Inspiration - Imitation - Innovation

I've noticed a pattern in my crafting and making over the past few months. I find inspiration (usually from all the wonderful blogs out there), I attempt to imitate the idea, then I branch off from the original idea and create something new or different from the original inspiration. I've been mulling over the process this week, looking for evidence to support my inspiration-imitation-innovation theory, and I discovered that this process occurs over and over again. And it's not just me.

This morning I was working in Aidan's kindergarten class. Today was the 100th day of school - a pretty big deal for kindergartners. The children had to finish the following statements:

I Could Eat 100...

I Could Hold 100...

I Could Run 100...

But I definitely wouldn't want 100...

The teacher shared how she would finish each statement, and for the last statement she answered "brussel sprouts". Another child in the class shouted out, "green beans!"

Well guess what? Many of the children, inspired by their teacher and classmate, responded that they definitely wouldn't want 100 green beans or brussel sprouts.

We so often imitate those that inspire us. If I take a good look at the way I dress, how I decorate, the books I read, the things I make, how I parent, even the way I speak, I can trace many of these things back to a source of inspiration - a person I admire, an article I read, a picture I saw in a magazine, a movie I watched. Blogs and Flickr friends provide even more inspiration.

What I love most though is when inspiration and imitation lead to innovation. Coming up with a different approach, a new (to me) idea, an original twist, a compilation of ideas resulting in something completely different. This is the creative process I love so much.

It's not news that I am deeply inspired by Margie of Resurrection Fern. Over the weekend, I found some motif patterns in an old crochet book and made a few covered stones similar to the stones she makes. Good old fashioned imitation.





Avery and her friend, inspired by the covered stones, came up with their own versions.



Now that's innovation.

Inspiration - Imitation - Innovation. Now that I understand the process, I see it everywhere.

If you've followed my rambling this far, I have a surprise for you. A little giveaway.



These two imitation stones need new homes. Leave a comment and I'll draw two names Monday, February 2nd (can you believe it's nearly February?). If you're inclined, share a personal experience of inspiration-imitation-innovation. If not, finish this statement: I definitely wouldn't want 100 ... I'm sure Aidan will get a kick out of your answers (and for the record, he answered brussel sprouts).

How To Make A Mushroom Pincushion

Toadspool Tutorial



Materials: 6 inch round piece of fabric, needle and thread, wooden spool, small jar lid, stuffing

Step 1: Begin by making a yo-yo with the 6 inch round piece of fabric. (For those of you who haven't made yo-yos, fold the edge of the fabric over 1/4 inch or so as you make a running stitch around the entire perimeter of circle. Heather Baily has a detailed tutorial here.)



Step 2: Gently pull the running stitch to gather the edge of the circle towards the center. When the edges are about 2-3 inches apart, stuff the yo-yo with the stuffing and insert the jar lid. Continue to pull the running stitch to gather the yo-yo until the opening is just slightly smaller than the top of the spool. Secure yo-yo (now the mushroom cap) with a few stitches.



Step 3: Glue the wooden spool to the mushroom cap.





Enjoy your toadspools!

Mushroom Season

Well folks, it's that time of year. Time to head out and gather mushrooms. Green Kitchen and Urban.Prairie.Forest. have already started collecting, though I'm sure they left some for the rest of us.

Or if you're like me and don't know a shiitake from a chanterelle, you can enjoy mushrooms of a different variety - handmade. Knitsonya is hosting a mushroom swap, and although I won't be joining the fun (simply because I'm having an issue with the accumulation of stuff -even if it's beautiful and handmade - but that's a topic for another post) I thought I would share a little mushroom I made last month.



I should have been doing something more productive at the time, like finishing up gifts or cleaning up after myself, but I had an idea and had to give it a try. A little fabric mushroom cap atop an old wooden spool. I thought about sewing buttons on top, but decided instead just to pin them in place.

As soon as I stuck the pins in the mushroom, my idea evolved. These little mushrooms, which I affectionately call "toadspools", would make the perfect pincushion.



So I made another.



And another.

Tutorial? Tuesday. And speaking of tutorials, I'm working on a tutorial for the crochet covered rocks. They seem to be piling up around here, and I think a few might need new homes. So stay tuned.

Blue Bird, Blue Bird and a New Word

A few months back I noticed a lack of music and movement in Aidan's kindergarten class. It seems they are now making up for lost time with three days of square dancing each week. I sneaked in the multi-purpose room one day last week to see forty kindergartners (from two classes) dancing in large circles to the sweetest song.

Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Blue bird, blue bird, through my window.
Oh Johnny I am tired.

Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Find a friend and tap them on the shoulder.
Oh Johnny I am tired.

I don't really understand the point of the lyrics, but I can't stop singing the song. Especially the tired part, though I usually exchange the name Johnny for one of the kids' names.

The song and dance inspired me to make a little crocheted birdie using this pattern, with just a few tweaks.




After making this little sweetie, I searched for more crocheted animal patterns and discovered a new word: amigurumi, "the Japanese art of crocheting small animals or toys". Squidoo has a great page with tons of links to free patterns.

Aidan would love me to make these:



I'm wondering if I could tempt him to trade in ten miscellaneous toys from his room for one Star Wars doll at a time. Hmmmm. Be prepared to see more amigurumi around here.

Edited: Finally tracked down the Star Wars Hero patterns for anyone interested. Check out Geek Central Station for more, including Lord of the Rings amigurumi.

It's Barack Obama Day!

At least that's what we are calling it around here. Quite amazing to watch the inauguration live this morning (thank you Facebook and CNN.com!). Avery did not like the poem read by Elizabeth Alexander because it didn't rhyme. I'm not the biggest fan of poetry myself, but I was moved by the rich imagery of ordinary people and plan to listen to the poem again. I also plan on watching The Daily Show tonight - you know it will be a good one.

Also appearing tonight - The Obama Show at the Eyebuzz Fine Art Gallery in Tarrytown, New York. Guess who's going to be there?

My President Obama finger puppet! I'm very excited that he's traveled so far. Thank you Tara and Tim for making room for my little creation.

Now back to our regular programming.

Good Day Sunshine

It seems almost unfair and insensitive to talk about the weather in California when some of my friends are experiencing a new ice age. Temperatures are way below zero across the map, yet we're experiencing some of the best weather ever. Sunny with highs in the mid sixties. Ahhhh.



Of course we have to take advantage of this beautiful weather before it goes away to be replaced by (hopefully) rain and snow - also known as spring in these parts. So today we packed our bag with bottles of water, binoculars and a giant magnet and set out for the nearest lake. I heard that the lake was low, but I was shocked to discover that it is hardly a lake at all. The lake better resembles a river.



We tossed our bag aside, took off our shoes, rolled up our pants and played at the water's edge. I never imagined a day at the shore in the middle of January. I should have packed a beach blanket, sand toys and sunscreen.



Californians may be worried about running out of water and money, but we three Californians enjoyed one without spending any of the other. To quote Avery, today was "the best day ever". Memories like these will keep us warm come spring.

Winter Berries

We went for a walk in the snow
and found a cluster of berries
on a bare branch.

(and if you're tired of rocks, i promise this will be the last one i share this week.)

California Dreamin'

A piece of driftwood from the coast of California
dreamin' about the tree it used to be
on its way to a friend
who dreams of returning to the coast of California
and walking along the beach
searching for a piece of driftwood.

I've Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

A little bit of sunshine on its way to a friend who lives in the land of gray.



M is for made, my favorite past tense verb.
M is for Margie, who inspired me to crochet around rocks.
M is for mad, which my husband thinks I might be for crocheting rock covers.
M is for more to come on this new medium.

1,045 Little Lessons

I've been known on occasion to take myself too seriously. The last few weeks have been one such occasion. I'm feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. I've been forced (once again) to recognize that perhaps I'm not the mother of the year; this year or last. In fact, I've never been nominated.

Yesterday afternoon, while I was seeking escape from my lonely little pity party by watching another episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and finding solace in TV moms who have also been passed up by the mother of the year committee, Aidan found me and asked for my help. He's taken it upon himself to rebuild the Lego Batmobile George bought a few years ago. George and the kids have built this car two or three times, then they take it apart and put it away in the closet.

There are 1,045 pieces that make up the Batmobile, and 86 pages of step by step instructions to assemble the car. Talk about overwhelming. I sat down on the floor to help Aidan and started to worry that maybe we had lost some pieces along the way, or that Aidan might have missed some steps or put pieces in the wrong place. Here are two fundamental differences between Aidan and me: I don't like to follow directions and I worry; Aidan loves following directions and he doesn't worry.



I looked at the huge box of Legos sitting before me, then I focused on the page of directions that Aidan was working on, and I let my worries go. I helped Aidan, one step, one Lego and one page at a time. Together we accomplished quite a bit.



I have no doubt that as a parent I have skipped steps and put pieces in the wrong places. But this is what I learned about parenting while playing with Legos: When I discover a missing piece or a piece out of place, I can try to fix it. If I can't fix it, I can move on. If a piece is missing, I can find a replacement. If it's the wrong color, I just have to hope that no one notices.

In the end, despite missing, misplaced or mismatched pieces, the Batmobile will still look like a Batmobile. We can do our best to put all the pieces in the right places, but even if we screw up, it'll still turn out pretty cool.

I might not ever be the mother of the year, but hopefully I'll be remembered as the mom who sat on the floor and played with Legos (thankfully a position in which I find it hard to take myself too seriously). Now back to page 37 of the instructions; we only have a few hundred pieces left. I'll be back when it's finished and hopefully I'll be in a better mood.

What A Character

Those of you who read my stick star post might already know that Aidan is a big Ben 10 fan. Once upon a time he wished upon a star for a Ben 10 watch, a.k.a. Omnitrix, and in a moment of weakness not long after I bought him one. Sometimes a purchase is necessary to escape the toy aisles of Target.

I'm not typically one to buy character emblazoned merchandise, but friends and family keep my son well supplied with character paraphernalia. Aidan used to be all about Spiderman, with a wardrobe to prove it, but Spiderman is out and Ben 10 is in. So I decided to merge his passion with mine and make a few Ben 10 gifts for him, mommy style.



First, the Ben 10 t-shirt. I found some ringer tee's online - white t-shirts with black around the neck and sleeves, then used Wonder Under to attach a black stripe down the front, zigzagging the edges to hold it in place. I made two; one to give and one to keep for the rainy day when the first one gets ruined. Clothes don't last long for six year old boys.



Second, a Ben 10 finger puppet. I modified the Barack Obama finger puppet pattern to make Ben 10. Brown hair, green eyes, and even a little Omnitrix.



Although Aidan might have preferred some over packaged and over priced Ben 10 toys from Target, I think he likes his homemade Ben 10 gifts. I certainly had fun making them.

The Year of the Backyard

After years of focusing on the inside of the house, it's time to turn our attention outside. Our backyard: the final frontier; the wild west. I rarely post pictures taken in our backyard, and for good reason. It's a disaster.

But we've had a couple of sunny days, with highs in the 50s, and progress has been made.



Concrete has been broken up and stacked to form retaining walls and pathways.



Dirt has been shoveled and relocated.

Bulbs have been fooled by this unseasonable weather and have started to bloom.



There's a lot more work to be done in the backyard. It certainly won't happen overnight, especially at the pace we like to work.



So we're giving ourselves all year. 2009 will be the year of the backyard. Perhaps 2010 will be the year we enjoy the fruits of our labor. We're definitely enjoying the fruits, or should I say vegetables, of all the work we did in our front yard last year.



Aidan says 2009 is the year of his room. He has some big plans for his small space.

Avery says 2009 is the year of the Ipod. She has a lot of songs to add to her new Shuffle.

What about you? What will be your focus this year?