So much to love here. Giving myself a rare Sunday of reading Substack posts and yours popped up. Yes to the not quite myself, crotchety (see what I did there 🤣) and grumpy when I don't allow myself to create. Yes to different types (depths? layers?) of creativity. Writing is both an inner and outer type for me. Today I went thrifting for clothes and it was joyous and creative and definitely fills the well for other types of creativity. Cooking - sometimes chore, sometimes drag, other times meditative and filling that well. Reading stories, which has always been a joy, I have just moved into the creative pursuit box because of how I feel when I'm immersed in a good novel. It's like a mini mind vacation full of wonder, joy and resonance. I love your musings and the way you write. My brain was doing little somersaults reading your words. Thank you for putting them into the world. 🧡
Oh I love a Substack Sunday! I meant to do it yesterday and then it was suddenly bedtime. 🤣 Oh yes, thrifting is another one - great point. There are endless ways to fill the creative well when you give it some thought.
Oh yes! As you know I’m on a bit of an enforced studio break, but I prepped ahead and have some creative things to do when I have a spare moment that I can then walk away and come back to. I haven’t resumed the tiny paintings yet but I will once I’m done with some transcribing odor my book 4 serial props. I have spent some time slow stitching (because I am tediously slow) while sitting at a hospital bedside and again at home.
But and also, I just finished writing said book 4 and I feel very much in the fallow, gathering wool stage of the next big writing project. Not even actively imagining it, but doing some background reading on occasion and letting it wait for me (as this story has waited for years and years). Another big story idea is more active and playful but neither of us are quite ready to commit.
Book 4! That's amazing Leanne, congratulations. I love how you talk about your stories as characters you have relationships with; that makes so much sense to me. I hope the operation went well and that recovery is smooth
very enjoyable & inspring read (just as the last one!) - and so relatable. For me, the two deep selfexpression creative outlets were, for the last years, whitling and painting, and the "everyday" creativity included small handmade things like cases for glasses+bookmarks made from inexpensive felt on which I stitched some colourful flowers and such, and of course baking + cooking, building smallish practical smallish things for the household or a bit of restauration of furniture (tooo much work though). Your crotcheting is lovely, I love that grannysquere-blanket. I sure am in need for a new "everday-creative-outlet" which is not so easy as i really do need & want to stay as minimalist as possible bc I get too overwhelmed by my stuff otherwise... so taking photographs and often use them as painting sources is one good possibility for me at present. The whittling of my funny small woodn heads I do miss, though - it is so much fun! but to access the right kind of wood and then the resharpening of the blade all the time....alas alas it is a bit too much ado nowadays. Thanks for the insightful & entertaining text, it is highly appreciated!
Ah yes, the constant push/pull of wanting to do more things and also somehow have less stuff! I have that too. I love that whittling is one of your creative outlets. Glad you enjoyed this one Cristine and thanks for sharing your experiences in this regard.
So much to love here. Giving myself a rare Sunday of reading Substack posts and yours popped up. Yes to the not quite myself, crotchety (see what I did there 🤣) and grumpy when I don't allow myself to create. Yes to different types (depths? layers?) of creativity. Writing is both an inner and outer type for me. Today I went thrifting for clothes and it was joyous and creative and definitely fills the well for other types of creativity. Cooking - sometimes chore, sometimes drag, other times meditative and filling that well. Reading stories, which has always been a joy, I have just moved into the creative pursuit box because of how I feel when I'm immersed in a good novel. It's like a mini mind vacation full of wonder, joy and resonance. I love your musings and the way you write. My brain was doing little somersaults reading your words. Thank you for putting them into the world. 🧡
Oh I love a Substack Sunday! I meant to do it yesterday and then it was suddenly bedtime. 🤣 Oh yes, thrifting is another one - great point. There are endless ways to fill the creative well when you give it some thought.
Love watching ideas spark (yours and mine) - thank you.
Oh yes! As you know I’m on a bit of an enforced studio break, but I prepped ahead and have some creative things to do when I have a spare moment that I can then walk away and come back to. I haven’t resumed the tiny paintings yet but I will once I’m done with some transcribing odor my book 4 serial props. I have spent some time slow stitching (because I am tediously slow) while sitting at a hospital bedside and again at home.
But and also, I just finished writing said book 4 and I feel very much in the fallow, gathering wool stage of the next big writing project. Not even actively imagining it, but doing some background reading on occasion and letting it wait for me (as this story has waited for years and years). Another big story idea is more active and playful but neither of us are quite ready to commit.
Book 4! That's amazing Leanne, congratulations. I love how you talk about your stories as characters you have relationships with; that makes so much sense to me. I hope the operation went well and that recovery is smooth
I love your crochet! You’ve inspired me
Yay! I didn’t realise I’d find it this addictive. It just ticks so many boxes.
Such a true insight. I think it will inspire and soothe us all.
Thank you for reading it!
very enjoyable & inspring read (just as the last one!) - and so relatable. For me, the two deep selfexpression creative outlets were, for the last years, whitling and painting, and the "everyday" creativity included small handmade things like cases for glasses+bookmarks made from inexpensive felt on which I stitched some colourful flowers and such, and of course baking + cooking, building smallish practical smallish things for the household or a bit of restauration of furniture (tooo much work though). Your crotcheting is lovely, I love that grannysquere-blanket. I sure am in need for a new "everday-creative-outlet" which is not so easy as i really do need & want to stay as minimalist as possible bc I get too overwhelmed by my stuff otherwise... so taking photographs and often use them as painting sources is one good possibility for me at present. The whittling of my funny small woodn heads I do miss, though - it is so much fun! but to access the right kind of wood and then the resharpening of the blade all the time....alas alas it is a bit too much ado nowadays. Thanks for the insightful & entertaining text, it is highly appreciated!
Ah yes, the constant push/pull of wanting to do more things and also somehow have less stuff! I have that too. I love that whittling is one of your creative outlets. Glad you enjoyed this one Cristine and thanks for sharing your experiences in this regard.