A Creative Oasis™ class, a light bulb goes off, and Suzanne has a brand new creative career in the bag! (a groovy, handmade handbag, that is)

Suzanne Eisenhauer joined my “Welcome to Your Creative Oasis™” class last fall. She was searching for a creative career – a way to combine the wisdom gleaned by years of success in the corporate world with her desire for creative fulfillment. During the six weeks our group met, I watched as she absorbed the Kaizen–Muse® creativity coaching tools and techniques I introduced. I saw flashes of inspiration mixed with moments of frustration. (“When will I ever figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life?” Sound familiar?)

Welcome to Your Creative Oasis class in action

As you can imagine, I had one of those “oh-wow-I’d-do-a-back-flip-if-I-only-knew-how-and-wasn’t-terrified-of-the-idea” moments when I received an e-mail from Suzanne a few months after our final class with news of her fabulous new creative venture! SuzanneBag creates one-of-a-kind handbags using funky vintage fabrics and buttons with fun names inspired by pop culture of the 60’s and 70’s. One look at her brightly colored website and you know she’s having a blast pursuing her creative passion by creating these funky pop-culture purses!

I think my mom had a dress made out of this material in the 70's (that I coveted!)

Suzanne graciously agreed to an interview so you can hear her inspiring creative success story. If you’re asking yourself, “When will I ever figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life?” keep reading for tips and inspiration from someone who is living her creative dream.

What was your inspiration for creating SuzanneBag?

A friend in Hawaii has been making these wonderful colorful vintage fabric handbags for years. I always envied her job because it allowed her to be creative in the fabric choices and designs. The thought of doing something similar had never crossed my mind, even though she had told me I had a wonderful eye for vintage fabrics. 

After struggling for nearly a year trying to decide what I wanted to do “with the rest of my life,” my husband said, “You have an eye for beautiful things, have you ever considered making handbags?” Strangely enough, it was only then that the light bulb went off in my brain and I thought, “I can do this.”

How did it feel when you knew that this was the direction you wanted to take?

It was amazing how quickly I not only accepted, but embraced the idea.  My mind raced when I thought of the things I would need to put in place, the least of which being sewing refresher classes!  But the thought of shopping for vintage fabrics and creating something beautiful with my hands was heady stuff indeed.

What role would you say taking a Creative Oasis Coaching™ class played in creating your business?

Before taking your class, my view of creativity was very close-minded. I certainly knew what I did well creatively, but never encouraged or challenged myself to think outside the box. That’s what the Creative Oasis Coaching™ class did for me; it taught me that creativity could be found in countless places, even the ones I didn’t currently excel in.

Which tools or techniques that you learned through Creative Oasis Coaching™ have been most helpful to you?

I think the most powerful tool for me was journaling.  I say that because when you spill out your thoughts on a page, you never know what might come out.  Sometimes it’s surprising how much insight you have trapped inside just looking for the opportunity to make itself known.  Just as yoga teaches you to listen to your body, journaling teaches you to listen to your inner thoughts and feelings.

Mind-mapping was another great tool, to take a word or central theme, and start working outward to create a diagram of sorts.  When you’re completely honest with yourself, it’s amazing what ends up on paper.

I think I had a Granny dress made out of this material!

We talked about “small steps” during our class (Kaizen means small steps to continuous improvement.) What was the first small step you took towards creating your handbag business?

The first step I took was signing up for my first sewing class since junior high. The second step was shopping online for vintage fabrics to inspire and encourage me.

In what ways do you get to use your creativity in your business now?

I opted to create my own handbag patterns instead of merely copying others I saw on the Internet or at the store. I might take a general handbag design, but then I would tweak it until I incorporated all the things I might want in a bag.

Also, there’s nothing more creative than shopping for fabrics. The vintage ones are the most fun by far, but interior fabrics also have to be matched up.  There’s something deeply satisfying in seeing these two very different fabrics mesh seamlessly.

How do you find inspiration for your designs and names (which I love!) of your designs?

I have made a point of creating handbags that I would want to carry myself.  I incorporated elements from other handbags I may have had in the past and liked for a particular reason. 

Because I work with fabrics from the 60’s and 70’s, I chose female TV characters of that time period:  Gidget (from the movies and TV show), Marsha (from “The Brady Bunch”), Daphne (from “Scooby Doo”) and Samantha (from “Bewitched”).  Since most people have seen these shows either originally or in syndication, they are fun little pop culture references.

Vintage Hawaiian fabrics are one of her specialities

Do you run all aspects of your business or do you have an assistant?

Heavens, no!  I don’t know what I would do without my dear husband.  Since he is a web developer, he put together my amazing website suzannebag.com. He set up my Facebook fan page (facebook.com/suzannebag), Twitter account (twitter.com/suzannebag), Flickr account (flickr.com/photos/suzannebag) and the ability to monitor traffic to Etsy (suzannebag.etsy.com).

What advice would you offer anyone who doesn't know quite what they want to do with their life, but believe they want to do something creatively satisfying?

Don’t give up hope!  It took a long time for me to decide what it was I could or should do. Invest in some classes, get a feel for what you enjoy and do well.  And remember, you don’t have to leave a lucrative job to do something creatively satisfying with your life. Many people are able to express their creativity outside their careers.

Do you have any tips for DIY entrepreneurs?

I know it sounds simplistic, but do what you love. Start slowly and leave your expectations at the door.  Unless you know exactly what you want to do and how to do it, there’s going to be a learning curve. Allow yourself plenty of time to perfect your art. Realize, that success doesn’t come over-night, people have to know you or know about what you’re doing. Very importantly, watch your costs.  If you overpay for supplies, you’ll never make your money back, no matter how much time and energy you expend. And finally, if at all possible, set up a designated workspace.

How does it feel to be running a creatively fulfilling business?

It’s still hard work! There’s no getting around the work part, no matter what you do.  However, there is something to be said about working on my own schedule, in my own house, on my own terms.  It’s wonderful to take time off when you need it or to spend an entire morning just researching a potential new design and not worrying that you aren’t “being productive.”  There is a lot of satisfaction in creating something that other people love and want.  And the beauty of it all is that I can continue to create new and different things to keep the creative process fresh for me.  There are always new bags to design, unique fabrics or buttons to get your hands on.  I get a little thrill each time I cut into a fabric that I’ve never made a bag from before.  Oh, the endless possibilities!

Finally, I want to share a wonderful quote that truly inspired me while attending Creative Oasis Coaching™:

“Live your questions now, and perhaps even without knowing it, you will live along some distant day into your answers.” 

                                  – Rainer Maria Rilke

Thanks so much to Suzanne for sharing her inspiring story! Seeing people follow their creative dreams and enjoy the amazing personal satisfaction that brings is one of my all time favorite things in the world. It makes me feel like I’m doing a series of back-flips in my mind even though there’s not a hope in Hades of me ever doing one in real life!

Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

Jill Allison Bryan

Founder Creative Oasis Coaching ™

Certified Kaizen-Muse® Creativity Coach

Singer/Songwriter

Who Does She Think She Is? benefit screening July 13, 2011

Please join me for a special evening of creative inspiration, exploration and discussion sponsored by Creative Oasis Coaching.

What: 

A special screening of the thought-provoking documentary, "Who Does She Think She Is?" by Pamela Tanner Boll and Nancy C. Kennedy followed by a Q & A session with female artists and art-related business owners.

$10 cover  

(50% of profits will benefit Women for Women International)

Where:

LaGrange in Deep Ellum

2704 Elm St.

Dallas, TX 75226

(Happy Hour cocktails and Half-Price Food)

When:

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 6 to 9pm

Details:

This award-winning documentary examines some of the most pressing issues of our time: parenting and creativity, partnering and independence, economics and art. This gorgeously photographed film follow five women artists – from Hawaii to Santa Fe, from Ohio to New York – as they navigate the challenges and rewards of making work outside the elite art world.

After screening the movie, we'll welcome four local working artists to the stage for a Q and A discussion. I'm thrilled to announce our line-up:

Ashley Thames Brown (artist, writer and mother)

Victoria Webb Pendergrass (artist, art school owner, teacher, mother)

Michelle Stroescu (artist, designer, mother)

Mary Tomás (artist, gallery owner, mother)

Whether you're an artist, a writer, a musician, a mother or someone who longs to live a creatively fulfilling life, this promises to be an amazing. Please gather a group of friends and join us for a fun, inspiring evening!

7 Reasons Tina Fey and I Should Be BFFs

I recently had the pleasure of reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. The experience was a stand out for several reasons.

First, I read it while traveling alone.  Alone, gloriously alone! Alone as in no one else to feed, clean up after, care for or even be nice to in the airport or on the plane. Come to think of it, I probably could have read War & Peace and been happy. (Though I feel certain that Tolstoy and I would never be BFFs.)

Secondly, it was my first time to read a book on a Kindle. Though I’ve been preaching that replacing paper books with electronic reading devices is a sure sign of the end times, I actually loved it.  The Kindle was my 11-year-old daughter’s. (I say “was” because she will now have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands to get it back.)

Lastly, I like to laugh…a lot. Tina Fey makes me laugh…a lot…and has for years on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, on 30-Rock, in movies and now on paper. (Okay, on digital pages of an electronic reading device. I’m a woman. The right to do frequent 180s on all manner of subjects comes with the uterus.)  

While reading Bossypants, I realized that Tina and I share many things in common (see previous uterus comment.) It seems to me that we could be friends. What follows are but seven of the many good reasons why:

#1 - We have matching birth stories. Our daughters were both born in September. (For the record: epidural, vaginal delivery did not poop on the table.*)

#2 – We both love Amy Pohler.  (Tina in a “we learned the ropes, paid our dues in Second City together and are now wildly successful comedic peers” kind of way; me in a “Wow, it would have been so cool to have learned the ropes, paid my dues in Second City with you and now be one of your wildly successful comedic peers” kind of way.)

#3 – Tina Fey bears an uncanny resemblance to Sara Palin, while I share Joe Biden’s wife’s first name (Jill) and hair color (yellow*.)

#4 – Tina works with Alec Baldwin. I have a friend who everyone thinks is one of the Baldwin brothers. (Mike, you know who you are.)

#5 – We have a friend in common. Really. This woman has worked at SNL for more than a decade. Actually, I’m just her Facebook friend, but I’m sure that if we had a girls’ night out it would be a total blast. Tina could bring Amy. I could bring my Facebook friend. We could drink wine and swap birth stories. It would be like an episode of Designing Women but much, much funnier. (Facebook friend Gena, you know who you are.)

#6 – We both have gay friends and are rankled by ignorant people who hate all gays with stereotypical abandon. (Gay friends, you know who you are.)

#7 – We both enjoy the use of humorous, parenthetical asides in our writing. (Although, her writing is read by thousands of people in a number one best seller and mine by about 100 or so of my friends and family who’ve “liked” my blog on Facebook but have yet to subscribe.)

In conclusion, in his review of Bossypants Kevin Nguyen says “…Tina Fey remains universally adored: she embodies the hectic, too-many-things-to-juggle lifestyle we all have, but instead of complaining about it, she can just laugh it off.”

ME TOO! Good lord, will the similarities never end? When will I meet this woman whom I’m so obviously meant to hang out with at Starbucks drinking chamomile tea (which we’ll finish only if we feel like it*) and sharing amusing stories about our “hectic, too-many-things-to-juggle lifestyle” while our nannies – (I mean babysitters*) watch our daughters?

In a world where Edie Brickell can end up marrying Paul Simon, (19 years, three kids, no idea about her birth stories) I have to believe there’s some hope, however small, that Tina Fey and I will someday become friends (even if only on Facebook.)

* Footnote: for further clarification on these comments, please read Bossypants by Tina Fey yourself since I do not have express permission to reproduce any portion of her book in this blog… even though I have two friends who work for Little, Brown and Company. (Linda & Nicole, you know who you are.) 

9,000 balloons, 3 Day Trippers & a Baby

For May's Creative Oasis Day Trippers™ outing, we met up at the Nasher Sculpture Center in downtown Dallas to experience "Sightings" by Martin Creed. The piece that's had everyone talking and tweeting is "half the air in a give space" which features 9,000 balloons filling a large gallery. 


They ask if you're claustrophobic or allergic to latex before letting you enter the exhibit. I told a little white lie to gain access into all of those golden balloons. I am claustrophobic, but I really wanted to experience this and figured if I stayed close to the front windows, could see the light, and remembered to breathe I would be all right. 

Ashley lovin' it!

Three of us went in together and I felt safety in numbers and excitment in the novelty of it all. We giggled like the school kids who had tumbled out before we took our turn at the absurdity of being completely engulfed by a sea of balloons. Plus, the static electricity made our hair stand on end and that's always good for a laugh.

Insert "Home Alone" sound here.

Next we realized that it sounded surprisingly like water flowing or rain falling as we navigated our way through the floating orbs. Soon I was alone and reminding myself to breathe and stay facing the light. My heart raced a bit as I "swam" back towards the door and into reality, and by the time I was out, I was already planing my return trip to bring my daughter and husband.

Vonda always shooting pics!

After strolling through the gorgeous outdoor sculpture gardens we headed to the cafe for a yummy lunch and a creative writing exercise. 

Our pre-trip creative prompt was this: 

Imagine how you might use 9,000 of any object you like (paperclips, feathers, marshmallows – whatever tickles your fancy) to create a piece of art. We’re not limited by the bounds of reality here, so let your imagination soar freely. What materials would you use? What would it look like? Where would you show your work? Would it be interactive like “Sightings?” What would you title your piece? You may write a description of your piece, doodle or sketch it out or create a collage.

I had so much fun coming up with ideas for mine! Since we weren't limited by reality, I gave myself a Christo-size budget and all the time in the world to create my piece: "From Sea to Shining Sea." My first thought was to travel every coastline in the USA, collect 9,000 shells and then display them on an enormous map. That morphed into the idea of having school children from each coastal state in the USA send me a shell and a photograph of themselves which I would then use to line the walls of a large gallery space. I envisioned putting all 9,000 shells and their cooresponding photographs up on three very large walls of a gallery space like the modern galleries in the Dallas Museum of Art.   Although I'll never turn this idea into a reality, it felt great to stretch my creative muscles in this way, allowing my mind to create something that would normally never occur to me or be a medium I would use. It's opened me up a bit to the idea of playing with art in the future, rather than pigeon-holing myself as a writer and musician.

What would you create? I'd love to hear your ideas, see your sketches and learn about your dream of possible creations.

Right about now you  may be saying to yourself, "Yes, that sounds very nice and I will play with that creative prompt for my next two minute creative oasis break, but didn't you say something about a baby in the title of this blog?" Indeed I did. 

All this balloon action reminded me that when my daughter was just a baby she learned a fun phrase from my brother which meant "It's all good." So delighted I was able to find this short clip. It makes me smile every time. 

Until the next time, all the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Why Acting Like A County Singing Envelope Was One of the Best Creative Experiences of My Life

Our Fancy 1st Place Trophy for the 2005  24-Hour Video Race

Back in 2005 I took part in The 24-Hour Video Race sponsored by The Video Association of Dallas. My part, specifically, ended up being to dress in a foam rubber envelope suit and sing a really silly country song in a mailbox, and who hasn't wanted to do that before? We won first place that year and the experience remains one of the most fun, creatively satisfying 24 hour periods of my life. (I now understand why - which I'll share later.) As the VAD celebrates the 10th year of the race, they've chosen the top ten best videos from past races, and ours, "Lick It & Stick It" ranked #4.

The experience was exhilerating, crazy, fun, challenging, creatively fulfilling and our team was comprised of some of my favorite friends and family in the world! Plus, we got all the free Red Bull we could drink, which wasn't essential, but a nice bonus given the circumstances.

And, here were the circumstances – we had just 24 hours to concept, write, shoot and edit a video using the following criteria:

Theme:  First Class
Prop:  Quick Newspaper
Location:  Mailbox
Line of Dialogue: I thought that was fixed a long time ago.

Given this criteria at midnight, we then began our endeavor by sitting around the kitchen table drinking Red Bull (and, admittedly a beer or three) and brainstorming. I wish I had the video footage of that! Given the fact that we're an opinionated lot with strong personalities (and wills!) it's a testament to our love for each other that we not only won, but didn't kill each other before doing so. Within a few hours we had developed our concept which actually slammed the other major product sponsor that year – Quick Newspaper.

Then began the real work of shooting the footage and in our case, creating a human-sized envelope costume, green-screen special effects, as well as writing and recording a song. The editing process began the following evening and went right up to the point we had just enough time to drive to the drop-off location and turn in our video about 10 minutes before the midnight deadline. I get a little jazzed just thinking about it all even now!

All these years later, I finally understand why the 24-Hour Video Race is the ideal creative contest! Looking at it through the lens of being a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach®, I saw the light.

First, you have a short, specific time-frame in which to accomplish your creative task - 24 hours - that's it, not a second more. We creative types are first-class procrastinators, over-thinkers, and let's-try-it-this-way-too-ers – so giving us a 24 hour deadline is genius!

Secondly, we're given a place to begin. By having the location, prop, line of dialogue and theme, we had a jumping off point and didn't have to create out of thin air. It was just enough structure to get us started.

Thirdly, we had the support of working in a group. (And a really funny, intelligent, talented group at that!)

And finally, we all gave ourselves permission to have fun! That was the ultimate goal, not to win, but to have fun creating something that others would have fun watching too. You be the judge - how'd we do?

How One Bullet Sparked Creative Chaos and an Amazing Creative & Spiritual Journey

One Bullet 

Story and illustrations by Karen Blessen 

Originally published in The Dallas Morning News on Sunday, August 17, 2003

How I wish that each and every one of you could have joined us Saturday, April 30, 2011 when the Creative Oasis Day Trippers™ visited the art studio of Karen Blessen. An artist, writer, humanitarian, promoter of peace, spiritual seeker and gracious hostess, Blessen welcomed us into her Deep Ellum space to share the story behind and the future hopes and dreams for her "29 Pieces" project.

The story that she shared with us was one of the most beautiful examples of "creative chaos" of which I've ever heard. The idea of creative chaos as we share it in Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching® supports the notion that creativity is a non-linear process. While linear thinking goes from A to B to C to D, non-linear thinking, or creative thinking, goes from Q to Venus to Peacock by way of glitter and winds up on your front doorstep at midnight with a bottle of champagne.

Karen Bless & Jill Allison Bryan

In Blessen's case, she was on a fabulously successful creative path making a living as a graphic artist and illustrator, having won many awards, including a Pulitzer Prize. She created the illustrations for the campaign that helped revitalize Times Square in NYC. She felt blessed to have a career using her creative talents for writing and art. Then it happened. One bullet sparked a series of events that would change her life forever. 

After a young man was shot and killed in Blessen's front yard she searched for a way to process the unthinkable that had happened. Over the span of three years she interviewed as many people as she could that were affected by the random shooting. The end result is the story "One Bullet" which ran in The Dallas Morning News on Sunday, August 17, 2003. (See her graphic illustration at the top of this page with a link to the entire story.)

Even after the somewhat cathartic experience of conducting the interviews and writing, Blessen was still filled with anger, sadness and questions that couldn't be answered. A friend suggested she try Passage Meditation. "I felt like a duck who'd be searching my whole life and finally found the pond," says Blessen of her immediate connection to this type of meditation. 

www.29Pieces.org

Memorizing and meditating on sacred texts led to the next steps of exploring them on a deeper level in her journals. The wellspring of words and images that this effort produced became the nucleus for her 29 Pieces project. 

Cleave the heart of a raindrop, a hundred oceans will pour forth.

I encourage you to visit the 29 Pieces website above to learn more about Blessen's incredible vision for this project which includes a permanent public space to house 29 enormous sculptures interwoven with spaces for reflection, fellowship and creative and spiritual practices. I as said, creative chaos at it's most beautiful.

Creative Oasis Day Trippers(tm) taking a closer look at the 29 Pieces models

As usual, there were some lovely connections made and serendipities experienced during our Day Trippers' time together. Trish had just come from a celebration at the Dallas Public Library where she had found a book she thought Blessen was meant to have as she seeks to bring her enormous vision for 29 Pieces to life. 

Serendipitous Sharing

If you'd like to know when and where will be going for future Creative Oasis Day Tripper experiences please subscribe to my Creative Oasis blog via e-mail. Send me your e-mail if you'd like to join the list to receive monthly invites and information on all things Creative Oasis! Until next time, how will you allow yourself to open to the infinite possibility of creative chaos in your life?

All the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

Ready to Retreat, Relax and Embrace Creative Momentum?

Embracing Creative Momentum

A retreat offering creative guidance, yoga and rejuvenation

with Jane Baldwin & Jill Allison Bryan

at the Double J Hacienda & Art Ranch

June 10 ­–12, 2011

Jane & Jill recently experienced the power of retreat first hand in Taos.

Do you long for time away from have-to-do-lists, general life noise and pressure? Do you crave the time for rejuvenation, inspiration and peace? Then please join us for a weekend in retreat…time to create (or not)…to stretch…to sketch…to nap…to read…to write…to think…to breathe…or to simply be.

Peace in the sky chair

How good would it feel to give yourself a welcome respite from the stress and strain of everyday life? To learn and practice powerful ways of attaining and maintaining creative satisfaction that you can continue to use and enjoy once you return home? When we step outside our everyday surroundings and schedules, we allow ourselves to reconnect with our inner wisdom and creative spirit. We remind ourselves what it's like to truly experience the joy of personal fulfillment.

Our Embracing Creative Momentum retreat includes yoga, Creative Oasis™ workshops, lodging and meals including dinner on Friday evening, 3 meals on Saturday and breakfast & lunch on Sunday at the glorious Double J Hacienda and Art Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas over looking the Brazos River. (Just 45 minutes north of Fort. Worth, Texas but a world away from the stress of everyday life!)

Double J Hacienda & Art Ranch
 133 Seybold Road, Mineral Wells, TX 76067

This will be the third retreat I've facilitated at the Double J, an amazingly special place which is nothing less than a swirling vortex of creative energy, peaceful spirit and unconditional love! I hope you'll join me and Jane for what promises to be another transcendent experience there.  

Early Bird Discount with registration and $150 non-refundable down payment by May 15, 2011

$400 – double occupancy with private bath 

($500 after 5/15/11)

$450 – single occupancy with shared bath 

($550 after 5/15/11)

$475 – single occupancy with private bath 

($575 after 5/15/11)

Gentle yoga and breathing

View of the  Brazos from the best porch in Texas

Visiting on the patio

Returning our mandala to the earth


Here's what participants of past Creative Oasis retreats have to say:

"As I began my day I was aware of being more open and less judgmental of myself, in small ways.I am repeating "small steps" and taking them as I have gone through my day. I also an trying to train myself to re-frame my thoughts. Your "exercises" were meaningful and gave me things to not only think about but that are easily put into action. I loved the menagerie of goodies you brought for us to get my creative juices going. Took me to the enthusiasm I felt in my(several years past!) grade school art classes.The eagerness and wonder of what I could do! As I relaxed I experienced (total para-phrase)  what you said about losing track of time when in  the midst of the passion of your creativity. The warm smiling faces and the willingness of our group enhanced my creative spirit. The group's grace offered  both a lightness and a sensation of being grounded all at once. Inspiring,helpful and whimsical!I Can't wait for future Creative Oasis events! Thank you, Jill."

Alicia N.

"Thank you. You gave me so much energy and inspiration. Thank you so much, Jill, on drawing such a wonderful group, for teaching us SO many valuable things and for putting into practice what you preach. Thank you so much, Jane, for sharing your spiritual talents, healing powers and beautiful life with us." Ashley B.

"I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful retreat last weekend.  It was more than I hoped it would be.  I keep flashing back to our group circles, creative time, morning coffee and quiet time and it feels so good.  You are a wonderful leader and a gifted coach.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!"  Shannon K.

"Today,  as I meandered through my "everyday" world again,  I could barely stay focused.  I found myself drifting back to the last couple of days and the joy I witnessed – watching and listening to each one of you as you progressed through the weekend.  I learned so much by just being near your spirits.  Jill, you are so correct when you say that there will not be another retreat like this one.  True, there will be more magic, but a different magic."   

Miki G.

Jill Allison Bryan is a certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach and the founder of Creative Oasis Coaching™

Jane Baldwin is certified yoga teacher and the founder of Pranasalara

To register and reserve your space contact: 

prana@djartranch.com or creativeoasiscoach@me.com.