In stitches

I took myself on an artist's date at Michael's last week. For us creative types, that place is like a candy store! I got all kinds of ideas just walking around, checking out the various arts and crafts supplies. I found myself drawn to the knitting accoutrements (all that pretty yarn!), and ended up purchasing knitting needles and several balls of yarn. My first project is to make a scarf for Jason. I've knit one row so far. This is progress, my friends, considering I am completely re-learning the craft. (My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was very young, but I haven't done it in upwards of 15 years!)

Anyhow, I have been studying knitting videos on YouTube, which is helping. Slowly but surely, I am getting back into the swing (or stitch, as the case may be).

Do you knit? Any good pointers for a newbie?

Image via nerdfighters.

Good things about today

• Perfect springtime weather - warm with a light, refreshing breeze.
• Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries for breakfast
• Artist's date after work - browsing at Kramerbooks and solo sushi dinner at Raku, people-watching and reading my new book.
  
• Taking the scenic route on my walk home, admiring all the pretty flowers and cute dogs along the way
• Absolutely amazing yoga class, which melted away the soreness and tension in my back
• Catching up on my favorite blogs with a mug of Yogi Kava tea.
• Getting closer to making an exciting decision. I can't say anything yet, but I hope that I'll be able to soon. :-)

Today's to do: Go to lululemon's website, download their manifesto (below), and set it as your computer's background.

Image via lululemon.

Artist's Date at Anthropologie

I am trying to get back into a weekly artist's date habit. Many of you may already be familiar with the brilliant Julia Cameron, but for those of you who aren't, an artist's date is a concept Cameron pioneered in The Artist's Way, her classic book on discovering and recovering the innate creativity that lies within each of us.

So what is an artist's date? To quote Cameron, the artist's date is "a once-weekly, festive, solo expedition to explore something that interests you. The artist date need not be overtly 'artistic'-- think mischief more than mastery." Nothing is too silly for an artist's date. It's our silly, childlike qualities that allow us to explore and create without inhibition.

For this week's artist's date, I explored the Anthropologie store in Georgetown, taking in all its delicious visual wonders. In addition to the lovely clothes and household items, the store always has absolutely beautiful displays that really are works of art unto themselves. There was one display near their kitchen items that had a vine of tomatoes made of felt (or some other type of cloth) woven into a piece of iron lattice fence. Another featured a vintage bicycle in a sweet baby blue hue. I struck up a conversation with a sales clerk, who told me that they have some extremely talented visual merchandisers who create the displays at the Georgetown store. I'll say so! It was definitely an inspiring little outing. (To consider: a career in visual merchandising?)

Of course, I fell in love with some of the merchandise as well. I'm particularly digging the Orimono pillow and Deep End dinnerware (above).

Do you go on artist's dates? If not, would you consider it? Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. Here are some artist's date ideas to get you started (comment and add your ideas!):

• Wine and dine yourself… go to dinner and a movie.
• Spend some time browsing around Etsy and create a Favorites list – a list of items there that speak to you on a creative level – to refer back to and be creatively inspired by.
• Take yourself on a culinary artist date, and try a new cuisine, recipe, restaurant, fruit, vegetable, etc.
• Take a walk with someone else’s iPod. Expose yourself to new music.
• Move your body. Try Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga, bellydancing, etc.
• Write a letter to the person you plan to be in ten years.
• Check out the course offerings at a local community college or community center. See what catches your eye. A course in modern art history? Piano lessons? Cooking classes?
• Visit a farmer's market and talk to one of the farmers about his or her product.

Thanks to The Artist's Way blog for many of these ideas.