(If you prefer audio, check out the recorded version of this newsletter. Unless cockatiels annoy you…Flynn was extra chatty today. Sorry.)
Creativity is similar to an avalanche — all you need to do is start small, and you’ll be overcome with ideas and inspiration soon enough.
This past summer I stumbled upon a friendship bracelet-making event for adults. It’s a craft I never tried as a kid, so I was curious. Well, three embroidery threads, a half hour and a few simple instructions later, I was hooked.
If you’ve never created friendship bracelets, it’s similar to braiding or any other type of weaving. There’s only a couple of basic knots to learn, and the creativity comes in the colors, number of strings, and the order you tie the knots in. The repetitiveness and portability are two other great perks - it’s something I can do while waiting for my son to finish soccer practice. When I traveled over the summer, I’d have at least one or two bracelets in progress that I’d work on during downtime in hotel rooms.
It’s also very low cost — you can get a bag of different colors for less than $5 at Michaels, and just need a clipboard or painter’s tape to hold the bracelet to give it enough tension. As for patterns? Well, if you need inspiration, there’s entire websites like braceletbook.com that curate patterns from all over the internet.
My story doesn’t end there. I met up with a friend and as we shared what we’ve been creatively up to. We soon found a new shared interest of crochet purse-making kits and went down this Amazon rabbit hole. It’s also unlocked a new world of fiber arts for me, from peyote bead bracelet making (just purchased an online course), to getting more serious about macrame, and exploring basket-weaving kits from this website (I haven’t purchased one yet, so if you have a recommendation, let me know!).
Pursuing a curiosity not only scratches an itch, but now I’m finding myself wondering how I can weave in (pun intended) fiber art into my painting, or what other crossovers I can experiment with in the future. My friend had an idea of painting a pattern and creating a bracelet based on that same pattern, which is another interesting route.
All I know is, when hobbies started to feel monotonous or less inspiring, an injection of novelty quickly shook things up.
If you find yourself feeling stuck in a rut, maybe life is getting a little mundane or you want a break from the routine, try something new. Maybe it’s safe to get a kit with instructions, or maybe wander down an aisle at your favorite craft store that you usually don’t go down to see if there are any mediums or crafts that call to you.
Maybe friendship bracelet making will be your thing, too.
And if it is, let me know — I’d love to exchange a bracelet with you!
🎉 Introducing new art on my website! 🎉
With my inspired creative process, I have a few new originals. I’ve been experimenting with color, abstracts, texture, gold leaf and more. There is nothing like collecting new art, so if a piece speaks to you, reach out to me lia@swishie.com.
This new set broadens my creative voice, and I’m becoming more drawn to less planning and more feeling my way through the pieces. Each one lights me up in a different way. Through each piece I try to capture the different ways ideas and dreams become reality: sometimes as inklings of what I want to explore, and other times one stroke at a time. I’m amazed at how they all came out.
Thank you for being here ❤️
I have two special, limited-time offers for subscribers:
➡️ For being a loyal subscriber, if you choose to purchase my original art I will offer a 20% discount through the month of September 2024. Simply let me know in your inquiry “Life is iterative” and I will honor that!
➡️ I am also a life coach in training. In addition to teaching hundreds my design framework to design a more intentional life, I’ve already supported women through coaching to help them:
feel more confidence and clarity in their career
take actions to fuel their personal growth
reignite their creative spark
I’m excited to offer a free 30-minute consultation session to see if we’re a good fit, and a package deal of 4 sessions for $60. This offer lasts until September 8, 2024, and this will be the lowest I offer this so do let me know at lia@swishie.com if this is something you’d be interested in!
Thanks again for being a part of the Life is Iterative newsletter, and this creative journey that is life!
Share this post