I have had the symptoms for quite a while now, but until today I didn't have a specific diagnosis.
When I checked in on Decor8, one of my daily blog reads, this morning Holly had posted about Design ADD. Holly's post enabled me to finally put a label on my disorder: Creative ADD. (Of course I have Design ADD too!)
My Creative ADD stems from not having a Creative "off" button. I am continually inspired by even the littlest things and I want to create all the time. I see something and it sets off a little spark. Or, as is often the case, a raging fire. It could be a colour or combination of colours, a way of doing things or a new material that I haven't used, a book cover, a photo in a magazine, a shadow on the footpath... anything really.
My 'Into the Woods' collection is a case in point. I love the warmth and grain of timber and started to experiment with it early this year: painting, stamping, and collaging. I really got into stamping and have quite a collection going - some stamps I have bought, and a lot of others I have hand carved. I keep finding variations on the timber I am using and before the paint is dry on one thing I'm off on another tangent. I am not so patiently awaiting my order of timber veneer at the moment so I can careen off in another direction.
A few months ago I bought dozens of small timber spoons, paper coasters, and eggs of all sizes: all new blank canvases for me to work on! I started to collect vintage egg cups to put my egg creations in until I realised that the goose eggs I was using were too big for the cups, and it really wasn't worth the effort to decorate little hen's eggs. Not to worry - I now have a great collection of vintage egg cups to display, as well as some beautiful eggs. I started to make Birdsong Boxes (which may yet make an appearance for sale on my website) and for a while I was totally engrossed in making little birds out of vintage doilies. Then I came across this great product that hardens fabric and found a new use for my doilies. I launched into making little bowls from vintage doilies I had customised with fabric, paper and embroidery. Then I was inspired by the resurgence of the tea towel as a design object and I got carried away thinking about designs to screen print on beautiful pieces of linen. I even bought a couple of silk screens! I am currently obsessed with a different screen printing method called Gocco that is popular at the moment in the art and craft world and I have all sorts of ideas for cards, gift tags and limited edition prints. Against my nature I am trying to take the time to consider whether this is a direction I really intend to pursue before I invest in the equipment.
I have a love/hate relationship with my Creative ADD. I wouldn't want to become stale and uninspired - and there's really zero chance of that happening with my brain in constant overdrive. On the other hand it would be nice to be able to be still and focus without the constant distraction of "hey! I want to try that!", "those colours are gorgeous, they would look superb on...", "what if I...", "ooohhh, look at that beautiful old [insert anything here: book, fabric, box, sign, bowl, etc]... I've just had an idea!" I see the creative part of my brain as a bit like a pinball machine. The ball is released at high speed and it pings off the side. The lights flash and the bells go off. The ball hits something else. Flashing lights, bells sounding and ping! the ball has hit another target. But unlike a pinball machine the ball in my mind never goes out of play. It's relentless.
Of course the stumbling block is time and money. In my dreams I have a gorgeous conservatory-style studio in my rambling back garden with the space to have all my projects set up. I have a lot of ideas on the go and the time to devote to each of them. I spend time on ebay and weekends at markets scouting for vintage finds and often fly off to Tokyo to buy my art supplies and be inspired by amazing young artists at Design Festa. London and New York are also on my itinerary for gallery hopping and shopping. I discover traditional arts, crafts, materials and techniques in the many different cultures I encounter around the world and I also manage to study new things. [This is sounding like a very busy life!] I don't have to worry about also being a graphic designer or earning money. I can just indulge my Creative ADD - after all I'm sure that's the best therapy for it.
I think I need a business partner, a mentor or an investor - or all 3! Failing that I'd settle for a sugar daddy.
Back to reality... Not that my reality is at all bad. I'm so fortunate in so many ways, but it's nice to daydream isn't it?
Finally a diagnosis... I have Creative ADD!
Sneak Peek: Wood You Believe! Artwork
Although these pieces use illustrations mainly from vintage children's books I think the quirky and eclectic feel will take them beyond children's spaces and into the realm of funky adults.
New products, new website, more places to buy Red Thread art, and GIVE AWAYS... it’s all happening!
Hello and welcome to new friends who have arrived here via my Red Thread emailing list.
Exciting things are happening at The Red Thread.
New products
The Red Thread is no longer strictly for funky little people. New ranges of one-off creations will soon be available for stylish adults too.
Vintage Heart Boxes My Vintage Heart Boxes are created with beautiful illustrations and words from retro children’s storybooks from the ‘40’s to the '70’s. The illustration styles and colours are gorgeous, vibrant and whimsical.
Here's a sneak peek:
“Into The Woods” artworks
“Into The Woods” consists of various product ranges created on timber using vintage illustrations and ephemera, Japanese papers, hand painted and stamped elements and handwritten quotes.
Vintage Storybook Tiles Layers of paint are applied to the timber which is then given an aged patina-like finish. I then add vintage illustrations and words and seal the artwork with varnish.
SushiBird Tiles Vibrant graphic birds cut from Japanese papers nest on simple illustrations inspired by nature. The white linework illustrations are painted on natural timber finished in a semi-gloss varnish.
Wood You Believe! Artwork Vintage illustrations and hand-painted and stamped graphics combine to form quirky contemporary creations. Inspiring quotes are hand-written around the sides of these timber pieces, adding to the funky eclectic feel.
New website
My new website will be online soon and all my products will be available for purchase. Some Red Thread products will also be appearing in selected shops in the coming months. And this is where you come in...
Red Thread GIVE AWAYS!
You may know of some great shops that would be the perfect place to buy my new Vintage Heart Boxes or "Into The Woods” collection. They could be ‘bricks and mortar’ shops, or online stores, places that cater just for children’s products, gift or homeware shops, or gallery-style shops.
So what’s in it for you? Every email I receive that recommends 2 potential retail outlets will be entered into a draw. Please supply the name and address of the shop and any other info you have such as phone number, email address or website. You can enter as many times as you like and the winners will be drawn at random. The first name drawn will receive a small customised Heart Box valued at $154 including delivery. The next 3 names drawn will each receive a small framed Personalised Art valued at $59 each including delivery. Emails must be recieved before Sunday 17th August, and I will announce the winners here on Monday 18th August at 1pm. The give away is open to everyone, so please pass on the info and the link to my blog.
( click here to email your entry >) Send me your email.
In with the new, out with the old
In order to make space for all this new creativity I will no longer be making some of my existing products. From 1st September Personalised Art and Cards will no longer be available. The good news is that until then all orders for Personalised Art on Canvas and Cards will be 10% off plus you’ll receive free delivery.
From the 1st of September I will no longer sell large customised Heart Boxes. If you would like to order one before then you’ll receive free delivery. Small Heart Boxes will still be available on my website with the new price of $180, which will include hand painted personalisation. For all of August you’ll be able to order a small personalised Heart Box at the current price and you’ll receive free delivery.
I will still be taking commissions for children's portraits.
Stay tuned...
Stay tuned in September for the redesigned Red Thread website featuring my new product ranges. I will be posting further updates and sneak peeks of products on my blog as well as lots of my creations, inspirations and observations. Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you come back. And don’t forget to enter the give away comp for your chance to win.
one small step
Being an avid reader of other people's blogs I guess it was only a matter of time before I started one of my own. I'll admit to spending hours at a time on various blogs. One leads to another, which leads to another. And so it goes. I rarely get to read books or even magazines these days, but I seem to somehow find the time to indulge in my guilty pleasure of blog reading.
I am however feeling a bit intimidated by this, my first ever post, so I might just start by sharing a few pictures taken by Roxy, my 4 year old daughter. When I recently upgraded my digital camera Roxy inherited my old one, and she loves being able to record things in her little-girl-world. I'm inspired by her kooky and quirky perspectives and subjects. Self portraits are a reoccurring theme... and I particularly love the image of the piece of string on the floor.
