Creative Reality

Yesterday I took what felt like a risk and talked about my big wish; my complete and total desire to become peaceful with my body. Call a truce on the war against myself. Learn to like me just as I exist today while working to become the real me. Become accepting of what's not so good and needs love, attention, and kind action. And, based on the volume of loving comments that post received, I must have been talking to a lot of people who feel the same or understand my desire.

Last night, I took my stroll through the wild and arty world over at Toni's Seaweed And Gardenias to get my fix of creative. Whereupon I read an extensive, well-written, and thought provoking post about women, our creative efforts, the creative spaces we fabricate, and whether or not we're able to be truthful in our creative representations...or is it just a another facade we're creating to hide behind. Falling victim, yet again, to external measures...measures that just might make us give up before we try thinking we can't possibly do it. Not happy with who we really are and constructing something we hope will make everyone else exclaim, "Ga' damn, they have it so much better than me! I'll never hope to create if I don't have a space that looks like that or if I can't look that good!"

What a shame...a big one.

In my short time as a blogger I have been overwhelmed, as you know, by the amount of talent, passion, and creativity I've found here. There's no end to it. But, what has completely caught me off guard is the spirit of sharing, generosity, and creative support I've also found here. And, I'm more than grateful for the gifts it has brought to my life...and my musing efforts.

So, it seems sad to me that there are still so many of us who are in competition with ourselves, and sometimes soft competition with others here. Hell, let's be honest, the overt competition we've sometimes witnessed. Can we all get to a point where we realize the World is a huge place and all of us can have what we need? Can we?

Then, Toni did this great thing...she walks us through her creative space...and I now know her so much better. I thought, "Holly, do the same...invite them in to see how you do things at Casa de Frock." So, that first picture is what you see when you open the door to my very small space. Welcome in!

Here's the guardian of the sacred space. He doesn't really bite, but he can hiccup a small flame, so watch out...

Here's one of the two bookshelves crammed in to my little nook of madness...

Looking to the far side of the room, this is where the two work surfaces exist in harmony. Notice the room is so small that I can swivel from one side to the other without moving my ass. Which come to think of it, might explain why it's larger than it needs to be. But, that's about to change. Trust me. My ass I mean... The room? That's a fixed variable...

This is a close up of the shelf you see on the right side of that last shot. It's my favorite part of my stamp collection. No surprise there, I suppose. But, I'll ask, if you have a Scottie stamp in your collection that you'd like to send on to a good home, please know I'll be thrilled to add it to mine. I adore these stamps!

Now you're looking back at the entry...and that's where you can sit and drink some coffee and chat with me. Being very certain you're safely out of the middle of the mayhem of card making.

This is what attracts my attention when I rock back in my chair hoping for inspiration to visit me...

This is what I see when I look down and am still waiting for inspiration to visit with me...

Tools of the trade clustered together and awaiting patiently while I wait for inspiration to visit...Toni, does that honeycomb in the back look familiar, Sister?

I keep most of my stamps collected together...but, they have a tendency to escape and run amuck when I'm not there to command, "What the hell is going on here? That's enough! Get back in your boxes!"

Okay, don't hate me: I MUST clean up after every creative session, so this is the way my creation flat space looks every time I come in for another session. Blame it on all those years of Catholic school. But, I have to say...if you don't stay on top of a space this small, very quickly it becomes a space where nothing creative can happen. So, I do stay vigilant. And, yes, that is a Scottie button sitting there. Don't ask why...or do you even need to ask why?

Right behind me, and I do mean RIGHT behind me is my drafting table...I got it for water color work, but for some reason, I've let my efforts there slide and I can't tell you why...I enjoyed it a great deal...hmm, something for me to ponder...

A close up of that work surface just seen above...

Okay, I'll be brave and show you. That's one that I did several years ago...parts of it, I like a great deal...but like most of my untrained work, I think, "Wow, that so did not turn out like I saw it in my head!" And, I suppose that's what keeps me from trying...

And, here's the wild woman who attempts to make others happy with my little bits of ribbon, colored paper and stamps. Here's the woman who wants others to feel special on certain days of their life and so I make a card or two and drop them in the mail to you.

But, here's the thing...this is the creative space I created with the help of my husband who understands my need to fabricate; the partner who helps support me while I do. It is in no way perfect or grand like the world that Martha Stewart created. Or like you see in some creative magazines. It's small, and real, and genuine. It's me...sent to you...with my love. And, that's all I've got.

Thanks, Toni, for keeping it real and making us consider doing the exact same. Challenging us to be genuine and content with the truth of us. We're all better when we are real, true, and willing to put that face out to the world.

Namaste' Till Next Time
Holly