☆ The Creative Process [Carnival of Creative Mothers]

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Welcome to the final week of the month-long Carnival of Creative Mothers to celebrate the launch of The Rainbow Way: Cultivating Creativity in the Midst of Motherhood by Lucy H. Pearce which has been Amazon.co.uk's Hottest New Release in Motherhood for the past week!

Today's topic is The Creative Process. Do read to the end of this post for a full list of carnival participants. 

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Catching Mermaids

Creativity + the process of creating is a very personal experience. 

And I don't believe there is one right way to create. 

Your process will be different to mine, and different again to the next persons. 

When I believed that I wasn't good enough to be an artist, I was fascinated to read about artist's + their creative process.

I was hoping that one of their stories would trigger a creative response in me. That theirs would be the way, that would allow me to tap into my creativity once again.

What I didn't realise until much later, was that my creative process, would be so individualised to me, that in reading others stories, although there were super inspiring, they wouldn't help me to unlock my creativity. 

They did however keep sparking something inside me that would eventually grow into LilliBean Designs. And it helped me realise that:

Inspiration is every where, and can strike at anytime.

My muses are absolutely my three girls. Their imagination sparks mine all the time. But there are other inspirations, books are another huge inspiration for me, music lyrics, a pattern on the wall from the tree outside, fashion magazines, kids books, manga, a half over heard conversation, a shape of a leaf.

Anything is open to interpretation. 

Princess + the Pea

To capture these wisps of creativity, I have learnt to keep notebooks laying around the house, in my purse, in the car....

{Yes. My name is Kirstin + I have a stationary addiction}

But it means that I will never again have an awesome idea, but forget about it in the rush of life.

So, when Bean said off hand one day, 'mama, I am going to get my fishing rod + catch a mermaid.' I wrote it down + the painting above was born.

Most of the time I have an image in my head that I want to paint. I can't see all the details, but the figure, the surround, the general placement of items. Like the 'Princess + the Pea' painting I did earlier this year. This painting I new from the very start how it would look.

But there are times when I play in my art journal, that I haven't a clue what I am going to create. I just jump in + play. 

[This post takes you through a journal page journey, from beginning to end. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew the sentiment I wanted to express.]

Like everyone, I have periods of down time, when I am feeling uninspired, feeling blocked or needing to recharge.

I have learnt to give myself permission to have a break. To sit on the couch + read a good book. To watch a movie. Or watch six seasons of Supernatural back to back. 

Sometimes though, the block is stubborn + I need to actively re-inspire myself. 

I just recently shared my top 10 ideas for beating the creativity blues {part one + part two}.

So, is there a particular way that you inspire or re inspire your muse? What do you do when the creativity blues strike? I would love it if you shared your stories with us.

By the way, this months give away is open + ready for you to enter. THere are two prizes up for grabs this month as it is the last for 2013. Pop over here for your chance to win

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ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY of 

The Rainbow Way direct from the author and receive:

• 10% off - use code TRW10
• exclusive access to a private Facebook group for creative mothers
• a vibrant greetings card and book-mark of one of the author's paintings.

Kindle and paperback editions from Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Book Depository, Barnes and Noble

Or order from your local bookshop.

• Carnival host and author of The Rainbow Way, Lucy at Dreaming Aloud looks at the common lies we tell ourselves about creativity in The Eternal Summer of the Creative Mind.
• Caitriona at Wholesome Ireland - from start to new beginnings.
• Hannah M. Davis writes about Unleashing Your Authentic Voice. So many of us would love to write a life-changing book. How do you get over the blocks and barriers that hold you back? 
• Sylda from Mind the Baby compares her creative process to a maelstrom of weather warnings.
• In "As an Artist", Lucy Pierce at Soulskin Musings offers a poem about how the creative process beckons her through many of the archetypes of womanhood.
• Jackie Stewart at Flowerspirit.co.uk talks about how creativity is opening up a space for the unknown to reveal itself to you in 'Creativity Flourishes in the Sacred Unknown'.
• Alex at Art of Birth shares some practical tips on how you can unlock your creative goddess within!
• Nicki at justlikeplay shares a love letter to her muse.
• Marija Smits has a conversation with her muse and reflects on the difficulties of catching and creating from the Goddess of Inspiration.
• Zoie at TouchstoneZ reflects on her creative process.
• Licia Berry, Illumined Arts "Creativity and Healing are Ideal Partners". The creation of visual, musical, or expressive arts is the quickest, most effective and painless way to heal.
• Kirstin at Listening to the Squeak - My creative process and how to break creative blocks.
• Ali Baker talks about connecting with the call of the wolf when she cries to us to do so means giving our time and permission to honour the creative process within all of us.
• Mary at The Turquoise Paintbrush reflects on her creative process.
• KatyStuff thinks that projects need time to mature, that is why she is a fabric and craft hoarder. 
• Aimée at Creativeflutters goes into her creative process and looks at what makes things tick or flop in "Spontaneous She - How to Keep Your Muse at Work".
• Kae at The Wilde Womb muses about her common creative blocks as a parent and how she systematically breaks through them.
• Angela at Peach Coglo tries to get comfortable with her own creative process. 
• Biromums write about their creative processes.
• Dawn at The Barefoot Home believes the creative process can't be taught it has to come organically and at its own pace.
• Tara at Aquamarine Art began uncovering her lost inner artist over 5 years ago and shares her experiences and inspirations in "From Spark to Bonfire: The Evolution of A Creative Process."
• Georgie at Visual Toast explores what the creative process looks like for her.
• Creative Woman at Creator's Corner is not concerned with the end product or the outcome but with the process and all the richness that it brings. 
• Jennifer's Art Blog explores what the creative process feels like for her.
• Fiona at Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers reflects on her creative process.
• Sharron at Adventures on the mindful path writes and creates in between (and sometimes while) chasing two little boys and a puppy.  
• Trying to discover her own methods to the creative process, Jasmine at Brown Eyed Girl, digs deeper to find what it is that really triggers her creativity.
• Jessica F. Hinton shares why finding creative spaces as a mother is important and what her space looks like. 
• Laura at Authentic Parenting reflects on her creative process.
• Ingrid at My Peace Tree says Creativity as a living thing - and examines ebb and flow, expectations vs. realities (our own and other people's), inspiration and how to find it.
• Darcel at The Mahogany Way examines her own creative process.

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☆ Your Creative Inheritance [Carnival of Creative Mothers]

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Welcome to Week Three of the month-long Carnival of Creative Mothers to celebrate the launch of The Rainbow Way: Cultivating Creativity in the Midst of Motherhood
by Lucy H. Pearce. 

Today's topic is Creative Inheritance. Do read to the end of this post for a full list of carnival participants. 

Join the Carnival and be in with a chance to win a free e-copy of The Rainbow Way! Next week is our final week!
December 11th: The Creative Process.

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a rainbow

Surprisingly I found this really hard to write about, I mean what is my creative inheritance?

Did it come from my family, my friends, my environment? And how important is that my girls have this inheritance?

Logically I know that I am, and have always been creative. And I have always been surrounded by creative people. From my gardening genius Nan, carpentry extraordinaire grandfather, an out the box thinker Mum (who is also an awesome painter), to my husband, who although he would deny it is so very creative in every day life.

I have been nurtured, encouraged + supported in this way my entire life. I am so very fortunate.

But when I was eighteen, my creative spark was crushed, by circumstances + by myself.

I didn't believe I could be that person I was when I was growing up. The child who wanted to be an artist.

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a princess

Fast forward ten or so years, and I very cautiously started drawing again. It was like I was compelled to. But I never shared. I never spoke of it.

I would still tell people I wasn't creative.

Then Bean was born.

Sitting in the hospital bed with that small gorgeous bundle, I realised that I was a mama, holy crap!, and with all the other scary stuff, that motherhood brings with it, that I also had this huge responsibility to make sure that this gorgeous child + her eventual siblings, would never be limited.

Ever.

And in that hospital bed, staring at this gorgeous child, I finally recognised that I myself was limited.

That I had a set of beliefs surrounding my creativity, that I had been telling myself, which were not true.

And that if I wanted her to be a gorgeous, courageous + unlimited person, I needed to lead by example, step up + get over myself.

Ok, so it hasn't been that easy, it has been bloody hard at times, but I have mostly beaten my inner bitch  into submission. And I am listening to my squeak, my inner voice of creativity, my spark.

THIS is the environment I want my children to grow up in. A nurturing, supportive and encouraging home.

If it was that easy, I would be a millionaire by now, and there are so many challenges + different personalities, which make this complicated. From the kids themselves, to their friends, teachers and family members.

But in writing this post, I realised that I appear to have five rules when it comes to creating with my kids. And they are five rules which we don't break, bend or cross.

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a mermaid

1. NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS….in regards to being creative. 

NOTHING. They want to cut up magazines, they want to have a purple sky, they want to colour their princesses all in green well that is ok, if there a square flowers that is ok to.

2. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COLOUR IN THE LINES…ever.

Now this may get me in huge trouble next year when Bean goes to school and she defiantly tells the teacher she doesn't have to colour in the lines, but I am willing to take her back with this one.

3. THERE IS NO JUDGMENT TO BE MADE… by anyone.

We never, ever comment on another persons art in a negative or judgemental way.  I don't care if it is the Pope.

Do. not. go. there.

purple mermaids are perfectly acceptable

4. PERFECT IS… Perfectly Boring.

Mistakes can be beautiful + nothing in this world is perfect. (Including their mama!)

After knock down tantrums about being perfect, we have banned that word + any perfect like behaviour.

5. I WILL ALWAYS CREATE WITH THEM…but they have to try first.

Along with the perfect tantrum, there was the "I can't do it + I want you to do it" tantrum. I tried to negotiate with Bean, cal joule + even bribe. In the end I put my foot down + refused to draw anything if she didn't try first.

After more tears, thrown journals + time outs, this was the best idea ever.

colouring in the lines. never!

In making it her decision to draw first, she realised that it drawing wasn't just something Mama could do + it was instrumental in building her confidence as an artist. She wants to be a painting teacher when she grows up!


My hope is that in by living by these rules, it will help my kids will have the confidence to ignore those who try to limit them.

So what is your creative inheritance? What will you pass on? How has this influenced you? And do you have any set rules for creating in you home? 

I would love to hear from you + your stories with us.

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25% off ALL Lucy's books, 4th Dec only. Use code RAINBOW25.

ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY of 

The Rainbow Way direct from the author and receive:

• exclusive access to a private Facebook group for creative mothers
• a vibrant greetings card and book-mark of one of the author's paintings.

Kindle and paperback editions from Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Book Depository, Barnes and Noble

Or order from your local bookshop.

• Carnival host and author of The Rainbow Way, Lucy at Dreaming Aloud celebrates her creative fairy godmothers, and gives thanks for the creative blessings that each has gifted her.
• In 'From Trash To Treasure: Christmas Decoration' Laura from Authentic Parenting shares fond memories crafting with her mom and a little project her mom did recently. 
• Lucy Pierce from Soulskin Musings celebrates the rich creative inheritance of her mother's poetic soul and artful ways. 
• Is thinking differently a curse or a gift? Zoie at TouchstoneZ susses out whether her family legacy might hinder or encourage creativity.
• Dawn Collins at TheBarefootHome Dawn thinks we're all born with a creative inheritance from the mother we all share…Mother Nature.
• Licia Berry at Illumined Arts looks at the creative inheritance passed on by our ancestral lineage, discovered through sexuality and the Sacred Feminine within in "Sexuality and the Sacred Feminine"
• Alex at The Art of Birth explores the nature of creativity. 
• Handcrafts are prayers, that's what Corina from PatchScrap learned from grandmother.
• Jennifer at Let Your Soul Shine retraces her creative inheritance from her childhood and all the way back to the 19^th Century.  
• Kirstin at Listening to the Squeak says "I have always known my creative inheritance and it is so very important for my children to know theirs."
• Becky at Raising Loveliness reflects on her experiences of creativity.
• Creative Inheritance is a Beautiful Thing, says Aimee at Creativeflutters and discusses where her creativity comes from and what influences in her family have helped her on her artistic journey. 
• Georgie at Visual Toast shares her creative inheritance.
• Esther at Nurture Workshop expresses the gift of a creative mind and the doors that are waiting to be opened for those who are willing to explore.
• Whitney Freya at Creatively Fit is inspired by the sacred spark within each of us, a spark that transcends time and is infinitely creative.
• Denise at It Begins with a Verse  looks back at her family's creative inheritance.
• Womansart shares her reflections on creative inheritance.
• Lys at Stars and Spirals looks at the creative inheritance as described by the astrological chart, drawing on her personal journey into motherhood and reawakened creativity.
• Biromums wrote poems about their creative inheritance.
• Kae at The Wilde Womb reflects on the various artists within her family and how it has shaped her identity and what impression she wishes to leave her own children. 
• Marit's Paper World shares her creative inheritance.
• Lucy at Capture by Lucy  reflects on her experiences of creativity.
• Knitting blankets and the inner landscape--my mother's life's work, writes Nicki from Just Like Play. 
• Something Sacred - Sadhbh at Where Wishes Come From writes about how the creativity of the women in her family has influenced her.
• Mamma Bloom at Breathe and Bloom writes about her creative inheritance.
• Mama is Inspired shares how she loved to make holiday ornaments as a child, and now is continuing that tradition with her own child.
• Ali Baker is a creative mama to twin girls who reignited her creative energy and sense of who she used to be by just doing it and creating whatever needs to be created in an imperfect way. 
• KatyStuff hopes inheritance is a long way off, but, when the day comes her woodworker father has already said he is comforted by knowing his work is in so many homes.
• Jasmine at Brown Eyed Girl realizes that the creativity she craves for so deeply may actually be something that runs deeper than just her imagination.
• Darcel at The Mahogany Way shares her creative journey.
• Rising on the Road shares her experiences at Finding Life in a Death.

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☆ Nurturing a Culture of Creativity at Home [Carnival of Creative Mothers]

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Welcome to Week One of the month-long Carnival of Creative Mothers to celebrate the launch of The Rainbow Way: Cultivating Creativity in the Midst of Motherhood
by Lucy H. Pearce. 

Today's topic is Nurturing a Culture of Creativity at Home. Be sure to read to the end of this post to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

Join the Carnival and be in with a chance to win a free e-copy of The Rainbow Way!
November 27th: Creative Heroines.
December 4th: Creative Inheritance.
December 11th: The Creative Process.

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Sometimes life is so crazy, we are all busy with our activities, our jobs our families, that the thought of adding in another 'thing' is just too much.

But if you are a regular reader here, you know that it is so very important to me that my kids have a creative life + a home that they feel they feel safe in to explore their creativity.

But I am also all about the 'easy solutions'. My life is too complicated to have scheduled "creativity dates" (as much as I would love to do this!), and sometimes the thought of dragging out the paints so my girls can create is sometimes just beyond me.

So I thought I would share with you some of the easy ways we have encouraged our girls to be creative in Casa de Mac that require only a little set up from you + maybe it will spark a few ideas that you could incorporate into you home too.

'Mama - Today we are pirate princesses'
My Bug + Bean

☆ WE HAVE A DRESS UP BOX.

In our box there are old hats, scarfs, telescopes made from paper towel roll, old bags, our 'no sew' princess tutus (These are so cheap + super easy to make) and our pirate hats + eye patches (you can download the template here).

Sometimes we have three or four costume changes before breakfast.

Thrift stores are another fabulous place to pick up things for your dress up box.

In our house, every day is dress up day + I don't care if we go grocery shopping or to preschool dressed up.  (In our house, a tiara is just another word for head band!)

But the point is, that in having no restrictions on using the dress up box, they are constantly creating, playing + exploring boundaries. 

Don't have any dress up stuff? What about old shirts, old shoes + a newspaper crown or pirate hat?

Bug + Beans Art Desk: Complete with vision board of
pretties as Bean calls them!

☆ WE HAVE A CREATIVE SPACE.

Having a designated art space that your kids can access all the time means that creating can become a part of their every day lives - not something to fear or for special occasions. Or that you have to organise for them. 

Being a creative person myself, it was just natural that I bought a sketch book + crayons for my then 8 month old Bean (she is five now).

And although she started by eating the crayons instead of using them, the kids have been surrounded by 'art' since they were babies. 

Just recently we picked up an old school desk + placed it in a corner of our lounge room. It is out of the way + in a place that is not noticeable straight away. 

AND this is very important, because if Mr Mac saw that mess every time he entered the room it wouldn't work. It would drive him INSANE! (Me too probably). 

Once a week they have to tidy it up, but other than that this is their creative space, to draw, glue, cut and colour. I don't even care if that there is marker + stickers on the surface. This is their space + they feel safe to create anything there.

If you don't have space for a desk - what about a draw, shelf or box?

☆ CREATE WITH YOUR KIDS

This year I started creating with my kids. 

I feel it is important for them to see me create, and create with me, so that being an artist isn't something that is mystery, or that only Mama can do. 

So once every couple of weeks, we sit down together and do a project. 

There are so many resources out there to be creative with your kids. Pinterest is on of the websites I go to often, but I will also google 'creative lessons for kids' and see what takes my fancy.

They are short lessons, cause lets face it a 3 + 5 year old have very short attention spans, but they ended up surprising me with their enthusiasm + dedication to the lesson. You can read more here + here

Don't worry about not being perfect. No one is perfect + it is great for your kids to see you mess up too!

☆ SKETCH BOOKS ARE AWESOME!

This is my very best tip + I wish I had stock in the sketchbook company because I buy so many!

We have sketchbooks everywhere. In their bedroom, in the car, in my hand bag, on their art desk, in my studio…

And there are two reasons I love sketchbooks. One, because I don't have thousands of pieces of paper, with their masterpieces strewn around the house. OH it would drive me absolutely bonkers!

And when they come home from school or playgroup with their masterpieces I can be stick these straight into their sketch books. All their art is contained in one spot.

You can easily store these, so that they have a record of how creative they were when they were little.

Bonus! They are so portable. Going to the doctors? On a long trip? Waiting for Dance class to finish? No Problem - we grab a few pencils + a sketch book and they are entertained…at least for a wee while!

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How do you nurture creativity with in your home? I would love to hear your stories. And if you have any questions about any of these just email me - I am more than happy to help out! Keep reading below to see how other parents nurture creativity in the home for more great ideas.

By the way - have you had a chance to enter this months give away? It is free to enter and super easy to do so!

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ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY of  The Rainbow Way! and grab your free extras (first 200 orders only!): - exclusive access to a private Facebook group for creative mothers - a vibrant greetings card and book-mark of one of the author's paintings. Kindle and paperback editions from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Book Depository, Barnes and Noble or order it from your local bookshop!

Carnival host and author of The Rainbow Way, Lucy at Dreaming Aloud shares an extract from the chapter Nurturing a Family Culture of Creativity.

Lilly Higgins is a passionate food writer. Now a mother of two boys, she's discovered a new calling: to instil in them a love of food and creativity in the kitchen.

DeAnna L'am shares how visioning the New Year with your child is an invitation to be inspired: use creativity and resolutions to create a fun road map for the year ahead.

Molly at Talk Birth on Releasing Our Butterflies - balancing motherhood with creativity.

Laura shares some of the creativity happening at Nestled Under Rainbows and a few thoughts about creativity.

Georgie at Visual Toast celebrates her own unique culture of creativity at home.

Esther at Nurtureworkshop spreads the love of the ordinary, the delights of everyday things that can be an adventure of the imagination.

For Dawn at The Barefoot Home creativity is always a free form expression to be shared by all in a supportive environment where anything can be an art material.

Naomi at Poetic Aperture is a mother, artist and photographer who tries to keep her daughter away from the expensive pens and paints.

Aimee at Creativeflutters writes about keeping your sanity and creativity intact with small kids in the house in her post: Mother + Creativity - They Must Coexist.

Amelia at My Grandest Adventure embarks on a 30 Days of Creativity challenge...you can too!

Becky at Raising Loveliness explores creating with her smaller family members.

Jennifer at Let Your Soul Shine reveals how children help us connect to our souls, through music and movement.

Mary at The Turquoise Paintbrush shares her experiences of creating with kids.

Brooke at violicious spent too much time worrying and trying to be creative instead of letting it flow.

Joanna at Musings of a Hostage Mother explains why creativity at home is important to her in her post "I nurture a creative culture."

On womansart blog this week - nurturing a creative culture at home.

Creative woman at Creator's Corner loves color and uses it to paint, draw and decorate to inspire herself and her family.

It took until Amy at Mama Dynamite was pregnant aged 35 to discover her dormant creative streak - she has found lovely ways of tuning into it every since.

Anna of ArtBuds is a trained educator and art therapist. She has been creating all her life and nurturing her daughter's creativity at home is a priority.

Deb at Debalicious shares how her family enjoy creativity at home.

Emily at The Nest explores how creativity runs through her family's life together.

Jennifer at OurMuddyBoots sees that encouraging creativity in children is as simple as appreciating them for who they are: it just means overriding everything we know!

Lisa from Mama.ie has discovered that a combination of writing and traditional crafts can provide a creative outlet during those busy early years of new motherhood.

Anna at Biromums shares what nurturing a culture of creativity means to her.

Zoie at TouchstoneZ argues that the less they are interfered with, the more creative children become as they grow up.

Darcel at The Mahogany Way celebrates creating with her kids.

Molly at MollyLollyLoo explores her family's shared creative times.

Liz at Reckless Knitting shares how she celebrates creativity with her family.

Sally (aka The Ginger Ninja) of The Ginger Chronicles is continually inspired by her own mum and grandmother.

Just being creative is enough, says Nicki at Just Like Play, as she ponders her journey of nurturing a creative family.

Allurynn shares her creative family's musings in her post "Creativity... at the Heart of it" on Moonlight Muse.

Laura at Authentic Parenting explores how being creative saves her sanity.

Mama is Inspired talks about how she puts an emphasis on the handmade in her home, especially in the holiday season.

Kirstin at Listen to the Squeak shares with you several easy ways for busy mamas and dads to encourage their children to be creative every day.

Chiswick Mum believes that a healthy dose of chaos is the secret to nurturing creativity at home.

Mila at Art Play Day always lived in her dreams, sleepwalking through life ... now she is finding out what creativity is all about.... her inner child!

Sadhbh at Where Wishes Come From describes how picture books can nurture creativity in young children.

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