This post was originally published back in January 2009, however with the silly season quickly approaching it becomes important to find ways to reduce your stress, and finding time to be creative even when you’re running at full speed, is a great way to do this.

Finding time to be creative is sometimes a balancing act. Family, jobs and a busy lifestyle can suck up our time without us even realizing it. Or maybe you feel that taking time for yourself is selfish; that this time could be better spent tending to our families.

We all need personal time – time to reflect and to recharge our batteries, and for art quilters this usually means finding time to create our art!

When we are separated from our source of creativity for long periods, even though we might not consciously be aware of it, our bodies react in subtle, and not so subtle, ways. We can feel anxious, a little off-color, sometimes it’s just a feeling of being out of balance. Stop and listen to what your body is telling you – become aware of the little signals that your body is trying to send you.

Finding time for yourself, even if it’s only an hour or half an hour a day, benefits not just yourself, but your whole family. When you feel balanced and empowered, you have more positive energy to give back to them.

“Time Management for Creative People” is a thoughtful little 32-page free ebook by writer and creativity coach Mark McGuinness. In it he lists a number of things that creative people can do to manage their time better.

If you have been neglecting yourself, take the first step – spend half an hour with this short book, implement some of the strategies and make some time for yourself. Your whole family will thank you.

Photo courtesylaffy4k

It’s so great to see the many different ways that each student has interpreted their fabric paper using color, design and inclusions and then used the fabric paper in a wonderful collection of small art quilts and projects.

If you haven’t signed up for the class yet it’s not too late because it’s free during the month of November but note that in order to participate in the lessons you do have to do some “homework” – hey, it’s fun and easy and what better way to learn than by “doing”. I hope to see you in class and you can find it here at the Free Lunch Cafe.

There are lots of different recipes for making fabric paper and once you’re hooked on using it, you’re sure to develop your own favorite technique. I, of course, love to work with texture and textiles so most of my fabric paper includes mainly these elements.

So stop by the Free Lunch Cafe and sign up for the mini-class. The instructions are free right through the month of November, and if you haven’t stopped by lately make sure you check out the great samples from students of the October mini-class: Using Dryer Sheets – there’s lots of wonderful samples in the photo gallery.

If you’d like a linkback to your website, simply
- grab a Free Lunch Cafe Badge
- Add it to your website or blog
- Email me and let me know
and I’ll add your link to the Member’s Page.

In the meantime, please browse and enjoy these recent additions to the “Free Lunch Cafe” Member’s Page:

Karen Newman Fridy – Designer Stitches
Karin Hammel – Creaworx
Lin Harvey – Uniquely Yours Creations
LuAnn Kessi – May Your Bobbin Always Be Full

I was browsing through my seemingly endless list of resources and thought you might enjoy this link to some images that can be used for printable fabric.

Also, don’t forget you can use just about any high res image (make sure it’s copyright free of course) to print on fabric, such as these great textures. Sometimes the print results are almost as good as hand-painted fabric!

I hope you’ll find something that you’ll like.

The “Quilting Machine Buyers Guide” is a 23 pages pdf ebook and includes

* A Short Guide to Buying a Quilting Machine
* 21 point Checklist for a Straight Stitch Machine
* Comparison Chart for a Straight Stitch Machine
* 41 point Checklist for a Multi-function Machine
* Comparison Chart for a Multi-function Machine
* Quilting Machine Features List

If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, you can grab a copy here.

If you haven’t picked up the current issue of “Art Trader Magazine” yet, run right over and grab it – it’s free!

Even though Art Trader is a magazine primarily for trading art cards, the magazine always contains lots of great information and tutorials. Enjoy!

I guess it’s that time of the year again. The weather’s getting cool and in Florida that’s a nice relief. But it’s also time to upgrade the winter woolies’ section of your closet and there’s no better way to do that than to make yourself a beautiful new handknit.

If you’re anything like me I always get bored wearing the same style of clothing year after year so in my travels round the internet the other day on a search for something a little “different” I stumbled across this fabulous website boasting over 4,000 free knitting, crochet and even some felted (knitted felt) garments and accessories.

Stop by Drops Design for some beautiful, interesting and unusual knit patterns, from jackets and sweaters to socks, purses and afghan rugs. If you don’t find something there I’d be very surprised.

And don’t forget to tell your friends about this great site. Use the “Share” button below to email this post or share it on your favorite social site.

No strings! Wow!!

Are you into Artist Trading Cards?

Art Trader Magazine is a beautiful free downloadable ezine specifically for ATC fans. Although not strictly “fabric-related”, the latest issue has a great article about fabric ATCs and it also has a great “Design 911″ article about color.

The ezine full of tips and hints, project and wonderful inspiration so even if you’re not into ATCs you’re sure to find something useful.

ArtTrader Magazine is a web based publication (in PDF format) focused on mail art for trade such as ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), ACEOs, art journals, chunky books, altered art and altered art books.

Enjoy!