Since staring MYB, I've been more conscious of working out and how often I do (and how little I actually used to). It seems that I used to spend a ton of time thinking about exercise, but far less time actually doing it. Am I the only one?
Regardless, I have felt much more inspired, recently, and I think it has to do both with clearning my head and staring at so much water.
Tell us: What's been inspiring you recently?
-SM
Here are a few things I've been coveting:
1. this print
2. this calligraphy class through istilllovecalligraphy.com.
I posted about obsessing over calligraphy here and didn't really know much about the modern form of it that exists. So pretty and elegant.
3. And these boots in narrow width.
Since I am doing my best to stick to the spending diet, I just have to look, and not buy, for right now. Hey a girl can dream, right? Though I'm riding solo for this V-Day so I may treat myself to the Hemingway print.
Tell us: What are you lusting over?
-SM
Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.”
-Dale Carnegie
--
Besides jewelry, my most prolific hobby is sewing. At last count, I've sewed 7 skirts, 5 dresses, 5 tops, 1 blanket sweater and 2 pairs of leggings (the last two were even my own pattern).
Some would say that I’m a serial hobbyist— I love to learn new trades and most of them derive from creating something. I am constantly reading/researching/watching videos/asking questions about a different art practice.
I tend to find something that piques my interest, research it to death, learn how to do it (often by teaching myself and/or finding some poor soul that will answer a million questions)….then I either find that I get bored/sick of repeating the same activity or I am obsessed with learning how to do every facet of said art form.
Obsessive Hobbies
My newest sewing creation-- metallic leopard print leggings.
Thus far, I have obsessively learned (and, of course, continue to study) knitting, jewelry, sewing, and leather work (listed in the order that I became obsessed). I continue to be engrossed with jewelry, sewing and leather but knitting has gone by the wayside. [I should mention that I am also impatient and results-driven, I am an instant satisfaction fiend and knitting is a victim of said impatience].
Novice Hobbies
I learned flowers from the best of the best, The Byrd Collective, this past fall.
My first weaving project, a scarf. I have big hopes of incorporating weaving into my new accessories line, launching this spring (fingers crossed).
I also have a few hobbies that I’ve learned a bit about and am hoping to expand on in the future. These practices include weaving, painting, pottery and flowers/floral arrangement (and probably 20 others that I can’t think of). I’ve taken classes in all but, unlike jewelry and leather, they don’t come as easily to me and I feel ill-prepared to teach myself.
I can feel my soul filling up when I’m learning/practicing/mastering a technique or art form. There is literally nothing else that I’d rather spend my time on than creating. I am the best version of myself, and most satisfied/content/happy, when I’ve spent my time creating something.
Not Yet Hobbies
My friend, Becky, does the most amazing, inspiring hand-lettering (and illustrating). She is seriously talented.
I’ll leave you with a list of what I’d love to learn and know nothing about — watercolors, hand-lettering/calligraphy, photography, graphic design and so many others.
As an aside, I’d also like to improve on less tangible practices, such as my writing. For reasons I don’t understand, non-tangible art is less compelling and motivating for me and I struggle to practice them (this also applies to photography and graphic design).
Tell us: What are your favorite hobbies? What’s on your list of must-learns?
-JCM
**Unbeknownst to me, Sar wrote a post on Thursday about creative hobbies that she has been learning/practicing, you can check it here. You know what they say, great minds think alike.
And I'd have to agree with her, my interest in learning new crafts is directly attributed to our mom. I'll have to write a more detailed post about it someday, as all of the art I practice has been practiced already within my family (I briefly mention it here).
It’s How Good You Want To Be.
Preach
Have you ever owned a book that you could pick up and feel inspired? Even if you only read a few pages? Or just one page? My bible, in the inspiration sense, is It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden.
It doesn’t look like much based on the cover or its size, but it is chock full of goodness. I can say, with 99% certainty, that it will suck you in and you’ll read it cover to cover in one sitting. And then you’ll come back to it — re-read it when you’re feeling a bit blue or when you need someone to light a fire under your ass.
Criticism-- hard to hear. Don't settle for okay and not great. Ask how it can be better!
Beyond its goodness, it has great design and images that will keep you entertained. I highly recommend it; whether you’re planning your dream business, your wedding or trying to improve as an employee. It will speak to your uninspired soul when nothing else does.
Tell us: Do you have an inspiration bible? Where do you turn when you're feeling blue?
-JCM
The short answer-- travel and inspiring entrepreneurs.
As I’ve said, writing doesn’t come naturally for me (and, sometimes, creating doesn't come easy). It can be a tortured process that I find the most success in when I am inspired. I wish I could pinpoint what inspires me, bottle it up, and have it near whenever I need it. I am miserable when I feel uninspired; even I wouldn’t want to be around me.
I woke up on Tuesday feeling frustrated and uninspired. I think it’s a combination of not exercising for 4 days (I’m trying to heal a jammed toe) and feeling friction from unbalanced priorities. This month has introduced a lot of change (some has happened already and some is in the works) and finding a new routine. I am excited and so grateful for new opportunities but I am struggling to find balance. So, when I’m feeling unbalanced and frustrated, I turn to a few tried and true sources of inspiration to kick start my motivation.
One topic that I can almost always find inspiration in is travel (usually travel photos). I have a permanent case of wanderlust (potentially evidenced by our bi-yearly re-location?). Another topic that inspires me is “successful” female entrepreneurs (and by successful, I mean they define their own success, not financial success [although that is a nice perk]). Two random topics, I know, but they are two of my biggest goals in life, so I guess it’s good that my inspiration and goals correlate.
To explain the flip side, some habits that uninspire and unmotivate me, here are some of my nemeses:
I've done a lot of soul searching and have found these 4 habits to be critical to my happiness and personal success (for both daily and longterm measures). Many of my Seinfeld Method goals are aimed and minimizing these bad habits. I've found going to a coffee shop (my current fave in Austin is Cenote) to be the single most helpful action-- getting out of the house and into a creative space helped me be extremely productive last week (like more productive than I'd been in the last two months).
Tell us: Who/what inspires you? Do you have an arsenal of inspiration that you turn to?
-JCM
I'll be back on Monday to talk about huge source of inspiration for me-- female entrepreneurs.