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Hi, Creative Friends,

It’s women’s history month and Monday was International Women’s Day!

Let’s celebrate 3 phenomenal creative women this week that inspire and help stir a creative habit.

For this week, here are 3 women, and a few more, that inspire creative thinking:

1. Trying to get started on a creative journey? Try this book “The Creative Habit: Learn It And Use It For Life” by Twyla Tharp. It is a great resource for digging deep to find work that is magically meaningful. For everyone out there asking “Who is Twyla Tharp?” she is an American creative artist and choreographer who has created stunning Broadway productions such as “The Lion King” and “Moving Out.” However, it is her genius and understanding of the creative process that makes her a great guide into making ideas come to life.

2. I mentioned it last week but if you haven’t you, should read all about Christina Tosi here at Eater. Then buy her Cookbook “Milk Bar: Kids Only: A Cookbook.” With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, the “Pot of Gold” shake recipe is a great way to bring happiness to kids of all ages. Also, following Deb Perleman on Smitten Kitchen is always a good idea to keep the creativity flowing out of the kitchen. I’m looking forward to trying her Irish Soda Bread Scones this weekend and hoping her baking tips can make my Apricot Irish Soda Bread Muffin recipe even better.

3. If connecting with a mystery this weekend sounds fun, try the documentary “Finding Vivian Maier” about Vivian Maier, a street photographer from the 1950-1990s. It’s a film brimming with question marks, drama and beautiful photographs. If you would rather just look at Vivian’s amazing photographic prowess, the book “Vivian Maier: Street Photographer” is full of inspiration.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or a woman that inspires you.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

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Hi, Creative Friends,

If you are a bit like me, you might find Spring is a great time to dust things off.

The Create & Change newsletter has a fresh new look to inspire creative content that is more accessible, consistent, and fun!

This newsletter should pop up in your inbox every Friday and will contain 3 suggestions to inspire your creativity. Future newsletters might include, books, other artists, supplies, recipe ideas, thoughts of the day, or just about anything that will help you make a habit of being creative.

For this week, here are 3 ideas to inspire creativity:

1. Are your kids still home? Is winter still keeping you inside? Try this book for ideas on how to make and do “Art Workshop For Children.” By Barbara Rucci. It’s a lovely book chocked full of easy activities to get your creative juices going. Combine the book with OOLY Lil’l Pods Watercolor and Arteza Watercolor paper for kids of all ages.

2. Have heard of Milk Bar? If you haven’t you, should read all about Christina Tosi here at Eater. Then buy her Cookbook “Milk Bar: Kids Only: A Cookbook.” With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, the “Pot of Gold” shake recipe will be a great way to bring happiness to kids of all ages.

3. How is your home office looking these days? Wouldn’t be cool if you purchased art from female artists for Women’s History Month and hung them in your office? There are a ton of amazing female artists out there. You can find them on INPRNT like this abstract piece called “Fenced In Ambition.” by yours truly. You can purchase “Fenced In Ambition” here at INPRNT .

Drop me a message and let me know how you like the new content or what you are working on.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Hey All. As I sit down to write this, the post vacation blues are rolling in like a storm in the midwest. In short dark, fast and overwhelming. To be honest, the last thing I want to do today is sit down and create. In fact, I have resisted doing this work all day. This is the 200th day of creating. Today, I said to myself "Why am I doing this?" "Why am I spending 2-5 hours a day creating?" Why am I putting it out there everyday?  To be honest, I have never been one to give up. Sunk cost is clearly my achilles heel. 

Today, I am thinking about what life would be like if I had never started this blog 200 days ago. I'd like to think I am proving this Create & Change hypothesis as a hunk of junk. I'd like to say, nope, it's not working and tell you nothing about me has changed. I'd like to say nothing about me is more remarkable than 200 days ago. I would be flat out lying to you.

This week I sat on the 34 floor overlooking a fantastic cityscape with a brilliant friend and classmate I met in the altMBA. He asked me about Create & Change. He asked if I thought it was working. I paused. That's when I realized if it wasn't for Create & Change, I would never have had the opportunity to sit across from him. I would never have gotten into the altMBA. I would never have met any of my altMBA network. I wouldn't have knowledge about social media, photography, styling, illustration and design that I do today. I wouldn't have created hundreds of illustrations, thousands of photographs or hundreds of thousands of stories. Most importantly, I wouldn't be any closer to making a life full of meaning.  

And that is what Create & Change does. By creating everyday, it makes change less intimidating. Creating everyday is like fiddling with the dials on an old machine. Tinker with the dials and you are bound to find the life worth living.

Today's, project is to tinker with the dials. Go create one thing today that will get you one step closer to your meaningful tomorrow. Don't think too much about what you need to create. The first thing that pops in your head, go do that. Don't hold back. Is it a bike ride? Turn the dial! Is it calling an old friend?Turn the dial! Is it making a loaf of bread. Turn the dial! Is saying sorry? Turn the dial. In short, tinker away. 

See you tomorrow tinker thinkers!

Day 30 - Is this thing on? Tap. Tap. Tap the mic. Have you ever felt alone? As if no one is listening? Have you ever been in the middle of a project at work, home or school and thought, "Why am I doing this?" "Does anyone care?" "Am I doing this for nothing?" Yep, that is self-doubt creeping in like red wine on a cream carpet. It makes us panic. 

In these times of doubt, we need to look to others who have beaten down the path and created in spite of doubt. Take Twyla Tharp. A dancer, choreographer and creative leader who has written and lived the life of creating. "The Creative Habit - Learn It And Use It for Life" (affiliate link) is a  must read book for anyone looking to develop a creative process. This idea can be applied and transform the way you approach any project from school, home or work. "The Creative Habit" tells us that creating the life we want is a process. It requires dedication, practice and above all habit. Now, for today's assignment. Think about someone in your life that has defied the status quo and created. Write down their name and write about their habits in your LBNB. Then acquire this book. Happy thinking & reading!