ideas & time.

My brain is bursting with ideas. Literally bursting. Problem is I need an additional 3-4 hours in every day to make have all of these ideas come to fruition. Isn't that the story of our lives?

Once we start to get older, we start to realize how fast everything passes us by. Hello, it's almost February already! I hardly even remember January beginning or rolling into 2011. Time waits for no one. It just keeps on ticking and tocking.

This is where my "to-do" list comes into play. I am making a conscious effort (albeit hard) to spend more time "doing" and less time vegging. This is a challenge when the weather is cold and you are confined to a small one-bedroom apartment. Also a challenge when you don't want to be sitting another few hours in front of a computer doing the research and homework involved in making ideas turn into a reality. Despite these hurdles, I've found that my list at least keeps me moderately motivated and focused.

I know, I know. I am being very ambiguous about my ideas. I cannot help it, I like to tease. To entice. And, even to (sometimes) annoy. I also don't like to announce anything until it is a sure thing. I am a superstitious person when it comes to over-sharing before something is definite.

That said: One of my ideas--that has been a good 3 months or so in the making--is starting to grow some legs. It's not ready to stand on its own, or take baby steps yet, but I am confident it will get there. Just give me time.

simple inspiration

This week I have found myself being inspired by the little, simple things. Maybe it's because I can feel spring in the air, or that I can see the sunshine pouring through our apartment windows. Well, whatever it is - I like it!

I wanted to start a new weekly creative challenge for myself. **Please do feel free to participate as well. Each week I want to find one thing that inspires me, and to try to work this one thing into some creative project.

I am been itching to take out all of my crafting supplies. Unfortunately, I have found myself far too lazy to recover them from our freezing closet and organize them. Not to mention we need a shelving unit to store everything. Okay, I will no longer make excuses!

This week my inspiration was .... asparagus. Asparagus is one of my absolute favorite vegetables, and I have been delighted that it has been on sale this week. I think its shape, structure, taste and color is fascinating. There are so many ways you can photograph this vegetable and I really enjoyed trying to think "outside of the box" with perspective and lighting.

Anyway, as I was preparing some asparagus this week I started to think of all the shapes, colors and expressions that could be used creatively with this vegetable. Naturally, the drawing above (which is mine, forgive the fact that drawing has never been more forte) captures the cuteness of this vegetable. How it always come in bunches and stays close to the others. You would never find an asparagus alone - it always travels as a team. :) I am hoping to do some more experiments with drawings, photos, colors and sayings. Stay tuned for more on that.

Perhaps it was a strange inspiration, and a strange way to start a challenge. Oh well, it is what it is. Now I'll just have to keep my eyes open for next week's candidate.