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Refilling the creativity tank

 

Refilling the creativity tank (photo by GermanGirl at rgbstock.com)

It happens: the creativity tank starts to run low and needs gassing up. After rushing to finish and then submit “Ribbons Over Albuquerque” last week, I had to come down, recharge, give my brain and swollen hands a rest. That’s not a bad thing; it opens me up to new experiences which is always a great thing for dreaming up new rugs and mats. 

So, just what do I do when I’m not hooking but still want to keep the fires stoked?

  • I cook. Gluten-freedom has made that a little…interesting. But you can’t beat it for almost immediate gratification. And my family is oh, so appreciative.
  • Field trip! Last week Tom and I headed to
    Flowers seen at Albuquerque's Biopark last week.
    Flowers seen at Albuquerque’s Biopark last week.

    Albuquerque’s Biopark Botanic Garden where I do rug hooking demos once a month. I’d never seen the rest of the park! Now we’ll go every season to see how it changes.

  • I take pictures of things I deem “interesting” as possible design candidates. If the pic sucks, just hit DELETE. Easy-peasy.
  • Never underestimate the joy in visiting a Penzeys spice store just to sniff the merchandise. Especially if it’s next door to a Michael’s. Just be careful around the Berbere Seasoning if you value the nerves and blood vessels in your nasal cavities.
  • I grab the dog and the husband and hit a trail. Or even a nearby sidewalk. You never know what you might see even in your own neighborhood. (Don’t forget the camera!)
  • I succumb to my magazine habit: Bon Appetit; Women’s Health; Su Casa, Sunset; Fiber Art Now; Rug Hooking; Cooking Light; National Geographic; Poets & Writers, and any rag I can pick up for free when leaving local establishments. Then I cut and paste into my journal or inspiration box. My grandmother taught me well.
  • Heeding the garden’s call! We’re still trying to figure out how we’ll handle
    Hooking a different kind of project.
    Hooking of a different kind.

    this now that we live in the high desert and have much less land. But there will be flowers and tomatoes and herbs!

  • Crocheting simple things like scarves keeps my hands busy and lets me buy yarn. (As if I needed an excuse.)
  • And lastly, a trip to a local winery or distillery never hurts.

 

Gruet wines: proudly made in New Mexico

 

 

Keep me safe from alcoholism. Share how you recharge your creative battery when you’re not hooking.

 

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Here’s to hooking in 2016!

Just stopping by to dash off wishes for a wonderful end to 2015 and a hopeful beginning to 2016. It’s been a busy hooking week, though, ironically, I don’t have much to show for it. You see, I have to get a rug started for the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Council‘s April show. I believe I mentioned this before. Crunch time is coming. The theme is “Colors of New Mexico.” Designing this thing is giving me angina. I swear, I think about it in the shower, at 2:00 a.m. when I should be sleeping, when my kid’s begging me to go to the movies. I’m pretty sure I know where I’ll go with it now, but it’s still making me drink.

Behind schedule poinsettia.
Behind-schedule poinsettia.

Then I spent one whole evening pulling out most of my almost-completed poinsettia. In my attempt to do a little shading, I used colors with hues much too close to one another. There wasn’t enough contrast between them so I was left with a merlot-colored SPLAT. I’ve since started hooking with more of a rosé and a pinot noir. I think it helped.

Okay, I’m in a wine frame of mind. Whoopee! It’s almost New Year’s Eve, you know. Not only that, yesterday Tom and I went out to lunch then made a little field trip to a local winery, Gruet, which specializes in making bubbly in the Champenoise tradition. (It’s illegal to call any sparkly stuff champagne, so I’ll be technical.) We wanted to pick up a bottle for tomorrow night.

Celebrate with Gruet bubbly!

Um, we were more than successful. A lovely, young woman poured tastings for us and two other couples from Dallas and Portland. We had a great time talking wine, what it’s like to relocate to Portland (Oregon, hookers, not Maine!), Airstream trailers, vanilla lip gloss, and what-have-you. An hour and a half later, Tom and I were wine club members. Lucky you: If you’re thinking about visiting us here in Albuquerque, we’re apt to pop open a bottle for you.

Please share any hooking you might have managed to do this holiday week. If you didn’t get any done, who cares?!!? My wish is that you spend the rest of the week relaxing and enjoying friends and family. There’s plenty of time to work in 2016.

Happy New Year!

May your 2016 be filled with the most wonderful of fireworks and new adventures. Happy New Year!
May your 2016 be filled with the most wonderful of fireworks and new adventures. Happy 2016!

 

 

 

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