A New Spin On A Classic

Randy Elrod has this very cool thing going on called Watercooler Wednesday. Essentially it's a blog carnival about things that make your life more creative. (Click here to learn more about it and how to participate.) Since I'm changing things up a little with the ol' blog, I thought I'd start participating. Here goes...

If you have any memory of the '80's and it's music, you are bound to remember this classic from A-ha:

Remember? Great song...the hair...the awesomeness of the video (perhaps more creative than the average music video being done today, despite the classic '80's melodrama)...the overall Norwegian-ness. Good times, 1985, good times.

So fast forward to last week. I was poking around YouTube for the Take On Me video and happened to look at the "Related Videos" in the sidebar, where I stumbled upon this (fast-forward and start it at the 1:30 mark):

Ukulele? playing Take On Me? Odd, yes. What struck me, though, is that the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra would even think to tackle anything other than traditional ukulele music, let alone an '80's classic. Did you notice the crowd's response as soon as they heard the first few notes? Not only did they respond - they participated wholeheartedly. There was creativity and community that night in Wellington.

How often do I try to tackle something outside my comfort zone of skills, giftings and abilities? Not nearly as often as I should. How do I respond to others' attempts at creativity and thinking outside the box? Do I turn my nose up if it's different or am I willing to give it a chance? I would do well to remember that creativity does not have to equal perfection.

How about you?

Proof

I have proof today that there has been some creativity going on this week. Not a lot...but some.

Last night I finished up the bee hive portion of the Bee Fields shawl. I'd show you the whole thing so far, but lace-in-progress just looks like a blob...so here's a close-up. For those who are not knitters, you need to know that when this is finished, it will be washed and blocked (stretched tight and pinned out) - and that is when the magic happens and you can finally see the lace patterns.
This morning I decided to knit up a tiny little swatch with the little bit of yarn I plied a week or so ago. This is on sz 1.5 or 2 needles - I can't remember which:
I did get a little crazy and actually got some scrapbooking stuff out. The page is...meh. I'm rusty. It's fine.
The picture is of me, Christmas 1976 - so I was 3. Clearly, I was all about the Hot Cycle and fuzzy slippers.
Natalie has been a 6-year-old drawing machine lately. We're going through paper like crazy, but she loves it and it keeps her entertained for hours, so who am I to complain? I came in to my desk to find that she had taped this up by my computer yesterday:
It's Pal - Arthur's dog in the Marc Brown "Arthur" stories and show.

I can't wait for tomorrow's entry! I'm doing something new and it's gonna be good...

Too good not to share

I just posted this over at Posts From the Edge, but I simply must post it here, too. It is far too good not to share. Clearly, these people still get The Urge and I think it's pretty awesome.

Do you get The Urge?

Thanks to those of you who took the time to comment and share your thoughts on my last post. I plan to take each posting opportunity as it comes and see what I feel like writing. It may or may not be crafty, but I will try to include a disclaimer at the start of those posts that are not knitting/crafting-related. That way, the ball is in your court.

This post isn't specifically knitting/crafting-related, but about creativity in general. Do you get The Urge? You know...that overpowering need to create. I think it would apply to whatever your passion is: crafting, writing, drawing, painting, etc. The Urge seems to go in cycles for me and I usually feel it the strongest in the spring. It's almost a physical need sometimes and I'm curious to know if other people experience the same thing.

Right now, I'm knitting (of course), but don't have any major projects going on. The Urge is leading me back to scrapbooking (which I haven't done in...well...I don't even know how long) and sewing. I have fabric to make some valances for the windows in this room and have a few shirts that need some work. Realistically, I need to clean things up a bit before I can scrap or sew, since the desk where I used to do those things has now been taken over by Natalie's school things - but it wouldn't take much effort to set up a workstation of sorts on the kitchen table.

The Urge caused me to get out some of my old violin music and do a bit of technical work. It was somewhat disturbing to see that I was working in those books in 1984, but it is pretty amazing how much the brain retains. I would also love to get a (very) cheap guitar and learn chords. Oh, and start writing music again. Yes, I have a piano and don't NEED a guitar in order to write, but it suits that whole vibe better. Plus, it sounds way different.

Now I'm rambling. How does The Urge affect you?