Cre8tive Cafe

The Cre8tive Cafe Morphs into a place for me

2011-04-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

Cre8tive Cafe was a name we had given to a group of friends who got together to create. I happen to work in a creative industry that makes products for quilters and crafters. We sort of expanded our working life to a pursue our various creative outlets together. Our group shape morphed when we all discovered that we each own a jar of white buttons. I guess all creative types do? So, we are now the White Button Society.

Since I started the posts at Cre8tive Cafe, I am shifting this blogsite to be more about me and my two passions and how they merge. Yes, I am creative, but I am also a professional marketer with years of experience in the quilting and crafting business. I have developed products, marketed them successfully to big-box retailers, and also had my share of not so successful products.

Waiting for Art

2010-08-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

Raw materials, in any form are just waiting. In the case of our next get together, these raw materials are just standing by on my dining room table waiting for the artists to come by and transform them. I found them on ebay, and can't wait for my Cre8tive Cafe friends to turn them into treasures.

Spools and cigar boxes await all your inspiration.

Next Saturday, August 14, see you around Noon!

Invitation to Another Creative Adventure

2010-07-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hello and Happy Hot Sunday!

I can’t believe how hot it is outside. The heat has thrown a coat of sluggishness on most everything this weekend, at least judging by my dog, my flowers and my need for a Sunday afternoon nap, though that small indulgence is welcome in any season.
At our last fun weekend we decided our next get together will be August 14. We had a mini-brainstorm to create something out of spools and/or cigar boxes. Sandy has a collection of spools, and I myself just recently procured 130 wooden spools on ebay, which everyone is welcome to access too. I have made a bid or two on cigar boxes, as well, but haven’t succeeded yet.

I have done a little bit of internet surfing and found some fun ideas. I think with a bit of paint, some felt, some glue, and of course some beads and we can stir up another fine mess of creative delight!

So please set aside August 14, let’s say Noon until whenever. My house is still set up with a couple big tables to serve as our work space, so please come join in. If this doesn’t seem like a project you want to work on, just bring whatever project you want to dedicate some creative time to, and join in the spirit.

209 Plum Creek Lane

Greenville, SC 29607

864-631-6883

Looking forward to another fun adventure!

-Vanessa

"Tomato Crops"

2010-07-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

"Tomato Crop"
Debbie's work in progress on a Tomato Crop...
stay tuned for finished slice!

2010-07-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

"Mother's Apron Strings"
This is an image of Susan's work in progress. Lovely and nostalgic the ticking drew her in, along with the simple freshness of the vintage flowers, and some remnant lace. Bits and pieces of her mother found it's way into this piece, including buttons, and finishing it off with transfer images of her mother doing laundry. And some real live clothes pins!!

Day 3 of the Cre8tive Challenge

2010-07-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

"Summer Nostalgia"
Laura's weekend started slowly with a nice blend of conversation and color. She carefully and deliberately chose her fabrics in a quiet manner of a genius among us. Then seeing them all together on Sunday, we know that Laura's gift is color and bringing fabric into dimension.

Day 3 of the Cre8tive Challenge!

2010-07-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

"I love the way it sounds!" A great compliment to wearable art!

She's calls it "Fireflies" because the lights glimmer off the pendents that are woven through the fibers.

Edie's mark on the weekend has been to blend fibers and jewels into a lovely scarf, or belt, however the mood strikes.

"Excuse me, do you have a jar of white buttons?"

2010-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

In our companionship we often find those connection points that are small AHA moments of who we are, and what we have in common. That happened at nearly the entry point of our Creative Challenge event. One hour in, and we entered into the conversation of our crafty creative stuff, and discovered that (to the number) each one of us has a collection of white buttons.

It was noted that perhaps we should begin qualifying our relationships, budding friendships, and perhaps even casual encounters with the question, "Do you have a jar of white buttons?"

This weekend is the CRE8TIVE CHALLENGE!

2010-07-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Did you know that children who play in close proximity to their mothers are actually more creative? The reason is that the stress of other activities around them are dissipated. The harmony that is created in a comfortable space is then used for advancing their scope of play, exploration and therefore, creativity!

Let's presume the same is true for working together in a cooperative spirit with the Cre8tive Cafe women. We encourage each other, provide a comfortable space, and can engage in a higher level of creative endeavors. That's why a Creative Challenge weekend is a good opportunity for us to stretch our growth. Together we can relieve the stress of the rest of life, and simply allow space for us to explore.

The details of the challenge are still the same: 20 pieces (of whatever), 12 x 18 size maximum, and the theme: "Summertime...and the living is easy", which is open to very broad interpretation.

Bring your zBecky Brown bags too if you have made some progress, so Edie can grab some pics for her project.

We will start Friday night at 6:30 until whenever. Start again Saturday at 10 am, until whenever, and then Sunday afternoon a catch-up session from 1 to 4 pm. At 4 pm, let's plan on a Gallery showing of our weekend project.

The locale:
209 Plum Creek Lane
Greenville, SC 29607
864-631-6883.

Directions: from 385 - take Bridges Rd exit, turn towards Mauldin, (right from 385S, and left from 385N).
Follow until you get to a T, turn right which is Miller Rd. and take the first right, which is Plum Creek.

Food Substances: I will have plenty of water and beverages chilled, and if everyone would like to bring a dish, we can graze on it at some point during the weekend.

We have been GIFTED!

2010-06-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

At our last get together, Edie gifted us. All of us in attendence were given a z Becky Brown bag... a bag with the marketing mantra of "Infinite Possibilities." Since we are the queens of 'infinite possibilities' it looks like this is a match made in heaven, so to speak. Edie challenged us to create our own inserts into the z Becky Brown bag, and use our creativity to show the manufacturer what possiblity really looks like when it's infinite!

I myself have the z Becky Brown bag sitting center of the kitchen table, a mini shrine to the ideas that it could capture withn in it's clear finish canvas. The reflection begs to be filled with something wonderful. I traced out the shape of the inserts on three pieces of tissue paper so I could sketch some designs, since I would really like to use the whole surface area of the bag as a complete picture, instead of blocking the four sides of it.

I have decided to use felt as a substrate for the image, but I am clearly hitting the limits of the 1/8" thickness with the felt, so I need to affirm that choice with a test next.

Is anyone else starting on the z Becky Brown bag?

Oh yeah, the date...

2010-06-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Jenn checked in and saw that I forgot the "WHEN" when describing the Creative Challenge weekend...it is July 9, 10, and 11.

That is only two weekends away for planning, picking up odd items and creating a collection of what might be in your mixed-media collage.

Thinking, thinking, thinking

2010-06-22T18:35:00.003-07:00

Getting ready for a creative weekend...

Having made the decision to commit an entire weekend to working together in a creative endeavor can be intimidating.

I question myself, and my ability, and I think that might be natural. I am, at once, both scared that no creativity will emerge at all, and excited and thrilled at the prospect of spending time in pursuit of that well deep inside of me that houses the realm of “possibility.”

I have been thinking about what my 12” x 18” of space might convey. A tribute? A memoir? A color story? Should it be fabric? Canvas? What will my focal point be?

I find myself looking at distinct patterns, colors or objects that draw me in during routine shopping, and even walking my dog! While searching through my closet for a pair of shoes, I found a old case that holds my 45-rpm records (remember those) and thought that might be a fun starting point.

And that is where the questioning comes in? Am I in my right mind? What kind of artwork would use 45-rpms? But it’s that kind of odd thinking that opens some sort of mind portal that allows the creative to emerge. Why not? What else goes in that direction? Run with me on my thoughts, roaring like a freight train; records, 8-track tape (just the tape), CD’s, silver colors, jukebox push keys, Elvis, velvet, old ticket stubs, leather, fringe, and all of the sudden...I am designing a mixed media project in my head.

So then I start another...and another. Pretty soon, I am more excited about the chance to start the story. I am even more excited about working together, and fueling the creative possibilities.

SUMMER CHALLENGE!!!

2010-06-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is the challenge: Summertime...and the Livin' is Easy!

Mixed Media Collage Weekend
Minimum of 20 objects
12 x 18 or smaller

Find a substrate you like - Stretched canvas, batting, peltex.

Any objects you like - 20 minimum pieces of art

Friday –Starting point
Saturday – Drop in – Drop out - all day play
Sunday – Gallery Showing – 4:00 pm - Everything will be hung on the wall!!!

Getting Ready!!

2010-06-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Three of us spent lunch time getting ready for tonight's get together. Cutting, planning and collaborating. Tonight is at Brookwood Church.

Once you get to Brookwood, which is Exit 31 (SC 417) just off the 385 in Simpsonville, drive around to the side of the building with the blue ramp that goes up to the second floor, and park on that side. Take the blue ramp into the double doors (probably only one set will be open). Go through the double doors and walk about 25 ft, and on the left there will be a set of doors JUST after POD C, our room is down that hallway.

We will have some pizza available. We have to get more clever about this...

The great unwind..creating with friends

2010-05-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

There is more to this idea than just getting together to have a good time and create. The fact is, that creative endeavors soothes what ails us. Women, and the fast-paced, break-neck speed of life need a way to just 'be', but often we can't get there. "There" being that place where we allow ourselves the experience of just doing, just being, just creating.
There is scientific evidence that creating just for the sake of creating takes off the edge of our systemic stress, and when we relax, and do what comes naturally, without judgement, we can actually increase the dopamine effect (pleasant feeling), and when we can do a repetitive action, like sewing or beading, then the relaxers fill in the create a calm.
Simple tasks, for me, like gardening, cleaning, cooking, when we disassociate ourselves with the stress of the outcome, can be pleasure experiences. Particularly if we just enjoy the movement, the immediate pleasure, the joy of being in that space where we are creating.