Valley of the Muse

This is one of the first shoots I did with my friend Scott in 2006, back when I still had my natural hair colour. These two photos feature very traditional poses, and I usually use them as profile pictures for work or for facebook.

The equipment you use can have a huge impact on your creativity.

That isn’t to say that you should go out and buy the most expensive gadget or art supplies. Or that you need to own every single tool before you can get creative. But the tools that you use greatly impact creativity and can even impede it.

A few months ago, my husband bought a new camera – the Canon T1i. Our old camera was fine – it was considered pretty high end for a non-pro camera, but I was never happy with the pictures that I took with it, so I rarely used it except on vacation. I would see something that I wanted to capture, but then when I would try to take a picture of it, it would look nothing like how I’d want it to. I remember when I received my very first camera when I was about 10 years old, and how extremely disappointed I was when the film was developed. To this day I’m sad about the quality of those photos and how they made my vacation look so dull and lacklustre.

I always thought that the crappy photos was because I had no photographic talent. Then I played around a bit with our new camera. My husband Jeff and I were at a national park with our two dogs, and we were just sitting around after a full day of hiking and a late lunch, enjoying the view of the lake. I picked up the camera sitting next to me and I took a picture where the dog closest to me was in focus, and the dog next her (further away from me) was blurred as part of the background. Then I reversed the focal points so that dog #2 was in focus and dog #1 (closest to me) was blurred.

Both pictures looked great, and I was amazed.

The new camera didn’t suddenly turn me into a pro, but for the first time in my life, I had a camera that did what I wanted it to do. Ever since then, I’ve been taking random pictures, including the ones posted here. Having the right tool for taking images I’m not embarrassed by is one of the main reasons I finally started a blog for creativity and personal development. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, but I always held back, and was never quite sure why it never seemed to come together until recently.

I’ve had similar experiences in other areas, ranging from cake decorating, making jewellery, and even make-up application! I remember in high school saving up money for what looked like a vibrant eyeshadow, only to find that when applied, it looked washed out and barely there. Since then, I’ve invested in good quality brushes and I stick to brands that have strong pigmentation. They’re a bit pricier, but I personally find it worthwhile (although I’ve also found no-name brands over the years that are just as fantastic).

Personal Development Tip

Is there a project that you’ve always wanted to embark on but never really got going? If you’re not sure why you just can’t seem to get it off the ground, it’s worth considering you’re being obstructed by the tools you’re using. One way to test out the idea is to embark on a test run. Go through the steps, create a prototype, and then assess the final product. If the result falls short of your expectations and hopes, it’s very likely that the tools you’re using just aren’t giving you what you need.

If on the other hand you can’t complete or start even the rough version, then all the tools in the world won’t be able to change the situation, and you’re going to have to resolve other issues such as creative block, procrastination, etc., which I’ll be addressing in future blog posts.

But, just think about it – if it really is about the tools you’re using, then that’s fantastic, because it can be such an easy thing to resolve!

What have been your experiences with tools? I’d love to hear your experiences with this!

This bento was super easy to put together. I always use leftovers from dinner. I also put the bento together right before dinner is plated, just to make sure I get it done. This bento also has toothpicks from before I found decorative picks to use.

Contents of Bento #3:

• Main Tier – sautéed mushrooms and green peppers, veggie ground round (love this stuff!), pasta, and tomato sauce made with tomato puree plus a mix of spices (basil, garlic, marjoram, oregano, sage and thyme)
• Top Tier – sliced bananas, chocolate hazelnut wafers (napolitanke), light Baby Bell cheese, grapes to fill the gaps, and mixed nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds and dried cranberries)

Originally written June 2007.

Title: This Is
Author: Miriam Bosiljevac
Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Rating: Mature
Wordcount: 704
Author’s Note: Story written for Scott, in honour of his birthday. Section titles taken from songs by the Clash.
Summary: Once upon a time, there was an angry girl, who used to wear torn t-shirts, dyed her hair blue and green, and had 8 pairs of converse shoes.

Read the rest of this entry »

A few weeks ago I went to San Francisco and couldn’t resist buying the most adorable purse. The store was Loyal Army Clothing and I had the hardest time deciding what to get from it. If you click on the pic below, you’ll see the details, like an onion with a tear and a carrot with a toothy grin on the healthy side, and the hamburgers with vampire teeth on the unhealthy side.

If you’re looking for cool T-shirts and accessories go to http://www.loyalarmy.com/

Then I went to a BBQ where I met a girl who makes purses out of recycled magazines and wrapping paper, and decided to make this into a post featuring some of the unique bags that I’ve found.

Hamiltontankgirl makes purses out of recycled magazines, and my favourite one is the sushi purse shown below. I like that it reuses magazines and that it’s waterproof. She also can do custom designs. Her etsy store is here.

This bag is also from etsy, and I love that it’s made of different fabrics. The artisan has a few different styles, but I thought this colour/fabric combination was the best one. Tremundo’s etsy store can be found here.

If you prefer bags with sleek, clean lines, you’ll love these bags from Revamp Productions. They have a retro pin-up feel, and my favourites are in the style of a classic car (shown below). Check out their website for more styles and colours.

Or if you’d prefer your purse look like modern art, you’ll love the purses by Eylem Binboğa. The black cherry touch at the side is so pretty against the purple leather on the purse below. Visit Accessories by Eylem Binboğa here.

I couldn’t resist including the following two. They’re not really bags, but instead cakes that are made to look like bags.

If you’re in Toronto (like me), you’ll want to contact “Sweet Things” for your next creative cake art. This Louis Vuitton purse looks delicious and pretty. Blog with other examples (including a yoda cake!) can be found here.

Or, check out this Prada inspired purse cake by “I Dream of Cake”. The website has some beutiful high end creations.

What do you think of these purses? Do you create unique purses and bags? Have you purchased one? Leave a comment and link!

As a writer, I spend a lot of time alone.

I’m also an extrovert (and a bit of an exhibitionist) and after spending my day working from home, my husband is inevitably faced with a flood of conversation. I want to tell him about my day and about how one of our dogs kept losing her ball under the couch or how I’m just not sure what one my characters is trying to tell me. I know I’m lucky that he finds my babbling to be one of my endearing qualities, but I also know that he can’t be my sole support when it comes to my creative endeavours. He experiences creativity in a very different way than I do, and sometimes he just doesn’t understand my perspective or need for validation. What he can do is encourage me to put myself out there and submit stories to publishers, continue finding ways to work from home so I can focus on my novel, or point out the flaws in my project plans. He keeps me grounded, which is why we work so well from a relationship perspective.

From a creative perspective though, I need something more. I love talking to people about the creative process, and I’ve made some fantastic friends online who engage in picking apart their own methodology. I need critical feedback and I’ve found a helpfully brutal critique group. I also need to be nurtured, and I’ve been reaching out to friends who can fill the role of cheerleader or who will listen to me brainstorm when I’m stuck.

As an artist, if you feel alone, think about the different friends and acquaintances you have. Make plans to have coffee and see what their reaction is to your creative projects. Or try engaging people you’ve met online by sending an email with something you’re working on. One of them might just surprise you and fill a role that you didn’t even know needed to be filled. For example, the other day, one of my friends offered to read everything I’ve written. He’s a voracious reader, and even though I warned him he would be receiving unfinished first drafts, he seemed excited and interested in seeing what I was putting out. For me though, it means that I need to turn out something, anything, by the end of today (which thankfully I have), and adds a level of accountability that I need in my life. This blog serves a similar role and it inspires me to continue creating and finishing new things to post. You may find that you need different things in your life, such as someone who will text message you every morning saying “get up and write” or maybe someone who will go to art shows with you.

Be aware though that you can’t ask a person to fill a role they’re not capable of filling. If you turn to someone looking for validation, but all they give you is criticism, then stop turning to them. All that’s going to do is destroy your confidence and discourage you from completing any work. Or if they’re great at listening to you talk about the minute differences in materials you work with, but never add anything to the conversation, don’t get frustrated with them. Instead, be as specific as you can about what you need from them and then respect their decision about how involved they want to be.

And finally, don’t forgot to appreciate the support you receive, whether by verbally thanking the person or gifting them with something you’ve created just for them, becuase their support will feed your muse and help you accomplish your goals.

I found a simple round wooden-framed mirror for less than $5.00 at Home Depot a few years back, and had the idea to decorate it using glass vase fillers.

Oh, and the metal frog and seahorse were purchased from a fantastic London-based artist. You can find Richard Pell’s work here.

I went to see a live show this past weekend. The music was pretty decent (I wasn’t familiar with the bands before), but the main difference between the opening band and the headliners was their performance on stage.

I know a lot of musicians who spend ever waking moment rehearsing so that their sound is perfect. They invest in a lot of expensive equipment, practice with their bandmates so that they can sound tight, and when they’re on stage they pay attention to what’s coming out of their stage monitors. All of that focus on how they sound is what drives a great musical performance.

But it’s not enough.

Seeing a band live means that there is a visual component, and it’s not enough to pick out a snazzy outfit and headbang at appropriate moments. The opening band I saw had a lot of promise but some of the lead singers movements seemed like the kind of thing you saw at another show and thought they looked cool. They unfortunately didn’t, and just made him look twitchy and drunk.

I’m sure there are people that disagree and are able to tune out idiotic gyrating on stage, focusing on just the music, but if you’re performing and hoping to pick up new fans, you can’t risk alienating those who are visually-oriented. Especially, since it’s a fairly easy fix.

When you’re at the point where you’re no longer worried about how you sound as a band, set-up your rehearsal space so that it approximates a stage, and then set up a video camera in front so that it captures everyone’s movements. This isn’t just for the lead singer either – guitar and bassist can also detract from a performance by standing woodenly on stage, effectively draining out any energy the lead singer can whip up out of the audience. Once you’ve recorded a few songs, view them as a group. Critique the movements. Don’t just stop at “oh, that’s cool”, but really dig into what looks weird, what you do too often, what expression you thought looks soulful but doesn’t really work. When you’re done, keep the best ones, then think about what else you can do. Repeat until you look like pros.

Oh, and the headliner? Had fans set-up at the front of the stage, not because of the heat, but because it made the lead singers hair billow during the performance. In the hands of a less experienced band it would have looked cheesy, but for these guys it only made them look awesome. They had long curly hair, and more importantly their movements were unrushed and fluid, so that when they did stand back into the fans it only added to their performance, never detracting from it. Instead of picking apart their movement, I was able to sit back and enjoy the show.

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about creating a complete story while only using 100 words. When well executed, they can be beautiful in their simplicity.

I frequently have an image in my head and I’ve found that limiting myself to 100 words is a good way to get that image onto paper (especially since I don’t draw well). It’s also a way of disciplining myself to stick to the image – the description, the senses, and the point of the interaction itself – without going off on a tangent. By sticking to 100 words (no more and no less) I’m forced to edit out unnecessary words or add more descriptors, and I find this makes my writing much more crisp and precise than other forms of writing. It also means that I’m focusing on the writing itself, rather than worrying about how its going to come out.

A variation of this is completed stories using the 140 character limit on twitter. There are several twitter-based e-zines such as “Thaumatrope” (scifi/fantasy/horror) and “Tweet the Meat” (horror). I haven’t tried this out yet myself, but I’m planning on trying it out some time this month.

Do you write drabbles? Do you write tweet-fic? Do you follow a blog or website that posts well written short fiction? Leave a link!

EDIT: I was pretty pleased with myself for making the post exactly 200 words, but then I found a great blog that uses a similar concept. “Six Sentences” publishes short stories composed of, you guessed it, six sentences. Looks like all genres are welcome.

Another old flashfic, this one from September 2006.

Title: Lowri’s Betrayal
Author: Miriam Bosiljevac
Wordcount: 100
Summary: Aeddan had loved Lowri.

The words stung. He was expecting them, had heard the practiced logic from her before, but the venom in Lowri’s voice tore right through him. She had been his hope, his life, and Aeddan didn’t want to believe any of this was actually happening.

Her fiery hair seemed to burn in the sunlight as she raised the broadsword above her head. Lowri wore the colours of her father on the battlefield, signifying her choice over her lover and supposed shelter.

Aeddan stood still as the blade swung towards him, her betrayal destroying his soul faster than any weapon ever could.