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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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Now displaying: January, 2018
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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