So the store is really looking swell and I’m sitting at the wonderful heavy wood desk (“Norden” in Ikea-speak) working on a metal mesh handbag and thinking about the nature of creativity.

Anyone older than Pop Rocks will remember that Mr. Rogers was pretty interested in that subject too.  He spent a lot of time talking to artists of all crafts; from fine art to music, and a fair number of crafters (remember the visit to the violin shop?)  I think the message he was always repeating is that

1.  We’re all creative 2.  Creativity is what makes humans special in the animal kingdom  3.  We should really give in to our creative urges, no matter how they pop up in our lives (unless you’re a psychopath…) 4. We should uphold and celebrate creativity in others 5.  and we should really make time in our lives to allow ourselves to be creative, even (especially) if that means making messes, making mistakes, or making it different ways until we find a way we like best!

Then I thought about my own creative urges – how they are almost never anything to do with what is considered ‘Fine Art’, even though both of my parents came from that world and one of them has enjoyed a darn good career based on making art.  I thought about what makes me smile and when I get that inner sensation that can best be described as feeling ‘tickled’ (just like my aunt used to say).  Looking to recent events, I can say that having the frosted plexi lightbox up and working in the shop is one of those moments of feeling like ‘wow, that was a really cool idea and it WORKED!’  Actually I have Steve, my wonderful husband, to thank for most of the labor (and Regal Plastics)… but we definitely created something cool out of nothing – seriously, nothing more than a slender idea of this thing that we talked about for hours during car trips to Houston and Austin.  It was having all the parts fit together; from the c-channel to the light strips; and then having the back panel work out so well; this type of stuff really tickles me!  I guess that’s design instead of art; they are both offshoots of the same creative urge.

That might explain why I love making assemblage jewelry; making something interesting out of ‘pieces/parts’ that bore no immediate relationship to one another until put together.  I have an equal amount of respect for other artists who surprise me with their amazing assemblage sculptures and jewelry.  Recently I found a shop in Houston where the owner, Judy Masliyah, not only encourages but often buys jewelry parts for her lucky employees, who eagerly arrive at work to find their drawers containing some amazing new piece for them to work into their pieces.  Each employee has a slightly different perspective, so after spending some time in the shop, I was able to tell who had made what.  It was quite a cool way to spend the afternoon.  And Judy’s own vintage-inspired clothing was also to die for.

I got off topic; back to creativity.  It’s like Bob Ross said, “It’ll bring a lot of good thoughts to your heart.”   Who can’t use more happiness?  “There are no limits here… start off by believing.  It’s your world.   You’re the creator.”

…go make some happy little clouds!