🌱 Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds
And five other creative inspirations for your week ahead
💫 Inspiration to draw on this week
💬 A quote to live by
“Your mind is the garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds.”
~ William Wordsworth, English poet
🖍️ Get creative: the writing/art-making loop
Anne Marie Ness’s latest newsletter, The Writing Habit Loop, is a goldmine for anyone looking to build a consistent writing practice. It is applicable to all creative practices.
She delves into how habit loops - comprising cues, routines, and rewards - can help establish a sustainable creative routine.
In my day job, where I coach small groups in six-week accountability sessions focused on productivity, I know first-hand how this guidance is invaluable for making meaningful progress.
1. Commit to a schedule: e.g., I will write/make/create [number of words/articles/pieces] in [time scale].
2. Tell someone about your pact: commit to it publicly with a friend, colleague or accountability group.
3. Make time to write/make/create: Silence your inner critic and beat procrastination by making time in your calendar.
What creative project will you commit to working on this week?
🌟 Good news break: Arts and crafts boosts happiness
As I already suspected, taking up arts and crafts can boost mental health. A new study in Frontiers in Public Health this week, examining over 7,000 people, shows that regular creative activities enhance happiness and life satisfaction. Researchers found that those who craft frequently feel more fulfilled and find greater meaning in their routines. So no excuses: pick up your paintbrush, knitting needles, or any crafty tool!
🧶 For more on the well-being benefits of arts and crafts, check out this post. 👇🏻
🎵 Music to move your pencil to: 🎤 Long Way Home by Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne was the voice of the early noughties for me, his soft, gravelly tones always soothing my tensions. His new album, Long Way Home, showcases his talent for creating a complete musical journey.
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, reminiscing about the days when we’d eagerly buy an album, unwrap it with anticipation, pore over the credits, and savour the artwork. We’d listen from start to finish, appreciating the flow between tracks.
While Spotify and digital platforms are convenient, they often overwhelm with endless choices, leading to brief engagements. Long Way Home is a true album—an experience that takes you on a voyage from beginning to end. One to savour.
✍🏻 Artist recommendation: Rostislaw Tsarenko
I recently stumbled upon Rostislaw Tsarenko's incredible work, and let me tell you, it’s nothing short of magnificent!
Tsarenko's dot drawings (also known as pointillism) are filled with magical detail. With each dot, he builds layers of depth and texture, where you’ll notice something new every time you look at it.
Each piece is a testament to the power of slow, deliberate creation. For those of us who celebrate creativity and self-expression, his work beautifully reminds us that there’s no need to rush; the joy comes from creating something with care and passion, dot by dot.
And finally…the week in 3
You are never too young to play - especially on a see-saw.
Fantastic talk on the Neuroscience of Art by Robin Landau of Kinda Studios
Summer holiday manicure for Daisy - thanks Zoe 💅🏻
Which three photos from your camera roll best capture your week?
Share them here on the chat thread!
Have an inspired week ahead
Hmm can’t seem to add photos 😂
Gosh those drawings are so beautiful! As are yours 😉 I think these three pictures encapsulate my week. Note challenge (messages to strangers), walks through my local park, and a gorgeous post-storm sunset.