This past week was hectic and hot! I was thrilled to play host to one of my Marian College friends and her son. TD (Terri Daily now Terri Arnold after many years of marriage to Arni) and her son Alex arrived last Sunday evening. They had left Indiana Weds afternoon taking their time as they drove west. The trip spurred on because Alex, who has been intrigued with the idea of moving to Portland for a while, had a 2nd job interview scheduled for August 3rd. I was delighted to have the company of TD and Alex, and be able to share our new city with them (Kennedy School, Portland City Grill, The Deck, and a bike trail). A constant theme seemed to be “Creative Expression”, given that Alex is a musician, composes music and plays in a few bands. When I saw TD in June at our “college girlfriend trip to Wisconsin”, I had gifted her with one of my favorite blank sketchbooks, encouraging her to draw/sketch/write again. The three of us had multiple conversations centered round the importance of expressing oneself creatively.
One of the most prolific, creative woman I know is my dear friend Susan. We met at a trade show in Vegas when both sharing a booth while promoting our respective lines of greeting cards/gifts. Susan and I bonded immediately; our shared Midwest upbringings wove a common thread. We went on to share booths at both Vegas and Atlanta gift shows. It was always the best part of the show, being able to hang with Susan for 5 days! She would encourage me to sketch the people walking the aisles of the show. She was adept at capturing likeness where I struggled (I’m most comfortable with Nature instead of people). I love being witness to her Instagram and Facebook feeds. Creativity exudes from the postings of cookies made, dolls for her granddaughter made, smocked dresses for her granddaughter made, innumerable knitting projects, not to mention the amazing Quilted Woman series and most recently her Fashion Illustration series. Check out her website: http://www.susanschmittart.com. Besides all that, she’s one of the most witty and fun people I know (and I know many!).
What do you do for expressing creativity? Writing, singing, dancing, cooking/baking, gardening, drawing, painting, knitting, sewing, designing, coding, playing music, playing with children, playing at anything…the list is endless. I believe it is imperative that we create. When you think about it, we are walking expressions of creativity in how we dress, wear our hair, etc….each and every day. Go out and have some creative FUN
Yesterday evening we rode our bikes over to Peninsula Park where the Portland Symphony performed. I love hearing Symphony music played outdoors. The perfect venue and thankfully the temperature was perfect as well (intense heat gone). I gave thanks for the musicians expressing their creativity for all of us to enJOY…and the Portland Parks and Rec department for bringing music to the neighborhoods!
Observations of Life 