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A lot of great ideas happen when two or more other ideas collide to form something completely new.
Think of this like those old chemistry movies we used to watch in school. You had all of those atoms floating around and when two collided -- bam! A chemical reaction. Maybe something new was created. Maybe something exploded. Or maybe it all fizzled out and nothing happened.
Well, a similar reaction is going on inside your brain or muse. Except instead of atoms floating around they're pieces of information or other ideas. As they drift about, they occasionally bump into each other. When that happens, you may get a new, third idea. Or a big explosion. Or absolutely nothing at all.
Now, if you have lots of atoms, or information and ideas, you're going to get lots of reactions. Some will fail. Some will be so-so. And some will be hot -- so hot, so full of energy, they'll have the power to change the trajectory of a business. Or even a life.
The problem occurs when you don't have lots of random information and ideas. Fewer atoms mean fewer reactions. On top of that, you still have to weed through the invariable duds. So the odds of landing that one amazing idea drop considerably.
But not to worry -- there's good news. You can increase your odds of getting those great ideas. Better yet, it's fairly easy and painless. Below are three ways to get started.
1. Read, read and read some more. I know, I know, I can hear the groans already. "But I already have too much to read. How can I fit more reading in?" Never fear, there are ways to do this. (Remember I did say this was painless.)
The key is to keep it wide and shallow. What does that mean? Well, read lots and lots of different things, but keep it general. Read about sheep farming, finances, yoga, cooking, traveling, dog training, etc. But keep it general -- don't read deeply. You can even skim if that's all you have time for.
Start by subscribing to a couple of different magazines and e-zines. General interest magazines are really good for this -- Walt Disney used to read Reader's Digest. Scatter them around the house -- by the bed, the couch, even the bathroom. I'd put a few in your car as well for those times when you have to wait for an appointment.
When you have a few moments, flip through them. Skim a few paragraphs. See what catches your eye.
You can also buy or rent audio books and CDs and listen while you exercise, drive, do the dishes, etc.
Whatever you do, DON'T read publications related to your industry. That's for another time. This is brain-feeding time, not keeping up in your profession time.
2. Travel the world. Traveling has so many fabulous benefits for your creative soul I could write an article just about that, but for now I'll limit my comments to brain food.
When you travel, you open yourself up to lots of new and exciting experiences. New sights, new sounds, new smells, new tastes, new textures. And they all have the ability to form a reaction with something else.
Don't have time to hop on a plane to India? Take a day trip to a town you've never visited. Or, if you can only spare a few hours, seek out a park you've never been to or a museum you've been meaning to see or even that new cute little shop that just opened. You can always find somewhere new to visit no matter how long you've lived in the same city. And if you're truly desperate, try walking around your neighborhood on the opposite side of the street in the opposite direction you normally walk. (It can help jolt you out of rut.)
3. Open yourself up to new things. Of all of these, this one is probably the scariest. But, it also has the potential to be the most powerful.
Take the time to try new things. Meet people outside your normal circle of friends. Attend associations, nonprofits, hobby groups outside of the ones you usually go to. Listen to speakers on topics you know nothing about. Take a class at a community college about something outside your scope of knowledge. Or even have dinner at an ethnic restaurant you've never tried.
Now I'm not just talking about "typical" creative things, like taking an art class or learning to belly dance. If you're a creative professional, take a class on doing your own taxes or budgeting your finances or repairing your car. (Oooh, I bet all you creative folk felt a chill when I mentioned that.) The point is to really stretch yourself past your comfort zone. Make yourself uncomfortable. It's not only a great way to grow, but it's a fabulous way to keep your muse fat and happy.
And that helps keep the ideas flowing.
Creativity Exercises -- Prepare the banquet
Over the next month, I want you do to at least one tactic from each of the above three techniques.
1. Read something you know nothing about. Even if you only spend five minutes skimming an article about quilting when the last time you tried to ...
Author: Michele Pariza Wacek
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About Quilting Make 15" square basket quilt blocks in traditional Amish style, or vary your fabrics for a slightly Amish look. The quilt block pattern includes instructions for single quilt blocks (perfect for scrap quilts), but on page 3 you'll find directions to help you make the 63" x 63" quilt illustrated here. Amish Style Miniature Quilt Pattern New: Slightly Amish Basket Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 12:21:57. Permalink | Comment | Email this New Gallery & Lots of Gallery Updates The Memory Quilts Gallery is brand new this weekend, and the first quilts displayed there represent a range of purposes and techniques. I've spent most of the past two days going through my backlog of photo submissions and I'm happy to say... whew! I'm nearly finished (only a few pics remain). You'll find new photos in every gallery linked below. Baby Quilts Regatta Quilt by Patti Dubreuil New Gallery & Lots of Gallery Updates originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 20:57:23. Permalink | Comment | Email this Miniature Bear's Paw Quilt Pattern This little quilt measures about 19-inches square. It's made from four 3-1/2-inch Bear's Paw quilt blocks that are surrounded by cornerstones and pieced sashing. A dark inner border and a floral outer border complete the little quilt. Everything is quick and strip-pieced. Half square triangle units used in blocks finish at 1/2", but you can make them perfectly every time but assembling the units slightly larger than necessary and then cutting each one back to the exact size before sewing. Photo © Janet Wickell Miniature Bear's Paw Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 09:10:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this Summertime Baskets Block in Two Sizes: 20" and 10" I love it when the native plants are blooming like crazy and blossoms and fruit are in motion. And it's an incredible sight to gaze out across the Blue Ridge Mountains in the spring to watch the progression of green as it moves higher in elevation. I call that progress greening up the mountain, and have thought forever that the theme would make a good landscape quilt. I even started a miniature version years ago in a class with Jo Diggs, and rediscovered the project awhile back when we unpacked some boxes. Now I just have to find the time to work on it. Spring and summer always brings out the basket blocks, too. This version is in the deeper colors of summer, but would work well with any theme. I think it would be lovely sewn with solid fabrics in the Amish tradition, even if you decide to add some reds and other zesty colors we don't typically see in traditional Amish quilts. I've included instructions for two blocks sizes, a 20" and a 10". Choose whichever works for you. On the About.com Network Since we're talking about baskets and flowers, take a look at the decoupaged garden seed container on our Family Crafts site. Sherri's come up with a cute and useful project for your gardening friends. © Janet Wickell Summertime Baskets Block in Two Sizes: 20" and 10" originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 12:07:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this A Joyous Celebration Mini Quilt Pattern Speed piecing techniques make stitching this little quilt a breeze. The light fabric that surrounds the stars blends with the pictorial angel fabric used in the center of the snowball blocks, giving the snowballs an on-point appearance even though all blocks are sewn together side by side. The quilt measures 29-1/2" square. photo © Janet Wickell A Joyous Celebration Mini Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 06:10:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this Catching the View Quilt Pattern The three kitty cats in this quilt are peering through windows at all the summer flowers outside, and you can bet they're keeping an eye on the butterflies flying around the garden. This has been a popular pattern with readers, and although it does have set-in seams at the mitered frames, it is not difficult to assemble. Photo © Janet Wickell Catching the View Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 16:35:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this Star Quilt Patterns Patchwork star quilt designs are an all-time favorite, so you'll find star patterns scattered throughout the About.com Quilting Web site. I've linked to several choices below, but there are more. The list includes blocks and quilts in a range of sizes, starting at 6" square (you'll find a few options for smaller blocks) and moving upwards. Star blocks are the perfect starting point for holiday quilts -- just change the fabrics to make any pattern to suit your needs. Star quilts are often made up of half square triangle units, a popular quilting component that you'll encounter often. Use my triangle squares tutorial to learn an easy (and accurate) construction method. Framed Friendship Stars Quilt Pattern Star Quilt Patterns originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 15:09:05. Permalink | Comment | Email this Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern The Domino quilt block finishes at 9" square, with small units that are a nice size for baby and toddler quilts, but perfectly fine for a bed-sized quilts, too. The Domino quilt block pattern includes instructions for making a single quilt block, for those of you who like to go scrappy, plus directions for 20-strip pieced Dominos. The 20 blocks can be used in the Domino baby quilt shown on page 4 of the pattern, or in another quilt of your own design. Before beginning, new quilters should make sure they're okay with sewing a quarter inch seam and with rotary cutting long strips of fabric. Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 09:44:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this Attic Ribbons Quilt Pattern Attic Ribbons is a 70" x 94" quilt made from 12" Attic Windows quilt blocks. Some of the blocks feature applique motifs, but you can eliminate the applique if you wish, or use one of my easy suggestions to simplify construction while still adding a bit of variety to the windows. Use different colors to create your own unique theme, and sew fewer or more blocks to alter its finished size. Setting-in is not a difficult method -- do give it a try. Attic Ribbons Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, July 5th, 2010 at 14:55:34. Permalink | Comment | Email this Greek Cross Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern Greek Cross quilt blocks are all about color value, and you can dramatically alter their appearance by shifting value positions within the block. I've included a quilt layout suggestion (along with yardages and extra instructions, of course) and drawings that illustrate value variations. Greek Cross is such a simple block, but it can be either traditional or dramatic, depending on your fabric choices. Janet Wickell Greek Cross Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, July 4th, 2010 at 08:31:07. Permalink | Comment | Email this Newsfeed display by CaRP |
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