Bust a Move

Creative Cookie is moving to TypePad. Our new address will be: www.thecreativecookie.net. Check us out!

Publish Post

©Lesley Williams, 2009

Stepping Stone

These photos were taken as I moved from one terminal to another at the Detroit Metro Airport. The messaging makes me wonder about the story behind them.

©Lesley Williams, 2009

The Shoe Fits

TOMS has given over 140,000 pairs of shoes to children in need since their start in 2006. Their strategy is simple, for every pair of shoes you buy, a pair goes to a child in need. TOMS has plans to give 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in 2009. How cool is that?

All Dolled Up

This past weekend while shopping vintage at my favorite thrift shop, in Michigan, I found these little darlings. They are kind of creepy but also charming, familiar, and a wee bit sweet.

©Lesley Williams, 2009

Dig It?

If you heart thrift stores, consignment shops, and/or pulling items from friend's closets, check out Dig N' Swap. Dig N' Swap was created as a solution to ever expanding wardrobes and the need to be kinder to our environment.

Could trading be the new currency? Give it a try.

From www.dignswap.com

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Outside my bedroom window, a tree grows in Brooklyn.

© Lesley Williams, 2009

It's in the Cards :: part 2

I hate to play favorites, but here are a few more cards that I really like from my vintage playing card collection. These cards are fun even when they are not being used for games. I am curious to know:

1. What things do you like to collect? Why?
2. What are the unconventional places or items that you find inspirational?
   

You can find more vintage playing cards on the HEYSUSY blog, check em' out!

It's in the Cards :: part 1

It was hard to resist this random collection of vintage playing cards. There's something really magical about these patterns.

I'll scan and post a few more soon.

Note Worthy

Dearest Creative Cookie Readers:

Thank you for reading the Creative Cookie blog. When I started writing it nine months ago, I was clueless about the blogosphere and unsure if I could manage another “thing” to do. But the thought of blogging constantly nagged at me and I eventually gave in. I saw having a blog as a way to live my creative journey twice, once in reality and again through the words and images that you see here. Since the start of this blog, a blend of amazing events has occurred. An internship with Brooklyn-based designer C O Z B I, attending fashion week, more courses at NYU, and the list goes on and on.

So, what’s next with Creative Cookie? Drum roll please …Creative Cookie Beta is launching June 1st at: www.thecreativecookie.net. The beta version of the blog will continue to be my online journal slash place for me to publish what I find inspirational, resourceful, and beautiful. I also want to spend more time covering another interest that I have, philanthropy. My professional career has been in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. I have a deep interest in learning about what’s happening to promote the welfare of others. As Creative Cookie grows and explores the relationship that exists between creativity and causes I hope you will do two things: 1) share the past postings that you enjoyed most and 2) tell me about the artist, from the unsure to the established, who give from the heart to improve lives of others.

Thanks again for reading; it's truly a gift.

Shine on,

Lesley

Small Miracles

A few sentences from today's Daily OM:

When you wake up tomorrow, take time to notice how many things are running smoothly, how many small miracles compose your day. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, as you put them on, take a moment to appreciate the fact that without them, you would be unable to see. Your life would be entirely different if someone hadn't invented corrective lenses. As you take in your world, you might feel a moment of gratitude for the basic fact that, once again, the sun has risen to illuminate the abundant earth, and the earths gravitational field holds you and all that you hold dear in a tight, life-affirming embrace.

I love the concept of being thankful for the things that we cannot see and the things that we do not have to worry about. It's very humbling.

Capering About

My next sewing project. Wish me well!
I'll post images soon.

Love That!

I promised to post the collage that I made at the Hip Tranquil Chick yoga retreat and alas, here it is; full of words and images that I think are beautiful. Collage making has proven to be a way for me to get clear on my aspirations so that I can manifest them. Collages serve as a visual prayer or meditation—they are one of my favorite creative keys to success. It’s amazing what you can do with a little glue, some old magazines, scissors, and your creative vision.

What is one of your creative keys to success & why?


Click here to see past collages:

• creative vision 1
• creative vision 2

Create What You Want

Taken from today's Daily OM. This was too good not to share:

...we can start right away, together: I am a creative being, using my energy to cocreate a wonderful world. I know that I create my experience of life from within, and as I do so, I also create ripples of energy around me that echo into the world. My positive thoughts gather together with the thoughts and prayers of others, and together we create enough positive energy to heal not only our own lives but the world we share. I am grateful for the ability to cocreate good in my life and in the world.

Wishing you an inspired and productive Wednesday.

hold ’em & fold ’em

Wei Du, origami artist, created these blissful hanging lanterns. They instantaneously transformed my hallway from a white space to a dreamy place.

© Lesley Williams, 2009

What are some of your creative decorating tips? Please share.

Yoga Kitty

Meet Nina Bean. She's one of the coolest kittys on the planet and she's obsessed with yoga mats. This photo was taken as I tried to remove her from my mat this evening.

© Lesley Williams, 2009

Sparkler

© Lesley Williams, 2009

Become a Fan

Fiber Notion has been an ongoing source of inspiration for me since it opened a little over a year ago. It's a wonderful playground for creative types seeking bangles, spangles, buttons, appliqué, glue, felt, fabric, patterns, cord, and other items to take their creative projects over the top. The store is literally overflowing with goodness. Become a fan (it’s fun), and get updates on courses, events, and special offers.

… get your craft on!

exactly as i am

Shaun Robinson, entertainment reporter for Access Hollywood, released a new book on Girls and Self-Esteem entitled Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today's Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself. Shaun decided to publish this book in response to hundreds of email and letters that she received from girls, across the country, who wanted to know how they could be like their favorite celeb. In the book's introduction Shaun writes:

"…the cultural obsession with celebrity is not new, but how it is impacting the way girls and women feel about themselves has become a passionate concern of mine—so much so that over the past few years I began organizing informal task-force groups of girls and young women from around the country to talk directly about their issues of self-esteem."

Rich with collective wisdom, from numerous notable women, this book is perfect for girls and women looking to realize their full potential by accepting themselves and appreciating the unique talents and gifts that they possess.

I'll write more after I finish my copy. In the meantime, check out these photos from a special celebration, of Exactly As I Am, earlier this week:

Shaun and me; us women from Michigan are sooooo great!

© kamau ware, 2009

What's Going On

Over the weekend I joined the delightful Kimberly Wilson and a dozen like-minded women at the Hip Tranquil Chick retreat in Ancramdale, New York. We spent our time together creative visioning, journal writing, meditating, and practicing yoga. This was my second year attending and I was able to observe my growth, as a yogi and a creative, from one year to the next. Several “ah ha” moments surfaced during my stay. Here are a few:

• being perfect is boring
• micro-movements are better than no movement at all
• recognize my talents and delegate the rest
• vinyasa yoga to Marvin Gaye is so amazing

floral wallpaper in bedroom

my bed and the magazine that i love

yoga prep

wandering around the retreat center

more signs of spring

"uniquely me" during silent breakfast

kimberly wilson

cute quilt

development of new collage (I'll post soon)

©Lesley Williams, 2009

Plastic Flowers?

This past Sunday, I decided to be a tourist in my own neighborhood. I was elated to see these signs of spring.

Contributors

I asked my Facebook friends what magazines they were reading, and got this list. It was too interesting not to publish, here it is, happy reading:

• Architectural Digest
• BITCH
• Black Enterprise
• Black Hair
• Cosmo
• Domino (RIP)
• Martha Stewart Living
• Men’s Health
• Missbehave
• Next American City
• People
• Psychology Today
• Rolling Stone
• Skeptic
• The Robb Report
• TIME for Kids
• Vogue
• Washingtonian Magazine
• Wax Poetics
• Wired
• Yoga Journal

Better Place

I've been questioning if I should post these final sentences from Monday’s Daily OM. What happened on my morning commute, into Manhattan, was confirmation that I should. Enjoy.

"It is not the kind of work you do that allows you to be of service. It is you who must choose to be of service through the work that you do."

Basic Training

Q: What are your favorite books for beginning seamstress?

A:

1. Sew U :: Wendy Mullin with Eviana Hartman Easy to understand, great illustrations, patterns included
2. Let’s Sew :: Nancy Zieman Comprehensive, clear, great for all ages and stages
3. The Best of Sewing with Nancy :: Nancy Ziemam Technical, great time saving tips
4. Magazines: ReadyMade and Sewstylish (it folded but you can still get back copies)
   

I await your listing of additional resources.