Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
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This weeks winner is…. KayzKreationz
Congratulations!
You have won a beautiful Deco Rose copper findings from Rebecca Anderson of Songbead.
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This week we visit the studio of Gaea Cannaday of Gaea Handmade.
It has been a hectic few weeks and the end of the school year is upon us! With so much to do and little time to do it, I’ve decided to say it with photos…. Here is what has been going on in life as well as the studio…
It is nice to get outside now and again. There is so much to be inspired by.
New designs on their way to becoming a reality.
A huge “Thanks” to Iris and Bonnie for having me at the The Art Center this month!
Being silly with dear friends and Mouse ears is good for the soul.
The work that got done. Some of these became new spring sets for Lima Beads.
When do you feel most creative? Leave a comment about when and what gets your creative fires burning for a chance to win a set of ceramic beads….
Gaea Cannaday is a wife and mother of two living in Ojai, California. You can see her work here… www.gaea.cc or here… www.gaea.etsy.com
Kathy Lindemer
May 4, 2013 at 11:10 amI feel most creative when my mind is clear of clutter. I need to be mentally at peace. It also helps to have a work of art or nature to use as an inspiration.
Yoga helps to clear my mind. I swim a mile a day most days and I often use this 45 minutes to think about a design or blog. This is a nice chunk of time that I can use to focus on 1 piece or topic.
Jeannie
May 4, 2013 at 12:40 pmHi, Love the set of beads.
I "feel" creative everyday on my run. It's just me, my thoughts and road and also anytime I walk into my studio. The walls are covered with my fine/mixed media art work.
All other times I think about it.
Thanks Gaea and High Five on the exhibit at the Art Center.
Stay Silly.
Cilla
May 4, 2013 at 1:11 pmI feel most creative by looking at color. I see colors that work together in nature, on T.V, in books, you name it. When I am inspired by color the beads come out and beauty is created.
Cilla
http://www.tellyourgirlfriends.com
Divya N
May 4, 2013 at 1:13 pmAs a designer I have to constantly think of ideas. Nature photos, colors and looking at people's work from other genres helps a lot.
Divya N
May 4, 2013 at 1:13 pmHey then the name of the winner isnt showing up in the post..just thought will inform you
judy
May 4, 2013 at 2:23 pmWhen someone says they wish they had a …(necklace,bracelet ,earrings)
I love surprising friends.
Sarajo Wentling
May 4, 2013 at 2:29 pmLately I feel the most creative and excited when I see a cool design challenge or color palette that really inspires me.
Sometimes when it's just me left to my own devices I can get a little stuck in a monochromatic rut, but having a cool inspiration piece makes me break out of that and try some new things.
I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with for the ABS challenge this month!
freshbakeddesigns
May 4, 2013 at 3:49 pmSometimes, when my 'creative pool' seems dry…I just play. I'll clear a big space at the table and start getting out my containers of beads, chain, leather, findings, ribbon, whatever. And just start putting groups together and rearranging things. Or I get out my sketch book and start doodling shapes or designs. This relaxes me and often inspiration hits during one of these two activities.
Ann Schroeder
May 4, 2013 at 4:09 pmI find myself being creative right before going to sleep, so I keep a sketch book by the bed.
Erin S
May 4, 2013 at 4:48 pmFor some reason, the shower is my creative center of the universe. Possibly some kind of vortex, or built on an Indian burial ground or something. 🙂
Janet
May 4, 2013 at 8:26 pmHi Gaea! Sooo many things spark my creativity! I guess you could say the alive world around me does! A balloon floating away..sun showers with a rainbow..clouds..angel wings..animals in the wild. All of these things can turn into a bead focal or colours to use for designs! Being thankful for all of these free beautiful things make a happy heart to create for me!
Yeli
May 4, 2013 at 8:44 pmI haven't made jewelry in a very long long time. I just got my creativity rolling and my hands itching to pick my tools and create by browsing my own blog.
I used to get a lot of ideas by just browsing through my bead stash as well.
beadrecipes
May 4, 2013 at 11:54 pmI feel most creative when my kids are in bed (or out), the house is relatively tidy and I don't have any pressing chores hanging over my head! (melissa_trudinger at yahoo dot com)
Heather Davis
May 4, 2013 at 11:59 pmPretty things seem to inspire me most lately, whether it is a trip to the craft store to see pretty fabrics and papers, a pretty flower in the garden or while I am walking or while I am browsing on pinterest.
HeatherFig
May 5, 2013 at 12:57 amI am a dyed in the wool Night Owl and I do my best work in anything once evening starts.
However, once I learn how to remember the fabulous designs that I dream about at night, then I will be a happy puppy!!
They seem so perfect while I am asleep, lol. And I totally forget them when I have coffee.
Meadowland Designs
May 5, 2013 at 1:58 amhi Gaea!
It's so nice to see what you've been up to midst the craziness of balancing life & work.
I generally am creative all the time although there have been occasions when I must breathe deeply & tell myself to stop working on ten designs in my head all the the same time!
I love to listen to music or an audio book while I'm working & if I'm not already on inspiration overload from the materials themselves, then I'll go through my pictures or to http://www.design-seeds.com to get some ideas.
~ Catherine
Micheladas
May 5, 2013 at 4:48 amI am truly my most creative when I am outdoors. It can be in a parking lot, the beach, the park… anywhere. Also when I am listening to music. Something about putting on some Breaking Benjamin, Muse, RHCP, etc that get the creative juices flowing for me.
Kristi Harrison
May 5, 2013 at 6:28 pmWow, it looks like you live in the heart of nature there!! 🙂 Sometimes It is fun to find different aspects of it to right in your own back yard. This time of the year the baby robins, bunnies, and lots of crickets are things we see. 🙂 Love all your beads! The twigs with the hearts are beautiful! Congrats on everything you had on display at the gallery as well!
Saraccino
May 6, 2013 at 11:13 amI need to challenge myself but this works surprisingly well. How well I found out when I restricted myself to only buy something if I know exact at that moment what I want to do with it… I thought this may reduce my stash (hoarding tendencies) but it rather imporved my instant ideas ^^ I also love to challenge myself to use unusal findings that I could incorporate.
But the best (and worst) condition to imporve my creativity is quite simple: Don't have time for it. My best ideas are coming if I have absolutely no time to spare! 😉
Angi
May 6, 2013 at 2:27 pmI share shop space with mu hubby who is a woodworker. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to be in the shop, music on low, both working on our own projects, and bouncing ideas off each other. It is cozy and comforting to share creative space with him, and if I ever need inspiration, I just check out his projects. They always stimulate my creative juices!
Angi Mullis [email protected]
Debras Dezinez
May 8, 2013 at 2:11 pmI get a lot of inspiration from being outside too! But if I get in a slump I peruse my books and go online to visit my favorite blogs or Pinterest ! I always get blown away when I visit there then I tidy up my work table and get busy I also carry a sketch book with me wherever I go ! [email protected]
Despina
May 10, 2013 at 4:44 pmI feel very creative after a trip or a getaway near the sea.
Also by looking at other people's designs and giving them a little time to grow in my mind.
DESPINA
[email protected]