Coffee Creativity Connection

I am so happy that I am following through with the inspiration to interview the many interesting, talented and creative people I know. My life has been enriched in a myriad of ways by them and I know that by sharing their thoughts, words and ideas here they will enrich and inspire many other lives.

After my first interview I can already see that this is also going to be one of those experiences that will return to me a thousand fold. What a wonderful, joyful, unexpected bonus! The interview process gives me the undivided attention of these folks. Given that they are talented and highly creative they are busy and in demand. Although I know, have worked with and socialized with them, we have not had these kinds of conversations that allow me to see more deeply into who they are.

My first interview took place yesterday afternoon. We laughed, talked, laughed, got way off topic, laughed, connected and when we finally came up for air I couldn't believe how much time had passed. I am already planning our next get together. I feel so blessed to have her in my life. I know you will enjoy getting to know her, too. She is a singer/songwriter, actress/playwright whose mantra is "I am a creative being here to bring peace, joy, healing and harmony to Mother Earth and all of her inhabitants."

I'm off to transcribe and organize. Look for the interview in a couple of days.

Journaling

For the past several years I've taught a journaling workshop at the Ritz Theatre's Summer Camp. We talk about writing and drawing and poems and capturing our ideas on paper so we can further develop them or just to express ourselves. This year we wrote a list poem together.

Theatre IS!
Theatre is..
Reality with art, drama and music
Exciting and educational
A story
A song
A rhythm
Expressing your self through art, dancing and singing
Exotic
Awesome
Fun
Cool
Creative
A place for me to express myself, let go of all the stress and be my own person
A place where you can use your imagination
Where I laugh the hardest
Friendship
A great place to be
Relaxing
Entertaining
Awesome
Crazy
Energetic
One of my favorite things
Thinking
Memorizing
Challenging
Learning
Being someone else
Bringing the power from your insides out to others
Like a ball of fire in my mind I can't stop from spreading
Where you can be yourself or be a dragon, a cat, a mailman, an alien - it’s a place to do ANYTHING
Going to places you’ve only dreamed of
A place where all belong
Quiet
Loud
Showing what you got
Love
Hate
Passion
Everything
Art
Dance
Singing
Acting
Drama
LIFE
I love it all
Theatre is my best adventure yet!

I'm Back

I've been away for a while. I suspended much of my online activity (other than Facebook which I could never quite let go of) because I found I was spending more time on the computer writing about doing stuff rather than actually doing stuff. I'm hoping that this time around I'll be able to achieve a bit more balance. I'm not sure it's possible because I think I tend to be an "all-or-nothing" kind of gal. But, I'm going to give it my best effort.

I have missed all of the interesting, creative people I've met online but this hiatus reminded me that I know some pretty fascinating folks in my everday life as well. That in turn led me to toy with the idea of somehow combining the two worlds. My plan is to interview the people who inspire me, friends whose creativity and talent touch my tangible world but with whom I've never discussed the creative process. This also gives me an excellent opportunity to ask these folks the questions about their work that pop into my head at 3:00am. Win-win.

So, I'm back - tentatively.

Lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and…stop thinking! Just ask yourself whether the work has enabled you to “walk about” into a hitherto unknown world. If the answer is yes, what more do you want?
-Kandinsky 1910

I didn't wear black

and bought copic markers

not a "real" artist.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

This was my HAPPY highlight of the week. My little friend Emily invited me to read to her First Grade class. My daughter is now 13 so I don't get to do the read aloud thing anymore and I miss it. I love children's books and I love sharing books by reading aloud. I loved the energy and exhuberance of the first graders, the giggles, the questions, the wiggles, and I love how the little dude in the Phillies shirt wandered into our picture!! Mostly I loved the GIGANTIC hug I received from Emily when I entered the classroom. I wish it all could have lasted longer - it was one great big HAPPY!

HAPPY!!

I'm late to the party - I know. I've been involved in a project that was MUCH more all consuming than I had anticipated. I've been doing what I LOVE which is what it's all about but this was almost an overdose. I'm looking forward to visiting blogs and seeing all the happiness and joy and fun! This week for me -it was snow. I once lived in Minnesota where snow was an everyday experience. Now I live in Jew Jersey where snow is an event. I like that. It stopped everything here for about a day which was good for me. It gave me time to stop and just enjoy the simple things like laughing and playing in the snow with my 13 year old.