quote from the insanely lovely blog, hearblack, (found via kate)I’ve been pretty excited to share more details about the flower arranging workshop I took at Bows and Arrows last week with you guys… And not just because it was incredibly fun and the people in the class were witty and warm and lovely and that the shop was fantastic and inspiring and Alicia and Adam (the owners and teachers) were insanely awesome and (you know I have to mention this) the champagne and cheese was yummy. It was all those things, yes, but that’s not why I’m so jazzed to post about it.
No, the most exciting thing about the whole experience (even more exciting than everything listed above) was driving home after the class, on a total creative high (which lasted for several days I have to say), reminded of how important regular hands-on creativity (ideally where you’re stretched a bit) is.
I tend to fall into odd sort of “inspiration overload” creative ruts… I’ve talked about it before, but I think it merits mentioning again, as (at least for me) these ruts tend to surface more frequently than I’d like. All the beautiful blogs documenting perfectly executed projects and meals and parties and the gorgeously styled spreads in magazines and books, while addictively lovely to ogle, send me into a sort of creative paralysis. It’s all looking and no doing, which usually leaves me staring aimlessly into my pantry dreaming of making of a gorgeous meal but instead just ordering Thai or staring at a blank piece of paper and a heap of craft supplies with the girlies with no idea what to actually make.
It’s disheartening really.
Some shots of my classmates in action at Bows and Arrows...
The group's finished products...
My arrangement...I was going for a dark sort of Flemish vibe.And that flower class…that one with the awesome people at the fantastic shop with the yummy champagne, that class reminded me that sometimes you need some help… See taking a class is different. You’re not going it alone, frustrated that you can’t seem to get the exact outcome you want in your project despite the fact that all the projects you see in print and blog-land are in fact perfect (because "after pictures" are so much prettier, no?)
No, in a class you’re surrounded by other people all hoping for the same outcome but struggling along the way…(and ideally laughing and supporting and making the entire experience infinitely more rewarding and enjoyable.)
So fortified by Alicia’s botanical prowess, I decided to declare this “The Summer of Self Improvement” and fill it with a bunch of other classes to kick-start my creative mojo. On the docket for July -- a batik class and a Polish paper chandelier class, which I’m super excited about, and then in August I’m planning on taking a couple of cooking classes, as my culinary skills are seriously waning these days.
I’ll let you guys know how it goes down + I’d love to hear about any classes your taking or what you do to kick-start your creativity…
No, in a class you’re surrounded by other people all hoping for the same outcome but struggling along the way…(and ideally laughing and supporting and making the entire experience infinitely more rewarding and enjoyable.)
So fortified by Alicia’s botanical prowess, I decided to declare this “The Summer of Self Improvement” and fill it with a bunch of other classes to kick-start my creative mojo. On the docket for July -- a batik class and a Polish paper chandelier class, which I’m super excited about, and then in August I’m planning on taking a couple of cooking classes, as my culinary skills are seriously waning these days.
I’ll let you guys know how it goes down + I’d love to hear about any classes your taking or what you do to kick-start your creativity…
