The Creative Oasis™ Permission to Pause Manifesto – Part One

We interrupt your regularly scheduled hectic, hurried life to bring you an important message vital to the well­–being of your mind, body and spirit!

The Creative Oasis™ Permission to Pause Manifesto!

Full Disclosure:  This manifesto brought to you by a blatantly blissed-out, radically relaxed creative type. (That would be me, Jill Allison Bryan, singer, songwriter and creativity coach.)

Though, I’ll admit, not my typical day-to-day state-of-mind, immersion in the bliss-inducing nirvana that is Ten Thousand Waves (Santa Fe, NM) followed by a creative retreat in Taos (where daily napping is encouraged) has helped deliver me into my current state of repose and epiphany.  

Even before heading west, I’d been receiving not-so-subtle messages from the universe supporting this basic premise: 

“Taking time to do nothing 

is really something worth doing.” 

(Stick with me on this.)

Universe:  “Yo…Jill…it would be a fine idea for you (and your clients and your friends and your family and pretty much everyone on the planet) to stop attempting to constantly fill every waking moment with taking in something of some kind (food, drink, ideas, stuff, words, sounds, conversation, thoughts, media – social or otherwise) and/or putting something out.” (See above list…add more to each list as you see fit.)

Me: "Hmmm…interesting thought…but I really don’t have time to just sit around and think about that…so…"

Lo and behold, my travels through New Mexico have presented numerous opportunities to do just that, not to mention several serendipitous affirmations that confirm the universe may be on to something with all of this doing nothing stuff.

Ten Thousand Waves

First stop, Ten Thousand Waves Japanese­–style spa and lodging where the peaceful Zen-like vibe begins seeping into your being the moment you step foot on the grounds. When my husband and I arrived after two days of driving, although road weary, when I learned our room wouldn’t be ready for another hour or two, I immediately kicked into the “we need to do something!” mentality. “I guess we can drive back into town and check out gallery or two,” I said…feeling exhausted even just saying the words.

The lovely, laid-back woman checking us in tried her best to veil a look of horror/confusion as to why in the hell we would want to do that. She then politely suggested that another option might be to head up to the spa, trade in our clothes for kimonos and chill out in the relaxation room, communal bath area or near the koi pond. As she relayed our options I felt myself nodding and a smile slowly spreading across my face. “Yes…yes…I want to go to there,” as Liz Lemon would say.

After almost an hour of lying on comfy mats, listening to soothing music through headphones, meditating, and cat-napping I fell in mad love with the relaxation room and found myself wondering…why doesn’t everyplace have a relaxation room…a serenity lounge…a resting place?

Once settled into our lovely little cottage (Japanese-meets Santa Fe style casita) we headed back up to the spa for time in a private lagoon type hot-tub area and massages. Since we had a full half hour between these two spa activities, we actually contemplated bringing books with us. What the….?!?!?! (This need to do something all the time is insidious, I tell you!)

Thankfully, what happened naturally and wonderfully instead was after our private hot-tub, cold-plunge, and sauna time…we did what intelligent, well-adjusted healthy people would do…we sat in front of the koi pond and stared at it in a state of vegged-out euphoria until we were called for our massages.

Slowly making my way up the path to a private massage room, I couldn’t imagine it would be possible for me to feel any more tranquil than I already did. I told the therapist, “I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a massage feeling this relaxed already, so this should be interesting.”

Stairway to Heaven aka the Spa

Understatement. This is when I began to experience the pure “blissed–out” feeling that I will forever associate with Ten Thousand Waves (or Heaven on Earth, as I now like to call it.) As my husband and I floated back down to our place (I honestly don’t think our feet touched the ground) we both felt the amazing full-body/mind/spirit buzz that utter relaxation can bring…and it was good. And…it was only the beginning.

Tune in next time for Part Two of The Creative Oasis™ Permission to Pause Manifesto where we’ll find the universe fairly clubbing me over the head with signs and serendipitous events supporting the  notion that giving myself (and others) permission to pause is a worthy cause and perhaps my latest obsession. (in a good way)

The view waking from a nap on the futon

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

Jill

Money, Awareness & Good Questions Raised at "Who Does She Think She Is?" Screening

Over forty women (and one very cool, supportive husband) ventured out in the crazy Dallas heat for our special screening of the documentary, "Who Does She Think She Is?" on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at LaGrange in Deep Ellum. I'm happy to share that in addition to raising over $200 and awareness for Women for Women International, we brought together some wonderfully creative women to discuss the questions brought up by this inspiring film.

Full house at La Grange

After every barstool and seat was filled more tables and chairs were brought in, orders for yummy $2 tacos and drink orders were placed and then together we watched "Who Does She Think She Is?" by Pamela Tanner Boll and Nancy C. Kennedy.

The films shines with beautiful images and weaves together the stories of several female artists (painters, scupltors, singer/actress, film makers, activists and more) as they share their personal challenges and rewards that come with pursuing their unique creative paths.

After the film, I was joined onstage by a panel of four women artists and art-related business owners for a Q and A session. We discussed the struggles and joys we've experienced in our own creative journeys while attempting to balance our lives and honor our artistic endeavors.

Jill leads the Q and A session

From left to right:

Michelle Stroescu (artist, designer, mother)

Ashley Thames Brown (artist, writer and mother)

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

Mary Tomás (artist, gallery owner, mother)

The general consensus was no matter how difficult it can sometimes be, making time and space for our creative expression is essential to living meaningful lives. Many of us agreed with the women in the film who said they thought they'd go crazy if they couldn't get to their artistic process. Even if it means telling society to taking a flying leap...or risking relationships...or changing where and how we live...it's worth it! As far as trying to have it all while keep all the balls in the air and plates spinning, I love Annette Benning's take:  "Balance is overrated!" 

As a creativity coach, I also used this opportunity to remind everyone that even spending a small amount of time with our creativity is better than doing nothing at all. Ten minutes spent sketching, knitting, playing piano or working in the garden can infuse the remaining 23 hours and 50 minutes in our day with a renewed energy and joy that everyone in our life will feel. (What a great return on such a small investment of time!) 

I know personally that when I've made time for my music or writing I'm in a much better place to be the mom, wife, friend, and human being I want to be. As some wise philosopher once said, "If Mama ain't happy - ain't nobody happy!" 

Thanks so much to everyone who came out. I hope that you felt as inspired and supported by this film as I did. 

Also, a special thanks to Art & Seek, Lakewood Women in Business, the White Rock Lake Weekly, Women for Women International, the Dallas Morning News, Natural Awakenings and The Hidden List for helping us spread the word about the screening.

Until next time,

all the best from my creative oasis to yours,

Jill

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?