12 Characteristics of Creative People

This is a list of 12 tendencies shared by creative individuals posted online by Kim Phillips in March 2012. I  have reprinted the list here with her permission. Please follow this link to her original post    http://getlucid.net/?s=creative+people

Creative people are different because they operate a little differently. They....

1. Are easily bored
2. Are willing to take risks
3. Don't like rules
4. Ask "what if"
5. Make lots of mistakes
6. Collaborate
7. Are generous
8. Are independent
9. Experiment
10. Motivate themselves
11. Work hard
12. Aren't alone

Do you see yourself in this list? I can relate to every one, but the big ones are #1, 3, and 8.  Send me a comment and let me know which ones resonate most strongly for you.

Weekend Stitching and the Duncaster Show Continues

I want to finish putting the binding onto "Blue Check" a contemporary quilt of my own design inspired by Kaffe Fassett. Check back for a report on my progress.
And yes, that is my Green Machine, a vintage Sears Kenmore from the 1950's. It is my 'go to' machine. Those of you who know me from quilt retreats know it is with me when the Featherweight is not.

The exihibit of my art quilt group, The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective (CTFAC) http://ctfac.blogspot.com  "Spring Thaw"continues at the Duncaster Retirement Center in Bloomfield http://duncaster.org through this March 28, 2014.  We were overwhelmed with the interest the group showed in us and our work. The reception included music and gallery talks by members of CTFAC.  The Duncaster Center is located at 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

Here Antonia Torres (right) and I walking to the exhibit area to talk with attendees about our creative process. 

Artwork by Rosalind Spann

Artwork by Karen Loprete

Irises by Carol R. Eaton 

Artwork by Christina Blais

Here I am discussing our Grey Matter Challenge

Woodland Inspirations - Southford Falls State Park

This year is the 100th anniversary celebration of Connecticut State Parks. 

I have set a goal for myself to to hike in as many parks as possible this year. The thing that may surprise you is how many state parks (and national forests) there are in Connecticut. To find a park near you search the website of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)  www.ct.gov/deep 

Here are some photos I took at Southford Falls State Park in Oxford this week. What a glorious time of year---the transition between winter and spring. I am inspired by the sun, clouds, and water. I love the shadows that are cast by the trees on the snow-covered forest floor. 

Serendipity Sweater Complete

It took a little longer than I planned, but at last the Serendipity Sweater is finished. 

This is a top-down sweater that loosely based on the "Neckdown Pullover for Women" by Knitting Pure and Simple www.knittingpureandsimple.com

I used two colors of Ecological Wool by Cascade Wools for the main sweater. This is a wonderful worsted weight wool that slips easily on either bamboo or metal needles. The golden embellishment was added with two novelty yarns from my remnant drawer. 

The sweater is knitted in the round. The benefit of this is that once completed there are no seams to sew together. The other advantage is that as you knit you can try the sweater on to determine what length is best. The ribbing around neck, base, and cuffs was added by picking up stitches, again with a circular needle and knitting (Knit 2, Purl 1, repeat).

If you know how to knit but have never tried a sweater it is time to give it a whirl. I love the freedom of creating my own unique piece of wearable art. 

Serendipity Sweater - Work in Progress

Row by row I am still knitting a sweater that I started over a year ago. Last weekend I almost ripped it all out until I mentioned it to my hubby and he talked me down.

Honestly I am so close to finishing and only have a bit left to complete (collar, cuffs and extending lower border to balance out the top half). Isn't it funny that the light tan is also rather two-toned...LOL... I suppose that is what I get for buying yarn at a deli (read on). Perhaps by this next week I will have something to show for all the effort.

I call it the Serendipity Sweater because it started out as a way to use up some miscellaneous balls of wool and speciality fibers that were beginning to overflow the bin, but then I ran out of the main wool. Definitely a no-no for the experienced fiberholic. Still I must push on I thought, after all I had already put about 8 hours into the project. That's a whole workday at my day-job...and not to be wasted. And it was impossible to get more of that yarn since it was purchased at a little deli/hardware store while on break from skiing at Ascutney about 8 years ago.

So, what would you do? My solution was to go online and order several skeins of Ecological Wool in tones to coordinate...or at least I thought it would. You be the judge.

Check back to see my progress.