Sarah*n*dipitous

Impossibilities

The world is full of walking, talking, breathing contradictions; things that are, by human understanding, impossible. I think about people who faced daunting tasks, seemingly impossible challenges yet overcame them only to redefine our human understanding of this or that. Medicine, science, mathematics, all those logical based disciplines that depend on empirical data sets and reproducible experimentations to prove or disprove, all hinge on the belief that things have to have an explanation of sorts. One cannot help but think that Nature takes great joy and daresay, sadistic pleasure, in presenting impossibilities each and every day just to keep humanity on it's toes. 

Today I watched a dragonfly hover in midair, fly backwards, and connect with another as a course of perpetuating the species I suppose, in perfect unison. One dragonfly in flight is miraculous, two in a coordinated perfection is nothing short of Divine. Master Leonardo DaVinci studied the dragonfly hundreds of years ago and we, as humanity, are no closer to being able to define the impossibility of it. Without impossibilities, innovation and inspiration would cease to exist. Perhaps Lewis Carroll had it correct when he penned Wonderland, that one really must think on at least 6 impossible things a day.

 

Makers

One of my favorite events to attend is Maker Faire. Truth be told, it does not really matter in which city or what time of the year it is held, it is a concept not a square on the calendar in my world.

Maker Faire is an event that is difficult to explain or define because it is something different to each person. For some it is a geek convention, others, a hacker reunion, it is a Lego village while others see it as a concert with Tesla Coil sparks of pure energy. Maker Faire is a steampunk revolution, a Bizarre Bazaar, a lecture on innovation, a display of alternative energy possibilities or even a choreographed Mentos and Coke Zero wonder of science. It is experienced through make n takes, various foods on a stick, a lifesize mousetrap game or in a knitting circle sipping tea and talking about the weather. As varied as the ideas of what Maker Faire is, the commonality that binds each and every person that walks the grounds and interacts within the event is that we are all Makers. We are the doers of things and thinkers of thoughts, the curious, the child like wonder trapped in an aging birthday suit. We are the "what-if" askers and the grease smudged foreheads, we are the growers of gardens and the wearers of the fantastic and outlandish. We are the product of our own making wrapped up in a Providential design that embodies a creativity only the original Maker could create. It is a celebration of what could be possible when we choose to marinate on the impossibilities of the here and now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine

Many suggest and believe that Valentine's is a "Hallmark" holiday set aside to make those in distant places and alone feel even more isolated and alone. I'd like to believe it's like a Wonderland "Un-Birthday" when we choose to celebrate every day that isn't designated and circled in red as an opportunity to show those around us that they matter and that we care. It need not be the showy production, the flowers, chocolates, jewelry and tangible things, it can be a smile, a hand held in a dark time, or the window on the car scraped and the inside heated when you're running late. Let every day be Valentine's Day, a day where love is found in the sanctuary of another.

This is a Beehive or Spider Web Victorian Card. Thank You Tattered Angels, Clearsnap, Marcella, 3M, Fiskars, and Bic :)

 

Troll

When I was young, growing up here in Michigan, those that lived in the Upper Peninsula were called Youppers (You Pers) and those below the Mackinaw Bridge, we were Trolls. Like most seeped in Michigan lore and quirky "using your hand as a map to explain where you are from" colloquialisms, stories of Trolls and massive Lumber Jacks with a Blue Ox for a pet were things that are in your genetic code. The idea of Trolls though is something you need not be from Michigan to know anything about. Trolls are suckers for shiny objects and tend to attach themselves to things with shiny objects until said shiny object can be stolen and pilfered away or are no longer valuable. In the art world, as with most other professions in the corporate setting, there are many who gravitate towards the shiny new (you fill in the blank here) seeking hidden treasure and undue enrichment. Oftentimes, companies will seek out new talent and suck them dry of their ideas before they are aware and while they are still green and taken in with their own shiny objects (the promise of a bigger office, a brighter future, a paid off mortgage) to care. It has long been a belief of mine that we should teach mythology, Aesop, and a number of other cautionary tales to kids coming into the Creative Community and profession. There is a sense that because it is art, because it is a sharing type community that by proxy all people are working towards the common good when in fact, that simply may not be the case. Once upon a time there used to be the premise that if you make money, I make money... people had control over the destinies of sorts and income potential was only limited by their own vision. The Trolls would like to let folks believe that they have just as much "respect" for said such shiny object but, in reality, they covet it and will do what ever it takes to deprive it's own of said jewel.

If the creative community understood the value of what they brought to the table, I believe wholeheartedly they would guard it a bit better. Rather than discounting their work and talent they would be trained to want to partner with the companies they work with to mutually edify and enrich each other. Respect comes first from understanding the value of one's talents. As a creative community, we must come to agreement that there are collective standards and rates lest we give away our shiny jewels on a fool's gold quest.

Playful

The spirit of play is something we all need in order to continually feed the create muse and keep it healthy. Just as good food and exercise are good for the body and staying in shape, our Muse needs to be exposed to laughter and just old fashioned play and experimentation in order to grow. Many working artists lose track of time designated to just "new" work, retreats or even classes due to the busyness of trying to run a business and make a living from their creations. It comes to a point where many artists are spending more of their time staring at paperwork than blank canvases full of possiblitites waiting to be given a new life and exiestence.

In my studio, play is important, it is part of my job. My role as an innovator encompasses using existing products and materials in new unexpected ways for my clients; this by proxy means, I must get my hands dirty and machines are sacrificed for the greater craftiness good. The point is, I learn more from these playdates than I do with the set appointments I have more times than naught simply because there is no agenda, it is come what may. I encourage those in the creative community, be it in art, music, writing, theater, or dance to make sure to schedule play time and make it a part of the routine...

Nature's Playdoh Factory

There are times in life where the Universe is just trying to tell you something. Flipping through family photos of a vacation we took this Summer, I came across the "safari series"... This personal joke in our family is the "butt" of discussion in that every time we saw an animal, it was ALWAYS it's backside. It was almost as if once we were in the position to snap the picture the animal would dutifully turn and show us it's tail end. Now, for those with young boys, you will totally understand where I am going with this and how absolutely hysterical they thought this was. The crowning shining moment was when we reached the Elephant habitat. This massive creature was eating it's breakfast and like a giant playdoh factory, our now accustomed view of the animal, started spouting off one of the foulest sights I do believe one should ever have to see in a telephoto lens (I will spare you the extreme close up) 

The funny thing about this is, we can all relate; every person reading this understands. Why? Because it is a function of life. The stuff we put in one end, travels through and comes out the other. It is something so basic and so sometimes in your face, that it is hard to not laugh when you see it close-up and have the full 5 senses type experience one gets with a telephoto lens. What was so special about this moment was that the people we were sharing a vehicle with were not from the United States and did not speak English as their primary language yet, they laughed too. We all got it... kids, adults, people from different walks of life, languages and economies... we all got it. Good design, good art, good branding, good marketing, good communication and people skills, being a good friend, being a good human, it all is based on the things that transcend and speak to us all in a ways that connect us. And sometimes it is the most primary bodily function that sparks the conversation.

Rearview

Very seldom do we get to look back on things while we are flying past them as we can while driving... and the images are always closer than they appear (thinking about that cleverly shot scene in Jurassic Park with the T-Rex in pursuit). 

While driving on an old country road, I was forced to stop for a family of ducks crossing the road and in that instant, even though I had been taking in the scenery as I was driving, in my rear-view mirror I had noticed something I had completely missed because I was looking at something else I presume. Truthfully we miss more than we see in just normal day to day activities. I'd like to say it isn't on purpose but, deep down I think it is to some extent. We have allowed ourselves to be trained to focus on certain things and as we drive through life and as a result, we become less and less attune to the things that do not fit into that parameter or paradigm. We get little digestible bits but never the full picture and our reality as a whole is skewed from the lack of vision. The interesting thing is that after we miss them, after we pass them, the wonky irony is that the hindsight is so clear and the fact we cannot go back blaringly obvious. I guess the point is, once you pass something, don't wait until it's too far in the distance to take a peek from the rear-view mirror.

CHA Orlando

CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer Convention here in Orlando is turning out to be a promising event. Many things caught my attention during my first walk through. Here are snippets from the show floor.

FloraCraft... styrofoam decor gets a new look and more contemporary upscale vibe with cloth, faux finish and beads. 

Art exhibit made from a million tiny ironed together plastic beads we all played with as children. This amazing presentation was compiled of segments made from children and adults (even a blind person contributed) that were fused together and put on display. Despite one's political views, no one could dispute the amount of time and energy that went into creating something very cool.

My friend Claudine Hellmuth doing her collage thing in the Ranger booth

I always love visiting the Maya Road booth... liked the new little scalloped envelopes but, totally Jonesed the CANVAS book covers. Why? Sketchbooks and Mixed Media folks are going to love the surface and the fact that it is set up to hold pens and such for doodling on the go... 

Kaiser is another company I always gravitate towards. I love the clean lines and ease of the work surfaces they provide. They had a lot of interesting surfaces I could totally imagine playing with.

I Love to Create (Duncan) had a wonderful display again this CHA. Crafty Chica, Traci Bautista, Maya Cano-Murillo (Yes, the Chica's amazing daughter...) were in the booth. Traci demonstrated a new spray can (non-aerosol) that I was really impressed with. Now I can teach kiddos using "spray paint" without the liability of using the real aerosol variety in the class... very cool.

The Gala event by Provo was hands down the coolest event during CHA. They unveiled and announced their new Gypsy- a hand held so you can create on the go, welding tool that allows the user to basically download the content of their cricut cartridges into the portable unit, create a lay-out and then cut it out from home later. Each person who attended not only received a Gypsy and cartridge, they also got a copy of Faythe Lavine's book Handmade Nation as well. Very cool.

This would be the infamous aluminum tin foil tree we made for MercArt (thanks again to Stephanie... the wispies ROCK!!!) For folks outside of the loop... the real metal tree was confiscated in Ohio while I was driving from MI to FL... due to the Emerald Ash Borer parasite. This was the sole reason I drove from MI to FL mind you- the tree could not be sent. So, as all Designers know, last minute projects are the stuff of legend at CHA... thankfully there was a 24 hour Walmart near by and copious amounts of tin foil to be acquired. 

Behind the curtain backstage at America's Top Crafter with Terri O, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Margot Potter, ad Marisa...

Play

I don't know when it is that adults forget how to play. Even the signs seems to warn us, "Watch Out, there are kids playing you better be careful..." I know that this is to raise awareness but truly, how often do we actually think about the other side of the equation... what other side you ask? I bet you thought those signs were for you to slow down and pay attention because children are little and unobservant  and therefore, could be hurt if you were not warned to be aware right? Yes, I guess that is one way of thinking about it, probably the best one as well afterall, I don't want anyone to mistakenly run over my kids when they chase the rocket they just launched across the street I suppose... No, the other side is a warning as well but, for your benefit not theirs. You see, one should exercise Caution when watching children go about playing unfiltered and unfettered by adults forcing them to conform. They may, afterall, rub off on you and get you thinking grand impossible thoughts. They may dare you to be more serious about playing and tinkering, and daresay, oblivious to those around you while you dig deep into those wonderful unanswerables the universe just puts out there begging for folks to question and try to wrap their noodles around. Playing is serious business folks, and one who chooses that course of business must exercise extreme caution for the mere fact, one never knows when they will discover something that will change the world. Kids know this by the way, it's the adults that have to be shown signs to actually get it.

Makers

Makers are the folks that create something from nothing. They dream of the impossible and think of ways to defy conventional thinking to make it a reality.These are the anti-cookie cutter people that make this world a more interesting place. As I sit here and reflect on all that I learned and saw over these past few days, there are a few things that truly are profound and leave a lump in my throat to think about. The first is that, people chose to take their kids and folks hands down, went out of their way to accommodate, engage, and inspire the curious and absorbent mind of the children at Maker Faire. Many trade shows and conventions ask that children not attend because they are a inconvenience and have a way of slowing things down and getting in the way. Makers understand that it is investment in the children that create a better future. Makers are about sharing what is in their head with the people who want to know it and, it seems more often than not, true makers are people who have an amazing story to tell about how and why they made what they did... children love a good story. Secondly, every person I met and had the honor to speak to, never lost that sense of child-like wonder. It is something truly amazing to be in the company of folks who never stop asking questions, who's insatiable curiosity is contagious and the natural questions that occur in just exploring and observing the everyday come out from every pore of their beings. That proverbial "What If?" is on the tips of every tongue and the fantastic and imaginary are sitting there in front of you (A fire breathing Snail Car comes to mind). Maker Faire is about equipping people not only to think about the impossible but giving them the sandbox to keep failing until the impossible is a possibility and from there a reality.

Crafty Pod

I am blessed with incredible people in my world. Diane Gilleland from Crafty Pod is not only one of the most genuine and professional Podcasters around, she is a gifted and talented artist with a passion for sharing her love of making things with the world. Diane and I have been Twitter buddies for some time but had our first real life meeting at CHA in Anaheim this past January. I was impressed by Diane's incredible gift for sifting the wheat from the proverbial chaff and getting straight to the heart of the conversation with meaningful and well thought out questions. It was such a huge honor to be a guest on her Podcast today. My hope is that you will spend some serious time listening to her collection of insightful shows and tell all your friends. Our industry needs people like Diane. She in a shining star and I for one am truly, grateful to call her friend.

Listen to Podcast Here

Read about it here in CRAFT

Special Thanks to Kayte Terry for the picture she took at CHA of the booth (lifted from the CraftStylish post)

Living in Color

My Husband is notorious for downloading random songs on iTunes that sneak into my playlists at just the right moment. Jamey Johnson sings a wonderful song called "In Color" that if you get a chance to listen to it, I highly recommend it. The premise is that you may flip through the black and white photos and get an idea of what was going on but, that it isn't a substitute for living it in real color.

I think many of us go through life living it by proxy. We flip through magazines, follow folks online, friend strangers and live vicariously through other people's images... all a cheap imitation of life. Today I watched two of the kids I work with text each other from opposite sides of the room. They could have just put down their phones and had a meaningful conversation, seen the facial expressions, heard the changes in their voices, and the slight giggle on their breath.... but they completely missed it. They missed the good stuff, the stuff LIFE is made of. I don't know about you, but I want to have my own pictures that I remember being in vibrant, crazy amazing, mind boggling color. I want to look at a picture and be able to smell the fragrance of the flowers and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin just like the moment I took the picture. I try to explain to my students that it is really hard to paint or create something from scratch, you need to have something to draw from, a first hand experience. How can I imitate the perfect shade of blue that I have never seen? How will I know what Heliotrope smells like from a picture? How will I be able to discern a ripe strawberry still glistening from the morning dew if I've never picked one at sunrise and tasted the goodness myself? How can I hear the symphony of Spring Peepers in the clicking of text messages? Live your life folks, don't let someone else live one you enjoy by proxy, it just isn't the same.

It's True

Yes, I have been working on a huge project. I apologize to even my closest friends for not spilling the details until now.... you know I work in the Batcave and there are just some things I can't talk about.... Today I can finally talk about it a bit. As most of you know, my passion has always been about equipping people. I see a generation of folks who are insanely talented and we as a culture really letting them down in so many ways. People will do great things and make amazing things and invent the things we thought were not possible *if* you believe it and invest in that belief.

I have been asked to be on television... not just create stuff for television and other media as I have been doing for so many years... To create a television show that links making things with making a difference (inspired by the booth I did at CHA). After marinating on it for a bit, I have chosen to do this on Public Television with a significant online component because I believe that something worth doing should be available to all, not just those blessed with Cable. This is a huge step of faith because I do not even know if the sponsorship money will come in or whether I am the "right" person to do this however, I do know that I cannot waste the talents I have been given or the opportunity by not trying. The next months are going to be crazy (especially because I intend on continuing doing the writing/ teaching thing). I have been meeting with a number of my friends already on television and experienced in the behind the scenes stuff as well as industry leaders in technology, media, education, and of course in my own industry asking questions and figuring out if something like this is even possible. There have been a lot of dropped jaws and emotional tears...

This project is the biggest and most scary project I have ever thought up....a Pay It Forward. I have been encouraging my children and every one of my students (young and older) to do something worthwhile and make a mark on the timeline of history... I cannot live with myself in hypocrisy if I never put it into practice- especially as one who teaches. Once we have corporate sponsors for the first season solidified, we will start filming immediately here in Detroit. Filming week (most likely Aug.) will be a block party outside of the studio with crafters, artists, authors and musicians doing their thing and you are all invited.... what fun is making stuff and not sharing it? We are figuring out the liability issues but, my hope is that the set will be open and students will be allowed to work side by side with mentors that teach so much more than a mere textbook :) in all stages of production. I would not be where I am today without my mentors (thank you C, K, M.J. and S). I will reveal more details as I can.

Craft Stylish

Every once in a while you meet folks that are just plain cool. Once you meet them, you can't imagine your world without them in it. This year at CHA, I met some folks from the Craft Stylish booth that literally blew me out of the water. I was impressed by the fact that they transformed 350 magazines into booth decor and that even after show hours, they were crafting in their hotel rooms. I cannot list everyone because I just know I will forget someone and feel bad but, know this, there are still people in this world who are passionate about making the world a more vibrant place through innovative and amazing handcrafted goodness. These folks aren't in it for the money (heaven knows it isn't much), they are in it because they truly LOVE what they do. I am concerned about the fact that the print media is suffering in today's economy, and that folks have forgotten why writers and "imagineers" are important and worthy of their investment. This my friends is where innovation begins. It begins with a spark, an idea that spreads like wildfire and the investment by others that fan those flames. It is where addicts are created and fed with thought provoking and inspiring content provided by folks who never saw what they do as a "job" but more as a mission to make this world a brighter place. Every single person I met in that booth were passionate crafters themselves. They write from which they know and love and draw content from the things that inspire them to take their own personal crafting to the next level..... my kind of people. I encourage all to check out Craft Stylish for themselves.

Conversation

The art of conversation in general is becoming a lost art. With more and more of our conversations occuring on cell phones in condensed cell phone symbols and secret shorthand, our spelling and grammar skills aren't the only things that are suffering, our ability to communicate is as well. It used to be that when we'd have a business gathering or event, a formal invite would be sent to announce it. I must admit, I enjoyed receiving "real mail" (c'mon anything in a nice envelope that isn't a bill in the mailbox is always fun to get!). I love fine penmanship and quality paper- not because it is expensive but, because it took time and makes me personally feel special. Nowadays, even wedding invitations are sent via email... It's like a civility is being lost and diluted as we allow conversation to become so flippant and casual.

So, how does this apply to business? The art of conversation is more than a skill, it is a matter of respect. If you value your clients, you will want to communicate that to them in a way that makes them feel special. I am not saying that text messages and short Facebook remarks do not have their place in a business relationship just that, they should not be the only kind of communication. Think of it this way.... In the beginning of a relationship- the dating phase, little love notes and gifts are exchanged in order to woo the object of one's interest. However, once the chase is over and the relationship becomes exclusive, the formality is put aside and replaced with familiarity.... We take things for granted. Businesses who feel that they have won their clients and do not believe they need to continue to win them over daily will lose those clients to others who understand that communication is key.

Special thanks to Lauren for her lovely conversation heart flower... The short little words mean so much more when they are displayed in such an innovative way.