10 april 2015 A s a designer, mom and Rhode Island School of Design-trained artist, Carrie Bloomston understands space is needed to make a mess, craft and create. This creativity enabler and author shares ideas from her new book, The Little Spark – 30 Ways to Ignite Your Creativity , to build the perfect spot for creativity. In her famous 1929 essay, A Room of One’s Own , Virginia Woolf spoke of the necessity for every woman to have a space where she could be creative – alone. At the time it was a radically feminist text. It’s possible that everyone (men, women and children) needs a space in which to honor their creative practice – whether painting, writing, yoga, baking, reading or looking at the birds. For children, too, it is equally important to carve out space for creativity, such as a deep drawer filled with various materials to encourage and enable their imagination. If children know they have materials ready, they can independently take the steps to make something. To construct your special space, you must think creatively. Oftentimes we place our inventiveness far down on the priority list. In the design of a house, creative spaces are almost always an afterthought. Fourteen years ago, my artist husband and I had to look at over 60 houses to find just two or three with built-in studios. Creative spaces are often relegated to garages, basements and back bedrooms. But the conditions of those spaces might not jive with your soul. To you, your talent will look distinctive; therefore, your space will have personalized requirements. For example, last year when I wrote my first book about creativity, I needed to be imaginative in my writing process and location. Mainly, I wrote in the tree fort in my back yard – up in the Sissoo tree. We built the tree fort as a family project the previous summer. The tree is too young to support the fort, so it is more of a glorified deck surrounding the tree. However, it is splendid. It is a peaceful, quiet, part of nature, in the elements, a space for dreaming and being and writing. It jives with my soul. Your creative space should speak to your soul – to the deepest part of you – so you become comfortable in your process and available to your inspiration. It might be a soft armchair for knitting, a soundproof studio to record music, or a fully stocked kitchen for baking pastries. Despite the differences in craft, all creative spaces share a few requirements. The following chapter from my book details developing your creative space and includes a checklist for constructing the perfect spot to foster your imagination. We all need a space in which to be creative. Having a good workspace cements you to your dreams. The creative space is a launchpad, refuge, retreat, temple, labyrinth and safety net. It is a confidence booster. It gives you a sense of purpose. Your space is a flagpole on the moon. If you believe in your dream enough to make a spot for it in your life and mark it with a flag, then you’re more likely to pursue your passion and hear the Spark when it calls. Even if you’re still figuring out your creative direction, there’s an obstacle in the way if you always have to move everyone else’s stuff from the area before you start. The Spark might not stick around for two hours of housekeeping. It helps to have space ready. For some, a sewing room might be a cleared-off dining table, with other materials hiding in a nearby cabinet or closet, or it might be an armchair for knitting. For others, a separate messy space might be necessary. It isn’t always possible to have a designated room, but setting aside a space with boundaries is important. If you’re a baker, you may need a small amount of kitchen space, but how do you claim that area as yours and separate from your family’s space? Create a special space (a drawer or cupboard) for all your stuff. Claim it as your own and don’t let it get mixed in with the daily family flotsam of life. Own it. Mark it. Protect it. In this way you advocate for yourself, your pursuits and your special creative time. Your tools and materials will be ready when you are. One way to claim your space is by making it beautiful. Surround yourself with beauty. It will beckon you. The Perfect Spot for By Jen Nicomedes’ author of The First Guidebook for Feng Shui Enthusiasts Although the authentic Feng Shui practice is a robust and systematic discipline that adheres to a strict structure, when applied properly, it can be used to empower anyone to merge this ancient knowledge with creating a space with mindful intention. Things from designing the layout of your rooms, the placement of furniture, the colors and decors, to choosing where to build your home. Therefore, Feng Shui can be used to complement, influence, and inspire your creativity, and not just for good Qi energy, but also for creating a space that is filled with beauty, personality, and purpose! Design & décor Creativity PHOTO BY JILL MCNAMARA

11 Embrace creative chaos When I work, a tornado quickly brews in my studio: Papers, fabrics and trash go flying in all directions. By the time I am done, my 300-square-foot studio is unrecognizable. The surfaces and floor are covered in detritus and remnants. Because I know this about myself, I want my materials behind closed cabinet doors so the room feels calm. I know I’m going to make a mess as I work, and it will feel too chaotic if my materials are showing. This is personal preference. I have other friends that like to see their materials so they can feel inspired by them. Store materials so you can get into the flow easily. Organize in a way that suits your particular needs. CLUTTER: Clutter simply doesn’t help. Even if your space is periodically messy, you don’t want it to be cluttered. It can’t be a space that you share with your kids’ soccer gear, unfolded laundry and last year’s Christmas ornaments. You deserve better than that. And I highly encourage you to take charge here. Make space for yourself. Find a home for the other junk and don’t let it migrate back into your space. BINS: I have never met a studio that didn’t rely on bins. IKEA, Target and organization stores have bins. You will need them. Shoeboxes work well too. When organizing any space, put like with like: all acrylic paints together, all sandpaper together, all drawing pencils together. Depending on how compulsive you are, you may want to label the bins clearly from the outside so you don’t have to peek inside to see what’s there. Color-coding your bins is a pretty way to keep things organized. COUNTER OR TABLE SPACE: You will likely need empty, unimpeded counter or table space for spreading out and working. If space allows, get more tables and counters than you think you need. You will want many horizontal surfaces for storing works in progress, as well as other surfaces for creating. CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS & REQUIREMENTS Identify your needs for your creative space here. The questions below will help you determine what you want and need. Write your answers in the spaces provided. In my creative space, I will be: _______________________________________________________________________________ Do you keep your space messy or tidy, organized or chaotic? Do you need lots of cabinets, drawers, boxes, or bins? _______________________________________________________________________________ Do you need fresh air from an open window? Special ventilation for toxic materials? Do you want to be outside? _______________________________________________________________________________ Do you like to work on the floor? On a desk? At an easel? Standing up? _______________________________________________________________________________ What else do you need? A computer? A sewing machine? A pottery wheel? A sink? Recording equipment or lots of power sources? _______________________________________________________________________________ For just a moment, close your eyes and dream BIG. Think about your ideal, far-fetched, fantasy of a creative space…what does it look like? See the details: the colors, the materials, the windows, the tools, the sounds. After you emerge from your mini-meditation, write down your fantasy. Sometimes, just conjuring our heart’s desire can act as a road map for stepping into what we want. Sometimes we need to go beyond our limitations by sidestepping things like our insecurities, doubts and financial limitations. Use another pice of paper and write down your dream studio in detail. _______________________________________________________________________________ What else do you need? Write down your specific space needs here so you can have a plan when you start to create your space. _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ FREE ESTIMATES! C ERTI FI ED TREE WORKERS C ERTI FI ED ARBORISTS WE-7417A WE-7465A WE-6874A 602-808-7781 AZROC #261888 www.UFTCINC.com email: info@uftcinc.com A+ RATED 10% Discount With This Ad Large Trees Proper Pruning Citrus Trees Storm Damage Removals Stump Grinding We Specialize In Deep Root Fertilization It's time to have your trees properly pruned and fertilized!