Thursday, June 11, 2009

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

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Holly, it is amazing what you have done not only to your space, but in it! When we first moved here in late Feb., we had an extra bedroom. My initial intention was to turn it into my creative space, but with all the work to do here in fixing the house and yard up, we decided to move our middle daughter in with us. (She can help my husband with the heavier work that I'm no longer able to do.) With one daughter and her family already moved a couple of states away, and one moving away next week, I realized that we absolutely need a guest bedroom. Then I realized that our enclosed sun porch would be the ideal spot anyway! I haven't told anyone until now that I'm going to turn it into my studio. I'm so excited!

Toni said...

Holly! wow, I want to come sit in that chair and look up at those cool prisms ... I had such a gut-hoot when I saw all the Scotties --now I truly want to do a shelf like that with my mermaid stamps! They're FRIENDS! aren't they? Your watercolor effort made me swoon, Baby ... it's a medium I thirst toward and use in my travel journals. PLEASE revisit that, cuz (as my Unk Ray says) 'you've got skeels!' Truth is, I also really LOVE how clean your studio is ... after England, I'm moving everything out of mine so Double BB can tackle that ceiling patch work and the vent situation ... then I'm spackling and painting and starting over on the hole-pucked walls. I also can't get to a lot of stuff I want to send off to a new home in Los Angeles.

It's SO COOL to see where you work and how you've set it up ... I feel that way every time I get a peek into the work space of someone I truly know ... now I can envision you, there, and it's a warm & fuzzy visual.

Where might I find one of them thar fire-hiccuping dragons? That so cracked me up!

mel said...

Such a lovely space...and you know? It's exactly what I would imagine your creation zone to look like.....so calm and peaceful..with all sorts of little treasure tucked away...

And I DIG the Scottie stamp collection....SO very cool....

And I also have that compulsion to tidy post-creation...although by carving out some of my own space I'm letting go some of that....;) Still, the Queen of Small Spaces that I am, does have certain standards to uphold...which reminds me, I must get back to my housework...I was dusting the computer, you see, and bumped it out of 'stand-by' and then I sat down...and....

~love, love, love~

Peaches said...

Holly said, “Wow, that so did not turn out like I saw it in my head! And, I suppose that's what keeps me from trying...” My view on art is this. Art is about process. It is in the process of creating that art happens. The produce just is. Art lives in the process, the product is secondary. I could go on and on about this missed place value placed on the outcome of the creative process.

So Holly, go play with your watercolors to get the creative juices flowing. Then, do a series of water color cards. But let it be about getting caught up in the process.

Anonymous said...

I just sent you, through e-mail, Lessons to live by....boy, did they come in handy.

The ones I liked the best are: No one is in charge of your happiness but you.; It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.; What other people think of you is none of your business.; and finally, The best is yet to come!

My new list to live by...

sema said...

Holly,each day I am getting to know more about you and the bond is getting stronger.It was wonderful to see your creative space and your home.Felt like I was on a visit to meet you.
blessings
sema

Chester said...

I could really do alot of damage in that space!
Chester

*Mom would like to add her 2 cents here:

Gee Holly, what a nice tour of your space-inside your head and out. If I didn't goof off so much on FB (to which I may place some of the blame on YOU), I would have more time to read such thought provoking, interesting blogs such as yours. This is only my second visit and I like how you express yourself. Must be where Rory gets his eloquence.
Anyhow, I will try my darndest to visit more often.

Chester's Mom ;0=)

joyce said...

I learn more about you every day that I visit your site, you share so much of yourself. I didn't know you made cards....seems like more than just a time passing hobby. I like to do things like that too, but I've never done stamping. If I ever see a scotty, its on its way to you.
And my sparebedromm turned into office space is as messy and cluttered as yours is neat...what you say about small spaces become cluttered fast is so true!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Okay, now I know for SURE we were separated at birth! You're creative, I'm creative-- You blog, I blog-- You stamp, I scrapbook-- You have Longaberger baskets, I have Longaberger baskets-- You're neat I'm .... okay, maybe you got all that gene!

Your space is perfect! May it bring you years of creativity and happiness and peace and lots and lots of Scottie stamps-- I'll be on the lookout for them from now on...

xo
Your Snarky Sis Joanna

beth said...

I love your space and I'm going to race toni to that chair....oh heck, if she beats me to it, I'll just sit in her lap !

and if you don't care, I'll drink many cups of tea while sitting in that chair.... watching you work.... providing all of our talking and laughing doesn't get in the way :)

AND WOW.....your watercolorpaintings.....HELLO....where have they been ??

Colleen said...

I just caught up on your last two posts... thank you for sharing! I hope that we can all become at peace with our bodies. That is something I have always struggled with... never with my hair or height, just my weight.
Such beautiful artwork and space! Again, thank you for sharing.
Colleen

Cam said...

I'm with Beth...

You been holding out on us, Holly.

Am I gonna have to shake you down for some more pictures of your art?

Am I?

It's funny because before I read you or Toni today, I walked around and took more pictures of my sacred spaces... I will upload those tomorrow!

I'll swap you something Scottieliciously Awesome for any one of your paintings, already painted, or to be created in the future. Email me if you're interested...

Eileen said...

Holly ... My contribution to this exercise happened in January when I displayed my nursery space ... that's where I'm "creating" these days. I'm curious, do you do your blogging there also or is the computer in its own space? Your space is a great specimen of making the most of every inch! Lovely. What a treat for me to see your lovely face!!! I miss you.

Lisa said...

How cool - and that chair is just waiting for my butt. Everybody else outta my way, I want to sit in that chair and have some coffee! I'm old - those other gals can sit on the floor :)

Bleeding Heart said...

Whoa! Amazing, inspiring, envy all wrapped into one!

What an amazing creative outlet! I love it and good for you!

Life With Dogs said...

How interesting to get a "behind the scenes" perspective. Your creative space seems to be a great fit, and there are bits of inspiration to be found everywhere.

By comparison, I usually get an idea in the shower, then get dressed and run to my recliner to type it before it escapes me. That would not make for an enjoyable tour for my readers, trust me!

xxx said...

Holly you are truely beautiful

xx Ribbon

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

My Previous Musings