Paula B. Puckett

There are baskets on the work bench today, and they’ll be used for serving, or decoration, or to hold other objects.

The style depends on what’s needed, and function/form are interchangeable.

Making baskets is work, but it’s the FUN kind of work. While these examples might have a function (in my mind), someone else might think they are perfect for use for something I’d not thought of before.

Fine with me…I’m creatively productive today and I work with my hands, my head, and my heart.

It’s August, and around where I live, this is the part of the summer where humidity in the air is so thick, a person could almost wrap up in and wear it. A day like today has clouds moving in, a high heat index, the distant rumble of thunder, and before you turn around twice…there’s a pop up rainstorm.

Not just talking about the weather today. I know, I know, the garden out back just LOVES the rain and it’s good for growing the vegetables.

But it changes whatever else I might’ve planned for the day, this weather has. It’s a perfect day for catching up on inside projects. OR reading a good book*, maybe working on a crafting project**, or taking a nap. Maybe all three.

I COULD catch up on some television viewing, but honestly…t.v. news and broadcasts during most times (but especially during a political/election year) aggravates me in ways that are most surprising. I search for “balance,” in my personal and public interactions. And so…I create:

Potholders.

From sock loops.

I’ll most likely be making a lot of these, and while admitting that they are based on craft projects I remember from my childhood(many years ago) I am finding this activity very therapeutic even now, as many things made by hand seem to be able to do.

I’ll wish you well on your creative journey, too. Please leave a comment if you wish, and let me know how it’s going.

Happy creating!

It’s time for classes!

Sometimes I’m the teacher. I’ve started teaching Basic Basketry and Handsewing classes as part of a Heritage Skills classes, and every once in a while…I’ll offer soapmaking classes, too.

And sometimes, I’ll be the student. COOKING WITH EDIBLE FLOWERS was a class from last summer, and THIS year, I’ll be planting more flowers in my garden, with every intention of EATING them.

I sure hope you are finding things you enjoy doing, and approach each new thing with the curiosity of a child.

Why?

Because research indicates that all of that learning will help keep brain cells active, improve quality of life, reduce depression, provide lots of opportunities to meet new people, and appreciate folks you’ve had in your life who encourage you to grow into the best version of yourself.

I’m still growing. That’s (part of) my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Come join me along the journey.

Happy Creating!

Hello there, it’s been a while, I know.

Maybe it was Ben Franklin who said to, “either write something worth reading or do something worth writing,” and I’ve spent some time doing both. I’ve also taken a few classes, taught classes, read about other creatives, and written about or created new creative projects. Even butterflies need to spend time in their cocoon before they emerge as a new something.

All that to say, that while I’ve not posted here for a time, I’m trusting that the time away will be time well spent. I’ll hope to be here more often in the future.

I can’t wait to see what’s next to come along my Creative Path.

I hope you’ll be making something you enjoy, too.
Happy journey!

I’ve found SO many things to see and do along my Creative Journey.

I want to do everything and all at the same time. I know, I know…that’s fairly impossible, right? And while I’ve spent these past 2-3 years doing practical research and participating in applications (i.e. making stuff), I figure now might be a good time to try to focus.

With that in mind, I’ll begin by saying that there are TONS of resources available for making just about all of those craft anythings. And…there are many ways to do those things, and even more suppliers who would like to sell you directions and supplies, kits, and workshops. I don’t think I’ll go out on a limb and try to list all of those resources here, but what I WILL do is encourage a reader to do their homework and research some of those on your own before spending a ton of money.

I’ll begin with SOAP:

I love to make soap for home use and gifting, and I have been asked to teach a class on soapmaking. I thought about that for a long time before I wrote up a proposal, because there is more to making soap than you’d think. My hope will be to make it seem so easy as to encourage the beginning students who sign on to do some research for experimenting with other recipes, fragrances, and in adding a little bit of color.

There’s a lot of information about that, too, so there’s room for diversifying and creating a gazillion different combinations. I’ve learned how to collect certain plant materials, get natural colors by the oils or liquid(s) I use, as well as using essential oils for fragrances that are both soothing and healthful. (Check labels to make sure the oils are skin safe.)

This photo shows samples of a lemongrass, a plain, unscented bar, a soap using dried lavender, a yummy soap using an essential oil that smells like fresh oranges, and a natural with vitamin E and a splash of color, just for fun. When it is time to “cut” the bars, I make them large for bath sizes and smaller for assorted gift sizes.

Today happens to be the first day of spring, and although the weather is still cool where I am, I’m looking forward to a sunny day when the temperature outside is in the upper 70s or low 80s and I know I’ll be outside, too.

Making soap, for starters.

And Happy Creating! I hope you’re making something fun today, too.

I am at home in either of these buildings. They have become two of my most favorite places in the world.

Here we have a blacksmithing shop and a general store. They are full size and functional, which means, sometimes we actually work there.

Ting! Ting! Metal hammer strikes metal on an anvil, and when I hear that sound, I know something is being made. Or repaired. The smell of burning coal in the forge, and the warmth coming off the fire reaches me in ways I hadn’t thought of before.

The store is used as a meeting place, a storage place, a place to get stuff. And where we can sit on the front porch on a sunny day to do nothing at all ALL DAY if we start early enough, doing nothing, all day. There’s a place beside the store where I hope to build an outdoor cooking area someday.

If anybody comes looking for me, I’ll probably be down in the village, where Creative Time might stand still, or there’s a real wrinkle in my timeline.

Well.
2020 and 2021 feel like they were so long ago and yet just the other day. And while I know that it’s later on in the year 2022, this year has also shown itself to be full of surprises and experiences.

I wondered for a time if it was just me, and maybe I had dropped into the same rabbit hole that Alice fell into when she discovered Wonderland. OR maybe if I’d taken a nap and awakened years later, as did Rip Van Winkle, to another time and place.

But…I know those are fictional characters. I think I’ll call all of this as Research, share some of the information with those who might care to listen, and leave a trail of more than breadcrumbs along the way.

Cooking on an outdoor fire can be a lot of fun, or it can be more work than you thought. I’ve spent a fair bit of time practicing, so the taste-testings are usually an event. These are cheddar cheese and herb biscuits and I’ll keep that recipe for use again.

Hope you’ll find a way down your own creative path too, and I’ll hope to hear from you along your journey.