RE: creative life

[Guest guest]

> Do we create? Great question Heidi.

I felt that way about Martha , as if she had claimed or

branded creativity. She took all kinds of little areas where a person

might be creative spontaneously and she figured out a 'best' approach

and made it all into paint by numbers.

(maybe that's an over-statement, but that was my reaction.)

[Guest guest]

wrote:

>I felt that way about Martha , >took all kinds of little areas where a

>person

>might be creative spontaneously and she >

>figured out a 'best' approach

response:

gee thats a pretty uncreative statement blaming Martha for short-cutting

creativity in handi-crafts. Her guides are TOOLS and one can follow her

experience towards the ends YOU desire or muddle through on your own

rediscovering the wheel.

A true creative person will see what she has done and then be able to " see "

alternatives, different juxtapositions and depart to their OWN destination using

a sound and proven foundation.

Also remember that not all people have the experience from the getgo to think

out what may work or whatis a waste, and become frustrated at poor results and

hence NOT even attempt " creativity " . A certain amount of success is needed to

nurture the Ego and let it explore new ideas. Martha, the Yankee Workshop, and

any of a few hundred " teacher/inspire-ors help provide the start for many to

grow into master artisans themselves.

What else could anyone want?

[Guest guest]

-----Original Message-----

From: h2ocolor1937 [mailto:h2ocolor@...]

Do we create? Great question Heidi.

As a fine artist I know the fear of facing a blank canvas or sheet

of watercolor paper, but I also know the joy of creating something of

value with my paints, my self expession and my skills. I find there

is nothing like the high from creating.

>>>>I’m driven to ‘create’ I spin my own yarn with a drop spindle and

knit (and knit and knit) I felt and paint and sew (mostly dolls of all

cotton, stuffed with wool and other toys and soft sculpture creations

and quilting. I make my own soap and nearly all of our food from

scratch. I paint Americana/folk art creations and was really into

painting hex signs for awhile :-) We are buying a great big kiln

from a friend that is moving and we’ll be creating our own pots and

bowls and whatever else we can think of very soon too. I’ve done leaded

glass and wood working and ceramics… I’ve done lots with dried herbs

and flowers and I think every room in my house is stenciled or painted

murals on the walls :-) So I guess maybe I got an excess of creative

drive. But there are still some that don’t live out of a box.

[Guest guest]

>I felt that way about Martha , as if she had claimed or

>branded creativity. She took all kinds of little areas where a person

>might be creative spontaneously and she figured out a 'best' approach

>and made it all into paint by numbers.

>(maybe that's an over-statement, but that was my reaction.)

Maybe that was part of the appeal? I tend to agree with the

reponses to this that various people have different levels

of what they CAN do, and need ideas and direction, esp. at first.

But also some (not all) of what she promoted COST too much. To

me the whole point of crafts is " use what ya got " ... the Indians

had lots of grass, so they made baskets. Buying a " Basket kit "

might be good training, but otherwise it misses the whole point!

I got her magazine for awhile, but much of it was about buying

her " craft products " which were very pricey.

Now if I use the berries in my yard to make jam, sherbert,

beer ... no petrol used, to speak of (well, for the sugar,

I'm not that independent yet!), no costs much other than labor,

and I FEEL creative. If I grow a cow on my grass, that is

cool too. Or make some trellises from all those trees that

blew down this year.

If I lived on the beach, I'd be using driftwood and sand ...

-- Heidi Jean