Sometimes, we stumble across something that feels like what we’d been searching for, without even knowing we were searching.
Sometimes we end up places that we never imagined.
Sometimes we find ourselves hosting a Because Creativity Live session, meeting wonderful new people, just trying things out and having fun and creating with no purpose other than joy….
Gently guided and free spirited
We gathered on Zoom for the first Because Creativity session last week. We chatted, some of us crocheted, while others sketched and painted.
was crocheting a beautiful jumper for her son and helped me with some advice on joining in new colours to my granny squares, something that I’ve been struggling to work out! Lezel shared her love of crochet and how it has helped her to feel calm and relax.
Lezel is an indie author, love warrior, poetic heart and infinite soul, who writes what her soul wants to express - mostly poetry! You can read Lezel’s beautiful writing here on .
and I tried out a granny square pattern from Lucy at Attic24. Sara created a beautifully unique crocheted flower in gorgeous multicoloured yarn of picks and purples and blues. Neither of us had crocheted for years, but we gave it a go and I was delighted to see how our creations turned out so uniquely lovely.
Sara is a daughter, mother, friend, potter... and now a writer too! Sara writes , about her love of pottery and other musings.
used the time to paint colour swatches for a picture that she’s working on and we chatted about family and creativity and life in general. Kiran promised she would share pictures of her finished painting with us and I’m so looking forward to seeing it.
Kiran writes sharing Muslim musings on life as a person, parent and immigrant.
After the live session, we carried on the conversation in the While I Was Drawing Chat, where we shared photos of what we’d created with each other.
What happens when we just surrender to our creativity?
For a while now I’ve been wandering. Meandering. Not really knowing why, but just enjoying it. Only worrying what was I up to every now and then.
Writing words about my drawings, drawing pictures to accompany my words, crafting and creating and sharing it with you.
And without trying, without a direction, but just by surrendering to my creativity, I find myself here, having done things I didn’t plan, and planning to do more things I never thought I would…
I wrote a short story about a fairy named Nox, who was afraid of the dark. And now I am planning another, about a little witch searching for her gift.
I’ve been recording voiceovers for my posts for a little while, cringing a little less each time I hear my own voice played back to me. In March I had a HUGE amount of fun adding sound effects I’d recorded to the voiceover for my post The Music of March. And now I am busily planning to host a podcast!
In writing about failing as a full time creative, I stumbled across the point. My reason.
I write about things that I draw and I draw to accompany things that I write and I share my pictures with paid subscribers in my ever growing illustration gallery. And of course I would love my paid community to continue to grow and for that to be enough to pay the bills. But again, that’s not the point. I draw and write and create because it lights my soul and makes my heart sing.
The point is, because, creativity.
I wrote about playing the clarinet and my love of music, art, inspiration and creativity. How it was rooted deep in my soul, from a life surrounded by creativity. And I rediscovered doing things for joy alone.
I’ve started collecting together creative treasures that I have seen and delighted in recently to celebrate creativity of all kinds. I’ve realised that it’s not just my own creativity that lights me up and enthrals me, it’s the wonder that I feel when discovering and exploring the creativity of others.
And so here I am, And I have so many things I can’t wait to share with you.
While I Was Drawing letters
I have half written letters and drawings about secret ingredients, exploring off the edges of the map, failing at things, stitching things together and much more, that I am so excited to share.
Because Creativity Guest posts and podcasts
I will be sharing more Because Creativity Guest posts and starting a Because Creativity podcast, about crafting and creating for joy; about making things and baking things and singing and dancing and much more.
Celebrating Creativity posts
I’m collecting together many more creative treasures that I’ve been discovering to share in future Celebrating Creativity posts.
Festival of Creativity
On my adventure to explore creativity of all kinds, I am looking for Substack posts and Notes written for the joy of all types of creativity to feature in my virtual Festival of Creativity. I’ve been having mad ideas of organising a live Festival of Creativity, but for now, I think virtual is more realistic!
Because Creativity Live sessions
And following the success of our first Because Creativity Live session, I am planning the next one for Friday 5th July at 11.30am BST.
After last week’s Guest Post from
- the Lure of Clay, I thought we could play with air dry clay.It will be a quiet and informal session where we can chat about the creative activities we love to do and share ideas and inspiration. So whether your creativity is a free spirit or you’re looking for some gentle guidance or just some mindful colouring-in to do, there will be space for everyone.
We’ll carry on the conversation in the Subscriber Chat afterwards, where you can share your creations with the community, if you would like.
I so hope that you can come.
Would you care to join me?
If you’re not already a subscriber to While I Was Drawing, subscribe for free to join us in this creative community, where we are exploring and unearthing the creative treasures in our soul. When you subscribe, you’ll get a beautiful bundle of illustration assets as a gift in my Welcome Letter.
Or you can upgrade for the cost of a couple of yarns of wool or a paint tube or two, and become a patron of my art. I am so grateful for every paid subscriber, each one granting my creativity another moment of freedom to explore creative adventures that light the soul. You’ll also get access to my every growing gallery brimming with gorgeous illustrations, and a new gift each month. The peacock butterfly dividers used in this post is one of the illustrations you can find in the gallery.
Bye for now,
Hi. I found your stack yesterday and so happy to have found it. 😁
I am Unapologetically childlike about all things creative. 🤪
I have no formal training in anything, but do a little of everything and find the more I allow myself to play, the happier and more joyful I am. I've held myself back for most of my life because I didn't think "I was an artist" and to "do creative things" was for children. After listening to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert in 2019 I was inspire to finally give my self permission to PLAY. I am no longer holding myself back and life has been so much richer since. Yay! 😁
I crochet 🧶 and have been following and learning from Lucy at Attic24 for a long time. Lucy was the first crochet teacher that I was able to learn from. She is so detailed and never misses a step. I just 💜 her. I have made several of her blankets. (This used to be my only creative outlet)
I find all my favorite creatives live across the pond. Maybe I need to move to Yorkshire Dale's. 🤔
In 2020 I started playing around with watercolor 🎨 and I am still learning and creating. I love the process of playing and learning and stumblng on something that just works.
Also in 2020 I stared making crochet sweaters, tops, and bags.
In 2022 I brought a sewing machine and started to learn how to make little bags and line my crochet bags. I even turned jeans into a skirt. I have so many other projects I'd like to take on.
I also love to cook and bake, but perfer baking because eating dessert 🧁🥮 is the best.
I also love being in nature. Painting flora 🌿 and fauna is my favorite.
I am eager to explore this community. I have the July 5th event on my calendar. It will be 6:30am here on the East Coast of the United States, but I am sure it will be worth it. 😉
I am very much inspired by your substack and your words to embrace more Joy through creativity. I have been longing to delve deeper into that aspect of life. And being in like-minded company will help with that, I am sure.
Thank you for creating this space. I am looking forward to being inspired by this community you are building.
✌️💜
Is there anything you don't do Emily! Wow. And a podcast!! Can't wait.
Such abundance here. Love how you share your creative passion with others and allow that joy to multiply.
"Sometimes we find ourselves hosting a Because Creativity Live session, meeting wonderful new people, just trying things out and having fun and creating with no purpose other than joy…."
It's just taking that step isn't it. I know you must inspire many Emily in living how you do. It's courageous and passionate and honest and I love it!!
xx