I’m in this to play
February 18th, 2009
A dear friend of mine has started blogging again and this morning, THIS showed up in my inbox:
What is play and why do I care?
Here’s a part that really struck a cord with me (direct quote):
I have a choice about the attitude that I bring to my art, and that is what determines whether it is play or not. It also is what determines whether I’m available to the flow of inspiration.
If I let my art be about the result, it isn’t play. When I’m focused on the outcome, I’m out of the moment and not available to the spontaneous flow of inspiration that, for me, is a big part of play.
Those two paragraphs hit me like a ton of bricks - I’ve been WAY to focused on the result. I’ve been ignoring my own natural creative process. I blame a lot of it learning!
When I was first discovering that I had a talent for this whole baby clothing design thing, I literally let the fabric speak to me. I would get my hands on it and jumble it around on the table into interesting shapes, until a picture of the perfect little design would emerge in my mind. Then I decided I had a talent for this, a passion for this, I loved it. So I set about learning the process of fashion design and that’s where I chinked my creative process a bit.
The need for technical illustrations and pattern makers has made me sketch first. I don’t think that this is the most natural for me. The lack of fabric availability and minimums hasn’t helped either. I used to just grab any fabric that spoke to me off the shelves, now I have to purchase from suppliers and wait until trade shows - or until samples come in the mail- to see the fabrics.
The post at Reinvention Revolution made me remember how much I love to sit and get lost in creative fun, get my hands on the fabric, let it speak to me, dance for me. I need to get back to that. Doing it my way.
Take a moment to read the whole post at ReinventionRevolution.com, you won’t be sorry. Gorgeous collage and inspiring thoughts…
Entry Filed under: Designing Fashion & Accessories, Product Development
5 Comments Add your own
1. Lynne Fairchild | February 18th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Amber, you are one of the most creative people I know. I so appreciate your insights on the pull between - and the need to balance - a results orientation and an attitude of play when we have our own busineses. I feel like I almost never hit that balance where I want it to be! Seems like an ongoing dynamic balance to pay attention to. I always enjoy your blog! Thank you for taking the time to share your insights on the journey.
2. Lynne Fairchild | February 18th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
P.S. Here’s to you getting your hands on the fabric, getting lost in creative fun, letting it speak to you and dance for you!
3. Ebony Glass | February 26th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Amber,
I have been an avid reader of your blog for quite some time now and always enjoy your advice and insight. This particular post hit so close to home that I couldn’t help but comment.
I too have been guilty of trying to be so technical that it has often left me frustrated and at a stand still. It’s only recently that I’ve decided to stop trying to “learn” what I have a passion for and just do it. I love being creative and trying different things whether they fail or succeed.
I think we get caught up in what other people view as the right way to do things that we forget to listen to our own heart and let our own creative juices flow and become whatever form or shape it chooses.
Thanks for posting something both inspiring and a light kick in the butt.
PS. Thanks to Lynne Fairchild for her post which inspired you when writing yours.
4. Jamie Lentzner | February 26th, 2009 at 10:02 am
It is forever going to be getting pulled in two (if not a million) different directions - such is the life of an Entrepreneur. I thougth it would get easier once I hired employees - but that is not true. I think the best Entrepreneurs are the ones that are able to switch gears with ease between the different processes, even though one is more fun than the other. I find it helps to set aside time to be creative helps me to still feel “connected”. Great post - made me think!
5. Barbara Newton-Holmes | March 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
WOW, you, two! This is wonderful…. I’ve been thinking and journaling about play and playing… How essential this is to all our lives.
Thanks!
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