WORDS WITHOUT PRETENSE • IDEAS WITHOUT INHIBITION

Question: What is your advice for people who want to create a successful blog about art and creativity?

Answer: 

1. First and foremost, you have to be authentic. Who are you? And what is it that you're trying to say? If you find these two questions hard to answer, chances are, your blog isn't going to be easy (or interesting) to read. I find myself gravitating toward blogs that exude confidence and authenticity. And don't you think it's the same in real life? It's people who present words without pretenses and ideas without inhibitions that capture my attention.

 

2. Second, an artistic and creative blogger is one who posts great photos and posts often. There are of course other types of blogs (e.g., literary blogs, political blogs, etc.) where readers are looking for words over images. But for the creative blogging community, a picture is worth a thousand words. Not only that, creative bloggers upload images with the kind of technical skill that will get the images looking gorgeous and unified. For example, my blog is hosted by Typepad and in order for all of my photos to look congruent, I make sure that when I load a photo, I use the custom setting at 400 pixels each and every time. This ensures that each photo will take up the same width throughout each and every one of my posts. (Of course technical preferences vary from blogger to blogger.) The other component of loading great photos is the ability to take great photos. The images I take are with my Canon 30D SLR, which produces some great shots. But there are plenty of point-and-shoot cameras that also yield great photos. I think the most important thing is to be thoughtful about lighting and composition and also to crop the photos well before posting.

 

3. A quality blogger is not a whining blogger. This is not to say that tough subjects are off limits. I think tough subjects can be pondered and discussed but in a productive, thoughtful, intellectually profound, and classy manner. Trust me ... just like in real life, no one wants to hang for too long with folks who choose to dwell in the self-absorbed "woe is me" aspect of life. And so it goes with quality blogging.

DANGERS OF COMFORT

 

It's so true, don't you think? When we get too comfortable, we don't strive for the next thing. Because the thing is, the next thing, or the thought of the next thing can be ... well ... really, really uncomfortable and scary.

But I think it's when we force ourselves to move beyond our comfort zones — spiritually, physically, personally, professionally — to challenge ourselves to come up with the next level of excellence, that brilliance will ever be achieved. 

Because this is so hard, it is why I think brilliance is SO VERY RARELY achieved.

 

ARTISTIC RESTRAINT

This is not the first time I am posting about an artistic style that I describe as "minimalist." It is the artistic style that I embrace.

Frequently, people think that minimalism is synonymous to "simple" or "easy." 

I actually don't think those words are synonymous. Because the thing about minimalism is figuring out exactly where elements of a composition ought to be placed in order to achieve beautiful balance ... for the composition to sing. It's about effective use of space. It's about knowing when to stop. This discipline of practicing artistic restraint is neither simple nor easy.

Uh-Huh, Uh-Huh

MIMI('s) KNIT(s)

I AM THANKFUL FOR ...

1. Gerardo, Monica, and Andrew: three gifts from God who love me, guide me, protect me, and make me laugh every day. 

2. My incredibly talented, smart, and savvy staff ... who stand with me to help weather any and all storms, who protect me, who give me strength with their fierce loyalty and support.

3. The incredible artists around the globe with whom I have worked for almost six years ... most of whom I am blessed to call friends ... who inspire me with their creations, who support me with their offerings, and who never stop giving.

4. My pups Toby and Scout ... the two cutest dogs in the world ... who know how to wash away the debris from life through their cuddles, their kisses, their unconditional love.

5. My good friends at UC Irvine, and the opportunities that I have to champion ways to strengthen my beloved alma mater.

6. The people who know how to make me laugh uncontrollably and out loud.

7. My closest girlfriends, who are always there, and always lend their ears as my confidants.

8, 9, 10 and beyond: My home, my dependable car, never being without food, always having running water, the comfort of yarn, having the freedom to hold and express my beliefs, and for the endless opportunities to continue becoming, continue evolving, continue discovering.

Join me this Thanksgiving, as we count blessings. And join me as we express gratitude for what we do have, rather than bemoaning what we don't have. Happy Thanksgiving.

20-SOMETHING WISDOM

It's amazing to know two professionals who are still in their 20s, yet are so wise beyond their years. 

Happy birthday to Marketing Manager, Sarah Meehan, and Senior Managing Editor, Christen Olivarez. Two extraordinary professionals whose hard work and determination garner my continued respect, admiration, and gratitude. 

TRANSFORMING WITH SCRAPS

I really love it when I'm invited to provide input on excellent products and books. And recently, I was invited to provide input on a lovely book titled Scraps (Lark Books, 2009).

Collecting scraps, organizing them, placing them carefully to create a collage, and knowing when to stop ... these are the concepts that Elsebeth Gynther and Christine Clemmensen teach in this book.

 

It is a book that teaches important techniques related to collage, but also a unique perspective about how to create lyrical narratives through deliberate selection and placement of elements.

In short, Scraps is an enchanting book that illustrates the transformative nature of collage.

And I am proud to join Claudine Hellmuth in offering two enthusiastic thumbs up for this excellent book by Elsebeth and Christine.

WHITE RUFFLES & PINK PEARLS

In addition to the gift box for a sweet someone, I also made this embellished composition book ... a perfect holiday gift, ready to be given to a second sweet someone.

I started by outlining the shape of the cover onto a pale blue sheet of paper and cutting the shape out.

 

Then I took a length of white ruffle trim and sewed it onto the paper with a straight stitch.

I fed this paper with stitched ruffles through my Xyron machine and adhered the paper to the cover of the book. (If you don't have a Xyron, any other adhesive that doesn't buckle will work.) Then I used PetalPoint Fluid Chalk Inkpads to stamp a larger image from Character Construction's new stamp sets onto pink paper. I tore that paper and adhered it to ledger paper and then onto the cover. 

Then I took a paper punch by Marvy Uchida and punched pale pink "pearls" that I adhered to the cover. 

 

Then I took used one of Cavallini's stamps to add a greeting at the bottom.

 

Because I plan to give this as a gift, I tied the book with pink seam binding horizontally, then added a greeting by writing onto a punched ledger paper circle and then attaching it with a pin.

A perfect gift ready to be given for the holidays. Happy crafting. :)

FOR A SWEET SOMEONE

When I saw these clear-top papier mâché boxes, I knew I wanted to create something with it. This is what I made ...

I started by stamping an image from one of Character Construction's new stamp sets onto a sheet of pale pink paper. For this entire project, I used a set of PetalPoint Fluid Chalk Inkpad (NightFall).

Once I stamped the image, I used the lid from the box to trace the oval and then used my Fiskars scissors to cut it out.

Then I used my paper punch by Marvy Uchida to punch pale pink cirlces.

With a Scotch clear glue by 3M, I adhered the cut oval and dots to the box.

 

The biggest tip I have about adding dots to anything is to make them look random, rather than lined in a row or a pattern. The more random they look, the better they look.

Next, I took the small scallop image from my Crescendoh DOOhDLES and then manipulated it onto the acrylic block so that it would stamp in a curved fashion, rather than a straight fashion. (With certain clear stamps, this is a little trick you can do by manipulating the shape of the stamp.)

With a glue dot, I adhered a length of pink seam binding by Martha Stewart that I tied into a bow at the top. And at the bottom, I cut and adhered some words from a vintage book page.

I love it. It's the perfect gift box for a sweet someone.