Creative Vacation

One of the gifts Jon gave me for Christmas.  An alpaca scarf made by one of the members of Jon's Open Group.  (Unfortunately, I don't know her name, but hopefully someone out there will let me know.)
One of the gifts Jon gave me for Christmas. A beautiful hand crocheted scarf made by Erin Guidish one of the members of Jon’s Open Group.  The wool is from her alpacas, Gizmo, Kia, Venezia, and King

Vacation…is it possible to stay home and have a vacation?  Well, that’s what I’m planning on doing.  Actually Jon has the same plans, but he also has plans to finish writing his latest book too.  So I guess vacation means different things to each of us.

When  I think of vacation, I think of being someplace warm, and sitting around doing a lot of reading.  Or going someplace new and exploring.  But the vacation I’m planning between now and New Years, or maybe even the Monday after New Years, is not that kind of vacation.  What I’m really feeling creatively is that I need time away from my studio.  Time away from the routine I’ve established there over the past year of so. I know it’s important for artists to take time from their creative work.  I’ve read about this idea, heard artists talk about it and miraculous stories about how such breaks have pushed artists in new directions.  But even without all that, I know how I feel and I know I need a vacation from my work.

So these are my plans for the next week or so. Sleep late (which means getting up to feed the animals then getting back into bed), reading a lot (deeply into the new book Jon got me for Christmas, The Gold Finch by Donna Tartt) see lots of movies, (We have a long list of movies to see in the theater and at home) take walks, visit friends, and clean my studio.  I see cleaning my studio as part of the resting and recharging of my creativity.  Getting familiar again with my fabrics by re-organizing them.  Moving things around for a fresh start.

And blogging?  Well at first I planned on not blogging at all.  But I’m finding that sometimes, I just can’t help myself,  I find I have something I need to say or a picture I need to post.  So I’ll be loose about that.  Usually I blog at least one time a day except on Saturday (this is my day off from going on-line) but on my vacation I’ll give myself the luxury of not blogging if I don’t feel like it.  And blogging when I do feel like it.  Same goes for email.

So here I go.  We’re kicking off the vacation by going to a matinee of the new Hobbit movie with our friends George Forss and Donna Wynbrandt.  Yes!  a movie in the middle of the day.  Now that sounds like a vacation to me.

 

20 thoughts on “Creative Vacation

  1. Can one vacation at home? Great question. Hard to do, but yes – and a movie in the middle of the day sounds PERFECT. The scarf is stunning and I love the personal touch of the photo. BTW, I adore the “Show-Your-Art-Guru” potholder. NICELY done. 🙂 Merry Christmas and happy “recharging”.

  2. Ericka (my D-I-L) and I just finished The Goldfinch … I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. The painting The Goldfinch is on exhibit at The Frick Museum in NYC until January 19th (I think). I so wanted to fly us there for a day to see it, but the cost was exorbitant. If you decide to make the trip to NYC to see it, let me know it’s impact on you. Enjoy your vacation. Chris

    1. I’m loving it Christina. And Jon and I will be in NYC next week. I was considering which museums to visit, the Frick being one of them, Now I’m definitely going! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think.

  3. “Reorganizing” (OK, just “organizing”) always went on my list of New Year Resolutions. But this year I, too, decided to tackle it over the Christmas break (actually started right around Thanksgiving), so I could start the New Year fresh. Emptying out every closet, drawer, container in the whole (not that big, thank goodness) house. I am at times pleasantly surprised – and other times appalled – at what I am finding. A beautiful lithograph by a Native American artist resurfaced from the back of a closet (so that’s where it was) and my sister had it framed for my Christmas/birthday gift. Multiple drop-offs to the charity shops and libraries. I’m thinking my 2014 resolution should be “no more drugstore shopping”; I seem to have developed a moisturizer addiction since moving to New Mexico, and have at least a year’s (if not a lifetime’s) supply.

  4. Have a great one Maria! Sometimes staycations can be just as restful. We had one the 2nd week of Dec. and it was great! Enjoy 🙂
    Cindy

  5. Dear Maria, My creative son says the same thing, taking a break from the art (he is a writer, not published yet) is very important. Enjoy your vacation!!! The scarf is so delicate and so beautiful!! Annie

  6. I forgot to say how much I LOVED your “Show Your Art Guru” potholder!! Actually, that is quite the way I pictured Jon dancing in the snow from the description in “Second Chance Dog”!!! Annie

  7. OMG…I’m being teased while trying to write a nice comment here….And I thought my daughter made up the word! But if Elisabeth used it, I guess not.
    Good thing I know that teasing is a form of endearment.(sp?)

  8. Maria, I have a Dictionary/Thesaurus in the bookcase right next to this chair. (for my spelling OCD) Teasing, I LOVE it! It’s the gift that keeps on giving. 🙂

    1. yes Cindy , I understand. Although the only think that compels me to have good spelling is so I don’t look like a moron when I write. For that reason, I love my dictionary and would be lost without it. And am sometimes still lost with it!

  9. Hahahahahaha!!! 🙂 🙂 The word moron is not anywhere in your sphere Maria. Not to be found!
    Does this mean I have a dictionary in my computer too? How do you get to yours? I’d be so excited to conserve the energy it takes to reach to the bookcase.

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