SARK – Joni Beach

January 16, 2012January 21, 2012

A Blog Break~Organizing and Re-evaluating

This past week I have taken a Blog Break…It was not actually planned but just happened that way. The beginning of the new year has found me organizing, re-evaluating, and even playing catch-up outside with yard work on a rare warm, sunny day. The mild winter here in the mountains has made it difficult to believe that it is January! And, I am still having trouble remembering to write 2012, instead of 2011! (I wonder how long that will continue to happen?)

Working in the office, I have been reviewing some print-outs and planning sheets from last year. Last spring in reading the book, Make Your Creative Dreams Real by SARK , I discovered the website of author and life coach, Jennifer Lee. Lee conducts The Right Brainers in Business Video Summit and is the author of the book, The Right Brain Business Plan: A Creative Visual Map for Success, which emphasizes visual mapping vs making linear lists to plan, organize, and conduct one’s work. These creative resources have been valuable to me and may be helpful to you in some way, as you create your own Lifeweaving…

In the studio, along with art work to be done, there are also several writing projects to be finished. Regular writing time is needed to continue these projects. I plan to write more on family and parenting issues. So, while making a work schedule, I am considering what time of day is the best for each task–writing, designing, and creating…

As the process of organizing and re-evaluating is being done, here’s looking to a productive and creative year–and a break in the Blog Break!

New Beginnings, Renewed Hope (jonibeach.com)

October 11, 2011October 19, 2011

Flow~~~

In art, as in life, experiencing a state of flow can be very exciting and great motivation in moving toward one’s goals.

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In Flow

[click to view You-Tube video of Csikszentmihalyi on Creativity, Fulfillment, & Flow.]

~In Flow your activity matches your skill level–mismatches equal boredom if too easy or anxiety and frustration if too difficult.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lost in Time

~We lose an awareness of time…our focus and concentration is on the creative process and task at hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Go With the Flow

~It includes patience and an easy, gentle pace…but also the failures, frustrations, impatience, and rebellions! (Make Your Creative Dreams Real, by SARK)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Optimal Experience

~ In the book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi discusses that creativity and being in flow contributes to an optimal human experience. When our activities are balanced between being a challenge but within our skill level, we enjoy a state of concentration and a sense of well-being. I think of it as a chance to test myself––in a fun way!

* Today in the studio I will be quilting a wall-hanging–When do you experience being in Flow?

If you have the time, I’d love to hear your thinking! (To Leave a Comment–click below…) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How To Get Outside Yourself (everydayintensity.com)

October 6, 2011October 7, 2011

Playing @…In the Studio!

After posting about goals, discouragement, and motivation, I want to keep you posted of my time in the studio–playing @ with new ideas, experimenting with different methods, and a push to create, create, create.…

Here is a finished wall-hanging that is a gift for someone special:

I liked the style and colors of these squares that were found at a favorite quilt shop…The three were joined together with sashing and gold corner squares. After layering with a backing and batting, I quilted in-the-ditch around and with-in each block, and then used free-motion quilting to add motifs in the gold squares and sign my name & the date. Then, threadpainting was used to highlight the steam, whipped cream, and a few other details…

I’m centering and attaching this small art quilt by the top corners to an stretched canvas. It is Sea Images #1, which usually hangs in my husband’s office. This will give it a stage of sorts and more presence in the room as visual art.

Also, Lifeweaving #3 is coming along!–Layering the backing and batting and then basting the strips in place…more to come soon on that.

*FYI!! A great book for creative motivation is Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day, by SARK… For Fun & Inspiration visit her at www.planetsark.com.

~Hope you are enjoying your time this week as you strive towards your goals–don’t forget to have fun with the process!~