a Basic Creative Person

Recently I rearranged my business and blogging life.  Most of my crafty business posts were in another blog, which I am now changing with a new URL, to an exclusively wholesale site for the promotion and sale of my custom logo aprons.  Thanks to all of you who have followed me on that blog for more than four years! (If you were a follower there, please consider following this blog--Thanks!)

Although I have had this blog since early in January 2011, it was basically devoted to my creative writing and my art.  But life has changed my focus and now I am revamping this blog to handle all of my art and craftiness!  I am a complex person much like this little pillow that I created to represent myself:

 I love many forms of art and many mediums with which to create--beads, buttons, lace, trims, embroidery, applique, patchwork, paper, watercolor, etc.  Basically I just love creating!  So this blog from here on will be all inclusive of my various interests.

Yes, there will still be displays of my art.  

Yes, there will be some creative writing, that is just who I am! 
I want to say authentic to myself.  (For my writing, check out the tab at the top of the home page for 'Small Stones'--short little creative writing bits, or-- for an ongoing story: 'Abby's Story'.)

So, on with the adventure!  Hope you will follow me to see what creative thing I am working on and hopefully, gain inspiration for your own creative endeavors!!!

New Adventure!

I am currently in the process of changing my focus for creativity.  For the last few years, I have been concentrating on my Etsy businesses of hand crafted jewelry and hand sewn products and not my art or writing.  Oh, I have had two blogs to keep my hand in writing practice and I have participated in Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketches but mostly this blog has been an 'on again, off again' project as far as any writing is concerned--not consistent nor concentrated.   My other blog  has been my focus, including my Etsy businesses, my BBA team, my handcrafted business friends and acquaintances.

Since recently re-thinking my outlay of time in regard to blogging and writing, I have decided to take August thru October to rest from my other endeavours and return to my writing and illustration in this blog.  I will concentrate on a couple of writing projects that were left on a back burner in my brain.  One project is actually a part of this blog, called Abby's story.  There is a tab on my home page to find this project.  But, alas, it is unfinished.  Another project is a children's book series that I started about eight years ago.  Then my breast cancer tragedy struck, my life changed a bit, and I just let my book writing plans go.

So if you are up for it, I will pull out one of these latent projects and take it up again.  I hope you will go on this journey with me to see if I can complete it. I will try to post about three times per week plus posting on Sunday's with my illustration progress on Sunday Sketches.  Your participation with me may be the boost that I need to keep plugging along toward the finish line. 

And, just as a taste of the future, these pictures show what I pulled out of a closet of that old project.  (I will explain in subsequent posts.)



Some old practice pieces

What have you dreamed about completing?

Join me, won't you? 



Fall Small Stone

Photo is by pbphoto on Etsy

Misty drops on my forehead,

Wet grass underfoot.

Leaves of yellow and brown,

Crackling under with each step.

Crisp moist Fall air

In my nostrils.

Aw, Autumn

you're here again!
 lp

Photo is by phpoto on Etsy.  Please take time to visit the shop!  (click the link above) Thanks!

Over the River--JOP Link Party!

Over the river and thru the field of wheat, the carriage raced for it's destination. That river crossing, well actually a large stream, had Ruby jostled pretty good, not to mention the water and mud spatters all over her new satin dress!  But no matter, they just had to reach the destination in time.  She yelled out the window at the driver, "How much longer? Will we make it?"  There was no answer. Probably the driver was so concentrating on the rutted dirt road that he didn't hear anything over the rattling noise of the carriage speeding along.  Ruby tried to settle back into the uncomfortable seat holding on tight to the open window frame.  She tried to ascertain where they were by the markings of the countryside.  There were thatched roof farm houses and huge haystacks everywhere dotting the fields.  In the distance she could see the rock outcroppings of the near coast.  But how far were we?  The ship just wouldn't wait, she had to get there!  

Did anyone else pick this sentence today?  Hope you had fun writing your piece today! Practicing our writing skills, is what this party all about!  This is your opportunity to 'Just WRITE'! We write from our hearts, our experiences, and our imaginations!  Join us next week (or this week if you haven't already done your blog post for today!)  Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome.  Challenge yourself.  START with one of the first lines provided here every Friday--thus the name: Jumping Off Places! (A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab.)

First Lines for Next Week --Week TWELVE--the September 16th JOP Linky party. 

1)  There is was again, a faint tinkling sound.
2)  Ships sails were flapping in the wind fiercely.
3)  She sat in the corner, back to the wall, looking intently at the mouse.
4)  Manuals of all kinds lay on the floor at her feet, all around the desk. 
5)  Piece by piece, they worked.  

It's fun to see what everyone comes up with!   Link your submission below so we all can read and ENJOY!

Tight Writing Skills

Writers love words. 
But too many words make writing obese and unhealthy.
Writers spend time finding the perfect words for their descriptions;  so, it can be hard to slim down words to make a better more succinct writing product which is, therefore healthier.  Good writing is a rich idea with an economy of words.  Since re-writes take time, a few healthy habits at the beginning of a project will improve writing.

Here are just a few rules that may help:
1)  Check for run on sentences.  Thoughts are difficult to follow when the sentence goes on and on. Short sentences are easier to read and keep the meaning clear.
2)  Words like there, it, those, and that are vague and indefinate subjects. They should alert you to a problem.  i.e That should be elimanated. BETTER--These combinations should be elimanated;  i.e.  It is a difficult read that has no specific subject.  BETTER--Sentences with no specific subject make difficult reading.
3)  Check for wordiness.  One  or two adjectives will get your point across. You don't need a string of words to explain.
4)  Check for "deadwood" -- a word or phrase that adds nothing.  i.e kind of, sort of, the fact that etc.

Hope this helps . . . have fun with your writing. 
(If you are interested, check out the tab at the top of the page called Small Stones.  These exercises are fun and help with writing skills.  Tomorrow's post will be a small stone.)

JOP Link Party

(This is my submission from one of the first lines provided in last weeks JOP post.)

The squirrel in the tree sat extremely still with his eyes fixed on the stealthily moving cat below. The all black feline's eyes were trained on a little blue bird hopping along the pine needle covered terrain.  A petite looking bird, cute with her newly formed azure feathers, pecked among the needles here and there, not aware of any onlookers.  As she continued hunting and pecking, the cat drew closer and closer.  The little bird disappeared for a moment behind the pine tree's trunk, but soon reappeared on the other side and hopped under the blackberry fronds. Certain of his next meal, cat had inched forward, hidden from the bird's view.  From the high limb, squirrel was now twitching his tail back and forth in a jerking rhythm, but remained quiet and alert.  Sounds of the little bird scratching the ground and flitting from the low branches was all that filled the air. As the bird began to approach the open ground below the tree once more, and the cat prepared to pounce, the squirrel let out a loud piercing chatter. The air filled with the startling sound of fluttering wings in full flight as the cat's jump missed the mark.  Continuing his chatter, I wasn't sure if the squirrel was rebuking the cat for his unacceptable behaviour or the young bird's careless inexperience with life.  Either way, I turned from the window with a smile and hoped that I would again see that smart squirrel again soon one day.  -- lpruitt    

Well, that's my submission for the JOP party today!  Wonder if anyone else used that particular sentence to start their writing? Practicing our writing skills, is what this party all about!  This is your opportunity to 'Just WRITE'! Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome.  Challenge yourself.  START with one of the first lines provided for you every Friday--thus the name: Jumping Off Places! (A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab.)

First Lines for Next Week --Week ELEVEN--the September 9th JOP Linky party. 

1)  Over the river and thru the field of wheat, the carriage raced for it's destination.
2)  Her face was wrinkled with a furrowed brow that looked like a full life had been lived.
3)  It was an eerie sound, a  high pitched skreech and then a chilling silence.
4)  Mom and daughter entered the room with a wary look on their faces.
5)  I recognized the picture.  

It's fun to see what everyone comes up with!  And how many of us chose the same line to start with today?  Link your submission below so we all can read it and ENJOY!

Planning vs. Just Starting

Writers often just start writing and see where it takes them.  Sort of like a journey to discover what is in a head and how it will come out on paper in the end.  Do you write like that?  Or do you make a plan?  Most of us were taught in school to make an outline before we start to write our story, essay or thesis.  The trouble with just starting is that you get lots of sentences on the paper, capturing your thoughts, but they may be disjointed, and scrambled.  At some point you must fit them together to present the overall picture. 



Writer's Friend by frenchiefoo Etsy shop



On the other hand, some of us plan extensively before we write.  We think about it.  Test out several scenarios in our mind.  Talk about it, bouncing ideas off of a friend.  All this should be a part of the process to good writing and, I find, helps dispel writer's block.  I have been blogging for almost three years now and have experienced writer's block several times.  I believe this is due to lack of a plan.  I have learned, the hard way, to sit down at the beginning of the month and scribble out some probable blog posts for the coming days.  This planning keeps me focused and on track with consistent posting and takes the pressure off of trying to come up with something new all the time!

A plan is important. 

Plan your writing. 

Plan your blog posts in advance. 

Do some "homework" setting your plan to paper.  It can always be revised as you go, but a good plan (outline) is essential to good writing. Try it, and see if it helps you have a better writing product or blog.

JOP Writing Party - Week nine

Jumping Off Places Writing Party!!

WELL, look at me, I haven't written anything all week!  What is that?  I advocate practicing our writing and I don't write anything!?  It's been a crazy week.  And I have had writer's block.  I am writing a story about Abby, (see the tabs above) and I am stuck!  Been mulling over some angles but have not decided which way to go with it.  I guess you could say that it is all part of writing. 

So, don't feel bad and go away  if you don't participate for a week or so.  Keep coming back, read what everyone has written and enjoy!  Maybe it will stimulate your creative juices! 

Now for our Friday linky party! Practicing our writing skills, is what this is all about!  Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome! Just WRITE!

First lines for writing something this week were found in my April 15th post.

A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab. If you have written something for this week, please drop down to the link part of this post and add your name and your URL. Then everyone who visits will be able to come read your creativeness!

First Lines for Next Week --Week TEN--

1)  She browsed the offerings in the street market, all the while pulling along her whimpering little boy.
2)  As I entered the office, I noticed it was filled with diplomas, degrees, and official looking certificates.
3)  Her smart gray suit belied her chosen profession.
4)  The squirrel in the tree sat extremely still with his eyes fixed on the stealthily moving cat below.
5)  Gasping for air, I literally thought my lungs would burst!

Spring Bee

The bee flitted from blossom to blossom in an erratic pattern. It felt like my life, the erratic pattern but without the flowers!  I chose to forget about my life today and enjoy the little bee while I sat in the sun on the patio. After all, it was the first really warm day in a long time.  I guess that's what the insect was taking advantage of too!  I watched him busily flit from the cherry tree blossoms to the forsythia to the tulip beds with determined ambition. My life should be so determined.  I really am blessed, like living among the flowers, but my attitude has been in the pits.  If I could just go about my business like this little bee, I would soon be basking in the honey!  Well, I guess the break on the patio is over, it's time to go back to the computer and back to work!  Bye little honey bee!

(The awesome art listed above is from Claire Burke on Etsy!  I love her style of art illustrations of children and animals.  Please visit her shop.http://claire.etsy.com/ )

JOP Writing Party - Week Eight

Just 'jump right in!'

(when it comes to our writing, that is!)

Jumping Off Places Writing Party!!

Well, I  got the formatting right this time!  I upgraded my blogger editor and that worked!!

Now for our Friday linky party! We hope you might choose to join us! Practicing our writing skills, is what this is all about!  Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome! Just WRITE! First lines for writing something this week were found in my April 8th post.

A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab. If you have written something for this week, please drop down to the link part of this post and add your name and your URL. Then everyone who visits will be able to come read your creativeness!

First Lines for Next Week --Week NINE--

1) Discovering my unique gifting, opened my eyes to new possibilities.
2) The bee flitted from blossom to blossom in an erratic pattern.

3) Zzzzzzzzz was the only sound I heard in the frozen ice land.
4) The first line of my favorite novel is . . . .  

5) I turned to take the path to the left, but it was another dead end! 

Don't forget to come back next Friday and link in!

Jumping Off Places - Week Seven

Just 'jump right in!' (when it comes to our writing, that is!) I am so bummed! I'm having trouble with blogger. It is not formatting anything correctly! Sorry, everything is all smunched together in one paragraph! I have tried everything! It is not spacing correctly! It shows correctly when I am writing it, but when I publish the post, it is all together with no spacing! Arghhhh!!! If anyone has any suggestions, please leave me a comment! Now for our Friday linky party! We're off on week 7! We have had several faithful bloggers enjoying this party. We hope you might choose to join us! Practicing our writing skills, is what this is all about!Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome! Just WRITE! First lines for writing something this week were found in my April 1st post. And don't forget our Saturday FUN! My "Common Writing Errors" post should be informative and FUN! See you tomorrow. A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab. If you have written something for this week, please drop down to the link part of this post and add your name and your URL. Then everyone who visits will be able to come read your creativeness! First Lines for Next Week --Week EIGHT-- 1) A hand full of the most awesome set of cards is what she was dealt. 2) Out the door she went, sporting a new haircut. 3) The inward journey is a lifelong pilgrimage. 4) But with rumors flying among my co-workers, I felt like running away. 5) "That's fine," Faith said, waving good-bye. Don't forget to come back next Friday and link in!

Conclusion--?

A door slammed and someone ran down the stairs in an obvious hurry! As Roberta went to the window, she thought to herself, "What is going on? This is such a quiet complex!" As she pulled back the curtain, she was shocked to see a flashing light and a fire engine in front of the garage! The apartment manager was standing in the crowd talking to someone. "Oh, no, not one of my neighbors!" As she continued to watch, she spotted Mr. Perget's grandson talking to a fireman. Mr. Perget had been ill, but he had been feeling better. Her downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Graham, who looked in on him occasionally, had told her just this morning, that he was recovering nicely. "What could have happened?" Roberta rushed down the stairs and thru the carport to see if she could help in any way. As she got closer, she could see that everyone was laughing and visiting and she just didn't understand. "What's going on here?" she asked. "Oh, sorry to startle you, Roberta, nothing's wrong, we just got a cat out of the tree! Everybody's just enjoying seeing the engine!"

Firetruck Personalized T-Shirt by Sweet3leafprints on Etsy

JOP - Jumping Off Places - Week #6

Just 'jump right in!' (when it comes to our writing, that is!) OK! A linky party! We're off on week 6! Join us! Write something cute, sad, inspiring, scary, or awesome! Just WRITE! that's what this is all about! Practicing our skills! First lines for writing something this week were found in my March 25th post. And don't forget our Saturday FUN! My "Common writing errors" post should be informative and FUN! See you tomorrow. A review of how our party works can be found at the top of this page under the Jumping Off Places tab. If you have written something for this week, please drop down to the link part of this post and add your name and your URL. Then everyone who visits will be able to come read your creativeness! First Lines for Next Week --Week SEVEN-- 1) Panic filled my being as he moved swiftly toward me. 2) As I watched the ants carrying one their tasks, I pondered the events of my day. 3) At the concert, we had to scream in each other's ears just to talk. 4) A door slammed and someone ran down the stairs in an obvious hurry! 5) I could hear music, was it from the apartment next door? Don't forget to come back next Friday and link in!

Thoughts

This is for 'Jumping Off Places.'

The coupon fluttered out of her hand and landed among a sea of legs. She looked desperate-- every penny important. As she scrambled down on the floor, reaching frantically for the elusive little paper, the clerk looked from his supervisor and back to the cash register avoiding the irritated looks on faces of people waiting in line. He thought to himself, "Why doesn't anyone help this young mother? Are they so calloused that they just don't see her plight? Are they so in a hurry that they are only concerned with their own situations? Are they embarrassed for her?" So many questions.

As the young woman rose, coupon in hand, baby whimpering by this time, the clerk, while finishing the sale, could be heard to say from behind his counter, "Mam, I'm so sorry that no one saw it fitting to help you. I sure hope you have a better day!"

Cranky Men art by KieferClayworks

You ever want to speak up and didn't? Or thought to help and didn't?

Common Writing Errors

Since this is a Creative Writing blog, today I want to start a new column (continuing blog post), to be posted on Saturdays, entitled "Common Writing Errors". Those of you who blog might be interested in this on-going discussion. I will not be posting anything on Sundays, so you can visit anytime on the weekend and find this column. Don't get me wrong, I don't have all the answers, and YOU WILL find errors in my writing, but I want to do better, and I am sure that you do too! I will do the research, and I hope that you will benefit as much as I do. Today's error has to do with the words 'than' and 'then'. I commonly find this error in written communications of all kinds. Business e-mail messages, web sites, pamphlets, EVERYWHERE! On lots of ocassions, I even hear people speak these words incorrectly. The word 'then' is an adverb and has to do with time, as in "Then he went to the store". The word 'than' is a conjunction and is used in comparisons. "I would rather go to the store than stay here and clean!" Often I have seen erroneous sentences like: "We will be participating in the meeting than having a potluck." "I'm smarter then him!" Most commonly, 'then' is used in the comparison mode. And . . . . one freebie Hint of the Day: Make sure you re-read your blog before posting, preferably in another font. It helps you catch your own errors before posting.

Ashen Skies

(This entry is for Jumping Off Places. Info here.) The view outside the window had been gray for days. Inside, I was beginning to feel gray, as well. I needed some sunshine! My background included sunshine nearly 300 days a year! But to live here in Seattle now, I didn't know how to handle all these ashen wet days. What was I to do? I knew that I was sliding into a depression feeling like I just had to do something or I would scream! Cleaning projects, cooking and laundry, kids games, television, even craft projects couldn't fill the void. I needed the outdoors! The sunshine! Even a break in the clouds for a few minutes! I'd take it! Sam just doesn't understand, he grew up here. No longer will I call this "Sea" attle but "Gloom" attle! Sun, bright yellow light, where are you? As I gazed out the window, a little bird flitted into the tree, as though to say, "Will you settle for Blue?"

Fine art photograph available from ORphotography on Etsy

JOP - Silent Music

(This is for Jumping Off Places.) On the top of the piano sat a beautiful gilded frame with a yellowing newspaper clipping inside. The date read, July 16th, 1948. The frame sat upon a gorgeous linen embroidered doily. This was obviously the treasured focal point of the room. Everything else in the room was dated and a bit understated; a Victorian settee with a simple wool rug underneath, one oak pressback chair in front of the Steinway and next to the three legged swivel piano stool, rows of music books in a simple bookcase by the huge double leaded glass windows with mahogany shutters to close the bottom half when needed. The room's purpose was clear: it was to be filled with music, just music, during lessons and, the master's alone. Life in this room had not changed much since the late forties. I stood taking it all in and trying to imagine what had been played in this room in all those years, trying to hear masterpieces and sour notes alike--all mingled together in a symphony that no one would now hear.