After she left, I was thinking a bit about craft, creativity, relationships and inspiration. Personally, I don’t find it hard to stay inspired. I am way too full of ideas and probably should be medicated. But I DO find it hard to forge ahead with heaps of energy sometimes. I know that might surprise you, but it’s true. Sometimes all the to and froe-ing between women, both online and offline, wears me out a bit. Generally, people are lovely right? I am the first to say they are. Especially My Peeps. But there’s been a bit of weirdness simmering about the place like a pot of stinky sock soup. Perhaps you’ve smelt it? It smells like High School.
I really love the idea of everyone supporting everyone else, if you know what I mean, and I see a bit of division, rivalry and bad manners showing their unbrushed teeth more then I would like. Nasty comments, copying, bitchiness, general rudeness. I don’t get it. Stop that teeth. Stop it now. This kind of poppy-cropping is a bit disheartening. What’s the point of tripping other people up? There is no point. No point at all.
I think we should all try our hardest and think the best of one another. I do. I think we should all give each other a leg up whenever we can – and an arm around the shoulder and a squeeze when things are not going so well. Celebrate our successes together and support each other mis-steps and tough times too. But hey, that’s just my take on it. Perhaps it’s a Fool’s Paradise I’m seeking people. Perhaps I’m the only one on the island. That’s okay, I’ll happily fashion myself a tee-pee and eat seaweed. I’m cool with that.
If you’ve been the brunt of any yick-stuff then I extend a smooch to you. Stay positive and keep doing good stuff, you. I thought maybe it would be good and positive to talk about ‘Creative Heroes’ and the people we all admire. You know, the people that you turn to in those disenchanted moments to stay inspired. The people that restore your faith in all that is clever and good. I’d love to hear yours.
……………………………………………………………
(Just A Few Of My Many) Creative Heroes – a weird list of inspirations ::
My Nanna and My Mum -They taught me that making is as natural as breathing, that it wasn’t a big deal, but rather the right thing to do. They raised me amongst fabric, yarn, baking, clutter, rose cuttings, cups of tea, That Girl, The Flying Nun, Happy Days, Fleetwood Mac and all that is good. Thanks.
Jenny Hart – One of the hardest working girls in craft. Jenny Hart writes lots of books, makes stuff, has her own creative business where she treats her staff nicely and looks like she has a fun time doing it all. She laughs in the face of stealy-pants corporate giants and keeps on making good stuff. Jenny Hart is ace.
Amy Butler – Amy and Dave Butler are the cutest ever couple. They have built a fantastic business and get to work together every day (just like me and Cam!) They are a great team and have built the life they want, and they get to be creative every day. Go Butlers. Adorable and clever.
Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Because she writes the sort of books she wants to write – and because I love her point of view. She writes for kids and for adults – and everything she writes is fun filled, positive and insightful. She’s even making her own film. And she sent me a message once after I commented on her facebook saying Max was a great kid. Such good taste.
Mirka Mora – Because she is naughty and I like that. You don’t often see older women flashing their boobs like Mirka does.
Ghostpatrol and Miso – My neighbours. Because they are nice and they are very talented and they work really, really, really hard at what they do. And because they know all about good food and good times.
Jamie Oliver – For working hard to bring simple, home-cooking to the masses and helping to forever change the lives of LOTS of people who thought they couldn’t cook and would have otherwise eaten crap for their entire lives. I think that’s creative. I know lots of people can’t stand him, but I just think they’re jealous. Good on you Jamie.
Alice Waters – Because she saw a problem and thought about how she could help to fix it – and for actually following through and developing a Kitchen Garden program that is now seen in schools all over the world. I think gardening and cooking are as integral as crafting to good health and happiness. We’ll raise interesting kids if we teach them these important things.
Amy Karol – I like her take on fearless sewing. I think fear DOES hold us back and you need to mess about and have fun. I like to think that lots of people are getting adrenaline rushes as they put their foot to the sewing machine pedal. That’s what Amy would want. I think she doesn’t even wear a stack-hat when she sews. Crazy gal.
Zooey Deschanel – Because she is gorgeous, she can act AND she can sing. Fantastic. I bet she can do heaps of other great stuff to. She likes to have a go and see what happens. She goes out on a limb. Good on her.
Gemma Jones – Because she can do heaps of great stuff in terms of art, craft and writing, because she always does the best she can, because she looks out for other people, thinks differently about things and because she gives good hugs.
……………………………………………………..
xx Pip