Five Friday Favorites: Creative Commitment

As the week comes to a close, I’ve been seeing signs along the road I drive to work announcing the beginning of craft fair season, and I’ve been thinking about the experience of making something by hand, not just in anticipation of fairs and gift-giving season, or for a good cause, but for the sake of the act itself. 

During Spinzilla, there was talk (both online and in the office) about all the things that arise when you make a commitment to create something on a regular basis: the practice that’s required to set aside some time each day while the rest of your life is pounding at the door, the freedom to just do and let go of the idea of perfection, pushing personal boundaries of creativity and endurance, and the sense of community that comes from connecting with everyone else who is making something at the same time, no matter what it is, whether it’s every day for a week, or a month, or a year.

This week’s Five Favorites are dedicated to that commitment to creativity. Happy Friday! – Emily Spiegelman, Digital Features Editor

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• The Seasonal Bouquet Project: Lovers (and growers) of flowers, this one is definitely for you. Two farmer florists (Jennie in Pennsylvania and Erin in Washington) have given themselves a monthly bouquet challenge. The “project is the result of a winter brainstorming session about how to feed our soul fires during the hectic months of the growing season and how to further demonstrate the beauty of locally grown flowers to a wider audience.” Their work is stunning and highlights all the colors and varieties of the season. You can participate, too. The major requirement is that all bouquet ingredients must be sourced within 25 miles of where you live (including those you grow yourself). Check it out.

• Helen Hiebert is doing a 100x100 project, making 100 paper weavings over 100 days. Her creations are breathtaking, and have been brightening my inbox for a  few weeks now. Find her website and more about her work on her website.

• Do you know about The Sketchbook Project? With this, the greatest parameters are created by the physical fact of the book. You don’t need to be an artist to fill the pages, and your work joins that of everyone else’s in three libraries.  The next deadline to submit is January 15, 2014. 

• Speaking of Spinzilla, I’m happy to report that altogether, beginning and expert spinners alike spun an awesome 7,7582 yards of yarn during this week-long competition for a great cause. You can see images of the Team Storey Publishing results, in all their rich variations (as well as a shot of Henry, Official Prize Coordinating Bird for the team, in action), on our Pinterest board. (Speaking of spinning, don’t forget: this weekend is the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck! Storey authors will be there!) 

• Interested in the idea of committing to a creative project but feeling overwhelmed before you even begin? I love this Etsy blog post from 2011 with tips for getting started on a creative project, from defining the project parameters to finding daily inspiration.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •  

Inside Storey readers, what are you loving online this week? Share your favorites with us in the comments!