207: Creative New Year's Resolutions

The question comes up every year; what is your New Year's resolution? To be honest, I hate this question. I can never think of anything I could keep up. I should really say things like, 'well, I'll write every day' or, 'I'll call my family more often.' But from past experience I know these just won't be kept up (rubbish I know). I really need another one on top of these ones.

So this year, I am going to set myself a creative New Year's resolution. Maybe I'll set myself a knitting challenge, like knit something for each member of my family by next Christmas. Or I could make a photo album of my year with my new camera! Or volunteer with a creative charity. Finishing my novel would be a really good one...

Let's do it together! I'll have a creative New Year's resolution if you have one too. Get your thinking caps on people. What creative skill do you have? How could you use it this year?

Write it down, stick it on your wall and get it in motion!

206: Sing Star vs. Just Dance

Around Christmas time everyone tends to do the rounds, visiting family, opening presents together, eating food together and, at least with my family, there's a game or two shared together.

My family is pretty big, which means lots of games (like Epic Mickey, as I explained yesterday). The whole family gets involved with some games, whereas others, only the kids play. Take Just Dance, for example. First the kids have a go, then the teens and then a willing parent/auntie/uncle have a go. (You know they secretly wanted a go the whole time!) Just Dance seems to be one of those games where most of the family eventually join in, even though it's potentially embarrassing.

But what about Sing Star? You know the one. You pick a song and sing along, trying to reach the right notes for the right amount of beats (basically kareoki). My experience with this game is, only kids are willing. None of the adults in the room will budge. Maybe it's different with your family, but that's certainly what I found this Christmas.

So, what does this say about singing and dancing? Do people find singing more embarrassing in public? What about in the shower? Is dancing around like a prat really less embarrassing?

I think yes, dancing is less embarrassing than singing in front of people, but why is that?

It would seem that some creative things are more 'acceptable' in public than others. Is this something we should change? Is it something we want to change...?

Feel free to ponder these creative thoughts for a while. Oh, and let me know your thoughts...

205: Epic Mickey on the Wii

For Christmas the family got a Wii game called Epic Mickey. Basically, Mickey Mouse has to go on a quest to save a world created the Sorcerer (from Fantasia). Mickey ruined the new world by spilling paint all over it, releasing a evil paint monster that he now has to find and destroy.

I have to say, I'm pretty rubbish at it, so my sister does the controls and I tell her where to go! We make a good team I think.

So, why am I telling you about this? Well, I actually think it's a really creative game. For one thing, a new world has been created (which I think is supposed to represent Disney World). Plus, when Mickey's in the world, his weapon is paint. That's how he makes enemies his friends and how he breaks down walls to pass through...what would be your creative weapon of choice?

Games are amazing. There are so many varieties, something for everyone. The cool thing is, it's some one's job to make and design them. Could it be your job?

Something to think about...

Day 204: Gingerbread house

It's a bit of a family tradition of ours to get a gingerbread house and cover it in icing and sweets. Then eat it, of course. So, here's this year's effort:

I did say it was on my list of creative things to do over Christmas, so one by one I'm ticking them off.

How's yours coming along...?

Day 203: Decopatch

Do you like my hearts? Well, actually, mine is the middle one and the other two were decorated by my sisters. Amongst Boxing day's festivities, we took time out to do some Decopatch.

What the heck's Decopatch, I hear you ask? Well, basically, it is covering stuff in little patches of tissue paper to jazz them up. Find out more on their website.

It's proper easy, so if there's a scuzzy old ornament you need to sparkle up, why not try to Decopatch it? You can do it on anything; lampshades, boxes, bowls, chairs...

Chose your colours, patterns, shapes, sizes...see how creative YOU can be...

Day 202: Boxing Day

A very Merry Boxing Day to everyone this afternoon!

I thought it only appropriate to talk about presents! All of us will have opened at least some present yesterday. Did you get anything creative? I thought I'd share a creative present or two...

This is a super cool crafty book I got from Steve, my Boyfriend's Dad (thanks Steve) called Meet Me at Mike's. It's full of 26 things you can make like this:

A notepad cover. I mean, who doesn't need one of these? It's full of instructions and stencils for making...I can't WAIT to get started!

And...I got a camera too (hence the sparkly new pictures from my camera) which means if I see something creative, all I need to do now is whip out my camera and walla (I'm not sure how you spell that, but you get the point), I can share it with you all right here...

Watch this space for more creative inspiration!

Day 201: Christmas Day Holiday

It's Christmas Day!!!

A day for a holiday I think, but just for a little creative input, here's a clip for you to enjoy. It's still about holidays though, so it's ok! Plus the kids are super cute!



Although this is a bit of a Christmasy Chick Flick, it's actually pretty creative too, 'cause it's all about the film industry; one guy write music for movies, one girl makes trailors and another used to write for film.

But for the purpose of today, it's about having fun at Christmas, so make family, eating and opening presents your priority!

Merry Christmas!

Day 200 : Creative Christmas Eve!

As Christmas Day fast approaches, I thought it best to have a little think about what creative things we can do with all the tons of wraping paper that's left at the end of it all. Instead of just chucking it in the bin this year, be creative instead...

Emma's top ten creative ideas to re-use wrapping paper:

Origami - Christmas themed, I guess, but use your creative skills to be original.

Papier Mache - cut it all up, add wall paper paste and start creating whatever you need.

Mummies - turn an annoying younger sibling or cousin into a mummy but covering them in wrapping paper and sticking them in a cupboard. It'll get them out of your hair for a while at least.

Cards - use the beutiful paper to create next years Christmas cards, thank you cards

Advent calender - recycle your left overs into a advent calender. Try and find 24 different peices for each door!

Textbook - cover your school/college books for the new year...how about patchwork?

Collage - make a winter scene or a funky colour chart.

Scrapbook - start and patterns and textile scrap book with all the scraps you love. You never know when they'll come in handy.

Shred it - use it to line gift boxes for the rest of the year.

Wrap it - Use it to cover a shoebox and you've got a new storage box for you room.

So, if you're bored on Boxing Day or need to amuse yourself until school/college starts again, use what you got and make Christmas last a bit longer

Day 199: Crafty Christmas Fun

Christms Eve Eve...No one really knows what to do on this day, so here's a few creative Christmas ideas to fill the day! All you need is a pine cone. Click on the link to find out more...

Try me out

Christmas Wreath

Pine cone girls

...or this one

Enjoy...

Day 198: Home Alone

At work the other day I asked Sophie what her favourite Christmas film is and she said, Home Alone which is totally my favourite Christmas film too. In fact, when we were trying to think of other Christmas films after, not many came to mind. For me Home Alone  kinda takes over!

There are loads thought; A Christmas Carol, not forgetting the Muppet's version (which I love), Miracle on 34th Street, The Santa Clause, Elf...

When I was little my dad used to make us watch White Christmas every year, which, if you ask me, isn't very Christmasy at all. I mean, it's about the war! My Dad loves it anyway.

It seems like every year there's a new one out. Kinda amazing that there's enough ideas to put a 'new' slant on it each time.

What's your favourite Christmas film? Why?

If you were to make a film what would it be about? Family, love, adventure, magic?

Have a think about your ideal Christmas film tonight...who knows what might happen to it...

Day 197: Me and my Christmas baking

So, today I actually did make the cookies I put up yesterday, the ginger ones, and this is what they came out like:

There were a few sacrifices along the way as I attempted to smash some hard boiled sweets to smithereens. Lets just say I got a black finger, okay.

Fingers aside, I had fun, my belly is happy and so is the rest of the family. A winner all round. I think the look pretty cool too. Why not try a bit of Christmas baking yourself? (See Day 196 for some recipes...)

Day 196: Christmas Cookies!

I've decided that tomorrow will be spent making Christmas cookies, yummy. Care to join me? Here's a few recipes I've been looking at...

Festive Gingerbread Biscuits

Sparkling Vanilla Cookies

Jam Cookies

Almond Christmas Tree Biscuits



Let me know how it goes. Christmas is for eating after all!

Day 195: Pom-poms on the Catwalk

Last night I spent the evening making a pom-pom to put on a pair of slippers I’ve made for Christmas. (I won’t say who for, they might be reading!)
They are so easy to make and look pretty cool too. I mean, they're even on the catwalk. So here are instructions to create your own pom-poms:
1. Cut 2 circles out of cardboard (draw round a jar/tin). Then cut a smaller circle in the middle (so it looks like a donut).

2. Put the 2 pieces of card together and start looping wool around them, through the hole and around the outside. Once you’ve finished with one length of wool, start another.

3. Keep going until the hole in the middle is non-existent. Use a needle when you can’t fit your fingers through anymore.

4. Get some sharp scissors and cut in between the 2 bits of cardboard on the outside of your circle.

5. Carefully wrap a piece of wool in between the two pieces of cardboard, and tie it tightly around the wool in the centre of your donut shape.

6. Cut the cardboard off and fluff up your pom-pom. Cut any loose ends off and admire your handy work.

Why not use different coloured wool as you go round? Make big ones, small ones, put them on slippers, hats, make a necklace, earrings...be as inventive as you like!

Merry making!

Day 194: The Little Mermaid

Sometimes you just have to treat yourself. What do you do when you need a rest, a boost of energy before something big's gonna happen?

I tend to revert back to my childhood; I watch The Little Mermaid.

Yep, it's my favourite Disney film and always will be. I pretty much know all the words and I'm not ashamed to admit it. So, the other day, I climbed into bed with some chocolate and my knitting and watched The Little Mermaid, singing along to the songs and laughing at Sebastian and Scuttle. Good times.

It's a wonderfully creative animation. I love the story, the colours, the music, the characters, the songs...Everything about it is gorgeous. And, I get to be creative in my own way by knitting while I watch. (I know it so well, I don't really need to look at the screen anymore. In fact, if I just sat here right now I could probably play the whole thing out in my head, songs and all. Who needs technology, eh!)

So, for your delight, here's a clip. It's my favourite bit (along with the rest of the film!) Sing along...

Day 193: Holidays are comin'

So today is the last day of my term and I have to say, I have never looked forward to going home as much as I do now. Christmas is a time for rest, eating, family...

...but what about creating? Do you guys have any creative plans for this festive season?

Let's decide together to put our hands/ears/eyes/mouths to something creative over the next 3(ish) weeks, people!

I am going to do some knitting, maybe even on Christmas day!
I'm going to read lots of good books...and maybe some writing too(?)
I'm going to do some colouring with my littlest sister, Olivia.
I'm going to do some baking...maybe decorate a gingerbread house in sweets and icing (yummmmm)!

What will  you do this holiday season to keep your creative side full this Christmas. Have a think, make a list and check it twice...

Day 192: What's your duvet like?

I've just put my new double duvet on my bed to keep me warm on these winter nights. It's got a really cool duvet cover which got me thinking about how many millions of duvet cover designs there must be in the world.

When I was a kid I have loads of Disney ones like 101 Dalmatians. I had a Snatch the dog one too, complete with lampshade and bin. (so cool, I know!) I had a panda one too. Everyone has one with their favourite animal on, right? Then as I 'matured,' I had, Lord of the Rings 'cause I was obsessed! When Uni started it was bright pink and now I have a brand new green one with flowers and dots. (it's actually way nicer than it sounds!)

I loved all of them at one stage or another, but I can't help but think it would be infinitely cooler to create my own duvet design...

What design would you create...? Here's some ideas to get you started on your creation!

Day 191: Illusions on the street

Check out these amazing images drawn on pavements:

They are soooo cool and really inspiring. I love illusion art. It makes you question what is there and how it can be made to look like that. Do you recon these artist draw them for fun? Art like this brings the community together and get people interested, even it it's not their thing. everyone can enjoy art out in the street! What would you draw on the street if you could?

I hope these images inspire you're creativity today. How could you bring illusion into your creative work...?

Day 190: Cats

I've been thinking about cats today. Partly because I miss my two cats back home, but also because of all the creative things that have been done with cats. I mean, how many animations have been made about cats? They've even got their own stage show named after them (which is brilliant by the way and mega creative!) And they're presented in so many adverts for cat food it's unreal.

Check this one out (sorry about the bit at the beginning, it was the best I could find):



How sexy is that cat!

How could you use cats in your creative work? (Not an actual cat, please. I am NOT supporting cruelty to animals!) Give a little time to cats today and see how they inspire your creative thinking...

Day 189: Elevator Pitch

What are you doing creatively at the moment? Maybe you're making an album or a series of paintings. Maybe you're writing a book or planning a massive creative festival!

If you were in an elevator/lift and someone asked you what you did (creatively) could you explain it to them in the few minutes you have with that person?

Or, perhaps more realistically, one of your relatives at Christmas asks you what you are doing with your life at the moment, could you confidently tell them about your creative work?

People like a confident, well thought out answer, don't they? Think about it today. How could you put what you do into a few sentences?

Here's my elevator pitch for my project:

I am running a creative writing competition for secondary school pupils, accompanied by workshops and one-to-one session to improve writing and creative thinking. All entries will be made into an anthology with proceeds split between the school and a charity chosen by the winner. An awards ceremony will follow with readings, prizes and anthologies on sale.

What does yours sound like...?

Day 188: Moonpig

Fancy getting creative with your christmas cards this year? Well, check out Moonpig.com. There's literally a Christams card on there for everyone. You can be as creative as you like. Chose your image, add a photo, insert a name...the choice is up to you.

Can't afford to send Chistmas cards? Well, just have a bit of a play anyway. Give your creative side a present with Moonpig!

Happy card making!

Day 187: Shadow Catchers at V&A

Check out this amazing exhibition if you are into photography. These eerie images have been captured using shadows to manipulating light. What a cool idea!

Five contemporary artist/photographers are on show at the V&A Museum in London; Floris Neusüss, Pierre Cordier, Susan Derges, Garry Fabian Miller and Adam Fuss.

The V&A website has got more info, so that's a good place to start.

Shadow catchers...what a great name for a book...

Day 186: A little help please...

Today I want to talk to you about a project I'm doing. I'm proper excited about it and all in all, it's coming on a real treat.

So, I'm going into a secondary school in Bath to run a creative writing competition. Anyone in years 7, 8 or 9 can enter and I'll run workshops and one-to-one sessions to help them out. All entries will be turned into an anthology sold at an awards ceremony with readings and prizes. Oh, and the anthology will be sold to raise money for the school and a charity chosen by the winner...

...but, I need a theme. That's where you guys come in. I want it to be an abstract noun like, risk, so it's not too concrete. That'll give people's imaginations plenty of room to floowwww.

Any ideas...?

I might use two contrasting themes, like love and hate (but not that 'cause it's been done a million times!) Then they can chose...interesting...

So, put your creative thinking caps on please and help me out! You know what to do, put a little old comment below!

Thank you and goodnight.

Day 185: And it was all Yellow...

...Or was it?

Sometimes ideas can come out of the strangest places. Yesterday at work I misunderstood a girl called Laura who said, 'someone's stolen the yellow.' (What she actually meant was someone had taken the cleaning product we simply call, yellow spray!)

Can you imagine if someone stole the colour yellow?

What an amazing idea for a story! (As you can imagine, I had a field day with this one. Laura was properly bored by the idea by the time I'd finished with it!) What would happen to all the things that are yellow, like flowers, kid's playground, road markings, my t-shirt?

What about the sun? Would it go white...would it go black? Darkness rules the land!

Well, the truth is, anything could happen and as the writer/creator of that story, YOU choose!

Oh, the power...

What would you do with this idea? It could be used in loads of different areas of creativity. That's the great thing about it!

So, have a little think about yellow today (or the lack of it) and see what crazy ideas you come up with...

Day 184 : Always Coca-Cola...

I always know it's nearly Christmas when I see this advert on T.V! You know what I mean...



But, what I want to know is, does it really make people buy coke at Christmas? It certainly makes me want to be at home with my family getting Santa's mince pie ready and putting out my stocking (oh, whatever, you totally still have one too!)

Did Coca-Cola really make Santa red? Rumour has it, they gave Santa his red 'image.' Does that make us want to drink Coca-cola at Christmas?

I have to say, the other day I really fancied a coke when I saw an advert for it at the train station. In fact, all this makes me want one right now!

It's worth a few thoughts though, right? How much power does advertising have over what we do, say, think even? Do you think advertising is creative or just bashed out?

Take some time (perhaps over a mince pie) to think about advertising...you never know what might come up!

Day 183: Can you meet me halfway?

Do you realise that today is exactly halfway through my blog challenge. I have given you half a year of creative inspiration, people! Now if that's not cause for celebration, I don't know what is. (Well, I can think of a few like Christmas or New Years...) I'd like to pause here to say, thank you for coming along for the ride.

What other halfway points could I use to inspire you...? Well there's Black Eyed Peas' halfway song...yep, you've all met me halfway, so thanks for that. (It's a pretty creative video actually, so I think it deserves a mention.)

Or, what about this...See this glass:

Is it half full or half empty? What do you think? As it's halfway-day, leave a comment, 'half full' or 'half empty.' Then let's see what creative things we can do with it all.

Up for it...?

Day 182: Be Disney's designer!

Take a look at these logos. The chances are, you will know what company most of them belong too, we see them so much. That's the power of advertising.

But what do these symbols really mean? Why did they chose those colours, patterns, arrangements?

The cool thing is, it's someones job to design them and they get to see their work all over the world. When I was 14, I entered a competition to design a logo for a local bowls club and I won (yay). It was really fun and as far as I know, they're still using it.

Big companies like the ones above are always looking for ways to re-style their brands to keep it fresh and new...My challenge for you today is to design you own logo. It could be for your own future company or for an existing one you think needs to get with the times.

You your creative fingers going and design your way to the top!

Day 181: Kevin Brooks

At the moment, I am reading Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks. It's about a teenage boy who accidentally kills his dad. Dark stuff. But I'm really enjoying it and you know why? Because Martyn's a really convincing character. It's written in 1st person and he 'speaks' like a real teenage boy would:

'It wasn't that I was jealous. Well, I suppose I was a bit jealous. But not in a namby kind of way, you know, not in a snooty, pouty kind of way. No, that wasn't it. Not really. That wasn't the reason I was glum. All right, it was partly the reason...'    p22

I love the way Martyn is arguing with himself here, justifying the fact he's jealous of Alex's boyfriend. It's honest and I love that about his character.

Look at how Kevin Brooks uses short sentences. That's how we think, isn't it, and that's why it's so realistic. And it's funny too. All in all, it makes for a good read. You should check it out if you like good books. In fact, check out Kevin Brooks in general. He's written loads. This is his first ever book.

Good writing makes me want to write. To create.

What makes you want to create? Whatever it is, get into it. Inspire yourself through what other people have done...and then get involved! I figure it's like a house. One person creates and inspire another, then they inspire someone else and so on. Together we make up the bricks, built up and up. A wonderfully creative house!

So go, start creating your brick, ready to inspire the next generation...

Day 180: Blue

Today I want you guys to think about the colour blue.

Ask 5 people what the blue means to them. Then, do something create with that information. Art, Dance, Music, Drama, Writing, Animation...

I can be your first person: For me blue reminds me of my dad. It's always been his favourite colour and his clothes are never anything other than blue. He literally won't be seen without it.

Now it's up to you to do with that info what you want, as long as it's creative. Find four others and see where it takes you. Let me know what you come up with...

Whatever you do, start it with blue.

Day 179: Harry Potter

Over the past couple of weekends, I have been catching up on the Harry Potter films, ready to watch the 7th; Happy Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. I know, I know, it's been out for ages. I'll get there.

Tonight, I watched HP4, The Goblet of Fire. They miss loads of the book out, don't they! But then, how are you supposed to fit 400 pages into two and a half hours?

It must be such a challenge to make a book into a film. How do they decide what's important and what can be left out? How do they decide what clothes the characters wear and who to cast? Which bits of dialogue do they keep and which do they edit out...?

Touch one.

That's my challenge for you today. Take a book you really like and see how you would turn it into a film, or a play, or maybe a game. Why not take a film you like and think how you would turn it into a book...

Be creative with the stories you love. How else could they be seen, heard, enjoyed...it's up to you!

Day 178: Homeless Creativity

Today, on my way home from shopping, I saw a homeless man. He didn't have a coat or a scarf, but he was playing a guitar at the side of the path. I don't know about you guys but sometimes I feel a bit funny about giving homeless people money 'cause I don't know what they'll spend it on, so I gave him a cookie instead. He seemed pretty happy with it.

Anyway, we got chatting and he said he'd just bought himself a new guitar (which I thought was a bit strange, as he didn't have a home) and was using it to make some money. He said not having one was like losing a limb, which I thought was really interesting. Here I was talking to a homeless man who didn't have a place to sleep that night and all he spoke about was how pleased he was with his new guitar...

I guess my point is, creativity makes people happy. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do, being creative in some way seems to bring joy to people. Even though that man had nothing, in a small way he was content because of his guitar, because of what his creative skills could do for him.

What makes you content on the cold nights? Maybe we all need a bit more creativity in our lives...something to think about.

Day 177: write a book in 30 days!

My friend sent me this list on Facebook and she called it a 30 day challenge. At first it just looked like a list of things you can do each day, but then I thought, why not WRITE about these things everyday? You could write 1 chapter each day, and hey presto, you got a autobiography on you hands!

Or, if a book's not your thing, why not write a song each day, based on the topic. Or if you're really feeling creative, do a drawing, an animation, a dance...

Whatever you do, see if you can use this 30 day challenge to help your work. Give it a go if you think your hard enough:

Day 1: introduce yourself
Day 2: Your first love
Day 3: Your parents
Day 4: What you ate today
Day 5: Your definition of love
Day 6: Your day
Day 7: Your best friend
Day 8: A moment
Day 9: Your beliefs
Day 10: What you wore today
Day 11: Your siblings
Day 12: What's in your bag
Day 13: This week
Day 14: Nicest thing ever said to you
Day 15: Your dreams
Day 16: Your first kiss
Day 17: Your favourite memory
Day 18: Your favourite birthday
Day 19: Something you regret
Day 20: This month
Day 21: Another moment
Day 22: Something that upsets you
Day 23: Something that makes you feel better
Day 24: Something that makes you cry
Day 25: A first
Day 26: Your fears
Day 27: Your favourite place
Day 28: Something that you miss
Day 29: Your aspirations
Day 30: One last moment.

Day 176: Baby bootie!

As you may know, the creative adventure I'm having at the moment (other than creative writing) is knitting. I thought it was about time I shared with you my achievement. Behold, the (single) baby bootie...

Isn't it cute? (get the pattern here.)When I finished it, I was so proud of myself. I love it when you try something new and you actually do something with it. Ok, so I've only made one, but I'm half way there, so wahoo!

What are you doing creatively at the moment? Is it time to start something new and exciting? Is it time to get on with what you are doing, step it up a notch?

Wherever you are, I hope my little baby bootie encourages you in your creative adventure. If I can do it, then so can you!

Go...

Day 175: Creating in a Winter Wonderland!

As the whole country has turned into a winter wonderland, I thought it only right to concentrate on the cold today. So, how can you be creative with the cold?

Well, I was thinking about ice sculpture. If you could make anything out of snow, what would it be...?

Here's some ideas to get you going:

Embrace the cold and use it to think creatively!

Day 174: Bridget Riley

For those of you that haven't heard of Bridget Riley, she's a British contemporary artist who is interested in how we look at colour and what our eye does to see it...

Her work was extremely influential on my art last year, so I really excited when I found slideshow. It's about her work and a new exhibition open at The National Gallery in London from now until May 2011. If you get a chance, go see it. I really want to go!

Be inspired by Riley's use of colour.

What could you do with colour in your creative works...?

Day 173: Imagine all the people...

In Bath today it is snowing. When I was a kid I used to LOVE snow, but now, I kinda just find it annoying. I have to walk to work in it, so when I get there I'll be drenched and because I work at a cinema, it'll be so busy with everyone escaping the weather!

But, you know what? There are people in the world that live for most of the year with snow, so who am I to complain when I have it for one day? There are people in the world that never see snow, so who am I to take it for granted?

This got me thinking about the news. The snow is all over the news at the moment; problems on the roads, schools shutting, snowed in towns...I wonder how the people affected by those things are feeling. What are they doing about it? How are they coping?

This is my task for you today. Watch the news. Take a person from a story and try and imagine what they're going through. How did they find out? What were they doing? How has their life changed...?

We can do so much with our imaginations...all we need is a spark!

Day 172: Elf Yourself!

In the lead up to Christmas, what better way to pass the time than turn yourself into an elf!

My housemate Alice spent her day doing exactly that (whilst avoiding Uni work!) You HAVE to watch the video she created. It's hilarious, but I don't want to build it up too much!

Please, please make one with your friends and family (follow the link above). Alice said she made one with her nan in; that I definitely want to see!

So, be creative, have a bit of fun and get into the festive spirit!

Day 171: Nick Horby

Nick Hornby is a world famous writer. He's written, amongst others, Fever Pitch and About a boy. Both of these have been made into films too, so I'd say he's up there with the greats!

As a creative person whose in the lime light, Nick Hornby is going into schools in London to help pupils with their literacy skills and encouraging them to love reading and writing, just like he does. I don't know if you've watched the news recently, but the government aren't happy with spelling, grammar etc, so Nick Hornby and some other writers have decided to do something about it.

For Nick Hornby, the most important thing in the project is, 'humour, intrigue and creativity.' You can find out more about his project here.

Nick Hornby is taking his creative skills and using them to create change. How great is that!

I don't know about you, but this really inspires me to use my skills to help people too. Creative skills are just as important as maths or science. People love to get creative in lots of different ways and it makes people happy!

What creative skills do you enjoy using? Nick Hornby obviously enjoys creating stories, so that's what he's using to help people.

What do you care about? Nick Hornby obviously cares about reading and writing, so that's what he's focusing on, using his skills to do it.

What could you do with what your skills...?

Day 170: Making Music

I feel like I haven't written about music for a while, so I searched the web and found this. It's called Making Music and it does exactly what it says on the tin!

 If you are looking for musical things going on, then see what they've got to offer you.Whether it's singing, learning instruments or getting involved with like-minded musicians...they can help you out and find you a place. Click here to search in your area. You can even add events yourself!

There's also stuff about the Cultural Olympiad. There are loads of creative things going on in the lead up to the Olympics 2012. They want everyone to get involved, so if music is your thing, check out what you can do to get in on the action. I'll keep you posted on other Olympics related creative things for you to get stuck into...watch this space!

So, be inspired and get musical...

Day 169: World Beach project

Do you fancy yourself as a installation artist?

Want like working with natural materials like stone?

Do you want to get involved in bigger things?

Well, if there's a yes in there, I've found the perfect project for you!

It's called, The world beach project. I found out about it on the V&A website (an museum in London). The project is open to anyone, any age, anywhere in the world! Basically, it wants everyone to get involved in making art with stones from the beach, just like this one:

Find out more about the project and see what has already been done.

So get creating and get involved!

Day 168: Joshua Bell on the subway in N.Y.

Joshua Bell is a world famous violinist. He composes music and has performed all over the world. He's also done movie soundtracks and even been on Sesame Street!

But at 7.51am on 12th January, he played for 45 minutes on the New York Subway. Wanna know how much he made for his world famous playing as a busker? $32! Over 1000 people past him and how many do you think stopped to listen, watch, admire?

Watch this video to see what happened:



Isn't it crazy to think someone as creatively talented as Joshua Bell was ignored on the Tube? How do you react to busker? I know I would probably do exactly the same thing as they all did, but why?

This all got me thinking about being creative...Do I, as a creative person, support the creative work of others? Surely we need to stick together, right?

The other day I told you I went to an open mic-night, which was heaps of fun and gave me loads of inspiration and momentum for my own creative work, so it would seem that supporting each other helps us along too (creatively speaking). Maybe it's time we became more active in our support of creative thinkers!

What's going on in your area, at your school/college, or even out on the streets? How could you support them? I don't mean with money necessarily, but what could you do to encourage those who are doing similar things to you? Could you do more? Maybe you could make a pact...I'll go to yours if you come to mine...?

Something to think about...

Day 167: Marcus Sedgwick, Malorie Blackman and Gemma Malley...

Want to be inspired by real writers?

Want to get creative ideas from those who are really doing it?

Today you can listen to Marcus Sedgwick, Malorie Blackman and Gemma Malley (3 fantastic authors) talk about writing for young people. It's on Open Book, BBC Radio Four at 4pm! If you've missed it, see if it's on BBC iplayer too.

Check it out. I know I will...

Day 166: Judging the X Factor

I am worried. I'm worried about myself...

Why?

Because on Thursday I went to a open-mic-night at uni and I would watch people and think, 'yeah, they've really got the X Factor,' or, 'they had a few notes that wavered...'

What has X Factor done to me?!

I've started critically evaluating my friends, my classmates, my peers. I guess the question is, is this a good thing? Is it distracting or does it give me a more acute ear?

I wonder if other people that watch shows like this have similar experiences...?

Perhaps it's what you do with it that counts. Obviously I didn't start shouting my comments about, but I appreciated their talent and admired their bravery for standing up their and giving a bit of themselves to us. What an amazing skill.

Creativity and how we watch it is infectious! How will you use it?

Day 165: Solving creative dilemmas...

I am currently experiencing another conundrums in my creative work. In case you didn't read Day 146's post, at the moment I am writing a novel for young people called The Secret. It's about two girls, Holly and Jenna, but I won't give too much away...

The problem is this; Holly is the main character and I am really enjoying writing her story, but she finds Jenna's diary and starts reading it. That's kind of where I'm at. The problem is, I haven't written Jenna's diary, so logic says, write that and then carry on with Holly's story, right?

But I don't want to do that! I want to carry on writing Holly's story 'cause it's so much fun and it's exciting and...

Do you ever get like this? Do you get caught between what you should do and what you want to do in your creative work?

I guess the real question is, what do we do about it? In my case, if I carry on with Holly's story, I'm gonna eventually get stuck because Jenna's diary barely exists....yet. So, I need to write Jenna's diary. But what if I lose momentum and get stuck...

Nightmare!

Well, that's what creative thinking's about I recon. It's not just what you produce, it's about how you get there. Feel free to share your creative problems with me and I'll try help you out. Or, you can give me some beads of wisdom on my dilemma...

Us creative people need to stick together! Sharing ideas is how things moves forward. I feel better just for telling you all. Maybe you could set up a group at school/college/work where you can all take creative problems and talk about them. That's what I do at uni and it's really helpful. Sometimes other people can see it more clearly than you, because it's not their work.

Who could you help today...?

Day 164: Could you create comics...?

In school today we were animating animal noises like a comic strip. One kid had an, eek, eek really small in the corner of his page and another had the squeel of an elephant growing across the page. They loved creating them and it was really exciting to see how much they enjoyed guessing each other's sounds.

This all got me thinking about comic books and how incredible they are. LOADS of people read comics and graphic novels, but have you ever thought about creating one yourself? Could you animate a story frame by frame? Could you create character faces that tell their emotions just by looking at them? Could you be imaginative with words to describe exactly what's going on in each frame?

If you fancy a go, check out Superhero squad. It's got all the Marvel characters and you get to choose the background, sizes, frame style...I had a quick go and it's heaps of fun!

Or, if you want something a little more advanced, try Pixton. You can have a play for fun and even get them into your school!

There are LOADS of sights like these so have a look around and find one that's right for you. Google's a good place to start. Or if, computers aren't your thing, why not hand draw them...

What story will YOU create, draw, animate?

Day 163: Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010

For the past four years this new award has been given to the funniest book of the year. There's two categories, aged 6 and under, and 7-14. As this is a blog for teenager, it makes sense to let you know who won the older categories this year...

Well, the announcements were made yesterday and the winner is...

Louise Rennison with Withering Tights.

Recognise the name? Rennison is the author behind Angus, Thongs and perfect snogging, which is now a hilarious film. But this latest teen fiction novel sets out to be a bigger success! It's about a boy-obsessed teenage girl who gets up to all sorts at her performing arts school. Michael Rosen (who invented the competition and is the top judge) had this to say about it:

'This is a witty, wry, inside view of what it feels like to be a gawky, witty girl who knows what's going on around her, is detached enough to comment on it all, but carried along in the flow all the same. There's a gag on every page with loads of funny situations and people.'

So there you have it. If you fancy a funny read, this book is the way forward.

One last thought, if you were to invent a competition, what would yours be...?

Day 162: RCA Secret

Everyone likes a good secret, don't they? Well this one involves famous artists, illustrators and art students from all over. More than 1000 artists have designed a postcard, which go on sale this weekend at Royal college of Art in London to raise money for art students. The catch, you don't know until you buy it who it's by. What a cool idea!

Each postcard is £45 and you can buy a maximum of four per person. It's getting everyone excited about owning their pocket sized Tracey Emin or David Bailey. But you might get work by a student who could go on to become the next Picasso! How exciting!

What a great way to get the community interesting in art. Not only that but raise cash to help creative people like you and me get to uni and do what we love. With the way thing are going in government, we need all the help we can get, so thank goodness someone is sticking up for us, eh!

Check out their website for more info. If you live around London, you can go see them for free before the sale. Maybe you can guess whose is whose!

So, who'll get the postcards worth millions? We'll have to wait and see...

Day 161: Illuminate Bath Festival and Ice Book

Over the past few weeks I've been helping out with my uni's arts festival. Most of this included standing out in the cold, making sure no one stole the projector, but actually, I'm really glad I did 'cause it showed me what's going on around me. There is so much creative stuff happening at my uni by students and teachers. A lot of the time people don't get to see it.

Here's some of the thing that I saw:

Perhaps the most amazing thing I saw was Ice Book made by Davy and Kristin McGuire.  It's basically a pop up book, but animated by light. It tells a touching story about two characters in an enchanted land. I watched it in a dark basement in one of Bath's pubs. Atmospheric! Definitely check it out on Davy's website.

Sam Drew also had his poems projected on a the Bath buildings for all to see and read. They had been animated by graphic students and caught the attention of thousands walking the streets of Bath.

There were so many other things going on to show Bath what talent there is around. These two things inspired my creative ideas and I hope they help you too. Their creators are real people taking their work out into the world and showing it off! It's good to go and see what's around. You never know what might spark your own creative work, so get out there and see what's about in your area.

Day 160: Paint-a-pot with friends

About two months ago me and my housemate Beth went to a paint-a-pot shop and let our creativity rip! This mug is what I produced. On one side is a sun and as it moves round, it goes through the day and into night.

I wanted to decorate a mug that was for both left and right handed people. If you are left handed you know what I mean when I say all mugs are decorated to benefit ONLY right handed people.

Anyway, I won't get into that. The point is, creativity can be used all over the place. I really enjoyed sitting down for a few hours with my friend painting a little picture on a mug. It took us ages to decide what we were going to paint, bouncing off creative idea after creative idea. Every time I use it I am reminded of that day. When I make my cup of tea in the morning, it makes me want to do something else creative with the day too.

See it there's anywhere around where you live to paint a pot, or a bowl, plate, money box. The possibilities are endless. Only you can paint your pot. It will be one of a kind. They make great presents too!

Day 159: Cath Kidston

Here is a dress I saw today at the Bath Fashion Museum and next to it is a Cath Kidston iphone case. Is it just me or are they really similar?

When I saw it the first thing I thought was, 'wow, so that's where Cath got her ideas from.' It got me think about how ideas are recycled, revamped and repackaged. I mean, both of these patterns could be used for wallpaper too. And, if you think about it, they are all just copying the flower in the field!

Who starts ideas? Does it matter?

I think what counts is how YOU put your mark on it. Whether it's a pattern you create, a song you sing or a canvas you paint. YOU are what makes it.

Use what you know, what came before and make it your own...just like Cath Kidston.

Day 158: Mick Rock's rock stars!

Check out this video on the BBC website. It's a slideshow of all the work by Mick Rock, the legendary rock photographer. (I recon his name called him to that job!) He says he didn't set out to be a photographer by profession, but his fascination of all those rock stars came out in the photos and that was it, job done!

Isn't it interesting how many people get a career out of what started out as a hobbie, specially creative ones. What's your hobbie? What inspires you to be creative? I recon most creative people are just doing what they love and couldn't be any other way!

Use what you got and change the world with it. That's what all the people in Mick Rock's photos did through their music. It looks like Mick Rock had a pretty good crack at it too. He's got a new book out full, of his creative work.

What will you do...?

Day 157: Reminiscing with Helen Cross

Today I went into the little primary school in Saltford as I always do, but this morning, Helen Cross came with us. She got the class thinking about what they would miss if they left home for a holiday or wherever. We looked at a poem by Grace Nichols called, Like a Beacon, where she misses her mum's home cooking from Jamaica.

It was all very pleasant until I thought, hang on, I'm away from home right now! Uni is one of those strange times in your life when you have two homes, but neither of them feel quite right. When I'm home with my family I miss my home at uni and vise versa.

So, as I'm at Uni, I was thinking about my family home five hours away and this came out of it:

Opening the fridge and picking at fresh grapes,
five varieties of cheese, crisp cucumber,
red peppers and thick yogurt.
Bracken and Bramble sleeping, stretched out lazily
on the most comfortable sofa imaginable,
or curled up by the hissing fire.
Being surrounded by my dad's teddy-bear hugs.

Kind of a poem, I guess. What would you miss? I don't know about you, but thinking about it makes me really want to be there. All that feeling and emotion...

Try writing a list of what you'd miss and put those ideas, feelings, senses into your creative work somehow, whether it be writing, painting, animation, music, dance, drama...Using what we know from our own lives touches other people's lives and that's the power of creativity.

Work with what you got and see how far it reaches...

Day 156: Illustration and Stephen Cartwright

Lately, when I've been reading, I've found myself thinking, 'man, I wish my books still had colourful pictures in.' Wasn't it great when your mum/dad read you a book and all you had to do was 'read' the picture? I miss those day...

It got me thinking about how amazing illustrations are. They tell way more of the story than the words really. One of my favourite things used to be finding something on the page, like in Farmyard Tales. Stephen Cartwright drew these wonderful pictures. Can you spot the duck in these pages?

I used to love it. Searching the picture and sharing the experience with my parents was great. Now I read to my little sister and do it with her. I ask her what she can see and talk about what's going on.

Illustration is under rated and I this has to change, right? It's a really powerful way of story telling. It must be so fun telling stories in pictures...have you thought about it? Could your creative talents take you there?

The next time you're in a bookshop, swing past the kid's section and take a look at the picture books. They're are incredible! We all need to give a little more time to just looking, I think...

Day 155: Spread your creative passions...

I'm pretty sure I've spoken to you a few times about how I've got stuck into knitting, but really credit has to go to the knitting club at Uni. We hold it in town every other week at a coffee shop. Yesterday I went along and there was one girl making gloves and another who had never knitted before. That's the great thing about it, anyone can come and join in the fun.
We sit. We chat. We knit. Simple.

It's great fun and I've really got into it. I've even started making some baby booties (I will show you when they're done, I promise)! It's fun doing something creative that's separate from my course. I do it when I'm watching tv in the evenings or watching a film. I love it!

The knitting club was set up by my friends Celia and Beth just because our Uni didn't have one and I am so glad they did. I wouldn't be into knitting without them and the knitting club.

 Does it annoy you that your school/college doesn't do what you love? Well, my challenge to you is to set up a club. If there's something you like doing creatively and it's not there, do it yourself! Get permission, put up posters, start a facebook group and away you go, you've got your very own lunchtime club going on. Maybe you're into writing lyrics or poems, sewing or dance. If you like baking why not set up a recipe club where one person brings in something they've made for everyone to try and give feedback? School/college is the perfect place to get more people involved in what you love.

Just because something doesn't happen, doesn't mean it shouldn't happen, so start it. That's what my friends did and it worked out great.

Give it a go. You won't know until you try...

Day 154: Rupert the bear

Today I want to say, Happy Birthday Rupert!

Everyone knows who Rupert the bear is with his red jumper and yellow trousers. When I was a kid I used to watch him on tv and my nan had all the comic books too from when she was a child. Now he's on tv with mobile phones and scooters! How times change, but good all Rupert has rolled with it and is still entertaining children worldwide.

Can you imagine creating a bear which would touch children's lives for over three generations. He's even got his own museum. Now that's inspirational! If my stories are half as successful I'll be happy. How about you, what do you hope for? Where do you want your creative work to go...?

Just think about all the different people that have been involved in Rupert's 'career', animators, artists, writers, painters, musicians...so many people and all of them creative. Without creativity the world wouldn't have Rupert and personally, I think it would be a darker place!

I couldn't resist putting up this. Send Rupert Happy Birthday thought as you watch. Looking good for 90 eh!

Day 153: Documenting journies...

Over the pass few months I have had a few thoughts about how you could document travel in a creative way. To begin with, it was for my art project, but then I stopped doing art at uni, so it kinds stopped.

But, the other day when I was walking back from work in the dark, I started thinking about all the rubbish that I could see on my journey and how, if I collected it all, I could put it together and call it 'Upper Bristol Road.' It would be a way to visually represent my journey home.

Then, I got thinking about lots of different ways I could record my travels. Here's some I came up with:
All the leaves I pass on a journey.
A sound recording of a journey.
I could use a camera placed around my neck to show what I see as I walk
For a bus journey, I could take a finger print of everyone who gets on the bus to record the route through people rather than a map of where it goes. (This one's more tricky, but more interesting!)

Unfortunately, I don't have time to explore these creative ideas at the moment, which is why I thought I'd share them with you instead. Feel free to give them a try and use the ideas in your own creative work.  Sharing creative ideas moves thinking forward. Post up your own ideas and let me know how it goes.

Catch the idea, let it go and then follow it. That's my advise for today!

(If this subject interests you look at the artist, Richard Long. Here's his website.)

Day 152: Handwriting

Do you think you can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting? Today I wrote in a leaving card at work and I thought it was so interesting that every person who wrote in it had different handwriting. Surely every single person in the whole world has different handwriting! Wow, that makes my brain hurt just thinking about it.

Do you think you can tell if someone is creative by their handwriting? My writing is pretty swirly and whenever anyone sees it they say, 'Oh, look at your handwriting. You can tell your creative.'

Are they saying that because they know I am? Are they just being nice? Maybe what they really mean is, it's messy!

Maybe 'arty' people have swirly handwriting, but people who do fashion or music...surely they don't have swirly writing and I'd call them creative.

I am getting myself in a muddle now! It's something interesting to think about thought...Perhaps more interesting is the way computers force us all to write the same and take away our identities one bit at a time...
(I know, I know. I'm getting over excited now.)

What does your handwriting say about you...?

Day 151: Home sweet home...?

As you can see, I have put up a picture of a tea pot. I think it's pretty cool, but what do they people that own it think?

Who is it? When do they use it? Do they use it? What's their house like? How many people live there? Do they like the tea pot? Where do they live...?

Isn't it great how you can create a character, a life, a story out of just one picture, an object.

Try it yourself. If you don't like the tea pot, find your own object. Search 'front door' or 'duvet cover'. Why not try 'toilet seats'! Anything can get your imagination going and create ideas.

Don't you just love creative thinking...?