Home

Creativity, beyond books

Tawny Weber's picture
Submitted by Tawny Weber on Mon, 2007-05-07 07:57.

I love creating. Whether its books or crafts, I enjoy the process. Over the years, especially before I was writing, I tried a huge variety of crafts. Macrame, ceramics, painting, cake decorating, faux painting. I even tried sewing (tried... I was horrible at it). But as much as I liked doing them all, I burnt out after awhile because... well, lets face it - you can only have so many dust-catchers (as my dad called them)--and I can't stand the taste of buttercream frosting anymore! But I still had a driving need to create.

Then, about 7 years ago, I discovered scrapbooking. Its the perfect marriage of crafting, memory keeping and commemorating my family. All those boxes of pictures are finding their way into scrapbooks. Albums that record my childrens years, the events we've enjoyed, my pets. And my latest scrapbook - my Writing Career.

Often I'll have a scrapbook page in the works as I'm working on a story and bounce from writing desk to craft desk (opposite ends of the same room) whenever I get stuck on a page. It's like it gives the different parts of my creative brain a break, but keeps the energy flowing. There is something soothing about taking a photo and finding the paper, the colors and embellishments that bring it to life.

For Brenda Novak's auction, I took scrapbooking techniques and altered a paint can:

Altered Paint CanAltered Paint Can

Whoever bids the highest will get this, filled with a variety of California chocolates and an autographed copy of Double Dare. And what an incredibel cause it goes to, huh?

Does anyone on board scrapbook? Or do you have other forms of creativity that feed your writing and give you that happy sense of accomplishment?

»

that is such a cool paint can!

Submitted by Samantha Hunter on Mon, 2007-05-07 12:34.

I love it -- you've obviously found your craft niche. :)

I did several crafts as well - water painting, candle making, etc. The painting never developed into much, though I do like making candles, especially in winter, though I haven't done it in a while.

I also count gardening as one of my hobbies, since there is the necessary yard work, and then there is the project yard work, where you go out and dig up spots, make beds, walls, etc and that's completely different than just mowing or trimming.

Like you, I like crafts that do something practical, though -- things to give away or that are useful in some way in the end, which is I guess why I like quilting, as well. You end up with something.

Sam

»

Gardening

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Tue, 2007-05-08 06:28.

I love gardening. I love finding pretty flowers, digging in the dirt, putting them in the ground and seeing them grow all beautiful and lush. Of course, I also have a short attention span so once they are planted I tend to forget them. Good thing my husband thinks watering the yard is meditative and relaxing LOL.

btw -your quilts are stunning!! What gorgeous works of art.

»

Wow!

Submitted by Beth on Mon, 2007-05-07 13:12.
You are so talented -- love the paint can! I've also tried a few creative pursuits. Cake decorating (how could you EVER get tired of buttercream frosting??) counted cross stitch, sewing (a lot of sewing *g*) decorating/faux painting, cooking and baking (I adore Food TV. It's a sickness.) Now my other creative interest is beading. I just love stringing all those pretty beads together ;-)
»

Buttercream

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Tue, 2007-05-08 06:25.

Seriously, unless its chocolate, I won't even lick the bowl anymore!!! LOL - what a great variety of crafts. I'm totally on board with you on those except the sewing and cross stitch (although I've seen some that make me wish I did, they are beautiful) and, of course, the beading. How DO you make the knots look tidy??

»

Cool, Can!

Submitted by Debbie on Mon, 2007-05-07 14:53.
That is a great paint can. Tawny you are very talented I just read one of your books (can't recall the title) and I just loved it, I also loved the can. Since, I don't write I will just tell you about my creative side. I love to do crafts with glue guns, lace and beads. Y'know like the abaca forms you hang up. Also, I am currenlty sewing summer wardrobes for my two kids and myself. We are also painting wood crafts these days. I love it just as much as they do. I would love to learn to canvas paint. I see beautiful pictures in my head, I just don't know how to get them to come out. Well, have a great day....I am off to the auction. Debbie
»

Creative sides

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Tue, 2007-05-08 06:23.

Debbie... I don't think I've seen abaca forms before, do you have a picture? Of course, anything with lace, beads and a glue gun sounds great to me LOL. I love doing craft projects with my kids, but they don't love it quite so much.

My mom canvas paints, btw - and passed on the ability to draw/paint to my brother (he did the 'toon' thats on my website header). I'm so jealous of that ability to translate that picture in the head into a visual. Me, I can translate it into words, but the pictures are sooooo pretty ;-) Have you taken any painting classes?

btw, I envy your sewing ability!

»

Abaca

Submitted by Debbie on Tue, 2007-05-08 14:22.
Tawny, I have pictures, I will have to figure out how to get you one. Since, I am digitally limited. My, mother-in-law, who passed away canvas painted and her work is all over the house. 3 of my nephews have inherited that ability. My son, at 7, does beautiful water colors so we will try to keep his interest in art alive. No, I have never taken a class, for a workinag girl like me...there is just never enough pay to go around these days. As for my sewing I was blessed with a mom who can re-create anything and a several wonderful friend/mentors who have helped me get tto the point I am at with my sewing. As a matter of fact my dad taught me how to sew in the third grade. He used to repair sewing machines for singer and later for the school district. Tawny, you are blessed with the gift of words. Your word can create a picture in someones head and come to life in a personal way. You are very talented. Have a great day! Debbie
»

Talent runs in the family!

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Wed, 2007-05-09 08:51.

Debbie, you're blessed with so much family talent - that's GREAT. My mom sewed (used to make extra money sewing clothes for ladies from the church) but I never did pick up the knack. It sounds like you've had a fabulous support system for it.

And I'm in awe of kids who can paint/color/draw. GO you for keeping your son's interest sparked.

btw - I'm giggling that I could paint pictures for you with words. To hear means so much to me :-) Thank you!!!

»

The Paint Can ROCKS!!

Submitted by goddessani on Mon, 2007-05-07 15:36.
That is so cute and clever!! I don't write but I do beading (jewellery making). This weekend, I spent reading and beading. I'd bead until I got tired of it (long ropes of crystals so pretty boring right now), then read a chapter or two. Or read until I reached a point where I had to stop and think about something that had been written and savour it, so I'd bead for awhile. I do that quite often. I'll bead and when I'm stuck I'll go to something else. Or if I need to think, I'll bead while I'm doing it. It's wonderful to have that outlet!
»

Beading

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Tue, 2007-05-08 06:08.

Ani -I admire beadcraft a great deal! Its one of those craftst that I am reallllly bad at LOL. I've tried a few times and love buying beads just because they are sooo pretty, but cant' make them into anything useable LOL.

I use scrapbooking in a similar "thinking" way. Its almost meditative. I have a plot snag, a character block, etc... I scrap. There is something about using the creative process in a different way that really breaks through those issues.

»

Duh

Submitted by Debbie on Mon, 2007-05-07 18:20.
Tawny, I must have had a blonde moment. The book was Double Dare. Loved the book. I even gave you kudos last week with the guest blogger Jenna Black. Have a great day. Debbie
»

GREAT Kudos

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Tue, 2007-05-08 05:51.

Thanks Debbie!!!

I appreciate the shout-out ;-)

»

Hi Tawny

Submitted by Mads on Tue, 2007-05-08 07:23.
Yep, I sure do scrapbook. I made each of my sons a scrapbook with pictures of all their sporting events in them. I did a sports theme for each of their sports and had tons of pictures of them in their sport uniforms to work with. I love creating different themes for each of my scrapbooks. I started several scrapbooks for vacations and my sons early childhood years. I'm still working on one for my sons college graduation. I just need pictures from his graduation and then it will be finished. I love how you used scrapbook materials to make your can. It looks beautiful and it is very unique. You are very creative. I never would have thought to do something like that. I just finished Double Dare. I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down. Thank you for another night of very good reading. Now I have another author feeding my nightime reading habit. I'll be waiting, not too patiently, for your next book. All the Best, Mads:)
»

Mads Rocks

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Wed, 2007-05-09 08:48.

Thanks for loving my book!!! You made my day (well, its almsot 2am so you really made my night LOL) My revisions were just approved on the next book - Does She Dare? is out in January ;-)

It sounds like you've got a lot of scrapbooks going! I do seperate books for my kids, then for holidays and vacations and pets, but I'm starting to wonder if I should have a "family" book. I think I've solved it with my year book (each month gets a layout, so I'm scrapping the highlights) My thought is when the kids grow up they'll probably want to take the books with them (sniff) and this way I can still claim the family books for myself LOL.

Do you scrap before you have the pix? I haven't tried that.

and thanks for the nice words on the altered paint can. I tend to use scrapbook materials to alter A LOT of stuff *g* I just got a couple sets of those huge clothes pins that I'll paint and alter for gifts (stand them upside down and they hold pictures, yanno?)

»

Hi Tawny

Submitted by Mads on Fri, 2007-05-11 04:18.
Usually when I have a special event or something special that has to do with my kids, I'll start to collect all the materials that I need for the scrapbook. I add the pictures as I get them. My sons Graduation scrapbook will consist of pictures of all of his school years, nursery through college. I'm going to do it in school designs and include some of the things that he made while he was in school plus a lot of school pictures. Since he is a commercial art major, I have a lot of his drawings from all his years in school to add to the pictures. Some of them are really cute. I also have some really cute scrapbook designs that I'm using. Crayons, an art easel, a paintbrush etc. I'm just praying that all the work that is going into this will be appreciated. Young men can be funny about stuff like this. I'll also be giving him a money gift as well so, that should satisfy him. Have a good weekend. Mads:)
»

Great Paint Can!

Submitted by Karen Foley on Tue, 2007-05-08 11:45.
I love the paint can, Tawny! It's fabulous! And I can totally relate to the need to create. Over the years I've done cross-stitch, stained glass, folk and tole painting, beading, pottery, resin jewelry, candle-making...and did pretty well on the craft fair circuit! My attic is filled with crafts bins. But I've never tried scrapbooking. We had dinner last week with our 23-year old niece who pulled out all her scrapbooks from her travels to Disney, Hawaii, and Europe. They were so fabulous! Each page was a work of art and I could have spent hours poring over the tiny little details she added. She saved everything; cocktail napkins, ticket stubs, drink stirrers, cardboard 3-D glasses, etc., and they all found their way onto the pages of her scrapbook. I was so impressed, and would love to learn how to do this. My only fear is that I'd put myself into bankruptcy; I can't drive past a crafts store without stopping and going in. I have an author friend who does scrapbooking for each of her books, with pictures of her hero, heroine, setting, etc. What a great way to free your muse and have a tangible product to draw inspiration from while you're writing! Thanks for sharing!!
»

What's money when it comes to creativity?

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Wed, 2007-05-09 08:43.

LOL - at least, thats what I say to my husband ;-)

Scrapbooking is definitely NOT a cheap hobby -at least not for me. My daughters dont' scrap, but they are as bad as I am in the stores... "Oooh, get this its so pretty. Wouldn't this look great on an XYZ page?" And we do save everything, too - heck, I have my room key card from the last few conferneces even (shhh, don't tell -I think I was supposed to turn those in).

The craft fair circuit success ia GREAT. I tried it for awhile and didn't do well at all. I might have done better if I hadn't spent more buying products from other venders than I sold - but I doubt it LOL.

I haven't ever tried to scrap a book itself - what an intrigueing idea!! I have scrapped my sale process (the caller ID, the contract signing, my boots, etc) but am about to tear that book apart and redo it. I'd found the cutest 6x6 album to start it in, but the format is simply too small. My cover flats won't fit LOL.

»

Hijacking this thread

Submitted by goddessani on Mon, 2007-05-14 15:53.
Since there's no other place to do this on the board, can I just tell you that all that Double Dare ROCKS!! A clever plot and wicked HOT characters! I double dare you all to read this and NOT fall for Jesse! So if you haven't picked up your copy yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! ani
»

Happy dancing

Submitted by Tawny Weber on Wed, 2007-05-16 17:47.

Thanks, Ani!!!!!

»