Wednesday, October 27, 2010

"Call to Create"

by Barbara Lewis
Have you ever stopped to think, "How is it I got involved in making jewelry?  Do I have talent? Should I continue making jewelry even though it doesn't sell as fast as I would like?"  I remember talking to my first art professor about doubting my "talent."  He said, "Talent is the need to create!"  I found that so freeing ... because there was no doubt that I had the need.  I had been sewing since I was 12 years old and now I was working with a new medium.

My favorite quote, and one that has kept me in good stead, is by Martha Graham, the inventor of modern dance:

There is a force, an energy, a quickness, that is translated through you into action.
If you block it, the world will not have it.
You do not have to believe in yourself or your work.
It is not your business to compare yourself with others. It is your business to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you,
to keep the channel open.

It's a "calling" really.  To deny it is to deny God's gift.  How are we to know whether or how our work may impact another ... what joy will another derive from it. We at Love My Art Jewelry have been inspired by the Art Bead Scene monthly challenges.  Personally, there have been many times that the challenge gave me the impetus to give a little extra so that I could participate.  Even when I thought there was no way to add another thing to my plate, I did.  Thank you, ABS.

Today, Love My Art Jewelry announces "Call to Create," which will be based on a selection from Pantone's color chart. Remember, your work needs to FEATURE handmade elements. Here's how it operates:
  • Weekly we will select an artist to highlight based on photos submitted to our flickr group.  Your work will be highlighted in the sidebar for the week, which we can link to whatever site you choose.
  • Monthly we will randomly draw a winner from our flickr group. Your work will be featured in our sidebar for the month and on an entire page at our website devoted to you, the monthly winner!  Links will be made to whatever site you select.
  • Donors of handmade beads and components will be honored in a sidebar ad with a link to your shop. We want to reinforce our conviction to our slogan: Creating Handmade with Handmade.  

So, here comes the fun part!  Color, color, and more color!  A beautiful palette of rich colors that have been grayed down for the Fall.  November 1 ... it all begins!  



The winner will receive all of the beads that were used in my necklace, "Autumn Bliss," which appears on the cover of Handcrafted Jewelry, just released.  I'm not saying you have to recreate Autumn Bliss, but you're welcome to if you'd like.  Please pass the word ... we'd appreciate it. 




19 comments:

Alice said...

Oh yes, it IS our duty to use our talents that have been gifted so generously to us. But sometimes we still have doubts. I love the quote by Martha Graham--thanks for sharing that!

The contest sounds like fun! I will have to see what I can come up with.

Courtney Breul said...

Thank you for the quote! :) Look like fun.

mairedodd said...

really fabulous post barbara, reminding us of why we do what we do...

Laura Twiford said...

Great concept Barbara! I have posted the info on my blog this morning, good luck!

Spirited Earth said...

thanks for the quote from Martha Graham..what a wonderful thing to keep in mind.
great challenge..i'm in

KristiBowmanDesign said...

Thank you Barbara, wonderful and inspiring quotes we should all keep in mind every day. I plan on participating in this challenge, thanks for giving us all the chance to stretch!!!

SummersStudio said...

These are yummy colours and would be very fun to work with.

TesoriTrovati said...

Oh so glad to have your words reinforce what I have been shouting lately. We each have been GIVEN talents. It is our obligation to use them and our responsibility to the world to share them!

I love the idea and thank you for shining a light for others to follow so that they may realize that their light was within them all along.

Enjoy the day!
Erin

sharon said...

Fantastic post and quote Barbara! This is a great challenge and concept!

Jennifer Cameron said...

It's like someone is trying to tell me something today based on the blogs I've stumbled across. The challenge sounds like lots of fun too.

stregata said...

Thanks for sharing the quote - it is fabulous. Sounds like a wonderful challenge. Those colours are great.

Pretty Things said...

I hope to find time to try this!

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

This sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing the quote!

Sharon said...

I'm really excited about this! Thanks for the inspiration...now where is my torch?!

Cristi Baxter Clothier said...

I'm so excited about participating in this group! Thanks Barbara

Barbara Lewis said...

I think we're off to a wonderful start! Thanks for coming along for the ride. You all will be a big part of the success of this idea. :-)

Jen Judd said...

Bring it on!!!! I love trying to work with a particular palette...almost as much as I love handmade beads. Thanks for the inspiration and sharing "the need." :)

Cindy said...

Barbara, you shared this quote with me a while back and it was refreshing to reread it... I do need to save it for future reference. It is GREAT. Your "Call to Create" is a wonderful challenge...if I can free up some time I'd love to participate!
Cindy

Anonymous said...

I love Martha Graham's quote, thanks for sharing it! I will try to create something for this.

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