Block

The much-discussed creative block is to me, actually just anxiety induced fear. But, everyone is delightfully different, even in the ways that our creative blocks manifest! Not to mention that creativity is a process and we all go through phases where we're more productive than others. Here's a wonderful collection of designers by ISO50 who share what they do when they face some sort of creative standstill.

source swiss miss

J.K. Rowling on Failing

I'm all about inspiration these days, no matter how cheesy. In fact, the cheesier the better! I love this talk for many reasons but mostly because it comforts me in this time of risk taking. I'll be speaking cryptically of these risks I'm taking for the next little while. It's an exciting time of plunging into the unknown and chasing things I love.

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Heart day

Usually I can't be bothered with Valentine's Day regardless of what box I'm currently occupying in the relationship status section of my life. But, this year, I'm obsessed with hearts! So much so that I must've cut out about a hundred to make valentines that I sent to loved ones. I was a bit late in sending them out in the mail, but I figured, it's so rare to get a valentine in the mail these days that no one will complain when they finally do get theirs.

I drew imperfect hearts and cut them out with my trusty exacto knife.

I found lots of colourful paper in my stash and taped up the holes. Then, I glued pretty paper on the backsides and cut everything to size.

I found some red paper amoung my things and cut lots and lots of teeny hearts with scissors.

I placed each valentine face down and sprinkled with a generous helping of my heart confetti that will fall everywhere once the envelope is excitedly ripped open. (I tested this in person with a friend, it works!)

I sealed everything with amazing tinfoil duct tape that I cut into hearts, of course!

On Lee

I remember McQueen when he first started appearing on my television screen. I remember his surliness and reluctance to conform. I remember he used to wear large union jack t-shirts and compared to the pristine beauty of the models surrounding him, looked downright crazy.

I remember loving him, though I didn't know why back then. Now, I think it was because I saw my own eccentricities in him. Knowing that he's no longer with us saddens me a great deal, but I hope he's no longer in pain.

I remember watching this with my mouth gaping wide open, then smiling.

I'll remember him most as a shy, nonconformist artist who had an uncanny ability to poke fun at the very industry that fueled his creations.

More fire escapes

I took this photo on Sunday and I couldn't believe my luck! I've walked past this unassuming sign dozens of times and never noticed it. I've been walking around the city much, much more than I normally do. I must say: I'm beginning to understand what all the fuss is about in regards to walking. Walking has long gone hand in hand with meditation and I also remember reading somewhere that there are important energy meridians at the soles of our feet. Not to mention all the nerve endings. Makes sense then, that walking should feel so good and maybe it also explains why I hate wearing socks? No matter how awful my day, walking home always at the very least, brings me back to neutral and at the most makes me legitimately happy.

The fire escape obsession continues...

New tree collage, Australia-bound

I did a swap with Kylie and am months tardy on sending my side of the bargain. Though, I finally sent off my piece last week! (And really, I'm such a master procrastinator that it only got mailed because I asked an extra-helpful girl at work to do it for me.) It should arrive on her side of the world soonish. I blame part of my lateness on the piece itself: it hung up in my hallway for months begging to be finished but I just couldn't figure out what to do with it, despite it being mostly complete. In the end, I added little pink dots and cut the tree out of the paper, so that it was free from the confines of the paper edge. I hope she likes it: I remember her mentioning once about how much she loved trees.

I made this little tree out of random bits of paper I always have laying around. The trunk is made of amazing tin foil duct tape I found at Active Surplus, one of my favourite stores in Toronto for absurdity and practicality. Where else can one purchase yo-yos, dental equipment, hologram paper and mini light bulbs under one roof? Rarely do I leave there without a strange procurement that inevitably comes in handy in ways that I never imagine at at the time.

A brighter shot, mostly just to show off my nail colour.

Happy

Sagmeister on happiness and taking strategic time off. Needless to say, this made me smile happily.

source weareplural

New Zealand Book Council: Going West

I loved this incredibly haunting, well-thought, paper cut, stop/go short film. I hope you do, too.

source The Heart of Papercuts

I ♡ Ira Glass

"I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met." —Ira Glass

I adore Ira's view on being a beginner and dealing with, well, sucking hard. ♡
source lunele

Watertable

I experienced this piece tonight in a completely serendipitous way! (That's spiritual talk for unplanned.) It made the start of 2010 extra special for me. It's a permanent installation of LED lights beneath the Gardiner Expressway that illustrates what water levels looked like in Ontario many years ago. The flashing lights are accompanied by recordings of waves crashing on Lake Ontario's shore. It was a little piece of peace in the middle of condo zombie land. Magical, ambitious and clever: my favourite kind of art.


by Lisa Steele and Kim Tomczak
photos via spacing