“I began to notice in my photogra-
phy that I was most interested in close- ups of tree bark, ripples in water bodies and cracks in the rocks. My quilts then began to take on a more abstract qual- ity,” she says. So Ciolino took a class in Columbus, Ohio, with Nancy Crow, recognized by many as “the mother of contemporary quilts,” and never looked back. She still gives quilts as gifts, but her work is now also exhibited at muse- ums and quilt shows (SandraPalmer
Ciolino.com;
NancyCrow.com).
of Youth? by Jill Allison Bryan
Creativity the Fountain
Is
“There is a fountain of youth. It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring in your life and the lives of people you love.” ~ Sophia Loren
Like many craftspeople, Ciolino’s
process in creating art is part technical skill and part intuitive imagining. When she starts a new quilt, she pulls fabrics from her workroom into groupings that appeal to her. She then takes a black- and-white photo to make sure the values of light and dark in the fabrics create an interesting pattern. Next, she uses a rotary cutter to cut the fabric by hand—like drawing a line with a pencil—into shapes freehand, without referring to any pattern. Finally, she sews the pieces together in a composition and uses machine quilting to add another layer of textural interest, finishing each creation by hand. “The craft is when I make some-
thing as meticulous and impeccable as I can,” Ciolino concludes. “The art is when I bring an authentic version of my- self—my voice and spirit—to the work.”
Judith Fertig celebrates the craft of cooking at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.
blogspot.com.
A
t age 77, Academy Award-winning actress Sophia Loren still shines with the energy and enthusiasm of a person half her age. Could Lo- ren’s words hold the key to her ability to retain a joi de vivre well into
her 70s? As studies have shown, people that remain engaged in some type of creative endeavor, whether it be art, music, gardening, cooking, writing, photography, needlework or other creatively satisfying pursuits, enjoy a variety of health benefits throughout their lives. “The most important finding is that creative activity helps people stay
healthy,” says author John Mirowsky, a sociology professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “Creative activity is non-routine, enjoyable and provides opportunity for learning and for solving problems. People who do that kind of work, whether paid or not, feel healthier and have fewer physical prob- lems.”
History is filled with examples of people that accomplished some of
their best creative work later in life. Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocal lens at the age of 78, Maya Angelou is still an amazing creative at the age of 83 and Frank Lloyd Wright completed the design of the Guggenheim Museum in New York at 92. Consider Georgia O’Keeffe, who painted into her mid-80s. When her eyesight began to fail her, she started working in clay, so she could keep creating. Of course, you don’t have to be a famous inventor, artist or poet to
enjoy the benefits of the creative process. Simply allowing some time and space in your life for creative fulfillment is beneficial. If you’d like to experience more creativity in your life, consider hiring a coach, taking a class or joining a group that shares your creative interests. At the very least, you’ll add a healthy dose of joy to your life and possibly, some additional years.
Jill Allison Bryan is a certified Kaizen-Muse creativity coach, founder of Creative Oasis Coaching and a singer/songwriter. Learn more about her creativity coaching and music at
CreativeOasisCoaching.com and her blog,
CreativeOasisCoaching.blogspot.com.
18 Dallas Metroplex
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