Hello

We're All Superstars Here…

July 16, 2008

I was listening to this podcast today (whilst making my 102nd wallet) and it was the lovely Leslie Feist chatting to a couple of English music journalists about her creative life, touring, collaborating and the like… and something really struck a chord with me.

I really felt inspired by the way she discussed collaboration. For Feist, collaboration was just as good, if not better, then actually taking the lead. She talked about how taking the lead can sometimes feel like being in the eye of storm, waiting for stuff to come flying at you, and how she really loved ‘supporting’ the storm (!) rather than being the storm.

She talked about her collaboration with other Canadian musicians – and how they constantly happily call on one another for inspiration, assistance and expertise. To Feist, the collaboration WAS the process. It wasn’t just about the end product (as sweet as it was), her creative life revolved around gathering up like minded people, and creating something great.

I really loved her humble approach. And I loved it that she was absolutely certain that sharing her ideas with her musical peers was the most important part of her creative life. She’s all about evolving things together and bouncing off a constant stream of exciting, ever changing, collaborative options. Some of her thoughts, some of his thoughts, some of their thoughts…. boil it up and good things happen. According to Ms Feist.

And even though she is now a super-dooper star, our Feist, she’s not into it. She’s not on her high horse. She’s not acting up and showing off. Nope she’s taking it humbly and sharing her success. Still looking, still learning, still wondering, still nice. Not a bit wanky at all.

I share Ms Feist’s philosophy. As far as I can see, we’re all superstars, with plenty of untapped goodness to offer. And we need to be on the lookout for the other superstars, and share the ride with them.. because there’s more then safety in numbers, there’s ingenious ideas and fabulous friendships and untapped opportunities and amazing realisations! To sum it up, when you share your life and ideas, good things happen!

And I reckon if you were super busy being a bit of a wanky diva.. well, you’d never see all the great stuff other people might want to share, now would you? And you’d be standing there all by yourself stuck in your own semi-great ideas… when you could just invite a few more nice talented people in… and it could make for extra-great ideas. Sure you might have to compromise, you might not be in the driver’s seat and you might have to share the glory… but surely that’s a small price to pay for things happening?! Especially if they are unexpected, unplanned, fantastic, fun, satisfying, exciting things! Right?!

So a toast to.. Collaborating, Not Being a Wanky Diva or a Superstar.. and to being open to all the great stuff that other people can bring to your life. Creative or otherwise!

Here’s to not worrying about agendas, hierarchies, ego or glory. Here’s to bravely sharing the creative process (and sharing the spotlight too). And here’s to Feist. I like her.

xx Mikes

15 Comments

  • Reply Kirtida Sundari July 17, 2008 at 10:28 AM

    Loving feist! Great to learn more about her. She is such an inspiration. Keep em coming.

  • Reply Felicity July 17, 2008 at 8:56 AM

    AMEN sister. Aaamen.x

  • Reply CurlyPops July 17, 2008 at 6:01 AM

    Yah to you Pip for sharing the love, crafting, blogging and having lots of fun….Wanky Diva Superstar would make a great blog name!

  • Reply Polka Dot Rabbit July 17, 2008 at 4:46 AM

    so true! there’s nothing more wonderful than the creative energy of a big group of crafty chicks!

  • Reply becca July 17, 2008 at 1:47 AM

    Be careful of the feist monster clip, it will lead you to all kinds of sesame street/pop star songs and you will get no work done!

  • Reply Drewzel July 16, 2008 at 11:42 PM

    Good stuff! Yay!

  • Reply Colouring Outside The Lines July 16, 2008 at 10:52 PM

    Thanks for posting this, you just made my heart swell and bloom! x

  • Reply suesue July 16, 2008 at 3:50 PM

    this was a wonderful post. thanks to all the internet artists and to you, i’ve really felt comfortable with my new blogging interest. thanks also for the exposure to other types of artists, singers and the like. i like feist too. suesue

  • Reply Shell July 16, 2008 at 2:50 PM

    Fav collab: Feist and the monsters! ROCK!

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=kJSEHouoHK0

  • Reply Kelly Darke July 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM

    I completely agree – collaborations are awesome. for the past year my brother and I have been working on a series of drawings/paintings together and the ones we have both worked on together have turned out the best. different styles can work so well together.

  • Reply Jhoanna July 16, 2008 at 10:24 AM

    What a refreshing approach – thanks for sharing this inspiration Pip!

    Just what I needed to read today 🙂

  • Reply Handmaiden July 16, 2008 at 8:39 AM

    Pip
    I think you’ve got some of that lovely Feistiness in you along with your pal Kirsty….I did not know this crafty blog world existed 2 months ago….and I am addicted to this collaborative approach of all things crafty and good. Here’s to you two
    Sharon

  • Reply meet me at mikes. a happy place for crafty types July 16, 2008 at 7:38 AM

    I heart you Kirsty, friend-so-true and Owl-Hatching-Girl!

    As moutarde, Emma (that’s French, you know?!)

  • Reply Emma July 16, 2008 at 7:35 AM

    You read my mind Pip, I have been thinking of doing a footwear collaboration, asking my fave peeps to design some with me, getting an exhibition together, are you keen?

  • Reply Kirsty July 16, 2008 at 7:34 AM

    Lovely post Pippy. You know it’s true!

    I reckon you’re pretty good & whirlwinding some exciting happenings up yourself!

  • Leave a Reply

    We’re All Superstars Here…

    July 16, 2008

    I was listening to this podcast today (whilst making my 102nd wallet) and it was the lovely Leslie Feist chatting to a couple of English music journalists about her creative life, touring, collaborating and the like… and something really struck a chord with me.

    I really felt inspired by the way she discussed collaboration. For Feist, collaboration was just as good, if not better, then actually taking the lead. She talked about how taking the lead can sometimes feel like being in the eye of storm, waiting for stuff to come flying at you, and how she really loved ‘supporting’ the storm (!) rather than being the storm.

    She talked about her collaboration with other Canadian musicians – and how they constantly happily call on one another for inspiration, assistance and expertise. To Feist, the collaboration WAS the process. It wasn’t just about the end product (as sweet as it was), her creative life revolved around gathering up like minded people, and creating something great.

    I really loved her humble approach. And I loved it that she was absolutely certain that sharing her ideas with her musical peers was the most important part of her creative life. She’s all about evolving things together and bouncing off a constant stream of exciting, ever changing, collaborative options. Some of her thoughts, some of his thoughts, some of their thoughts…. boil it up and good things happen. According to Ms Feist.

    And even though she is now a super-dooper star, our Feist, she’s not into it. She’s not on her high horse. She’s not acting up and showing off. Nope she’s taking it humbly and sharing her success. Still looking, still learning, still wondering, still nice. Not a bit wanky at all.

    I share Ms Feist’s philosophy. As far as I can see, we’re all superstars, with plenty of untapped goodness to offer. And we need to be on the lookout for the other superstars, and share the ride with them.. because there’s more then safety in numbers, there’s ingenious ideas and fabulous friendships and untapped opportunities and amazing realisations! To sum it up, when you share your life and ideas, good things happen!

    And I reckon if you were super busy being a bit of a wanky diva.. well, you’d never see all the great stuff other people might want to share, now would you? And you’d be standing there all by yourself stuck in your own semi-great ideas… when you could just invite a few more nice talented people in… and it could make for extra-great ideas. Sure you might have to compromise, you might not be in the driver’s seat and you might have to share the glory… but surely that’s a small price to pay for things happening?! Especially if they are unexpected, unplanned, fantastic, fun, satisfying, exciting things! Right?!

    So a toast to.. Collaborating, Not Being a Wanky Diva or a Superstar.. and to being open to all the great stuff that other people can bring to your life. Creative or otherwise!

    Here’s to not worrying about agendas, hierarchies, ego or glory. Here’s to bravely sharing the creative process (and sharing the spotlight too). And here’s to Feist. I like her.

    xx Mikes

    15 Comments

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