Creativity as a Compass

Norma, a lovely young social working, approached me one evening at Art Walk to give a presentation to a group of Foster Grandparents. “Ummm,” I mused, “what would you like me to present?” “Share with them what you do,” she replied with confidence. I believed in her believing in me and said, “Yes.”
Norma Berger, the Coordinator for the Alachua County Foster Grandparents program, works with over 100 low-income grandparents who help at-risk children at schools and day care. In exchange for a very modest stipend and lunch, these kind elders spend an average of 25 hours per week with one or more children whose problems start with loss of a parent and escalate from there. Norma wanted me to share how they could use creativity with their children.
I trusted the creative process and a delightful program unfolded. I had one-hour to work my magic. Powerpoint software allowed me to share my ideas and images in 20 minutes. Since mandalas are one of my favorite mediums to explore creativity, I created a simple compass mandala for them to color. I gave them the basic meanings of colors and had them focus on their foster grandchildren. I emphasized stretching outside the box of “normal” and to try their hand at using creativity as a form of bringing healing in the lives of their foster children.
These foster grandparents loved to color. They chirped and cooed as they passed the box of crayons back and forth along their tables. While mostly an understated group, there were lots of mmmhhmmms and unhuhs and they ALL colored a compass. Many of them colored two and many also took home a blank one to make copies and have their kids color it with them.
I set an idea in motion. When we think of a person in need and color an image with that person in our heart using colors intentionally – that is representing a healing wish – we can bring a blessing into that person’s life. And now it appears over 100 foster grandparents have colored compasses on their fridge. An idea that can only do good!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I am grateful to Norma Berger for extending the invitation to me. I am grateful for the inspiration to use colors as a healing vehicle and to create a compass for these lovely elders to color. I am grateful to the 100 foster grandparents who colored along with me with love in their hearts for their foster grandchildren.
Creativity inspires. Creativity guides. Creativity heals.

Create a Dream Window class

Create a Dream Window class starting Sun Feb 7th. When we can transform our dreams for our lives into words and then living art, we amplify our wishes beyond our beliefs. We become a powerful magnet for our greatest good. Come for just the first class or for the whole 4-week series.

The Sunday Feb 7th class will focus on learning how to make a rainbow of colors from the primary three and cultivating a Visioning Journal to empower your journey. Each week you will acquire creativity skills that will support your class project.

If you sign up for the series at the first class, I will provide you a vintage window free to use as your canvas for your project.

COST: One class - $25. Whole series - $100.

TIME: 3:00 to 5:30pm. Suns Feb 7, 14, 21, 28

LOCATION: at SMARTs at 435 S. Main St. and SE 5th Ave (next door to CMC). To register, call 352 562 1520 or email/FB me (valerierosie@yahoo.com).

More Art Play Classes

Roses Creativity presents Art Play - Creativity cultivates joy and well-being. Feels good.

Mandala Magic
Sunday January 24 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. – SMARTs in Gainesville (435 S Main Street, next to Civic Media Center). Making mandalas allows us to access sacred space. Using intuition, color and symbolism, making mandalas allows us to: heal, center, vision, become self-aware and feel good. We will transfer your mandala onto a t-shirt or fabric you bring. $25 ($20 class & $5 materials fee)

4-week Art Play
Sundays February 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. – SMARTs in Gainesville (435 S Main Street, next to Civic Media Center). $100 ($80 class & $20 materials fee). Introductory Art Play includes cultivating basic creativity skills through a Visioning Journal, learn to make a Color Wheel, collaging, collecting important ideas etc. Channeling those techniques into a multi-week project, you will create a mixed media Dream Window or Vision Board.

Class sizes limited. RSVP: Valerie at 352 562 1520 or valerierosie@yahoo.com. For more information see: www.rosescreativity.com

New Years Mandala Art Play Experience

I am excited to invite those who are called to join me in a:

WHAT: New Years Mandala Art Play

WHEN: two options
- Sat. Jan 9th, 2010 3:00 to 5:30pm - SMarts, Gainesville FL
- Sun Jan 10th, 2010 3:00 to 5:30 pm - High Springs Emporium

COST: $25 ($20 class fee plus $5 materials fee), bring your own light colored clothing or fabric

RSVP: Reserve your space by calling Valerie Rosenkrantz at 352 384 9143

This is the first Art Play class for 2010. Art Play classes are designed to:

- Stimulate your creative process.
- Build your creativity skills.
- Launch you in honoring your authentic self.
- Have fun making cool things.

Making Mandalas are a fun and relaxing activity to help us connect with our inner peace and magic.

"Mandala" means "circle" in Sanskrit and conveys that any center is tied to its circumference and any circumference is always determined by its center -- together they represent wholeness.

Mandalas abound in nature. The cells in our bodies are living mandalas. So are snow crystals, flowers and the iris of our eye.

Mandalas are known to all cultures throughout history. They can be very simple or extremely complex from Navajo sand paintings to ancient Tibetan religious designs. They can be found in stained glass windows in medieval cathedrals.

This New Years Mandala Art Play is being created to invite you to vision your life in 2010 through art. Through guided reflection, movement, music, color and symbolism, you will create your own "mandala." We will share the process as a friendly group, and support each to find internal space to create an individual expression. Coloring pens, pastels, paper and sample mandalas will be provided. We will then copy your mandala onto a "transfer" so that you can iron your artwork onto an item you bring (light colored clothing or fabric) to wear out into the New Years or display in your home.

I now wear a lovely mandala created during a 2009 art play circle and I enjoy its energy every day. I invite you to create your own mandala magic.

Learn more about art play and upcoming classes at: http://www.rosescreativity.com/

Oh Mary!

I first met Mary at the Farmer's Market last year. She had just come to town and was displaying her felted fruit and button earrings on the stairs behind the Sun Center. I was impressed with her from the start. Then last Saturday, we set up next to each other at the Sanctuary Yoga Holiday Trunk Show. Her genius-ly creative display and wares enthralled us all. I look forward to more from Mary and her awesome "store" Oh Mary!

Take a Chance on Love

Oh Yes, I will!

Last weekend I put my intentional jewelry creations out for public sale at three shows. There was a wonderful reception for my unique, one of a kind pieces. Many wonderful items went home with new and old friends. And the whole weekend was an adventure:

(1) While Friday ArtWalk at SMarts was a slow due to wet and cold weather, it was a sweet gathering and I received lots of blessings from many directions (as well as a few sweet sales from friends);

(2) Sat at Sanctuary Yoga was super both in connections and sales (perhaps the yogini's are my true market).

(3) And Sunday Dave and I schlepped it all to St. Augustine; the weather was ... ugh ... disappointing, but I more than made the tank of gas and dinner out and we had fun being by the beach. SO... over all it was a great first weekend out.

Thank you for sharing in my joy and blessings.

There were many wonderful artists out there sharing in the shows. I made some sweet connections (see OhMary in following blog) and enjoyed the variety of creative talents.

And many folks loved my fun bracelets -- "Take a Chance on Love!" Not only did I sell out of most of my inventory, but I also received invitations to display this item for sale at a local store and the museum shop. It is worth it to take a chance to do what I love!

Blessings of Creativity to you all.

Good News - My First Post

So much good news to share.

FIRST my web page is up:
http://www.rosescreativity.com/

AND my on-line store was launched yesterday at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/rosescreativity

It's a start. My photographic skills for on-line store are developing and I have SO MUCH to post. One friend told me to just add one or two items a day, so keep checking back. OR come to one of the up coming shows to see my inventory in person.

This weekend I will be showing my intentional jewelry at 3 places!

1) Gainesville Art Walk Holiday Festival on Friday Dec 4, 2009, 7 - 10 pm. I will be at the South Main Community Arts studio at S. Main St and SE 5th Avenue (next door to Civic Media Center). This will be my first show with my jewelry. Cool.

2) Sanctuary Yoga Trunk Show on Saturday Dec 5th, 2009 from 3 to 6 pm at 408 W. University Avenue.

3) Every Woman's Holiday Art Festival in St. Augustine, FL from 11- 5 pm.

IN ADDITION: I will be launching my ART PLAY classes in February 2010. The first class will be 4 weeks and will focus on introductory creativity skills: making colors, vision journaling, collages, and mandalas.