Creative Thinking

When you get that pristine white blank page out and ‘the fear’ takes you over – what will I draw or write? What if I make a mistake? OMG I’ve lost my creativity because I can’t think of anything I can do… Despair! These are a few of the things I think about when I push down the crease on a new sketch book or stare blankly at a fresh page… for so long that my eyes start to loose focus and I see black splodges wobbling around before me.

I’m sure this kind of thing has happened to many, many people even those not creatively active on a daily basis. If you have a speech to write for your best mate’s wedding or a presentation to do for a job interview. We all have the choice whether we make something bog standard or whether we push the boat out a little to make something really special for that friend or something that will make us stand out from the crowd for that job interview. This is where the creative process comes in. But this is also where ‘the fear’ sets in. Here are a few tips and ideas I use:

Firstly, you need to limber up, shake it out, get some energy flowing because you need a brain which is wide awake. Then you need to make a brainstorm – write down all your ideas, empty your mind onto the page, what you’d like to do, quotes, things that inspire you, pictures. If you get stuck, take a walk, make a cuppa or talk to a friend about it – they might have some of their own thoughts and although you might not like their ideas it could spark an idea in you. Most successful creativity comes from a long process which may start very generally or vaguely but which branches off and flourishes into something really amazing and engaging.

Gathering inspiration at a Hunterwasser exhibition

Stick to what you are good at, unless you have the time and/or money to invest in a new skill. Once I went to a wedding where the best man was a Philosophy teacher and his speech was actually a ‘lesson’ on the groom's life which included philosophical questions on the grooms choice of clothes/haircuts over the years and he really got the wedding guests actively involved in his lesson with some hands up style questions. It was the funniest and most brilliant best man’s speech I have ever heard and the guy really played o his strengths and showcased his passion for teaching (this would also be a great way to get head hunted!).

Don’t worry about the technicalities (at least not initially) – just get something down on paper because you can always neaten up and fix things at a later date. It’s easier to do something from the heart - think of a time of great emotion or a place or person that means a lot to you or even just the first word that pops into your head. It doesn’t have to be good – my friend Johnny is not an artist in the traditional sense of the word and he thinks he is terrible at drawing but he still does it. And when he does his drawings really give you a sense of honesty and caring. There is just something so special about them. So you don’t have to be the best of the best to do something creative because if you do it from the heart then your personality will shine through.

Drawing by Johnny

Relax. Put on a piece of music that inspires you and get comfortable. If it’s sunny go to the park or if it’s snowy get under a– big warm fluffy blanket. Being comfortable let’s you be comfortable with your creative task. Clear all mundane thoughts from your mind (don’t think about doing the dishes or hoovering up that piece of dirt on the floor it will still be there when you’ve finished and for all of your life there will be dishes and dirt so take this time out to have a moment for yourself). If this doesn't work then do something fun - draw around your hand and then turn it into something different or make an Exquiste Corpse with a friend. 

An Exquiste Corpse

I drew a hand and then turned it into a bird

Practice. The more you do something the easier it gets and remember you don’t have to be amazingly good at something for it to mean something. Whether it’s a personal project or a thoughtful piece for a friend, taking the time to think creatively will change you and others for the better - if you let it.

Borscht

 Yum! I made some delicious, hearty, healthy and very earthy Russian Borscht soup yesterday.

Borscht

Here is my simple and quick recipe:

Ingredients

2 or 3 fresh beetroots, washed and peeled and chopped into small cubes

2 or 3 potatoes, sliced into cubes

1 red onion, finely chopped

2 carrots, grated
2 of fingers of celery, diced

½ head of cabbage, thinly sliced

1 can kidney beans including the juice

2 bay leaves

1 litre of beef stock

Large squirt of tomato sauce

One squirt of lemon juice

Pinch of ground pepper

Now to make the soup:

1. Fill a large soup pot with 500ml of boiling water and a pinch of salt.  Add the chopped beetroots and simmer for 15 minutes or until par cooked. Add the chopped potatoes and sliced cabbage and continue to cook for another 5 - 10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, add a large dash of cooking oil to a frying pan and saute the grated carrots, chopped onion and diced celery until they are soft, approximately 10 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce towards the end of the cooking time.
3. Add the beef stock, lemon juice, pepper, bay leaves and can of kidney beans to the soup pot.
4. Add sauteed carrots, onion and celery mix.
5. Simmer for a further 5 - 10 minutes, until kidney beans and cabbage have softened.
6. Serve with a large dollop of sour cream and warm,crusty bread.

Optional extras or things to try - I always think it is nice to try new things with a standard recipe especially if you make it a lot and want to try a new twist!

• A warm boiled egg, quartered and added to the top of the borscht.
• A splash of cider vinegar and half a teaspoon of honey at the end of the cooking process for a sweet and sour flavour
• Use chicken stock instead of beef stock for a more mellow flavour
• Blend the soup for a smooth texture and a more child friendly version.
• Add dill to the soup - this is a traditional addition in Poland.

New Home

My boyfriend (Tom) and I have been in our new home for almost one year now and I have lots of DIY tips and cool ideas for decorating on a budget!

For this first post, I will just mention a few little items I've bought to make our flat look a bit more unusual and quirky. I love looking on sites such as Etsy and Folksy for cute additions but I also love going to the weekend market at the Tynemouth metro station.

First thing I bought was a really cute knitted cover for our kitchen clock which can be bought from Baban Cat on Etsy. It didn't cost much but it really adds a cosy feel to this cheap clock.

Knitted Clock Cover

Another really affordable item which is ideal for new home owners is the Vittsjo shelving unit from Ikea.  Here is ours, which was a present from Tom's parents, in our living room.

Vittsjo from Ikea

I have filled the shelf with cute little jars from John Lewis and Orla Kiely, a Ben de Lisi fruit bowl, Ikea boxes, Ikea vases, books and plants!