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More Music for Your Weekend: Santigold

Santigold's new album, 99 Cents, was released today. The cover art is perfect.

Music for Your Weekend: Been to the Moon

Yes!!! There is new music from Corinne Bailey Rae and it's lovely. She just released her new video for "Been to the Moon" and it's all afro-futuristic with a rocket, glittery space suits, and unconquered landscapes. Right up my visual alley.

The whole video (and song) is perfect but here are some scenes I love. Check out the video and let me know what you think.

Creative Mornings Baltimore

Tomorrow I have the honor of being this month's Creative Mornings Baltimore speaker. The event is hosted and sponsored by the American Craft Council and they're giving away tickets to the American Craft Council Show happening this weekend. Register here.

Creative Challenge Day 14

We finished the Creative Love Challenge! I hope you feel inspired to make and pursue your creative interests a little more than you did 14 days ago.

Take a look back at that thing you wrote down on Day 1. Do you still feel excited about that thing? Have you taken steps towards doing that creative thing daily? Whatever you do please remember that those steps towards creating might led you on an exciting adventure or could take you to a dead end. It might even inspire you to try a completely different path. Regardless of what happens enjoy every moment. Learn from your mistakes and cheer at your triumphs. Soak it all up because this (creative) journey is all about the experiences you create along the way.

Creative Challenge Day 13

If you are someone who wants to see their designs or illustrations on product or simply want to produce a small run of items but don't know where to go this post is for you. Back in grad school my homie Rae Ann put together a list of resources for design students who wanted to get stuff made. It was an awesome resource. Over the years I've updated and refined a version of that list that I share with my students. And now would like to share some of those items from that collection with you. 

It's super fun to see your work produced professionally. In a lot of ways it feels polished, finished, and real. Just remember to be mindful of producing more stuff. Think about the environment, printing practices, and your needed inventory. Do your research and ask questions to help determine the right fit and amount for your project (for example considering a print-to-order system vs. printing a small quantity). Don't let the excitement of getting something made cloud the process, think it though.

Screen-printing
The Half & Half
Soul & Ink

Stationery
Vista Print: small runs of postcards, business cards, and greeting cards
Overnight Prints: business cards, postcards, and stationery   
Moo: business card printing

Fabric
Ink Drop Printing: fabric printing
Spoonflower: digital fabric, wallpaper, and gift wrap  paper printing
Print All Over Me: high-quality fabric printing

Tees + Things
Busy Beaver: buttons
Cotton Bureau: print and sell t-shirts
MakIt: customize plastic plates, platters, bowls, mugs, coasters and trays 
Society6: print and sell your work
Sticker Mule: sticker printing
Custom Ink: custom t-shirt printing
TeeSpring: print and sell tees using a campaign system
Cafe Press: customize items like tees, cards, home decor, and mugs
OoShirts: digitally and screen-printed tees
Zazzle: tees, prints, posters, mugs, cards and mouse-pads
Printful: print and sell tees

Self-Publishing
Blurb: custom book printing
Lulu: self-publishing 

Can't wait to see what you make! Do you have any resources you can recommend? 

 

 

 

Creative Challenge Day 12

We all have some level of doubt when pursuing our creative interests. Some people let it stop them in their tracks while others push through believing there's something beautiful and magical waiting for them on the other side. I've been on both sides, but now always trying to remember to keep going despite the doubt.

And I do have doubts. Matter-of-fact, I cried just two days ago because of some doubtful thoughts. I was feeling so unsure about some decisions I had to make and felt really overwhelmed with having to navigate those decisions in addition to getting my work done.

Although times like these can be difficult it's important to give ourselves permission to feel it, but to not drown in it. It's necessary to recognize the moment to move through the doubt no matter what. So after feeling sorry for myself for about five minutes I dried my tears and powered through knowing that in the end all would be ok.

Unsure about your drawings? That cake recipe turned out to be a flop? Business idea feels too risky? Analyze those doubts and power through. Try again, ask questions, and be sure to listen to your gut. 

Creative Challenge Day 11

It's awesome to be inspired by what's happening in our world today but in order to really capture an idea we have to dig a little deeper. And sometimes digging deeper means looking back at the questions and answers from the past. Here's an example, if you're working on a logo or a designing a pair of shoes and searching on Pinterest for inspiration try finding the historical references of the inspiration and start from there. Appropriating the appropriation leaves an idea disconnected. Go deeper. Get off the computer and visit a library or museum and be inspired by the innovations of early makers.

Creative Challenge Day 10

Creative Challenge Day 9

Challenge your creativity by trying something new or taking a risk. You never know what amazing things can happen.

Creative Challenge Day 8

My internet was down all day yesterday (and still — I'm working from a coffeeshop). So I was unable to post Day 8 here (but posted on IG). But here it is:

But here's Day 8 for our creative challenge. I treat myself to books, magazines and pens. Those always get me excited to create.

Creative Challenge Day 7

After a talk I presented back in October a young woman asked, "tell us how we can support you." It was so kind and sincere, and totally unexpected that it made me stumble through my response. That question has stuck with me since. Now whenever I can I try to remember to ask that question to my friends in my creative tribe. Whether it's re-posting someone's work you like, telling a writer their work is dope, or hanging posters promoting a friend's exhibit supporting your creative community helps it thrive. And it's a great way to boost your creative karma.

 

Creative Challenge Day 6

Dedicate a little bit of time towards your creative passion.

Creative Challenge Day 5

Understanding how others see the world not only enhances our empathy but also gives us a different perspective on our own work.

Creative Challenge Day 4

Remembering why you like doing something is a great motivator for doing more of that thing. Knowing "why" will also help you determine the true intentions behind what you do with your creative endeavors. When there's a genuine interest we're filled with joy. When we do something just to get more attention or to get by then it can generate anxiety and less joy. This list should help you figure this out.

Creative Challenge Day 3

Surround yourself in beauty. Hanging up art work, images from a favorite magazine or an old book is a great way to be inspired. You're not necessarily creating a vision board or mood board, these are just images you find to be beautiful, which then become subtle reminders that you can create beauty, too.

Here is a peek at my recently updated inspiration board in my studio. I've been adding images here and there as I find them.