Changes to Creative Perch

This post may be the hardest one I have ever written for Creative Perch. As many of you know, the last few months have been an incredible transition, one for which I had a plan to navigate  smoothly. However, curveball after curveball has been thrown my way. In times like these, it’s easy to look at challenges simply as hurdles to overcome. But as time has gone on, I’ve realized that the “transition” I’m currently in is not just a season I need to pass over quickly. Instead, in my heart I know that I need to dig in, pay attention, and understand what is “really” going on.

So, as of right now, I feel that I need to make a shift away from Creative Perch. This site has been my “one thing” for the last two years or so, and I have loved every minute of working on this project. However, I think I need to take a break from it for a while. There are so many blogs and other resources out there doing something similar, and I feel like I need a fresh vision for Creative Perch to really serve and be a resource in the creative community.

I will be leaving the site up as an archive for the next while, so all of the articles and downloads will be active and available for you. One important thing to note: The How to Get Your Creative Groove On and How to Be an Innovator eBooks will only be available in the shop until May 2, 2010, so if you’d like to order either of those, please do so before May 2.

I’ll be posting on more varied themes on my personal site (deewilcox.com), as well as exploring some new avenues in my personal and professional life, and I am hopeful that fresh vision in those areas will transfer over to Creative Perch as well.

In Between

It’s been nearly a week since I last posted here, and I am so sorry about that. I know it’s bad blogging manners to apologize for late posting, but I owe you for hanging in there with me.

It’s been a long couple of weeks. My days have been up and down, and I’m still unpacking. I finally finished unpacking our guest bedroom tonight, just in time for my brother to visit tomorrow.

I’ll be honest and let you know that throughout this transition, I haven’t had much time (or made much time) for purely creative work outside of my day job. Most of my art supplies and three quarters of my office are still packed, so I honestly haven’t known where to begin.

However, I have made time here in there to get my self back in a creative groove. Life is busy, and when it is at its craziest, it is incredibly easy to put creative work on the back burner. Here’s what I am (trying to) do to avoid that pitfall.
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Creative Living with Jamie Podcast Today!

Today I have the honor of being over at Jamie Ridler Studios. Go here to listen to my interview with Jamie for her “Creative Living with Jamie” series. You can also subscribe in iTunes. I highly recommend that you do – I have found Jamie’s podcasts to be so creatively nurturing and inspirational – a perfect pick-me-up in the middle of a work day.

It was a privilege to be invited to participate in a series with so many other creatives from all walks of life. I hope you enjoy the episode!

5 Creative Bloggers to Watch in 2010

I was so honored to be included in WE Magazines list of 100 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2010 a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I’ve seen a lot of lists for 2010 – business trends, social trends, political trends.

So, I thought I’d add my own list for the creative community. I don’t have time to list out 100 bloggers, although I’m sure there are many times that many creative bloggers out there. Instead, I’ve listed five that I truly enjoy following and that I think we’ll see do great things in 2010.

Let’s begin! In no particular order…

1. Kevin Kaiser (www.kevinskaiser.com). Kevin is a brand manager and literary agent by day and a creative writer by night. In his designated writing time, he’s working on a project that I am really excited to see come to fruition, and he has chosen to bring his readers along with him on the journey, all the while encouraging readers to write and building creative community.
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A Handmade Christmas

I love supporting Etsy sellers when I can, but I’m also a big fan of doing those things that I can at home that are actually cool. I don’t know about you, but many times when I try the DIY route, it just doesn’t turn out.When I find a DIY resource and it works… well, that’s just magic.

Here are three sites I’ve found with adorable handmade Christmas ideas that actually meet both the I-would-actually-have-that-in-my-house and doable criteria that are so essential to stress-free holiday decorating. Hope you enjoy!

1. Felt Ruffle Wreath via www.domestifluff.com

I love this one and can’t wait to try it myself. Go here for the full tutorial.
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5 Secrets to Frugal Inspiration

In economically challenging times, we don’t always have extra money in our budgets to buy the latest great book or publication, or go to the conferences we want to go to, or participate in the courses we would like to join. Our bank accounts may be taking a hit, but that doesn’t mean that our creative growth has to.

Here are a few secrets I’ve found to continue growing creatively, without breaking the bank.

1. Can’t go to the conference? Participate online!

I’m planning my 2010 budget, and while there are tons of great conferences I would love to attend, some of them just won’t make the budget. While I wasn’t able to find “official” free videos of some of my favorite conferences, I was able to find several via YouTube. I hope that more conferences follow TED’s lead in the future.
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