by Chris Boersma Smith | Jun 30, 2015 | Creative Expression, Overcoming Obstacles
Intriguing ideas arise in both mundane and extraordinary times—some as you slosh through everyday activities, others when you’re on a cherished artist’s date at a museum or play, or even while watching 4th of July fireworks! All month I’ve been posting reminders to pay attention to the inspiration that’s all around. Today I’d like to mention ways to catch and save the ideas that bubble up. Thinking ahead is key. Decide whether you’ll jot them onto sticky notes, index cards, or recycled paper . . . and where you’ll put those for later retrieval. Invent a system for when you’ll do so. I hate to admit how many good ideas I’ve found crumbled on the back of a faded receipt at the bottom of a purse when I finally got around to changing bags!
Recently, I’ve been capturing more ideas on my iPhone and/or in Evernote by dictating, photographing, or sending myself an email. Mentally walk through your day and plan how you’ll capture ideas place-by-place and activity-by-activity: in the middle of the night, during prayer or meditation, in the kitchen or the shower, on walks or in the garden, on the phone, at church, while decluttering, swimming, working out in an exercise class, playing with children, or listening to an audiobook or teleclass in the car.** I’m sure you can think of other challenging places to take notes!
You can’t stop to take notes when this is five feet from the side of your car!
**The asterisks remind me to ask you for suggestions on that one! I often drive hours along a winding coastline and there’s no shoulder where you can pull over to jot down a note or take your cellphone out of the glove compartment. So please comment with any good suggestions for this scenario. So far, my only attempts have been: (a) to pause the recording, repeat the idea over and over to myself, or make it into a jingle and sing it repeatedly until I think it’s sunk in (and there’s a 50/50 chance it hasn’t); or (b) to replay the recording. I might need to get a simple voice-activated recording device to hang around my neck, sensitive enough to pick up my voice but not the car’s speakers!
Once you’ve got a workable capture system, you’re apt to notice or be presented with more ideas than ever! Consider starting a physical idea repository — a folder, journal, shoebox, inbox — or an electronic folder or app. In love to journal during my Quiet Time. I put a little circle in the margin next to any idea that comes to me then that’s either an action to be added to my planner or an idea that should go into an Evernote notebook. Once I’ve handled the idea, I put a slash through the circle.
I keep a separate Art Journal for visual ideas, which I also take with me to workshops and art critique groups, and sometimes when I know I’ll have time to sit and sketch, doodle, or noodle on keywords or concepts for a new quilt. This is an area where I’ve been better at paying attention than I have in some other areas. I also paste photos or sketches or what I’ve ripped from magazines. Consider where you pay attention best, where you might benefit from paying more attention; then try to learn from what works . . . and modify what doesn’t.
Happy Fourth of July!
Also, you might make it a regular practice to express your gratitude for what God has gifted you with through your spirit, your body, your mind, and all the moments when you are present and noticing things. Also, let’s all pray that we not take anything for granted. May we all tap into the wonder and awe of the life and creation in which we live, and move, and have our being. Gratitude, wonder, and awe are the best kind of paying attention!
Join me on Facebook in July; we’ll be focusing on the creativity-enhancing notions of Imagination and Innovation.
On July 22, 2015, I’ll be hosting a one-afternoon “micro-retreat” for creative Christian women in Sea Ranch, California. Email me if you’re nearby and would like details and feel free to share this with other local Christian creative women!
by Chris Boersma Smith | Dec 12, 2014 | Book Recommendations, Creative Expression, Encouragement and Inspiration, Life Stories
The message of Reap As You Sew: Spirit at Work in Quiltmaking was meant to be shared with other spiritual quilters and creative people.
My first Book Signing and Quilt Show in September and my Book Signing last Saturday at the Women of Faith conference in Portland reinforced that belief. In Gualala, two quilters I’d never met came up to me and each told me she’d found quiltmaking to be a spiritual experience over the years, but she’d never admitted that to anyone! One would usually tell people she quilted “for her sanity,” the other that she was “addicted” to it, because each thought people would think her weird for saying quilting connected her to God or helped her in spiritual ways. The interconnectedness of quiltmaking and spirituality was, for each of them, a private matter and a secret.
But this secret is too good to keep to ourselves!
In Portland, even in a Christian venue, I met women who were both surprised and thrilled at finding there was a book on this topic. Many had seen the larger-than-life poster of the book’s cover in the outer areas of the sports arena where the conference was held, it was the first they’d heard of the book, and they returned to my publisher’s booth at the time of my lunch hour signing. A steady stream of women stood in line to get copies signed, and unfortunately, we had to turn some away without books when my 90 minutes in the booth ended and the conference program re-commenced.
About one-third of the women in Portland got the book for a relative or friend who’s a Christian quilter, some planning to read it themselves before gifting it for Christmas. The other two-thirds, the quilters in the crowd, were excited to find a book on what they’ve personally felt—the connection between quiltmaking and spirituality. They told me about experiencing quiltmaking’s stillness as a blessing and about embuing of their work with prayer, especially while making gift quilts. Some were looking to the book for inspiration, to resume a hobby they’d let fall by the wayside in the busyness of their lives. Some sought ideas on ways to design quilts with spiritual themes or symbolism. I trust that a few relatively new quilters who got the book will find their quilting becoming a spiritual path, and I’m sure that the quilters being given the book this Christmas will be surprised and delighted!
A pastor wanted a copy for a women’s group ministry team.
One young woman, Jennifer, is currently being taught by her grandmother to hand quilt on an heirloom quilt frame that once belonged to her great-grandmother, and she got a copy of Reap As You Sew for herself and another for her grandmother. I was really touched at her soulful reverence and the way quilting is connecting generations of women.
Most people admired the photos in the book and wanted the print version, but some preferred e-book versions. I was happy to have it available in both formats.
The women wanted to know why and how I wrote the book, and I wanted to hear about their quilting preferences and their creative passions. Many of them not only quilt but also make jewelry, cards, scrapbooks, and music! Our conversations were short, but I hope to hear more from readers about how they individually experience Spirit at work in either quiltmaking or other creative activities. I’d love to share some of your stories, too, perhaps as guest blog posts or through email.
The women who came blessed me, and I, them. I requested that they might be ambassadors for the notion of quilting as a spiritual activity, as well as for the book, telling other quilters about it and posting online reviews. Why? Not just to sell copies, though that’s certainly helpful. But more significantly, I believe it’s important to validate the spiritual benefits of creativity, whether in quilting or other creative endeavors, and regardless of one’s faith or spiritual outlook! It’s good to let this light shine out, unhidden!
In 2015, I plan to open up a Spiritual Quilters’ Community forum—a place where spiritual quilters can connect with other spiritual quilters, preferably in a members only online venue—where you could post photos of quilts you make that carry some spiritual story or message, or where you might seek advice, or share a touching experience. Please feel free to post suggestions or comments about whatever you’d like to see in such a forum.
by Chris Boersma Smith | Oct 22, 2014 | Creative Expression, Encouragement and Inspiration, Offerings
I’m really excited to invite you to click on Creator’s Daily Blessing to see my new video
blessing, which I made especially for those who love CREATIVITY + SPIRITUALITY.
One of the quilts in the Creator’s Daily Blessing video, “Dualism “Deconstructed” was in Sacred Threads, in the Spirituality category.
October 23rd, my Heart-to-Heart talk with Vikki Pignatelli, founder of Sacred Threads, will begin airing. Join us for great stories and great tips on nurturing your creativity, from a quilt teacher, lecturer, author, and fine artist turned textile artist who’s won First Place at the International Quilt Festival in Houston for a large art quilt!
You can register here to see the free 38-minute webinar. It will be available every 4 hours for 6 days, starting Thursday. Vikki mentions some articles in her talk. They are:
- The Quilter Magazine: Feb/March 2013 issue, “The Folly of Perfectionism”
- Quilters Newsletter Magazine: April/May 2013 issue, “Emotions, Healing and Creativity”
- Quilt Life: August 2014, “No More Creative Roadblocks” (on flexibility)
