Creative Every Day Challenge Theme for September: Inspiration

August 28th, 2009

ced inspiration

The *totally optional* theme for the Creative Every Day Challenge in September will be Inspiration! I'm thinking of it in terms of exploring what inspires you, what you do when you're feeling uninspired, sharing your inspirations, etc..

Because I'm in the process of moving and things are a bit hectic, I've asked a few of the wonderful people who inspire me to do guest posts on the blog this month around the topic of inspiration. I'll still be posting as well, but I thought this would be a fun way to fill in the gaps I might have left otherwise. And I'm super excited to share these guest posts with you! We'll get to be inspired together!

You can use the posts here for jumping off points or interpret the theme in your own creative way. If you need some suggestions, here are a few ideas to get you started. You could:

  • *Keep a notebook with you at all times to record everything that inspires you throughout the day.
  • *Explore the ways you find inspiration when you've lost your creative mojo.
  • *Find inspiration in unusual places (that wildly shaped tree, the colors in a puddle, the junk mail) and incorporate them into a piece of art or writing.
  • *Incorporate an inspiring quote into your art.
  • *Make a piece of art inspired by an artist you admire.
  • *Leave inspiration in unexpected places. For example you could leave a piece of art in a coffee shop with a note that says "free art" or you could leave a favorite quote tucked in a library book.
  • *Write freely about something that inspires you.
  • *Visit an inspiring place.
  • *Make one small change in your space to make it more inspiring (flowers in a vase often work wonders!)

How to use the CED themes:

If you're feeling creatively stuck or blocked at any point during the month, use the theme as a source of inspiration to get you moving. 

Using the theme is entirely optional for CED participants. Use it if it inspires you, ignore it if it doesn't. I'll be sharing posts throughout the month around the theme (among other things) to get you thinking about how to incorporate it into your life. I'd love to hear how you use the theme in your creative world.

Feel free to focus on the theme in your creative activities for the entire month or as much as you'd like.

And have fun with it!

I learned...that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness. ~Brenda Ueland

10 Responses

Wow Leah, this month sounds exciting!

It’ll be great to hear what your guests have to say to us. That’s something different.

I knew the September theme would be special, it’s Spring in Australia and it’s my birthday month. I love the smell that September brings and I always feel like something is awakening inside of me. – Wait on, is that feeling inspiration? Let’s find out!!

Oh yeah, bring it on!

Kerry

I’ll tell you what inspires me: concentrated focus on something that’s been trying to come through and I haven’t made space. When I make space I am ALWAYS amazed at what comes through – gushing – and then wonder why I held it in so long. It inspires me that it truly works: when you focus your attention, the world moves to meet you.

I am so happy for your new home! Getting used to where everything is in the kitchen is always an adventure! Especially if you have a lot of drawers. =]

[...] Creative Every Day Challenge Theme for September: Inspiration | Creative Every Day creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/2009/08/creative-every-day-challenge-theme-for-september-inspiration.html – view page – cached The Creative Every Day Challenge Theme for September is Inspiration. — From the page [...]

Thanks, Leah!

Good luck with your move Leah! I know what a challenge it can be but exciting at the same time! I’m buying my first house and moving at the end of the month, too, so it’s chaos here as we speak :) But a good chaos, one that will end with all of us in a much better and hopefully happier place.

I was inspired just by reading this month’s theme. I realized that I’m inspired all the time, but I don’t always do something with it. So I’m going to try to write it down or sketch out the ideas as they come this month, and see where it takes me. Thanks for the inspiration!

I luv working with all the challenge themes….some are so much easier than others – I luv it when one just spews out of my fingers/hands onto the page!!
hugs
arlene

[...] September 10, 2009 by Silky Hart I’m delighted to share with you my guest post, “Our Magic Dance with the Universe,” that is featured on Leah Piken Kolidas’ fabulous blog, Creative Every Day. This month her theme is Inspiration! [...]

Thankyou so much for ongoing inspiration…I am doing a
series of ethnic women from around the world, always looking for inspiration! Found it here!

i love all your mail very interesing good luck to you keep it coming love mario….

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