Make Things

Thursday is my day to open the door to creative thinking and doing; I've reverted to an earlier phase of my life, before painting and art school, when I was internally driven to Make Things, and they were varied and creative. But I'm also a different person now - as Grandma Earth Teacher I am led to make things that are a gift to the Earth in some way, sustainable, and with a message. 

Also, I (usually) need to prepare for the next week of Grandma Camps, with themes, projects, and field trips (but not this week).

Agenda: 

1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. Projects for the week

1. Read "The Sweet Spot":

I'm continuing this book by Christine Carter (2015), about "How to Find Your Groove". The thesis is that when we hit from our sweet spot we have optimum power and the greatest ease. I'm into Part 5: Tolerate Some Discomfort, about how to be comfortable with pursuing mastery and the vulnerability that requires, and how to bounce back after a setback. 

Chapter 9 is How to Be Divergent, about living outside the norms of the  cultural stereotypes. This chapter is building towards a way to shift out of a stress response into a challenge response, in order to tackle the courageous things you want to do. Neat trick! It's all about becoming dauntless and finding a way to open the door. You can dive in or inch in, as long as you don't wait to be perfect. You can also find ways to inoculate yourself to vulnerability with acts that are similar but easier. You can challenge your fearful thoughts, and think courageous thoughts instead.

"When we use our minds to 'reappraise our stress response' ... from stress to challenge, we can actually change the typical physiological response... When we are courageous, we trigger a different, more constructive, response."

2. Projects for the week:

My goals for Grandma Earth Artist are 

1. Photos for my book, including project samples and craftivism to support my Nature-Culture shifts
2. Watercolor painting explorations
3. House and Garden of Belief, and practical fix-it projects.

This week:

• Th: Watercolor day - leaf and color experiments + Hat
• F: Earth coat sleeves + Hat
• Sat: Finish hat
• Sun: Prepare butterfly project: Iron scraps, pack supplies
• M-Sun: Butterflies + watercolor on the road?

Preparations: Th: Clear table space, set up to paint + iron patch fabric, find crayons and fabric pens; F: Iron sleeves material + OR Art store for watercolor supplies; S: Gather felting and embroidery supplies

Doing the smallest thing is a great way to make courageous creative work less frightening; also finding the "minimum effective dose", the amount of work that keeps me challenged and joyful, and if I keep at it will get me to the finish line on time.