenz, of Over the Top Quilting Studio in Austin Texas contacted me. Her Quilting company makes quilts from t-shirts and collected lots of remnants. I told her I would love to take the extra remnants off her hands. This week I picked up an over sized bag of t-shirt pieces. I will be crocheting some beautiful rugs. The generosity of moving unused shirts gave me more product at no cost for supplies and one less bag in the land field. There is a symbiotic relationship out there for many businesses. In honor of Earth Day find one and divert something from a land field. Do something to create a smaller foot print.
Five Steps To Save
* Be sure you are recycling at home and at work.
* Ask places you frequent to recycle.
* Send an Email or letter to companies you use ask them to reduce packaging.
* Make list of useful items you throw out; someone needs them.
* Post a needs list on you web site; some one is throwing out what you need.

Now if ten percent of businesses cultivated such a relationship what would happen? Those business would see more options to save and cut cost and create more relationships. Get this ball rolling.