Creativity

Wow.... Creativity. I love creating things.
Taking something ugly or useless and making it pretty and/or useful tastes just like fresh chocolate chip cookies out of the oven! And if you know me, you KNOW how much I enjoy those delectable treats.

But I often have a hard time describing myself as "creative". There are so many incredibly talented people out there and it is easy to deem them creative and not always myself. Sometimes my creativity comes because I see something I like and I use that idea. Also, sometimes I have things just sitting around for weeks or months until one day it just hits me what I am supposed to do with it. I love having cute scrap book paper, pieces of wood, and fabric laying around for spur of the moment creating. I love browsing Pinterest for ideas in a certain medium, and I also find all kinds of inspiration in magazines and other's homes.

I don't really think I can say honestly that my creations greatly differ from others. I mean there are sooooo many beautifully creative people out there that inspire me, and you could probably find mounds of art and redone furniture that looks very similar to mine. If anything makes me different, it is that my art is made by ME; My under-developed painting skills that may cause little imperfections, and my full on lifestyle that only allows time for quick crafts, art, and creations, maybe even my resourcefulness to use up what I have laying around me. It all makes my art reflect ME.

For example... I really like the natural wood/ rustic wall art that is popular right now. While building our house last year I was noticing piles of cut lumber that was completely usable being stacked up as garbage or to be burned, and it literally made my stomach turn! I instantly thought I could make things with it.

From painting on them, making small pieces of rustic furniture, even attempting picture frames out of the left over trim, I had to do something with it! Granted much of it did get burned or tossed simply because of the HUGE amount that I simply couldn't stuff in my closets.  I also, don't use stencils, not because I don't like them, but because I am really not good at them! The lettering looks all smudgy, so all my wood sign's lettering is done by hand.

I really haven't even narrowed myself down to one genre, I am reusing pieces of wood, but I also enjoy finding old pieces of furniture and giving them new life, decorating, drawing, word art, cooking (which is definitely an art ;) and lots of other things.

Currently I have a booth at a hip flea market with lots of cute home decor. I am always working on and adding some art and color to my house, but also the booth. I don't have the booth looking like I want it to just yet, but it is getting there! Also, I am working on decorating my house, which may or may not ever end. :)

Why do you do what you do?
Even though my originality is not always on the forefront, I create because it brings me a deep sense of joy. I would imagine most creative people have a similar feeling. Putting art on the walls that I have done just gives me a sense of "Yeah! I did that!!" A "Go me!" kind of attitude, and I feel it again every time I look at it. Just about all the decorative pieces you see on my walls I have put together, whether it is paper, paint, watercolor, making picture frames, or reusing old frames. And I know my style is unique!! Country, rustic, bright, eclectic, feminine... ha! What a mixture ;)

I suppose that is as simple as it gets, I create because it makes me happy.