happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
Re-Designing My Life
I am at my most Zen when I'm creating, whether it be by draping cloth on Chloe (Chloe C my Mannequin .. she's my Ace since design school - we worked hard and made it through. I was the oldest student in class at the time and we still managed to graduate Cum Laude .. Chloe's been here with me through it all, every bit of the craziness from Chicago to the Southeast U.S.A., marriages and divorces, house to house, outfit after outfit - over 2 decades) ... or, if I'm re-working a pattern, especially for me, I stand over 6 feet tall, so my clothing always has to be just so and making it myself is my awesome superpower. Since design school, 90 percent of what I wear ... I create and make myself. I love getting a piece of cloth, asking it what it wants to be and then, bringing it to completion, that is such an amazing rush - it just feels so good. Ok, I'll say it, creating has become my Respite, whenever I feel like there is something missing, or if I get a bit lonely or sad, or mad, I get out a piece of cloth, get the scissors and make myself something beautiful.... (so yes, creating is officially, my boo thang).
By Andreen Barrett5 years ago in Motivation
Order Out of Chaos
There is something almost magical about taking some loose cloth and thread, applying some stiches and cuts, and combining them into something meaningful. It’s a way of bringing order out of chaos. The hum of my sewing machine and snip of my scissors turn what was once a collection of abstract materials into an organized creation. And as I go through this process of teasing out the individual materials that will make up my project, so too do I work through my scattered thoughts and emotions. As I combine these materials into my creation, I am able to set them out in a single expression of all that was once frenzied and chaotic within me. It’s how I deal with all the craziness of my life. It’s how I create my happiness.
By Tara Michelle Walkey5 years ago in Motivation
Pillow Talk Poems
I love to create cards, pillows, shirts, and whatever comes to mind! I use iron-on transfer sheets and cut out my creations. I design pillowcases for friends and family members. It could be a birthday, anniversary, or a welcome home celebration. I just like to capture the moment and design a pillow to match. I also design pillowcases to simply uplift someone's day. I usually take the person's picture and create an acrostic poem that embodies his/her personality. I have a full-time job and family, but creating memorable pillows represents one of my passions. I create everything at home and hope that one day I can turn my passion/hobby into a small business, but until then I will continue to try to brighten people's day! The pillowcase that I have created here isn't a picture of an actual magazine, it's simply clip art and a background scene!
By Addie Jackson5 years ago in Motivation
Ugly Art as Perfectionist Therapy
A little over a year ago, I’d reached a breaking point. The pandemic brought my college education to a screeching halt, and in the quietness that followed, I began to realize just how disconnected I was from my own creativity. I had 30,000 words written for a novel that I couldn’t bear to touch anymore, I wasn’t writing poetry at all, I hadn’t written music in years, and my sketchbook was constantly sitting untouched and nearly empty. I was frustrated with myself all the time. I got nothing done, and anytime I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to just start.
By Natale Felix5 years ago in Motivation
There are no limits to the human capacity to create.
“It makes such a difference,” said Pooh, “to have someone who believes in you.” While there have been many wise and profound words spoken by Winnie-the-Pooh (my hero), I do not think there is a statement that is more relatable to my life than this one.
By Kyle Denman5 years ago in Motivation
My new Happiness
Everyone has the ability to be happy, I believed for a long time that happiness was not possible due to the effects of being abused and controlled for 35 years of my life and I am only 39!. My parents did not have the maternal skills needed for me to thrive as a child, they nursed their drugs and alcohol instead. I was neglected and brought myself up. During this time I also lost two sisters in a 3 year period and all my grandparents who were my safe people. My happiest childhood memories are due to my grandparents, they showed me love and ensured I was safe. As an adult I had relationships that were toxic and full of domestic voilence, I was stabbed twice and almost lost my life, it was then my thinking process changed.
By Michelle King5 years ago in Motivation
Making a Community
It was April of 2018. Just 8 months before I had graduated from a school that would soon be closed down and I was working at the bottom of my industry. Best of Both Design started with the last of my student loans and my tax return, equaling $4,000, an unofficial business plan and a Colorado native with a bunch of old furniture. I did everything on my own. I paid my dues. I got an LLC, rented a tiny studio space, made some product and signed up for 3 events in 3 months. I had one chance. I didn’t expect much. I told myself it would be nice if I made back the vendor fees, got a few emails and gave out a few business cards.
By Katharine Novak5 years ago in Motivation
"The wonder before my eyes produces good vibes"
I love to create mixed media paintings that refer to me moving in a space. The more I make, the more I realize how important movement is and how it reads in the composition of a painting. The series of work I've been exploring has elements of collage: I will often find myself using fiskars scissors to cut paper or wrappers from kombucha bottles and adhere those parts to the substrate. It is important for me to collage because there are certain colors or effects found in paper that I cannot recreate by mixing paint. Each painting begins outside of the studio, either walking or riding my bike by a space that calls to me. I collect visual information, observe frequently which opens a space for conversation with the locale and the feel the energy of that place. After I've finished absorbing and experiencing, I bring the vision to the studio and begin sketching what I saw, and felt
By Patrick Oleson5 years ago in Motivation
Pillow Talk Poems
I love to create cards, pillows, shirts, and whatever comes to mind! I use iron-on transfer sheets and cut out my creations. I design pillowcases for friends and family members. It could be a birthday, anniversary, or a welcome home celebration. I just like to capture the moment and design a pillow to match. I also design pillowcases to simply uplift someone's day. I usually take the person's picture and create an acrostic poem that embodies his/her personality. I have a full-time job and family, but creating memorable pillows represents one of my passions. I create everything at home and hope that one day I can turn my passion/hobby into a small business, but until then I will continue to try to brighten people's day! The pillowcase that I have created here isn't a picture of an actual magazine, it's simply clip art and a background scene!
By Addie Jackson5 years ago in Motivation
Hobby after all
I found interest in my hobby during one of the darkest times of my life. In 2016 I was doing the best I have done in my life. I’m an admitted slacker. And for many years I just coasted through life working at different factories packing foods or cutting nylon with shears. I can say I have probably had thirty-five jobs since the age of 16. I could never quite find my niche. But after toiling through many different careers I finally found it. I was an IT technician travelling from site to site installing hardware and software for a major insurance company.
By Lakia Marshall5 years ago in Motivation
The house that Tammy built
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Tammy. Ever since she was a little girl she loved dolls and most of all she adored dollhouses. As she got older, she would see lots of dollhouses. There were fancy ones, little ones, toy beforeOnce upon a time, there was a girl named Tammy. Ever since she was a little girl she loved dolls and most of all she adored dollhouses. As she got older, she would see lots of dollhouses. There were fancy ones, little ones, toy ones, various kinds that she had never seen before.
By Tammy Marsh5 years ago in Motivation
Oxygen
I found my true happiness eight years ago when I transitioned from a career in fashion design to bag design. For fifteen years prior, I struggled financially and emotionally as I pursued my dream of becoming the next great womenswear designer. There were the incredible highs of seeing my designs in local and national publications and being interviewed on TV, but those things were not enough to sustain a business. By my 45th birthday, I was suffocating under the weight of debt and lack of sales. Instead of making a wish before blowing out the candles on my cake, I had a talk with God and it went a little like this,
By Wilbur Pack Jr5 years ago in Motivation
