High in the Tree and Low in the Soil: The Story Behind the Page
I like nature. Subconsciously, it works its way into many of my stories. I also like to write about things that generally have an obvious relationship. I then take that relationship in a not-so-obvious direction. It makes for thoughtful conflict; we all know a story needs tension or conflict. With that thought in mind, I […]
Revision and Starting Over
We’re taught that revision is essential but shouldn’t like it. It means that we should have done it better the first time. What if you looked at revision as a sign of learning, a way to demonstrate that you know more now than you did yesterday? An indicator of a desire and willingness to grow. […]
Are You Letting Ideas Pass You By?
There are ideas all around you; you just have to be paying enough attention to catch them. I just returned from a family trip to the beach. Something about travel prompts 1 million questions to carousel through my mind. This year, the theme was Pelicans… I bet you didn’t expect me to say that. I’ve […]
How to Understand What You See
I wanted to write you a mini-lesson on visual literacy specifically connected to the meaning of materials. But before we can talk about the meaning of materials, we need to start at the beginning and talk about seeing. Visual literacy is important for everyone. You might think that if you’re not an artist or aspiring […]
The Benefits of Picture Books: Why Every Home Should Have a Collection
While I was a big fan of the library as an adult, as a kid, I wasn’t. It wasn’t that I didn’t love books; it was the exact opposite. I loved them so much that I wanted to own them and fill the shelves of my bedroom bookshelf. Now, I do more of a balance […]
Books in English and Spanish
One of my favorite things about any creative project is experimenting and learning new things. Many of you asked for books in English and Spanish, but I wasn’t sure how to make it happen. After doing some research, I was able to hire a translator to translate The Weaving Book into Spanish. If this goes […]
Finding more Joy
I’m not an event planner, however, I did find myself planning a few events this year, and I must say that they were a success. The thing that I liked the most about them is that we did what we wanted, we did what felt playful, joyful, and surprising. I’ve realized that I’m looking for […]
How to Use Chance Encounters to Create Weaving Patterns
Have you ever heard of the Dada art movement? The movement began in Europe in response to the brutality of World War I. Writers, actors, artists, and other creative thinkers adopted the philosophy of the Dada movement as they experimented and explored new ways of making art and defining what was considered art. Surrealists Artists […]
1 Simple Way to Experiment and Revise Your Work
Use Digital tools You don’t have to enjoy making digital art to benefit from using digital tools to experiment and quickly revise your work. Start by creating your work in whatever medium you prefer, for me, that’s painted paper and collage. After you’ve made the work, photograph it, and then begin to explore it digitally. […]
The Secret to Bringing Your Idea to Life
Get started! Okay, I know that may seem overly simple, but it’s true. Getting started is almost always the hardest part, and you can’t experiment, or revise your idea if you don’t start. Start simple What is the smallest, simplest version of your idea? For example, I was working on making images for the book, […]