It’s been awhile since we participated in any group writing projects, but Liz Strauss has one running that inspired a few words. This isn’t the first time she’s run a 25 Words project, but for some reason the subject for this one touched something in the creativity well and brought to the surface.

Read, Enjoy, Think - and then share those thoughts with someone else!

Tapestry

Each person
A thread, a color
In a tapestry woven.

Weaving, blending
Single threads entwined

Each thread a place
As patterns grow
To beauty reveal.

What do you do with all those plastic grocery bags that collect with each trip to the store?

Even when I bring my own canvas grocery bags, the checker and bagger usually end up giving me a couple more.

I can use a few of them - I have cats and a litter box to clean up each week. But I still found them piling up.

What to do with them? I was pondering that question when something came across my RSS feeds - crocheting with grocery bags. Using plastic grocery bags to make a reusable grocery tote seemed appropriate some how.

Here’s how it started, though this is only 10 bags out of however many I used - I lost track!

I had two or three of these bags that were stuffed full of more bags. I didn’t use them all, but I used a lot of them.

The finished tote. The different colors and textures are from bags from different stores.

Interested in the process? More pictures and the beginning steps behind the cut.

If you’re inspired to give a variation of the project a try, let us know how it goes!

(more…)

Okay, so I was wrong - I was going to post an Inspiration Tag today, but I changed my mind. I promise I’ll post either an Inspiration Tag or a Lyrically Speaking tomorrow!

A Brief Change in Programming

Instead of our normal fare, I wanted to bring something to your attention that you may not think has anything to do with Creativity at first glance. It’s a site for a movie called The Golden Compass coming out in December 2007. Not only does the movie look interesting (at least to me), but there’s an interactive feature that is very creative and, I think, creatively inspiring.

A major aspect of the movie is the concept of Daemons. Each person has a Daemon, which takes the form of an animal, and the few people who don’t are considered mutilated or handicapped. During childhood, the Daemon shifts forms, eventually stabilizing as the person reaches adulthood.

What’s Your Daemon?

The most creative and creatively inspiring section of the site is the area where you can find out what your Daemon is. There are 20 questions to answer and then you are presented with your Daemon.

Sounds like a standard meme, right?
Wrong.
This is where it gets really interesting…

For the 12 days after you discover your Daemon, it can shift based on input from your friends. You are given a couple of options to let your friends know about your Daemon and ask for their input on how they see you: you can put your Daemon into your online Journal or blog, or your can send email to your friends to notify them.

Not only are the aspects of the Daemons sources for creative inspiration, but watching how the Daemon changes over the 12 days it can be influenced can provide inspiration as well.

Gemini and I both found our Daemon’s this morning - and we’d like your input.

ShadowsEdge’s Daemon

Gemini’s Daemon

Today would normally be an Inspiration Tag day, but there was a post in my feeds today that really made me think, so this week’s Inspiration Tag will have to wait a day. Over at Scaffolding for Writers, Lisa posted about how we, everyday, teach our children how not to feel.
I have to agree with her, but I’m posting about it because it applies to Creativity and adults as well. Society and daily routine train us not to be creative.

Routine Kills Creativity

Everyday we get up, go through our morning routine (probably half asleep), go to work. Then we come home and sometime during the evening, we eat dinner and probably turn on the television. Most of our day is spent doing things the way everyone else does them. It’s what’s expected. It’s easy and convenient. And we don’t have to think about it.

The Creativity Muscle

Here’s the problem as I see it. Creativity is like a muscle. If it’s not exercised, it atrophies. If we don’t actively think during the day, there’s no way to exercise our creativity.

Quick and Easy Exercise

It’s hard to find time for physical exercise. Exercising your Creativity muscle can be just as daunting at first glance, but small changes can make all the difference.

Here are a five quick and easy suggestions:

• Take a new or different route to or from work
• Try a new project or craft
• Read something in a genre you don’t usually read
• Play word-association for a few minutes
• Do a random internet search and see where it leads you

And though I doubt I need to say it - the last suggestion would to be to check in here on a regular basis and make use of the prompts and exercises we post.

Have a Cre8tive day!

I thought we’d change things up a little and point you in the direction of some other sites on the ‘net that might inspire you. So here’s some link love for sites we’re frequenting.

1. FicLits - This is a pretty new site. Here you can read and post short stories (short being 1024 characters or less). In addition, you can add to the stories that other members have posted. It’s reminiscent, in some ways, of the old choose-your-own-adventure stories but you get the chance to write a segment or two.

2. BlogCarnival - This is a site that indexes blog carnivals (where one blog hosts links to themed posts on other other blogs during a stated time period). There are lots of carnivals listed under Arts & Entertainment, Hobbies, and Writing. So far, there are few to be found that directly relate to creativity, but there are definitely some good resources there.

3. Time Well Wasted - This is a new venture by our own GeminiFatCat. Having an extensive collection of DVD’s, CD’s and an appetite for good stories, Gemini posts a review each workday. You won’t find current releases here very often. Instead she hopes to bring some older and possibly overlooked movies, music, books and such to your attention.

For those of you who didn’t realize from previous posts that I’m a little on the crazy side (Or for those of you who were holding out hope that I was actually sane), here’s your proof otherwise. I have officially registered for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2006.

What this means is: I will attempting to write a 50,000 word (or more) novel during the month of November. Yeah, my sanity’s questionable! *laughs*

I’m not the only crazy one - last year there were over 50,000 people who made the attempt and over 9,000 who actually met the goal!

What does this mean for YourCre8tivity?

Not much really - We’re putting together a backlog of Quick Steps so that you’ll still get your daily dose of creativity during the week. You will be seeing periodic updates on my progress toward 50,000 words, though I’ll try to keep them to a minimum, unless asked to do otherwise.

What does this mean for you?

Anyone who is reading this has permission to nag, cajole, cheer me on and ask about my progress, either through comments or by emailing me!

Of course…. you could always join me!

–Edge