You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.
/Elizabeth Gilbert

Lately I have been thinking about this new category of films that are coming up in the cinemas. I would like to call them Empowering Women Films for women of Today. They are the movies where we meet Strong Women, movies where Creativity and Girl Power intermingle into something that I want to see more of on the big screen. So many movies these days are about a woman character living an unreal fairy tale life where they still need a guy to be happy or to rescue them from themselves. The movies I am talking about are portraying creative women who start projects on their own and are successful in what they do. I will list a few new (and older) below, feel free to add your own favorite titles in the comments!

Coco

It was when I saw the movie about Coco Chanel’s life that I started to think about the need for these kinds of movies, showing real women who make something of their life. I love this movie and the story of how Coco invented herself as a brand and found success through persistence, ingenuity and creativity. Watching it made me wish I could have a whole library of movies just like it to watch when I need girl power infusion. I also came to think about another quite new movie…

Julie and Julia

A move about a woman, Julie, who decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s famous cook book full of French recipes and do all of them in one year while blogging about her experience. In the movie we get to follow these two very different but also very determined and creative women through the ups and downs of their projects. One writing a cook book of thousands of pages, the other cooking her way through these pages many years later and sharing her experiences on the internet. I would not have thought I would like such a food filled movie much, but I loved it! It makes me think of my own definition of “projects” and creativity, and how important it all is in my life.

Frida

Frida is not a new movie, but still a favorite to me. It is not strange that so many artists use portraits of Frida Kahlo in their artwork; she is a modern icon worthy of our admiration. We can look up to Frida because she was an ordinary woman with many problems both in her marriage and her hurting body, still she is an icon of bravery, artistic skill and girl power. She expresses all her feelings and thoughts in her art. The movie about Frida Kahlo (played by beautiful Salma Hayeck) is a colorful and beautiful portrait of a very inspirational woman. Last summer I read (and browsed through) her published diaries, filled with ink stains, sketches and word collections. The movie is a must-see to every female artist.

More Creative Women

Every film on my list of Empowering Women Movies is based on true stories, did you notice? Scriptwriters tell us these stories of modern myths over and over again, and forget that real people have more perks, blood, passions and warmth than a simple made-up movie character can ever hold. Real people also have more than one goal in life. I think that should tell producers and directors where to look next for new manuscripts… In real life! The stories from life are more complex and interesting than most movie scrips. Read a few biographies and you’ll see. Do some historical digging. We are here and we are real, right? Creativity is such a huge part of our life, but not seen very often on the big screen… I hope that will change.

I hope that there will be more Empowering Women Films in the future. I am personally looking forward to see the French movie Séraphine [found via Zom ], also based on a true story. Séraphine is “a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper whose brilliantly colorful canvases adorn some of the most famous galleries in the world“. And then of course Elizabet Gilbert’s book is made into a movie called Eat Pray Love. Julia Roberts is in lead role, and who can resist her? It is coming up in theaters here in Sweden soon. I loved the book and hope the movie is as good.

I would love to know what movies are on your list of favorites. What movies should I be looking out for next? What oldies have I missed? Feel free to write a post about Favorite Movies at your own blog and post the link below. Or chip right in now in the comments and give me your thought on movies that makes you inspired and happy! Thanks.

Hehe, it’s a new year! Now is the time to ask everyone:
- What did you get for Christmas this year? If they say “I got this or that” you know how to answer;
- What?!!! This year? But Christmas haven’t even happened yet!
Hehe.

That’s the Repeating Joke in my family, year after year… Nobody is fooled these days - but we all still try. Today I just wanted to show you the stuff I got this yea for Christmas 2009 in images. Here they are:

Polkadot papers wrapped up with string, these are a few of my favorite things…

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Hey! I’m planning to be Creative next year too! I hope you will join me. Not that creativity could be held down, right? It’s the force that can not be stopped. The planning and deciding is slow over here, so I’m just going to jump in here and make a list with words. Yes now. On my inner wish list right now I’ve got quite a few BIG words.

Next year I want more…

• Balance - into all of it; life, creativity, work, money - not tipping over to one side all the time
• Health - as in regular exercise such as jogging
• Projects finished- I will try deciding on what one project to work on for a while and trying to stick with that until it’s finished…. I guess this is where balance comes in again. I want to do so many things, maybe too much?
• Planning… That word again, to me it sounds so nice and like it would move my projects forward, give my life balance and maybe even make some money from my creations? I see myself planning blog posts and other writing projects, with applying for money making jobs, finding time (and energy) to exercise and updating my etsy shop more often (to make some money and feel inspired to create new art).
• Everyday Creativity - it’s been a year since I finished the Daily Art Card Project. No book in sight yet, but a longing to do another project. But what? Maybe more art, collages in a new size that will be put up for sale? I’m thinking maybe every weekday and take a rest at Saturday and Sundays. Who wants to join me for a year long project?
• Books by me - photo books, blog books, writing projects I have in my head that needs me to Focus and to be 1) planned, 2) started, 3) given time, 4) Finished, 5) Edited… Yeah, time.
• Focus - concentration, aim, goal, mindset…. As with balance focus is one of those words that sounds like magic. You crave it, need it, look for it everywhere but to find it you need to start focusing! You need to close those browser tabs, paus that podcast and get working. It’s easy and so hard. Still. Always.

Focus and inspiration right now

I believe that you should do all the things that you enjoy doing. I believe you shouldn’t have to chose a focus just because someone else tells you that you need to. Still I don’t know which road to chose right now, in my creative life. I’m drawn to fabric and embroidery, to collage and papers, to drawing and painting and also towards book making, publishing and layout. For my daily creative action these posts have inspired me collage-wise;

* Collage composition 101 by artist Martha Marshall
* Intuitive Collage Process – Day One
* Intuitive Collage Process, Day Two
* Creative Every Day Challenge 2010 - time to join!

and

then falling in love with Cath Holden’s blog. She is a graphic designer who shares the most amazing photoshop + printer projects on her blog, things that makes me drool a bit… Like

* Vintage cover notebook - scan, recycle and customize for your own projects.
* Game of concentration with a grid of beautiful images to print and use - love these! Love grids!
* A Singer notebook with printable images inspired by an old Singer sewing machine. Oh my, I want that notebook! I want to make/design notebooks!

I’ve really been enjoying Traci Bautista’s daily postings in December, lots of inspiration for sewing and painting in her posts! She wrote that Turquoise is the Color of the Year for 2010, as nominated by Pantone. It’s an inviting, luminous hue, and one of my favorite colors too. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

* My 2010 Strategic Planner — Goal Setting for Creatives by Lisa Sonora Beam! A must-read!
* It’s More Important to Be Happy Than to Be Rich is a interesting article where I found another list (!) that I think has something to consider for next year…

According to the research Tal Ben-Shahar shares in his book Happier, most of us would be better served by:

* Creating rituals around the things we love to do.
* Expressing gratitude for the good things in our lives.
* Setting meaningful goals that reflect our values and interests.
* Playing to our strengths instead of dwelling on weaknesses.
* Simplifying our lives — not just the Stuff, but the time.

And that said, I’m going to buy Gretchen Rubin’s book that I’ve been eagerly awaiting for more than two years now, called The Happiness Project just as her blog. Last year I did a few youtube videos about my own wee Happiness Project, but there is still much to work on. When I was looking at her toolbox I got inspired by the tables of Resolutions. They remind me of Rubin’s Resolution Chart’s that she prints monthly and fills in with different tasks to do daily. I got her chart a few years ago and really liked it. Each task should have a row in the grid and then you put a neat little cross if you completed the task that day. I’m designing a weekly grid for my personal Resolutions and printing them into a kind of calendar! That will have to be another post, if you’re interested?

* Now check out More Tips about Making and Keeping New Year’s Resolutions Than You Could Want a big link list also by Gretchen Rubin.

The Creative Plan

The Creative Plan is maybe as scattered and loose as the Creative life itself. Just jump in folks! So, let’s be creative every day, make many collages and paintings, experiment with every color there is but use turquoise a lot, write long lists, take (and edit) photos, write and publish books, find balance and focus, run when spring comes, enjoy life, do yoga, plan to use our strengths in a productive way, create colorful embroidery, network, call your friends, then twitter some, sell stuff, blog the creative adventure, make a bit of money, travel to beautiful places, meditate, pet the cat, remember to see the beauty at home, eat out, visit exhibits, read good books, smell the flowers, buy less and make more, make new plans, cut paper, glue paper, collect paper, visit thrift shops and flea markets, use our stash, dance more, do more - and share as much joy as we can next year. Okay?

Happy Creative New Year my friends!

My wee cousin did a visual Wish List for Christmas this year. It drove her poor mom mad as there were no directions on where to buy anything, just “inspiration” in green. I was inspired to make my own, and of course mine is pink!

On my wish list I’ve put lots of paints, as drawing and painting is something I want to do more and experiment with. I don’t know where to get all of these things, as I did image searches for things I want, like “a pink laptop”, but here are a few of the items;

• Prismacolor Colored Pencils
• Twinkling H2O watercolors
• Golden Fluid Acrylics
• Black gesso
• White pens
• Water resistant india ink in different colors
• Sketchbook journal, design by Sabrina Ward Harrison - I just love everything from the Papaya Art Shop!
• Collage Unleashed in Tuscany workshop in Italy next summer, still dreaming of going on one of these some day…

And now I’m not even mentioning all the books I want… How does your wish list look?

I’ve listed 100 Creative Ideas to Spark you into Action all tried out during my five beautiful blogging years, inspired by recent list makings. There are 100 ideas that will point you in “the right” direction for a more creative life. I believe creative action gives happiness in abundance. And that is what I wish for you!

I wish you happiness and joy all summer long! I wish for you a life that is filled with art, craft, friends, sunshine, creativity adventures, inspiration, rainbows, new knowledge and exiting explorations. All ideas are free for you to use. And all comes from iHanna with love! Here you go:

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Mindfulness of breathing is one string on which the beads of perceptions, our impulses, our understanding, our very consciousness can be threaded. The necklace created is something new - not a thing really, but a new way of seeing, a new way of being, a new way of experiencing that permits a new way of acting in the world. This new way seems to connect what seems to be isolated. But actually, nothing is ever isolated and needs reconnecting. It’s our way of seeing which creates and maintains separation.
/Kabat-Zinn (p. 215 in Wherever You Go, There You Are)

I’ve finished reading Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn and it goes up on my list of absolute favorite books and will stay there. The “rough cut” edges adds to the books beauty, as does the short chapters, the title and the guiding it provides.

Kabat-Zinn writes beautifully and poetic about mindfulness, meditation and other such important things in life. I have been reading it slowly to make it last.

He also describes how your personal meditation practice will make you a happier person. There is something with a open heart that I have felt for real these past weeks. It’s amazing. He has the words for the things I am “getting” more and more these days, and I love that! It makes me feel grateful and gentle. It’s like he is explaining my “aha moments!” to me, or at least he is putting words to some of my thoughts. Every time I pick it up I feel inspired to try more, practice more, be more. It’s a book that you should own and re-read all year around.

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My clarity comes in the form of writing. When all else fails, when I don’t know which step to take next, or how to hold myself up any longer, all that I do know, is that i need to write. Writing is the work I need to do.
/Silvia deVries [blog]

I get nice things in the mail. A while back I got this Chinese book from the very kind and generous Amy in Texas:

She wrote that she bought this accordion fold book in Shanghai, China in 2002 when she lived there for work for four and a half months. It’s covered with red silk brocade and has paper inside which is meant to be used for Chinese calligraphy and watercolor. It should be good for regular watercolor and for drawing. It’s 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. Isn’t it beautiful?!

This week I also got a handbound little cutie notebook from Katie:

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So many new and precious books coming out right now! I can’t chose!

Right now I’m very close to ordering the book The Creative Entrepreneur (A DIY Visual Guidebook for Making Business Ideas Real) by cool author Lisa Sonora Beams and the inspiring new DVD 1000 journals. I want both, but I always hesitate before shopping online… There are sooo many new books coming out all the time that I find my self browsing through them, adding them to my wish list and trying to weigh needs, cravings, costs and needs together before buying.

These are just a very few of the many great books that have come out recently that I wish I could look through right now (click on the books you want to read more about):

I have a passion for books. You can find my book recommendations on the page Love These Books page with links to some reviews I’ve posted on this blog. I occasionally splurge on a few books from the US, and those I savor and read slowly and with lots of joy. But before that, I add all the books I think looks interesting to my Wish List, it is a great place to help gather my thoughts and not buy books I don’t need. Or ten books on the same subject…

I’ve said it before, but it’s still true, my favorite book on art and art journaling is the first one I ever read by Lynne Perrella and it’s called Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages! Get it and be inspired!

Do you have a favorite inspiration book that you turn to over and over again?

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.
/W. Clement Stone

Inspired by Alex Shalman and his article The Socratic Method To Great Living (5 Simple Steps) I’ve written down what I consider to be the essence of me. Here they are:

1. I’m special and unique

2. I’m an inspiration to others

3. I live to document and share what I see

4. I am a creative force that will not be silenced

5. I find happiness, peace and love as I walk my own path

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We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started… and know the place for the first time.
/T.S. Eliot

For the first time…

I’m always interested in trying something new for the first time, especially when it has to do with art and craft. During 2008 I’ve tried a few new to me craft techniques. I’ve tried glass fusing, which resulted in beautiful necklaces and great gifts. And I’ve tried felting fleece in water. You can learn how to felt easter eggs from me, but I hope yours turn out better then mine. I haven’t laughed that hard since I made those ugly eggs so it was worth it. Felting with water and soap by hand takes a bit of practicing.

Felting without the egg shaped base was easier, so the beads I rolled one day sitting outside in the sun with a bucket of water and soap turned out much better! They became the felted bead necklace that I love. In 2007 I did some needle felting too, and I want to do that again. Then you use a needle to bake the wool together into little shapes, and it is a process that is more delicate and slow than wet felting. The flower on my beret is needle felted.

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