Inspiration From New Music

It is not at all uncommon to find inspiration from another art. Music stands out high on the list of inspiration sources for artists from all around the world. Generally, it is enough to listen to the music that you already like as inspiration eventually hits you. However, in time you do get used to that music. As you see that, you want to move towards discovering new music. There is a world of opportunity and websites like Last.FM or Spotify can help you to find brand new music you are going to love. Experience new music according to preferred genre or the artists you already love.

Inspiration From Meditation

Meditation offers numerous advantages that people should learn more about and it is a shame to see that meditation is not even considered as a way to find inspiration from art. A big problem with inspiration is that it will not come when the mind is distracted. You might not think that you are distracted but the mind can easily wonder from one topic to the next. Meditation works as it clears your mind and you can think through different things, one at a time.

Start A Diary Or Just Scribble Thoughts

In so many situations we find inspiration at moments that are not at all expected but you cannot just wait for it to help you. The idea is that when you get the brain going, one idea is going to lead to another. That is why diaries or simply writing what you feel helps much more than anticipated. This is similar to meditation but it is an active approach in which you use both your body and your mind so you can jumpstart inspiration seeking. Alternatively, if writing is a problem for you, just start drawing random things.

Long Walks

Long walks can have a really great calming and therapeutic effect on your body and your mind. Try to create a routine in which you take a walk every single day at the same time. This helps you to clear off distractions and just see what surrounds you. You can listen to music as you walk or an audiobook. Just be sure that you pay as much attention as possible to what happens around you.

Work In A Quiet Setting

Sometimes we are so distracted that inspiration simply disappears. If you are crafting your art somewhere that features unexpected potential noises, make a shift towards a studio that is quiet or a room in your home that is as far away from the street as possible. Reducing noise is sometimes just as effective as listening to music. You do not know what works best for you until you try it.

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Reading or telling a story brings joy into the lives of millions of people each year. Stories are what connect us as people, young to old, across cultures and traditions. Listening to a story being told well is as entertaining and magical experience as any that you can enjoy.

This year the Society for Storytelling brought even more people together to enjoy National Storytelling Week. Events were held in schools, Care Homes / Residential Homes, offices, libraries and museum…In fact, just about everywhere there were people at the storytelling events between Saturday 26^th and Saturday 2^nd of February.

National Storytelling Week has been running for thirteen years, with the dates coinciding with Candlemas on the 2^nd of February. This old Christian festival includes a blessing on the throat, of course the storyteller’s main instrument. It is also falls nicely after Christmas giving us all something to look forward to once the festivities are over.

How to organise a reading event in a care home

Organising a reading event in a care home is a great activity that can be enjoyed by residents and staff alike. Hiring a professional storyteller is a good idea but you can also draw on the talents of colleagues and willing volunteers.

Look for a mix of male and female storytellers to encourage everyone to take an interest. The best storytellers engage with their audience, can project their voice loudly enough for everyone to hear and ideally put some of their own personality into their oration.

You can decide to have a theme for your event. Even if you don’t have a theme creating some continuity between the stories will help to keep your audience engaged. A nice idea would be to ask residents to read an extract from their favourite story.

Organise a time and place where listeners can relax and listen to the stories without interruptions. Another good idea would be to ask residents to invite young people from their family and group of friends to read stories they have written or their own personal favourites.  Many of the best stories are written in simple elegant prose and there will be something suitable for all reading levels to choose from.

The Society for Storytelling has a number of resources available to help you plan a successful reading event in the future. BUPA care homes have already planned to bring the joy of storytelling to their residents at the Braid Hills Care Home, Pentland Hill Care Home and Victoria Manor Care Home.

One of great successes that a reading event can hope to achieve is bringing a whole community together who have a similar passionate interest in reading, no matter what the age gap could be. Reading is a hobby that crosses over into many genres and sub-genres. A reading event like National Stroytelling Week is a huge opportunity to bring these genres together to a wide audience who may have never have had access to such stories before. No matter how far along in life you are, a new type of story can reignite the passion for reading.

What will you do at your reading event for National Storytelling Week? 

Author:Jamie Monteath – Follow him on Google+.

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i) Variety of Articles

Some popular items that are made using crochet include blankets, carpets, table mats and table covers. Some articles of clothing can also be made using crochet. If you want, you can add some creativity and make trendy accessories, as well. There are different kinds of design and patterns for creating crochet items. Your basic crochet supplies will depend upon the type and quality of article you want to create, as well as the complexity of the pattern you have chosen.

ii) Basic Crochet Supplies 

Basic crochet supplies include a crochet needle and some thread. The color of the thread can vary according to your choice. If you have chosen a complex design for the article, you will need different kinds of needles, in various sizes, with different hook shapes.  Other than needles, you would also need different kinds of spinning yarn.

Some designs are tough to make by yourself. As the complexity rises, your needs will also increase. An instructional book is must if you are trying to make a sophisticated item with intricate designs. Other than this, decoration items like beads, sequins, ribbons, and pompon circles can help make a crochet article look more attractive. Tape measures are also one of the basic things you’ll need.

iii) Crochet Needles

To make complex designs, a person will need different kinds of crochet needles with different sizes of crochet hooks. The size of a hook should match the kind of thread used to make an article. Crochet hooks are made from a variety of materials, such as metal, plastic, wood, and bone. Hook sizes are generally categorized in millimeters. They may also be categorized in numbers or by English alphabets. There are different styles of crochet hooks. One of the most popular kind of crochet hook is a long length hook with a topper at one end. There are also double-ended hooks. Crochet needles with double-ended hooks help in using two colors of thread at the same time.

iv) Crochet Materials

Crochet materials mainly include various type of spinning yarn or thread, with different textures. Some types of yarn may have different thicknesses as well. Out of the several types of yarn, bulky weight yarn deserves a special mention. This yarn is mainly used to make sweaters, scarves or mittens. Spot weight yarn is sometimes used for weaving baby items. Some of the finest and most fabulous crochet materials include fibers of acrylic, cotton, silk, alpaca, and cashmere.

v) Other Accessories

Out of other crochet accessories, the most important is an instructional book. This book is mainly needed for beginners. If you are planning to make a highly artistic piece, you would definitely need an instruction booklet in the preliminary stages.

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1.)   Wall décor and transfers

Very simple, easy to use and easy to attach, wall transfers are making waves in the interior design world for their ease of use and their ability to transform a room. Take a blank wall in a room of your choosing, and through a small cash sum of around twenty to thirty pounds, you can turn that wall into a statement, a picture or simply break up the monotony with a stick on. You don’t have to worry about longevity much either, as transfers come in different materials from paper to vinyl to give you a long lasting tattoo on your wall that can be easily wiped and cleaned like the rest of your home. Wall décor in the form of transfers add a third dimension to a room and give it depth and feeling, so dot be afraid and get sticking!

2.)   Ornaments

If you rolled your eyes when you saw the word “ornaments” then for sure you are thinking about a cluttered home full of decade old relics that reek of lack of taste and age. You could not be more wrong! Ornaments can be anything from floral arrangements, to photos, to holiday relics which, if done correctly and appropriately can bring life, energy and atmosphere to a boring and quiet room.  The trick in choosing what you display and how you display is by choosing items that are of an appropriate shape, size, style and colour: and this is the rule to follow for photo frames, mirror borders and items like models or faux plants. With these items you can either create a feature wall, or a decoration or simply use them to break up monotonous areas like fireplace mantle pieces and window ledges.

3.)   Rearrange

Very simple, very easy and at no cost at all is the classic trick of rearranging the rooms, and room layout. A very simple way to refresh your home: many people like to remove rugs in the summer and replace in the winter. Swapping around shelving space, moving sofas from one end to the other and organizing storage units and areas do amazing things for your interior design, and the main reason for this is the impact of natural sunlight which changes throughout the year. Dark winters will have an impact, as would like bright summers so rearranging the home to make the best of these natural changes will keep your home fresh, alive and relevant all year round!

Author:Ben Inder – Follow him on Google+.

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