inspired by...

I've been a lurker on Art Junk Girl's blog for sometime and have been particularly inspired by her moleskine journal pages. I love the idea of having a 'capture device' ready for my creative urges.

I really got into the Get Things Done movement several years ago and went thru many... many, many... gadgets, widgets, programs, tools trying to be more productive. It took some time but I was able to filter down to the essence of GTD - a simple capture device that got stuff out of my head so I could 1) focus on other tasks; 2) free up mental resources; 3) retrieve when ready and/or needed.

The same idea can work for creative ideas. I now carry a small sketchbook and colored gel mini pens along with my trusty Moleskine journal. The journal is lined paper and I write everything from shopping lists to design ideas to addresses, etc. I had a bit of a wibble of the sketchbook. Tiny would be more practical in my tote bag, lighter and take up less room but I have a tendency to sketch micro-size. I get very tight, very secretive, very controlled and that constricts the creative process. I've been working to 'go big' in my sketches and other art projects, to break past boundaries, but even an 8.5x11 sketchbook would be too big to haul around every day. So I compromised with one thats roughly 5x7 and wire bound at the top reporter-style. That with some Staples-brand mini gel pens in very brilliant & vibrant colors seems to work so far :)

I have long been wishing there was something like the Craftgrrl Mafia locally. I've found inquiries from folks looking for groups but nobody seems to be organizing one. I was getting to point of thinking I would have to do it (and don't really have the time or energy). Today I hope I've lucked out and found a similiar group. The Help! section of my local paper listed several craft groups and organizations. I've emailed one that sounds cool. A collective of crafty chicks would always be a nifty resource ;)

Ups and Downs

First and foremost the Up - I no haiz bye-pho-kals! I'm so delighted the eye doc decided AGAINST giving me bifocals! He found that my eyes are basically the same rx but are straining so hard to see the tiny stuff it's taking longer to re-adjust & re-focus. Since my problem seems to be task oriented he felt that reading/task glasses will solve it - woot! He did not dilate my eyes either, double win! LOL

After the doc I went immediately to Lencrafters. I was incredibly lucky to find a spiffy pair of frames marked down plus $100 off. And they had the lenses in store. Technically I could have picked them up after 6pm but I'll get them in the morning :) Woohoo, one thing off my list :)

And the eye doc re-wrote my whole prescription so I can go back in a month and get new sunglasses.

And now for something completely different... the Down. Next week is gonna be rough work wise. A co-worker had a death in the family and will be out most of the week. I'll literally be working open to close to cover. I'll like the overtime on my check but not fully comfortable with certain tasks she handles. Plus one day I'll literally be on my own as Manager had vacation already scheduled. Ahh well :[

Enough of that....

I'd love to bury myself in beading but I'm waiting for new glasses. Plus I have headache that just won't stop. Not taking big meds cause I want to stay up for the new BattleStar Galaticta tonite LOL! Speaking of beads, once I have my task glasses I'm hoping to really bury myself in my work. I'd like to complete about 10 pieces this month, start on a big 'show stopper' piece I have in mind, and get some ideas fleshed out for a Burner buddy. My plan is to use June for embellished clothing, most likely tribal-ish bras.

Tomorrow I pick my new glasses, go to my Mom's to finish taxes (insert heart attack here), grocery store, make some ice cream, maybe cook a roast, and get my bead on :)