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A Creative Approach Podcast

Karen began her life in the Canadian prairies followed by several years of studying medicine in Montreal. Marriage, family, and career brought her to California where “Snow is optional. You can drive to it.” With a large extended, blended family and a love of travel, Karen’s hobby of scrapbooking has endless resources. An enthusiastic world traveler, she still has the continents of South America and Antartica to cross off her list. Karen loves meeting her network of online friends on her journeys. Karen came to podcasting through scrapbooking and has been a co-host on "The Digiscrap Geek Podcast" (now on hiatus) and a guest on many other shows including a recent episode of “Shift Your Story” with Beca Lewis. Karen remains a licensed physician in California, though currently retired. Karen has wide ranging interests including podcasting, blogging, medicine, and scrapbooking. She is a self-admitted genealogy nut, and life-long learner of art, history, science, business and anthropology with a passion for a sustainable world. She is an artist and a student and is fascinated by people's stories of creating who they are and what they do. She is delighted to share her conversations on “A Creative Approach Podcast.”
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Nov 21, 2018

She is one of the bright and innovative people who is bringing new technologies to work for a sustainable planet, and I am intrigued to learn more. Join me now in my conversation with Molly Morse, to learn more about her passion for positive-impact plastics, the health of the environment and her creative approach.

Dr. Molly Morse is the CEO and co-founder of Mango Materials, a San Francisco Bay Area-based startup company, that uses wastewater treatment plant methane gas to manufacture biodegradable materials. Her vision of the future involves the proliferation of anaerobic digestion so that methane can be used to make electricity, fuels, and materials – creating local regions of economic resiliency.

Molly received her Ph.D. from Stanford University and her B.S. from Cornell University. Dr. Morse has contributed to multiple patents, publications, and presentations. Along with other Mango Materials team members, she is currently working to upscale the biomanufacturing technology of using methane gas to produce biodegradable materials. Their current focus is on the production of waste-derived biopolymers that can be used as fibers for the textile and fashion industry.

More in this episode

    Dr. Molly Morse discusses what Mango Materials does to create a new product that is a substitute for conventional plastics that can go into fibers to be made into clothing and other uses.

    The material that is produced can be used for cosmetic packaging, plastic bags, fibers for clothing and more, that can break down rather than remain in the environment.

    In the conversation, we discuss the various applications that the product can be used for and how the product could break down after use.

    We learn more about how Dr. Morse shares her passion for a better environment and bio-composites that would be able to be used within environmentally friendly construction applications through her processes.

    Dr. Morse shared her journey to becoming a business owner and how her educational path leads her to the present.

    She discussed how the company is transitioning out of R & D and into application development.

    Molly shares how she came up with the company name and creativity was significant in that process.

Molly Morse says, “How we encourage our children to solve problems, it isn’t something that can’t be undervalued. Those key moments can stick with kids for a really long time. Challenges can lead to lots of solutions. Fostering creativity from a very young age and encouraging it is important.”

Molly identifies with this quote, "The creative adult is the child who has survived."– Julian F. Fleron

One of the quotes to add to that is Einstein when he said, "Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.”

Links

The Green Biz Conference: https://www.Greenbiz.com

https://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge-conference/oakland/2018

The Red Cross:

https://www.redcross.org

Other ways to help victims of Camp Fire:

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/news/how-help-victims-california-wildfires-ncna936911

Articles about forest fire management:

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060106627

https://climatecrocks.com/2018/11/19/forests-need-more-than-raking/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MangoMaterials/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mango-materials/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MolMorse & https://twitter.com/MangoMaterials

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/mangomaterials/ & https://www.instagram.com/mollycmorse/

Website:

https://www.mangomaterials.com

Subscribe to Our Mailing List: www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

Oct 31, 2018

Ginger Wiseman is one of the co-hosts (with her sister) Summer Reynolds, of The Outlander Podcast. She has a great story of how her love of the books and then the series, and a passion for Scotland, led them to create a podcast for fans. I always have a great deal of fun learning about how my guests found their creative niche. Today is no exception. 

More in this episode

● We learn about Ginger's story and what got her and her sister, Summer into hosting two podcasts.

● How the two sisters connected over literature through the years and how that strengthened their love of the written word in multiple languages.

● She discusses her love of the Outlander series and the events that led to the creation of their fandom podcast.

● Ginger shared what led her and her sister to create The All Souls Podcast and how that helped them broaden their horizons with fans, friends, and travel.

● She shares how she was able to get involved with ComicCon working in press and the benefits that have helped her grow her shows and gain more visibility.

● Ginger shared more about The All Souls Con event and that she follows the book releases and shows coming out with the international networks.

● The sisters planned for the long haul as the main character had not yet been cast.

● Ginger shares how she was able to plan out the podcast episodes in alignment with the books and episodes for content.

● She noticed early on that there was a random invitation to join for an after-show. She felt that guests found more value when they did a live video in their private FB group after-show right after the episode ends.

● Having a sponsor never changed their content, schedule or format.

● She felt empowered to have a podcast through her exploration of what other podcast hosts were offering and her love of the dramatic arts growing up.

● She shares her journey with her sister to Scotland and how they created a group experience trip they do yearly.

Ginger says, "While everyone has their own talents or abilities that they've honed, whatever it is that you feel, even if you're not doing it professionally, whatever it is that you feel is a great outlet for you creatively.[SIC] Being creative must be intentional. It's important if you are creative that you have to make time for those things. It is needed and a very important part of life."

Resources

https://www.outlanderpod.com

https://www.allsoulspod.com

https://www.podabroad.com

https://www.facebook.com/outlanderpod/

https://www.facebook.com/allsoulspod/

https://twitter.com/bookishginge?lang=en

Outlander Book Series

All Souls Book Series

https://www.amc.com

Oct 3, 2018

Today’s podcast has a fascinating guest, Jonathan Fong. From plans for kid’s projects to ideas for sophisticated weddings, Jonathan just shines! Home decorating, crafting, and entertainment are not the only things he knows about, but he also has a unique gift to teach us how to master his creative visions. I love that Jonathan always dresses impeccably and adds unique touches to his ensemble. His approach proves that men’s fashions can be both original and very dapper.

In this conversation, you’ll learn more about the innovative Jonathan Fong and his "creative approach."

More in this episode

  • What Jonathan is doing on a daily basis and how he inspires others.
    ● Jonathan didn’t really become a designer until later on in life and shares where he started out before he got to this point in his journey.
    ● He discusses his career beginnings and the struggles he had when he experienced “left brain, right brain conflict” where he was trying to be creative in a non-creative field.
    ● Jonathan was encouraged that if he “had huge creative tendencies to explore them!”
    ● How his creative exploration led him to greater opportunities such as being on HGTV, writing books, creating a business and his own show on YouTube
    ● The value of creating your own content on YouTube and what that can lead to.
  • How working with Disney and teaching on kid’s crafts helped him gain a wider audience to infuse creativity in the lives of millions.
    ● We discussed his exploration of infusing his creativity into his cooking as well.
  • Who influenced Jonathan to embrace his creativity throughout his life.
  • How his fun and playful attitude has helped people make their art more personal.
  • Craft books on the horizon may include more Jewish Crafts and Dog and Cat Crafts.
  • Jonathan feels that creativity is one of the most important things in this world. He says, “that for us creative folks, or for people that want to be creative, it’s our duty to create because creativity is the opposite of destruction. There is so much destruction in the world and so much of the world is geared towards destruction, both physical and spiritual. However you create, whether it’s through crafting or cooking or building or painting or singing - however you express yourself to create or make something - that counteracts the destruction. We can change the world by creating.”

Resources:

Website

Jonathan on Facebook

Instagram

Youtube: Style with A Smile

Books on Amazon: Walls That Wow, Flowers That Wow, Parties That Wow

CHA (The Craft & Hobby Association, now known as The Association For Creative Industries)

 E-how for more on creating a fun party, cooking, crafts, and more.

 Jewish Film Festival in Sacramento

Sep 19, 2018

Joining me on the show today is a professor of ceramics at American River College in Sacramento, a founding member of The E Street Gallery and Studios, and one of my favorite art teachers, Linda Gelfman.

She has recently been exploring soft-sculpture as well as her ceramic work. She used her textile pieces in a recent show at The Kaneko Gallery at American River College, titled “Cognitive Dissonance.” The show examined the multilayers of life. “Linda’s Lollies¨ the name she’s given her anthropomorphic soft sculptures, have a mixture of cuteness and the bizarre. Her work has focused on finding beauty in the imperfections that working with clay can provide.

Some of her earliest art-related memories include playing in her friend’s wet sandbox. Her love of creativity led her through college, where she was surprised and elated she was able to major in art and could share that love with others. She continued to build an incredible career teaching, installing her work in galleries and continued her education at Sacramento State in graduate school.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to chat with Linda. Our conversation is full of passion for the creative process and the love she has for teaching others. If you need the inspiration to get back into the flow of creativity, listen to this episode, and make sure to check out the ways to connect further with Linda.

More in this episode:
● Linda believes everyone has creativity within themselves.
● Linda found working with clay using the Wabi Sabi method in her early 20s Which helped her gain a deeper appreciation of finding beauty in the imperfect.
● She shares how students can feel empowered in their creativity and sense of expression.
● Linda shares her methods for creating dynamic pieces that go against the traditional “rules.”
● She enjoys using upcycled materials to integrate new textures and elements into her work and recent gallery installations.
● Linda believes that following your passion is the best way to help and serve humanity.
● She was able to make art and make a living for years.
● Linda believes it’s vital for artists to get back to the fluidity of their process to ignite their creative spark and to go “outside the lines of perfectionism.”
● She feels art is important and encourages everyone to take an art class “because it will change your life.”
● It’s OK to be different because that makes us unique and marvelous.
● She shares her thought on what to do if you’re feeling disconnected from life.

Resources:

Find Linda at The E Street Gallery

Linda Gelfman on Facebook: Gelfman Art

Become one of her students at American River College

Snow After Fire Art Piece

Meow Wolf

Article on Fire Retardant planes from McClelland

Link to map of fire situation in California this year

Fort McMurray, Alberta fire

 

Jul 11, 2018

 Joining me on the show today is crafter, designer and author, Amy Tangerine. Amy has always had a creative outlook on life. Growing up in Chicago, she wallpapered her walls with pages from fashion magazines. 

She has recently written a book titled Craft A Life You Love, a book that shows readers how to find their flow, maintain a positive mindset, and cultivate a rich and fulfilling life by focusing on what truly matters. The book was a passion project for Amy that was written to inspire others to live their creative lives. Amy self-published her book, and after it was on Amazon for a while, some publishers contacted her asking to publish her book. It was a great honor for Amy too have been contacted by publishers so she hired an agent to help her shop around for a publisher. It has been really great because it now has color pages and is now selling in bookstores all over the world.

     Amy’s life has been a winding journey but she has always used her creativity to ground herself. Some of her earliest craft memories include making friendship bracelets and tie-dyeing shirts. Her crafting progressed through the years and continues to bring her great joy.     

      

More creativity in this episode: 

 

  • Amy believes everyone is creative in some way.
  • Amy shares how she switched colleges because of her love of fashion.
  • Amy’s successfulness in crafting/fashion-fueled her entrepreneurship.
  • Amy found scrapbooking to be a special experience/release during a very stressful time in her life.
  • If you want to get creative on paper, just do what you feel.
  • Scrapbooking can involve taking pictures with your phone and printing them out so you have something tangible to hold.
  • Crafting the life you love means infusing creativity into your life every day.
  • Amy collaborates with American Crafts and has many scrapbook collections.
  • Finding your strengths in crafting can make you money
  • Find a craft that makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
  • Be intentional when selecting your crafts so that you have freedom, fulfillment or fun.
  • Amy is involved with City Year and will design their invitations this year.
  • Wearing “a lot of hats” is not a bad thing if you balance them effectively.
  • Carve out time each day to enjoy your creative endeavors.
  • When working on a project, don’t focus on perfection. Give yourself grace and have fun!

Links:

Connect with Amy!

Amy’s Website

Amy’s Blog

Her Facebook

Her Twitter

Amy on Instagram

Amy on Pinterest

YouTube

Vimeo

 

Jun 27, 2018

Lina Fat is VP of Culinary Research and Development for Fat Family Restaurant Group, based in Sacramento, CA. Her first dream was to be a pharmacist, which she fulfilled when she earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of California-San Francisco in 1964, where she met and married her husband, Kenneth.

Her father-in-law, the late Frank Fat, founded the landmark Sacramento restaurant, Frank Fat’s in 1939, where many of the state’s most influential figures have dined for more than 70 years. Lina joined the restaurant business when the second restaurant, China Camp, opened in 1974. In 1976, Fat City Bar & Grill was opened, and since 2000, the Fat family has opened Fat’s Asia Bistro in Roseville and in Folsom.

Lina traveled the world to train under master chefs in Switzerland, France, and Italy, and at the Cordon Bleu in San Francisco and the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She has spent a lifetime discovering new culinary secrets for what is now her specialty---combining flavors from around the globe!

She is a favorite featured guest on local Sacramento TV as well as authoring The Lina Fat Cookbook: Recipes from the Fat Family Restaurants. Lina and the Fat restaurants have received numerous awards over the years, and she has been actively involved in many community boards and organizations. Proving that her creative interests extend far beyond the kitchen, in 2007 she launched the Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival, which showcases the cultural diversity of the region through the presentation of ethnic dance from around the world by local talent. Lina is a true pioneer who has never been afraid to take on one more challenge in her creative and inspiring life.

Show Highlights:

  • Lina’s semi-retired life now after over 40 years in the restaurant business, helping run 4 restaurants and a catering business
  • The four Fat restaurants serving American Chinese food and receiving the James Beard Award a few years ago for Frank Fat’s Restaurant started in 1939 by her father-in-law
  • The funny story of how the famous Banana Cream Pie came to the menu in the early days
  • Lina’s beginning as a pharmacist and then a stay-at-home mom who started cooking and exploring her creativity
  • How she advised her father-in-law about opening a restaurant commemorating Chinese immigrants and then started writing and testing recipes
  • How Lina took on the new job of running the kitchen and managing the staff, bringing in new and innovative ideas and techniques
  • Similarities between work as a pharmacist and a chef and how Lina applied some of the same principles to her new career
  • The story of the historic bar and their branching into “bar food” at Fat City Bar & Grill
  • How Lina took on the new challenge as a restaurant manager
  • Why a restaurant turns out to be a good training ground for learning life skills
  • Why she made her children and other young people start out as dishwashers in the restaurant
  • How she branched out into writing a cookbook
  • How Lina became a local TV chef---way before TV chefs were “a thing”
  • When Emeril Lagasse used one of her recipes on his famous show
  • Creativity in translating the Spanish tapas concept into dim sum
  • Only one of her children has followed her into the restaurant business and two have followed their father into dentistry
  • Lina’s advice to those who want to be chefs---Develop your palate!
  • Trends that Lina sees in the modern restaurant business
  • Lina’s love for small farmers’ markets and local CA resources
  • Lina’s story of her flourless chocolate cake mishap early in her marriage and how she took the failure as a challenge
  • Lina’s thoughts on creativity: “Don’t create just to create. Like food, creativity should have a purpose and a balance. Start with the basics first.”

Resources:

The Lina Fat Cookbook: Recipes from the Fat Family Restaurants, by Lina Fat

Jun 13, 2018

Have recent celebrity suicides left you with a deep sadness and wonderment at what it takes to go that far into depression? Those are common thoughts when we hear the news that someone was so overwhelmed by life’s difficulties that suicide seemed the only answer. The good news is that hope is available for anyone who needs it, and life is full of possibilities for connection and support---and yes, creativity that brings joy, mindfulness, satisfaction, and peace.

Dr. Caroline Giroux is a psychiatrist who migrated from Canada and is now Associate Professor at UC Davis. Through narrative approaches, she has the privilege to witness her patients’ growth and be inspired by their resilience. Apart from addressing the impact of traumatic experiences throughout the lifespan, she is an educator, an academic writer, an essayist, and a poet. She channels her creativity by designing teaching tools such as courses on mood disorders for medical students and a monthly newsletter for residents She is the mother of three spirited sons and has no shortage of opportunities to express her creativity through kids’ stories and various family projects.

Caroline is a creative physician who writes professionally and personally. She shares some of her poetry and essays in Sierra Sacramento Valley Medicine, the official journal of the medical society by the same name. This lifestyle journal promotes the history, art, and science of medicine, the protection of public health, and the well-being of patients and their caregivers. I have the privilege of serving on the editorial committee of the journal with Caroline and am happy to share this conversation with you.

Show HIghlights:

  • How Caroline came to psychiatry, knowing even in high school that she wanted a medical field that allowed her to use her creativity and writing
  • How she wanted to give hope to people through their deep sorrows
  • How her parents inspired her to want to work in helping others and find gratification in service
  • The difference in the college education systems in Canada and the US
  • Why she pursued a physical therapy degree first and then went on to medical school, not knowing the reintegration of body and mind in medicine would make her PT “detour” worthwhile and very helpful
  • The creatives in her family: a great uncle who was a priest, poet, and writer; and her aunt who is a painter and poet
  • How depression and suicide rates have risen over 30% in the past 20 years and how creative people are keenly affected
  • The struggle to reconcile our image of ourselves with what others think of us
  • How some celebrities are disconnected from their families and struggle with addiction and substance abuse
  • Alienation from others and self is a common theme and an inability to transform from a difficult circumstance
  • Healing and empowerment come when people are willing to transform from fear, shame, and hopelessness
  • How even Robin Williams, “the king of laughter,” had problems and a severe mental illness that people weren’t aware of
  • What we can learn about attempted suicide to affect policies about gun violence
  • When people reach a high-stress situation and are overwhelmed, if they don’t have a coping mechanism, but have alcoholism and available guns---a ticking time bomb is a result
  • Why we need to talk about suicide and deepen our understanding
  • 12-25% of people experience depression, with men expressing it more openly but women being more willing to seek help
  • The need is to expand coping skills to deal with stressors more effectively now and later in life
  • The need for a “sabbatical of the soul” and respite to fight against overwhelming feelings
  • There are many resources available to treat substance abuse and depression
  • How religious affiliations can help because of the sense of community and the ritual practices that induce mindfulness
  • How the celebrity lifestyle can take away the joy and mindfulness we gain from simple, daily, repetitive activities
  • Why self-care is extremely vital for doctors and healthcare workers, in the form of exercise, mindfulness, yoga, and socialization activities
  • Caroline’s thoughts on creativity: “We all have an innate potential for creativity, even those who might not think they are creative. We access this creativity for problem-solving, clarity, and mindfulness. Find your creative path.”

Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Line  1-800-273-8255

May 30, 2018

Our guest today is the photographer, Alison Brown. I learned of Alison through the Women’s Environmental  Network of the San Francisco Bay area. I saw her work online, and I knew I had to have her on the show. Alison is an international photographer that discovered her passion for photography nearly ten years ago after embarking on her first backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in 2008. She's been blessed to visit the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Turkey, France, Israel, Spain, Portugal, United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to her photography, she is also a Communications Consultant and Sustainability Specialist. Her intention is to use her photographs to inspire people to care more deeply about the natural environment and conservation. Alison views photography as much more than a profession and shares her creative approach to photography in this episode.

More creativity in this episode:

  • Learn how photography inspires Alison.
  • Why did Alison choose to travel Southeast Asia after graduating college?
  • Alison shares her passion for her sustainability work.
  • Discover how Alison bridges her sustainability work with her photography.
  • Alison describes her experiences while living in Australia.
  • Alison shares tidbits from her younger years, and how her focused shifted to what it is today.
  • Inspiration for creativity may come in different forms. Alison shares when she does her best work.
  • Encouragement for using your personal creativity.
  • Encouragement to be conservative with natural resources.

Resources:

Alison Brown Photography

E-mail: alison@alisonbrownphotography.com

Alison’s blog is Alison Brown Photography

You can discover more about Alison on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

May 16, 2018

It is always a joy to see creativity bloom where you least expect it. I am speaking with student physician Vidya Viswanathan today, the founder of Doctors Who Create. Vidya and her team are on a mission to change the culture of medicine by fostering creativity. It is such a delight to see colleagues in medicine with an interest in creativity.

Vidya had the chance not just to explore how creativity plays an important role in medicine but also how her experiences of travel and foreign language have shaped her career as well. There is so much beauty in hearing a story shared well, and that is what is in store for you with Vidya today! Her perspectives are very unlike any we have had on the show so far, but her stories still have a little something for everyone. I am excited for you to join us as we explore Vidya’s journey to creativity and culture.

More Creativity in this Episode:

  • Vidya shares her roundabout path to medicine and her biggest cultural influences.
  • Medicine needs the influence of creativity too!
  • Vidya wants to highlight the profiles of medical professionals who use creativity.
  • Vidya shares what gave her blog some focus.
  • The broader appeal of Doctors Who Create.
  • Vidya’s parents encouraged her to read and write and express herself through words.
  • Taking Chinese played an important role in Vidya’s creativity.
  • Dive into some of Vidya’s best experiences while traveling in China.
  • Focus on the process, not the result.

Resources:

Doctors Who Create

May 3, 2018

Do you know that May 5th is International (aka National) Scrapbook Day? By now, my regular listeners all know that I’m a really enthusiastic scrapbooker, and at the moment, I am busy creating a kit to take with me to Dixon, California, to celebrate this special tribute to scrapbooking. Although I have done more digital pages lately, I still love to take out my supplies and get lost in the world of cutting and gluing. In fact, I love getting lost in the whole dimension of paper storytelling! May 5th is a day to celebrate other things, too. It’s Kentucky Derby Day, Cinco de Mayo, Burgundy Day (the color-not the wine), Comic Book Day, Hoagie Day, and even National Seeing Monarch Butterfly Day, to only mention a few! Most importantly, may 5th is Silence the Shame Day. Mental illness is far too common, and it’s very treatable! So let’s all speak out, advocate for more resources, and encourage those in need of help to seek it. What did you celebrate May 5th? I’d love to know! I’d also really love to know if you found a creative outlet for telling your story.

I’m really looking forward to today’s show with my noteworthy guest, Nancy Nally. Nancy is both a columnist and a journalist. Alliteration in her name could be one reason why Nancy Nally is known, but she is also known for her nose for news. On today’s show, we discover the latest trends in colors, papers, and motifs, from here and abroad. We also learn about the job of a craft journalist, and about how Nancy found her creative approach. I first met Nancy through the craft world, and more specifically, via events of the AFCI (Association for Creative Industries), formerly known as The Craft and Hobby Association. Nancy is no stranger to podcasting and helped host The Paper-Clipping Roundtable, while it was an active broadcast. Join me today, and listen as we take a peek at Nancy’s creative approach, and as we also celebrate creative crafts!

Show Highlights:

  • Nancy discusses her career and blog.
  • The three craft industry-related websites that Nancy’s company owns-Scrapbook Update, Craft Critique, and the recently launched Chasing Dust Bunnies.
  • The kinds of crafts on which Nancy focuses.
  • Some of the really hot crafts, along with craft comebacks.
  • The way that trends filter down into the crafts industry.
  • The ways trends here differ from European trends.
  • The latest trends in colors.
  • Chalk paints are currently a big craze in Europe.
  • The DIY trend is going strong in Europe, and there is much to facilitate this!
  • Metallic finishes are very popular.
  • How to rubber and wood-mounted stamps fit in?
  • Nancy’s purpose-driven crafting.
  • How curiosity drives creativity.
  • What creativity means to Nancy.

Links:

Nancy’s websites: Scrapbook Update 

Craft Critique

Chasing Dust Bunnies

Please join our Creative Approach Facebook Page, and the Creative Approach Facebook Group, too!

Apr 18, 2018

The creative process of storytelling is both fascinating and inspiring. The stories we share and the ones we create play such a huge role in how we capture memories and shape the future. No one understands this better than Patricia (or Patty) Newman. Patty has a passion for telling stories, but her passion doesn’t stop there! I am excited for you to hear all of her thoughts on creativity!

Patricia Newman is the author of the Sibert Honor-winning Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem as well as Zoo Scientists to the Rescue; Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and Neema’s Reason to Smile. With her books, she hopes to empower kids and to share stories about people who create change around the world. Patty is our first children’s author on the podcast, and her stories about social justice, careers, and the wide world around us are just fabulous. It is clear that Patty has the heart to use her creative gifts to empower our future scientists, business owners, and world leaders. We have so much to learn from her in today’s episode!

More creativity in this episode:

  • Patty shares her unique point of view on children’s stories.
  • Why Patty tends towards environmental themes in her books.
  • The journey behind Neema’s story.
  • Children are often very perceptive when it comes to more difficult topics.
  • Patty shares stories of her own childhood.
  • Making the leap from reading to writing is big but natural.
  • Patty wants to teach children to connect what they have learned to the rest of the world.
  • The main reasons why Patty picks her stories.
  • We need to share with our children that their voices matter.
  • It is easy to see creativity in fiction, but nonfiction requires it too!

Resources:

Patricia Newman

Books are available online!

Reason 2 Smile

Apr 4, 2018

It's always so tempting to travel! When my husband called me over the other day to check out a fantastic tour of Ireland that he found while looking at his tablet, it reminded me  that I had  not yet continued with the tale that I'd started in the podcast a while back, about the wonderful adventure we had last year, while touring around Great Britain and Ireland. So today I continue my story and I'm also going to let you listen in to a fun interview that I recorded on my trip, where I ask a host manager of a hotel for some information about Irish Coffee. Listen in- I really hope that you will enjoy the interview!

I'm occasionally a little shy, which I know is an odd admission for a podcaster, but on certain occasions, like trips abroad, it does tend to happen. Chatting to the local residents does tend to help me get over it, and this is one of the reasons that I really recommend that everyone takes some time to get to know the local people when traveling. In my experience, even taking the time for a brief chat can often prove to be the best part of an adventure! Listen in today to find out more about our tour of Great Britain and Ireland.

 

Show Highlights:

 

  • Taking tours can be very demanding, so be sure to leave on time and try to be the first ones there at any major attraction.
  • Some of the highlights of London.
  • Traveling to Windsor Station- a grand, English, industrial revolution, Victorian-style building, much of which is now a tourist mall.
  • Exploring the grounds of Windsor Castle.
  • About Canterbury Cathedral and the Black Prince.
  • The pastoral countryside was dotted with buildings with names like 'The Croft' and 'The Old Mill'.
  • The ancient castles and grand stone churches are reminders of Great Britain's long and fascinating history.
  • Touring the Royal Pavillion in Brighton.
  • Gaining a sense of the magic of Stonehenge.
  • Traveling in Cornwall.
  • The Priory of Saint Ives in Cornwall.
  • Taking a cruise up Plymouth Sound to Plymouth.
  • Bath- often the setting for titillating tales of Regency society.
  • Wales- a land of low mountains, tidy farms and signs with unpronounceable names.
  • Crossing St George's Channel to green, green Ireland.
  • The history of Irish Coffee, a recipe to make it- and even how to drink it!  

 

Mar 21, 2018

Art is not just for the artist! My guest today, Jen Cushman, is an artist, a crafter, and a teacher who embraces that mentality wholeheartedly. Jen works best in multimedia. Any time she tries to stick to one medium, it never ends up well! From scrapbooking to mixed media collage to jewelry and so much more, Jen wants us all to push outside of our comfort zones and try something new and spectacular.

Today, Jen is going to share her amazing journeys in creativity. Along the way, she will share some of her brightest inspirations, favorite ways to create, and what it is like to develop a product. We will also get an inside look into her Deconstructed Reconstructed Retreats, which are fabulous and invaluable for someone interested in mixed media. Jen will also share with us why she loves working with power tools and blowtorches, and how jewelry making was opened up to her once she learned those skills.

Above all else, Jen makes art for anyone to enjoy that is also accessible to anyone. Because she loves teaching classes and writing books, Jen is ensuring that someone who might not consider themselves an artist in the strictest sense can still create something wonderful. Creativity is for everyone, and Jen and I are so excited to celebrate that with you today!

More in this episode:

  • Jen shares all of her current projects and passions.
  • Jen travels around the world to teach others how to do mixed media art.
  • Teaching women how to use power tools was an accidental but powerful movement for Jen.
  • Why Jen started crafting and expressing her creativity.
  • Jen actually got her start in journalism!
  • How Jen got kicked out of a Creative Memories crop but then got into teaching scrapbooking.
  • The creative process involved with developing a project to sell.
  • What it’s like to teach and develop a class.
  • Advice for choosing a retreat.
  • Why Jen is hosting her next retreat at home.
  • Jen’s best thoughts on creativity.

Resources:

Jen Online

Making Metal Jewelry

American Woman’s Hospital Service

Mar 7, 2018

What really inspires your creativity? Do you ever use the time it takes to do your routine tasks as an opportunity to reflect on things? And if so, do you make use of those reflective moments for your inspiration? Some of my most creative ideas have come to me while preparing a meal, or while doing laundry. And at times I allow myself to really indulge in the sensory input from my surroundings while getting completely lost in the moment. I focus on the colors, textures and my feelings at the time and then the creative force usually follows a bit later. I also love to see what other people are making, as the creativity of others can be a wonderful source of stimulation for new ideas too! Today's story will offer many insights into the life of a fine artist, as I have Diane Richey-Ward with me as the guest on today's show. She's a fine artist based in Sacramento and she was also my drawing teacher a while back. Listen in today to find out about Diane's creative approach to fine art.            

Diane has been working mainly with the medium of drawing for the past thirty years. Every ten years she alters her approach, changing from drawing only to mixing drawing with sculpture or with other, different media. Her latest interest has been mixing drawing with photography and she's been busy with that for the last three years. She features her latest work in an awesome show which is going on currently, at the Eastry Gallery in Sacramento. Today Diane talks to us about her widespread experiences and about the shows she's had, all over the world. Listen in now to find out more!

Show highlights:

  • What inspired Diane's idea of mixing drawing with photography.
  • Diane discusses her love for both drawing and photography.
  • What gives Diane the fantastic feeling of unlimited potential that she experiences, as an artist.
  • How Diane's creativity has really increased, since her retirement
  • How architecture has featured prominently in Diane's latest work.
  • The way that traveling provides inspiration for Diane's work.
  • What art residency is all about.
  • What got Diane into teaching art for almost twenty-three years.
  • The most satisfying aspect of being an art teacher for Diane.
  • Why being retired is so much fun for Diane.
  • Why doing things other than art sometimes is a good idea.
  • How Diane initially got into art.
  • The hard work and perseverance that is required to become a successful artist.
  • The kind of venues that Diane prefers for her shows.
  • The key influences in Diane's life as an artist.
  • Some tips to help you when you apply for art residencies.
  • A way to get a fresh, new perspective on things, if you run into a creative roadblock.

Links:

Photos of some of Diane's work are available to everyone at www.acreativeapproach.com (on the Patreon page.)

They will also be available to the members of the Creative Approach Facebook group on the Creative Approach Facebook group page.

Feb 21, 2018

Where do you get YOUR creative approach? For many, it comes from the people in our lives or the places we travel. My guest today draws from both of those for her inspired digital scrapbooking designs. I’m a big fan of hers and I love using her designs for digital pages. I know you’ll enjoy hearing her story and learning about her creative approach.

Lynn Grieveson is a scrapbook storyteller, a digital designer, and a memory keeper. She designs digital scrapbooking kits and unique photobooks for documenting and preserving precious memories and stories. Although she has lived in many places around the world, she currently makes her home in New Zealand, one of the most beautiful and inspiring places in the world. Don’t miss my conversation with Lynn!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

  • Lynn’s scrapbooking history and the inspiration for her designs
  • How Lynn taught herself digital scrapbooking and has never looked back!
  • How she creates her designs with kits, brushes, colors, and themes
  • The benefits of Adobe Photoshop
  • Lynn’s inspiration for scrapbooking, beginning with her older daughter many years ago
  • The transition to digital scrapbooking: how it happened when she was “playing around”
  • Lynn’s background in art history and photojournalism
  • The biggest challenges as a designer? “The time it takes to create”
  • How traveling and living in different places inspires Lynn
  • The value of photo books in telling our stories
  • England, New Zealand, Australia, and more!
  • How she met her husband and learned to juggle work and motherhood
  • The circumstances and major influences for creativity in Lynn’s life
  • What it means to “think like a photojournalist”
  • Lynn’s thoughts on creativity: “It’s important for everyone, because you are making something. Keep at it and it will become automatic and satisfying.”

Resources:

www.the-lilypad.com

www.lynngrieveson.com

www.getitscrapped.com

To enter the drawing for a free copy of The War Bride’s Scrapbook, by Carolyn Preston: visit the contact page on my website (www.acreativeapproachpodcastcom) or be or become a member of the ACA Facebook group. Leave a comment at either site with a valid email address before March 31, 2018. I’ll draw from those responses for a winner of the book!

 

Feb 7, 2018

Have you ever thought of doing something creative that has never been done before? My guest today, author and archivist Caroline Preston, is the creator of a whole new genre of literature. Her books and stories are exciting and revealing, combining her passions of writing and storytelling in a new and creative way. Ironically, Caroline’s mother kept scrapbooks and made collages, which were a significant part of Caroline’s past. She went on to work as an archivist at a museum in Salem, Massachusetts, before embarking on her writing career.

Her latest book is the second of her “scrapbook novels.” Following the Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, The War Bride’s Scrapbook, is “a World War II love story, narrated through a new bride’s dazzling array of vintage postcards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and more.” In this novel, “Caroline Preston has once again pulled from her own extraordinary collection of vintage memorabilia, transporting us back to the lively, tumultuous 1940’s and introducing us to an unforgettable, ambitious heroine who must learn to reconcile a wartime marriage with a newfound self-confidence.” I hope you enjoy this conversation with a truly inspirational creative, Caroline Preston.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

  • Caroline’s roundabout path to being an author
  • How scrapbooks tell the story of World War II
  • The uncertainty of people’s lives during the WWII era
  • How women accepted their rules but were early codebreakers in emergent feminism, which is a theme in the book
  • The advertising messages for women during the era
  • The main character in the book, and what she leaves behind
  • Understanding what people’s lives were in history and how they influenced those that came after them
  • Why people didn’t think their stories were even important
  • Piecing together clippings, headlines, manuals, and flyers to tell the story
  • Caroline’s new approach: scrapbook novels with real material and artifacts
  • What “transformative use” means regarding permissions
  • How the “scrapbook novel” idea came to Caroline
  • Caroline’s archival work in Salem, MA
  • How women’s lives are told in history through letters
  • Putting it all together to tell a story
  • With new technology, will our stories even be findable and retrievable in the future?
  • Making everyday lives seem tangible
  • How scrapbooks record momentous events and answer the When? And Why?
  • The detachment of today’s society from military life—unlike the WWII era
  • Caroline’s thoughts on creativity: “I thought I would just try to do this. I knew if it’s interesting to me, then it will be interesting to others also.”

Resources:                                               

www.carolinepreston.com

The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh by Linda Colley

Caroline’s books:

The War Bride’s Scrapbook

Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

Gatsby’s Girl

Lucy Crocker 2.0

Jackie by Josie

Jan 24, 2018

The natural world is filled with so much creative inspiration. Artists and designers often look to nature when deciding the shape and form of their creative works, but have you stopped to consider how we might mimic how the natural world functions? Biomimicry is the study of how nature is already solving some of the toughest problems facing mankind. These scientists, designers, and engineers are using creativity in a truly fascinating and innovative way. I know you are going to enjoy learning about this vast topic with my guest, Mark Dorfman.

Mark Dorfman is a Chemist working for Biomimicry 3.8, a consulting firm focused on making the planet more sustainable through innovative design and creative problem-solving. Mark understand that there is so much humans have to learn from the natural processes going on around us. We can then mimic the processes and methods nature employs to innovate and imagine a cleaner, more efficient, and definitely more beautiful world.

Today, we are talking about why innovation can be daunting, but why it is such an opportunity for humanity to grow. We will be pushing the limits, solving the world’s problems, and seeing why failure can actually be fun! All of this and much more will be waiting for you in today’s episode. I know you are really going to enjoy Mark’s unique perspective on creativity!

More in this episode:

  • How Biomimicry 3.8 is trying to shape the world through creative innovations.
  • Using chemistry to solve pollution problems.
  • Understanding color by studying some of the most beautiful organisms on the earth!
  • We can look to the ecosystems to turn waste into byproducts that can be repurposed.
  • Mark dreams of factories that improve the environment, rather than degrade them.
  • Hear how the wings of a butterfly might change the way we make glitter!
  • How Biomimicry 3.8 tackles the tough problems.
  • Mark shares some of his favorite forms to study in nature.
  • Why Mark first became interested in Biomimicry.
  • We have the power to change the markets if we demand life-friendly substances.
  • Hear all of Mark’s thoughts on creative problem-solving.
  • It is so fun to create!

Links:

Mark Dorfman

Biomimicry 3.8

Jan 10, 2018

Creativity is allowed to grow and flourish in a community. We see it in just about every art or craft. Thanks to the internet, we are more connected to fellow crafters than ever before, and the results are stunning. Together, we can share stories, draw inspiration, and give perspective. The more connections we make, the deeper our wellspring of creativity seems to run. My guest today, Jill Sprott, knows that all too well. She is using her creativity to celebrate the diverse collection of artists that have joined together over scrapbooking and storytelling. Today, she is going to show us how the two go hand-in-hand.

Born and raised in Hawaii, Jill was encouraged by her mother and teachers to stretch her creative muscles. For a long time, Jill only expressed her creativity through writing. She found poetry and journaling to be the best medium to share her stories, but many times she found herself drawn to visual images as the best means of communication. After becoming an English teacher, Jill was introduced to Scrapbooking. Though at first she only thought of it as “pictures and stickers,” Jill realized that a scrapbook might be an excellent storytelling device.

Just like poetry can give form to our most personal stories, scrapbooks offer the same kind of form and structure. It is a blank canvas and a chance to make your mark. For Jill, taking part of the online scrapbooking community opened the door to the rest of the world. Now, she is giving back by teaching online classes and sharing her creative inspiration through writing. I know you will enjoy hearing how Jill has married writing and scrapbooking. She has made some incredible pieces, and I can’t wait for you to hear all about it. The creative community is a wonderful place to be, and I am so happy you are here with me.

More in this episode:

  • Jill tells us all about the many things she is interested in.
  • Learn where you can find Jill’s scrapbooking endeavors.
  • The online scrapbooking community is somewhat of a lifeline.
  • Creativity is a kind of sanctuary from fear.
  • Writing and visual art can go hand-in-hand.
  • Jill was more reluctant to start scrapbooking, but she quickly found her niche.
  • We want to celebrate the diversity in the community.
  • Jill shares what it is like to grow up in Hawaii.
  • Mothers and teachers can be the most inspiring cultivators of creativity.
  • The various challenges of online v. in-person classes.

Links and Resources

Jill’s blog: Word Play Word Work

Get It Scrapped: Debbie Hodge

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