Creative Living Interview #4

For my latest Creative Living interview, I am excited to introduce you to Elizabeth, or Liz. She is a college student at UNC-G studying education. She is also master of origami - check out her amazing creations (and the great pic above!). She also just got back from time abroad in Russia (love that pic above!). Thanks for being featured on my blog, E!! You are amazing!

Enjoy meeting Liz!

-Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.

My name is Liz, I live in Greensboro as a student at UNC Greensboro. I am an Elementary Education Major with a Minor in Russian and a Concentration in Classical Studies-Greek. All this really means is that I am studying to be a teacher and last semester I studied abroad in Kazan, Russia. I am currently looking for a job, but my last job was at Family Christian Bookstores. I had to quit when I studied abroad.

-What creative crafts or activities do you like to do? Tell us what you like to do and why it appeals to you.

I like to work with my hands and generally I either fold origami or knit. Generally I fold large origami balls involving between twelve and sixty sheets of paper called kusudama. I like to hang them around my dorm room or give them as presents. My one complaint with origami is that it only takes a small amount of time to fold something so folding kusudama works very well for me-it takes between six hours and two weeks to fold depending on how detailed I want. I have always liked folding origami ever since I got an origami book from a book order form in Elementary School.

-Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!

I think I am most inspired by nature- I always try to fold flowers or imitate them. It always reminds me about the passage in the bible about the flowers in the field. Even if my creations do not match the flowers in the field I know I’m protected and that I will be ok.

-Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!

I really love to watch black and white films and fold.

-What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?

An estate called Pavlovsk outside of St. Petersburg, Russia in the fall. It was just the most beautiful, peaceful place I’ve ever been. All of the trees were quietly smouldering in yellows and reds and a little stream peacefully wound its way through the countryside. It was historically the home of Catherine the Great era nobles but now is just a beautiful park.

-What creative things would you like to learn this year?

I’d like to learn to fold more complicated folds and develop the art of baking in dorm kitchens.-Do you make anything, have a website, etc. ? List the link here!I have a deviantart page with pictures of some of my stuff as well as some pictures I took this summer in Kansas.lovelysunlight.deviantart.com My picasa page of pictures from Europe: www.picasaweb.com/elizabeth.the.marvin


Check out Liz's pics - she is SO smart, creative, and talented! Thanks again for being featured on my blog, Liz!

Creative Living Interview

Welcome to my third Creative Living interview! I hope this semi-weekly feature gives you a dose of inspiration to live creatively and make everyday beautiful!

I am so excited to introduce you to my muse, Susanna. I met her during college years, and have learned so much about creativity (and life) from our friendship. She is SO gifted - sewing, cooking, creating - I want to be like her when I grow up. She is also a poet and writer - watch out for her books in the future! Whenever we visit each other, we have a tradition of crafting basically the whole time. She taught me how to make a lap quilt - I taught her bookmaking. Enjoy her interview. And check out her etsy site - I love it!!

Tell us a little about yourself .

My name is Susanna and I live in Cape Coral, FL. I'm a stay at home mom to my beautiful and creative children--Samuel (4), Sasha (2), and Sylvia (11 months).

What creative crafts or activities do you like to do? Tell us what you like to do and why it appeals to you.

I enjoy just about every creative art. My greatest love is knitting and crocheting, but I also do a lot with sewing. I think the entire process of creating something is appealing in it's own right. I find great fulfillment in the creative process...almost more than in the actual finished product. Lately I've been trying to develop things for my etsy sight and have had the most success with felted crowns for pretending. I want to expand this into princess sets complete with crown, scepter, and cape. I think knitting and crocheting have become more appealing to me since I've had children because of their portability. I can knit or crochet a row or two in between diaper changes! These crafts can also be set aside in a hurry to attend to the crisis of the moment.


Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)?
Tell us about her or him! Most recently I have been inspired by Alicia Paulson. She has her own blog, Posie Gets Cosy and she sells her own crafts online. She just published a book of craft projects as well. I like her style and I admire her creativity and uniqueness.


Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
Whenever I watch Little Women I get inspired to create things.


What is the most beautiful place you've ever been?
Probably Chaing Mai, Thailand


What creative things would you like to learn this year?
Tatting and Altered Books.

If you have a creative job or side business, let us know about it. http://www.thimbletimes.etsy.com/ (it's amazing - crowns, capes, knitted baby goods - beautifully crafted!)

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day -it's my second favorite holiday. I know some people hate it. But I think there's something wonderful about celebrating love and romance and friendship. It doesn't have to be a cheesy Hallmark holiday! True love really is a gift - lets savor it!

I've made a few special pieces to celebrate the holiday. Pearls with heart clasps. Pinks, reds. These are perfect for your night out with that special someone - or your girlfriends. These photos are some previews!

http://paperpearlsboutique.etsy.com/

Any to get you in the Valentine spirit - here is my favorite Shakespearean sonnet...

Sonnet 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.