"If you build it, it might fall down." — SARK, "Make Your Creative Dreams REAL"

IN THIS ISSUE

• August 2004 Journal
• What's New @ the CP
• Spotlight: Brush Fire Painting Workshops

AUGUST 2004 JOURNAL

Over the past few years I've come to believe that any one of us can achieve just about anything we put our mind and energy to. If I can, you can too. It's great to have creative dreams and life ambitions, but it's another thing to make them exist outside of our brains and actively pursue them.

Life is full of choices. Choose to pay attention to your deepest desires and passions — and just see what happens.

Two of the most exciting things in my life happened this week, and I want to share them with you: 

I Met SARK!
On July 28, I attended a three-hour workshop and book signing (with chocolate cake!) in Chicago featuring author/artist SARK. It was an awesome evening. And not just because I was in the company of a famous author who inspires millions of people to Succulent Wild Womanhood or creative destinies. SARK is down to earth. Witty. Fun. Imperfect. 

If SARK schedules a workshop near you, I highly recommend attending especially for the creative experience. Visit Planet SARK for her current list of events.

Creativity Portal Featured in Imagine Magazine
You might remember back in February I was contacted by Kelle Walsh, a journalist for Imagine — Creating a Meaningful Life magazine. Kelle was doing research for an upcoming article about creativity, and was looking to interview people who actively pursued creativity in their lives.

The Fall, 2004 issue of Imagine magazine is now hitting the newsstands, complete with the article Kelle wrote titled, "Everyone is Creative: How to nourish and flourish your own creative style." This fantastic article includes pieces of my interview and a generous plug for the Creativity Portal.

Imagine magazine granted us permission to republish the article on our site. You'll find the link to Kelle's article below in the "What's New" section.

Now that I've shared a few of my latest adventures, what are you up to? What are some of your creative dreams? And, what are you doing to work towards them?

Enjoy August and everything after,

Chris

WHAT'S NEW @ THE CP

Everyone is Creative: How to nourish and flourish your own creative style.
By Kelle Walsh, Imagine Magazine (Fall, 2004
If you've ever taken a class in drawing, painting or pottery, and despite your best effort, couldn't make the final result look anything like the model shown, you may have thought, "I don't have a creative bone in my body."

Summer Crafting Ideas and Projects
Over 50 free projects and ideas for summer.

Creative Concepts and Copywriting: Connect more, sell more series
By Michele Pariza Wacek

Part One: One marketing mistake you don't want to make
If you want to sell anything - whether books, products or services - then you need to know your target market.

Part Two: Ask and You Shall Receive
Once you've defined your target market, you need to start gathering information about that market.

Internet and Education: One Mom's Experience
By A.R. Linder
What is all the hoopla about children needing to be exposed to computers and the Internet?

Make Gift Wrapping Paper with Kids
By Abigail Beal
Making your own wrapping paper is a fun activity that children or adults can do. With some creativity you can create gift wrap that is unique and different - everyone will know the gift is from you!

Free Online Courses
Looking for free online courses for writing, computers and information systems, Web design, art, and history? If so, these resources offer a variety of free online courses and classes you can sign up for.

SPOTLIGHT ON

Brush Fire Painting Workshops
Naomi Rifkin has spent many years looking for ways to re-connect to the creative spirit she knew from her childhood. By accident, Naomi found process-oriented art and began attending workshops with Stewart Cubley, co-founder of The Painting Experience.