“You can use your mats
[or any medium]
to tell the truth about the way
you see things.
Use them as an expression
of yourself, as a way
of telling what you know
to be true and important
and they will not fail you.”
— Deanne Fitzpatrick, Rug Hooking Artist

Canadian Rug Hooking Artist Deanne Fitzpatrick: 'I Must Make Rugs' December-27-2008
Creative Wisdom in The Spirit of the Mat
Could it be that the essence of your art is an honest glimpse into the structure of your soul? Whimsical, detailed, organized, abstract. Who has not met an artist who produces 'perfectly' drawn art, but despite the perfection, is still not satisfied? How does that truth reflect in their everyday lives?

Canadian rug hooking artist Deanne Fitzpatrick's (www.hookingrugs.com) latest article, The Spirit of the Mat, has immersed me into deep thought about the relationship we have with our chosen modes of creative expression, whether art, writing, cooking, performing, inventing, fabric, color, etc. All these mediums give manifested life and validation to our beliefs and thoughts, sometimes abstractly, and often when the energy needs to move within us in processed emotion.

And sometimes it is in the middle of the creative process that a synergistic miracle seems to occur... the act of creation births forth something unexpected and beautiful, resulting in what Deanna describes as "the shiver." Watch this inspiring video on YouTube about Deanna and her rug-hooking process. •

'Snowman Poop' Stocking Stuffer w/Printable Joke Tag December-21-2008
A Timeless Christmas Classic — Everyone Poops!
Boy, that snowman sure gets around, don't it? The first time I remember seeing the "Snowman Poop" Christmas stocking stuffer gag for 'naughty not nice' recipients was in the early 1990s when I worked for Corporate America.

Variations on the theme are ripe for the picking in the virtual world, but here's something only mine has: An enhanced high-resolution printable joke tag to staple to the top of the bag designed by yours truly, with a cautionary note on the back 'not to eat' the bag's crafty contents. This is important when mixing say, glitter with marshmallows.

Both the Candy Cane-Deer and Snowman Poop were favorites with kids and adults in my Crafty Christmas Creativity! playshops. Indulge yourself in this creative craft... you still have four days left until Christmas to stuff those stockings! •

Humor Guide: "Don't Confuse your Christmas Deer!" December-20-2008
Chris' Candy Cane-Deer Christmas Tree Ornament Project
I can't decide which was funner: my first visit to a Christmas Tree farm this week or teaching my first set of three kid's Crafty Christmas Creativity! playshops last week. Collage Your Fragments, I say! I've combined elements from both experiences to share this new Candy Cane-Deer Christmas ornament craft for you to enjoy. Oh deer. •

“If a youngster can master
moving out of the way of themselves,
they can achieve anything in this world,
not just art but enterprise as well.”
— Annette Rose, Mask-Making Artist

A Glimpse Inward with Annette Rose: Unmasking Our Creative Potential December-18-2008
Q & A with Creative Director of Maskworx Limited
What rich insights we can experience vicariously through others. An understatement indeed, in which you can explore in a new Creative Careers in the Arts interview with New Zealand mask-making artist Annette Rose, who is also co-creator of the Multimask System and currently working with schools and communities around the world to bring masking into the mainstream. •

The Rookery: Heather Blakey's Virtual 2008 Christmas Advent Calendar December-11-2008
Soul Food's Annual Christmas Treat
She's done a great job with it again this year, folks! If you haven't had the joy in previous years with opening the daily surprises in Heather Blakey's (dailywriting.net) online Advent Calendars, click on over and check 2008's version out.

This year's theme is "The Rookery" in which "During December 2008 you will see birds arriving to nest in the boughs of this tree. Each 'bird' is a valued member of the Soul Food Cafe Rookery, an online writing group for artists and writers from around the world."

Want to learn more about the history of these fun calendars Heather started in the creative community in 2003? See the Soul Food Cafe AdvenTURE Calendar Squidoo Lens. •

Download Page for Chris's FREE Merry Citrus! Crafty Paper Desktop Christmas Tree Cut-Out December-10-2008
Your Daily Dose of Christmas Vitamin C!
You could have a V-8, but I think you'll like this better: A juicy desktop Christmas Tree decoration that won't shed pine needles AND will give you a daily dose of Vitamin C ("Creativity")!

Making Rights from Wrongs December-05-2008
Nit Wits #46: Don't Sweater the Small Stuff!
Do you think there's a market for a line of sweaters with three arms? Let me tell you just how valuable mistake making is...