Communication, Connection, and Welcome Co-host Andrea :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Ep 16

Hey, creative friends! Can we ask a quick favor? Hop over to your Apple Podcasts app, give Creative, Happy Life a follow (tap the three dots in the upper right corner), leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple podcasts! We appreciate every bit of support.

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SHOW NOTES

Welcome back to the podcast! If you're new to Creative, Happy Life - we're glad you're here! This is the first episode in a new chapter, co-hosting as sisters and people with some shared life experience, as well as individual views and interests. It's the podcast I dreamed of when I started in 2019, sharing conversations, having laughs, getting into some nitty gritty topics, and geeking out over creative ideas. In this episode, we discuss reconnecting as family and humans, how people have different styles of communication and conversation, and we ask the big question - what IS creativity?

TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE

Since we recorded this episode in November 2021, we talk about the pandemic and the struggle to connect since March 2020.

Filler tones - the words and sounds we make as we’re speaking, pausing and putting our thoughts together.

Big question - what is creativity to each of us?

Styles of conversation - we have different styles which we discuss in terms of anxiety and ADHD.

Creative things that we’re currently working on.

 

Shannon & Andrea, Co-Hosts of Creative, Happy Life Podcast

 

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Join us on Instagram and Facebook for updates, episode quotes, and building a community where we continue these conversations.

What is creativity to you?

Do you know your own style of conversation and communication?

Share this episode with your friends, pin the image below, and have a beautiful week!

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Here are some recommended affiliate links to help you on your creative journey! We may receive discounts and kickbacks when you use or sign up through our links, but there is never an added cost to you.

Become a one-time or monthly supporter on Ko-fi - for fans of the podcast who’d like to show their appreciation and support, Ko-fi is an easy way to make a one-time or monthly contribution in any amount starting at $3, the cost of a cup of coffee. :)

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Creativity Conversations with Jess Parks :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Ep 15

Hey, creative friends! Can I ask a quick favor? Hop over to your Apple Podcasts app, give Creative, Happy Life a follow (tap the three dots in the upper right corner), leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple podcasts! I appreciate every bit of support.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, OR APPLE PODCASTS:

SHOW NOTES

This is the beginning of a new series of candid conversations with fellow artists, small business owners and creative hearts, where you get to listen in and hear about their creative journeys, perspectives, challenges, successes and how they continue to create, explore, imagine and discover their way through life.

Today I am chatting with Jess Parks, the designer, maker and creative heart behind Miss Lou Makes, an eclectic handmade jewelry and decor shop on Etsy.

About her shop: “Miss Lou Makes is an eclectic shop of gifts from the sandy shores of Plymouth, MA. Owner Jess is a mixed-media artist with a love for beaded statement jewelry and one-of-a-kind home decor pieces. This brand strives to capture those warm familiar feelings you get when walking on the beach, having cocktails with friends, or listening to a classic album and transform them in to wearable and decorative art. Don't fear color, embrace texture, and catch a good vibe from this shop.”

In this episode, we chat about creativity, Jess’ journey to becoming a full time maker, exploring creative projects to relax and unwind, working at home while raising kids, and what inspires her unique collections!

I loved hearing her share about connecting with fellow educators during the pandemic, as many of them turned to creative pursuits. She also shared how she collaborates with her artistic family to give her shop a truly unique personality.

New cover art for the Creative, Happy Life Podcast

The ocean is near and dear to Jess’ heart, and one of her first offerings was bracelets where a portion of her sales benefit sea turtle rehabilitation.

Check out the awesome things the National Marine Life Center does here:
http://nmlc.org

She also loves beachcombing along the shoreline near her home, and you might receive some extra little pieces of the beach in your orders, another personal touch you can’t get anywhere else!

Small business are truly unique in how much a single person (or small team) does behind the scenes each and every day. It’s no small feat, so whenever possible (which should be all the time), choose to shop small, support local, and give your favorite businesses a shout out or a share on social media.

Visit Miss Lou Makes on Etsy, and follow Jess on Instagram.

Shop Miss Lou Makes at local Massachusetts pop-up events:

 
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Thanks for listening!

Hop over to Instagram and tell me what you love from Creativity Conversations with Jess Parks! How is creativity showing up in your life? Do you turn to creative hobbies and activities for comfort and relaxation?

Share this episode with your friends, pin the image below, and have a beautiful week!

Keep creating, and stay awesome.

 
CREATIVE HAPPY LIFE PODCAST COVER ART_2021-3.jpg
 

Practice Makes Better (Not Perfect) :: Creative Happy Life Podcast Episode 14

New cover art for the Creative, Happy Life Podcast

Were you ever told “practice makes perfect” as a means of motivating you to keep going? In episode 14, I’m exploring that phrase, and encouraging you to reframe that mindset to something else:

Practice makes better.

As we have discussed in previous episodes, perfection is an idea, an ideal. It implies that there is nothing left to fix, work on, or improve. But that simply doesn’t exist, right? As humans, we can always be trying something new, changing perspective, learning, growing and improving.

So when someone tells us, “Practice makes perfect!”, it can have an opposite effect. Because focus on perfection can be overwhelming, or paralyzing. The ideal may seem so out of reach, that you give up. Or worse, you don’t even get started.

So let’s break down this idea of practice.

We practice to learn. We practice to grow. And we practice to get better at something. Whether it’s playing a sport, learning an instrument, learning to do anything - takes practice. No one is really great at doing something new right from the start. So acknowledging that you’re a beginner, and going from your starting point, create your first goal.

Some things that I have practiced in my life are:

Becoming a softball pitcher. To start, you need to learn to throw the ball. The simple physical mechanics of throwing. Then you work on aiming each throw. Then you work on strengthening the speed and force behind your throw. Then you keep practicing to keep improving. As a softball pitcher, you learn to throw overhand first, then you have to change it up. You learn to throw underhand, how to aim a throw, and how to create speed and force. And then you keep practicing.

Learning to play the flute. I knew what a good flute player sounded like. But before I could even learn a note, I had to learn how to create sound. Sound familiar? The physical mechanics of creating sound to play the flute. Then I had to learn the finger positioning for each note. I had to practice playing the correct pitch of each note. I had to practice transitioning finger positions to change notes. Then I had to continue practicing for speed, tone, pitch…and then practice more to be part of an ensemble. Learning, growing, and improving over 7 years until we had the honor of being selected to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Yes, the Carnegie Hall.

How do you get there? Well, it’s on 7th Ave in New York City, between West 56th and 57th…

But….the old saying is true.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice…

Practice takes discipline, consistency, focus, and mindset.

Before you begin, adjust your mindset.

If you’re a beginner, starting fresh, acknowledge that. Create a clear starting goal. What do you want step one to be. Think about step two next. Ignore steps 5-50. Focus on where you are right now, and where you hope to go next. If you’re starting to run, you might focus on getting your sneakers on and going for a walk. Step two might be repeating that tomorrow, with a slightly faster pace.

If you’re picking up an old hobby or activity, don’t live in the past, where you may have been more practiced and advanced. Did you play the piano as a kid? Awesome - you probably retained some basic skills and ability to read music. But your hands have changed, your eyes and brain have changed. Come back to it just as you are. Give yourself the grace to make mistakes, forget things, and play a bit clumsily.

Then, keep practicing. More and more. Learn. Grow. Improve.

When you think you can’t go any further, change perspectives. Create new goals. Try doing things a new way.

The possibilities are endless, and you are limitless.

Be sure to listen to this week’s episode, subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts! I appreciate every bit of support.

If you love the content I am creating here, please also consider becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon, a platform for artists and creatives to receive monthly support from their fans! Memberships start at $3 a month for access to daily personal updates, including works in progress, life behind the scenes, sneak peeks and first looks at finished works.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE HERE, ON SPOTIFY, Or APPLE PODCASTS:

Thanks for listening!

Hop over to Instagram and tell me what you love from Practice Makes Better! Tell me what you are working on, what you’re practicing and improving upon.

Share this episode with your friends, and have a beautiful week! Keep creating, and stay awesome.

If my work has connected with you in some way, if you enjoy seeing my art, listening to this podcast, or my writing has inspired you, I hope you’ll consider becoming a member! Memberships renew on the first of each month. I hope to see you in there!