Yesterday, I was working in the studio when I heard a bit of a bump and shuffle downstairs. As any cat mom would, I flew out of my chair to have a look. As I went down the stairs, I heard a scrambling and thought, “Who is in the sink?” Then I saw Shibumi, holding herself up by the paws on the frame of the kitchen window, the window above the coffee maker. Her feet were trying to find purchase. Clearly she had tried to jump up into the little window edge and hadn’t quite made it. I could see where she had tried to touch down on the table but had hit the top of the sugar container instead, flipping it over and giving her nothing stable sto stand on.
I reached out.
With her level of tension and her past, I knew I might be in for it. She would likely use my arm as a safetly ledge and spring/tear away with vigour and speed.
But that’s not what happened.
Instead she came to me easily and leaned in, her poor little heart beating a million miles a minute. She stayed in my arms, letting me pet her until she calmed and even began purring. Then she was ready to be off on her next adventure.
Creative Living with Jamie (episode 262): Interview with Courtney Cerruti
Lately I’ve been wondering whether there’s value in dreaming impossible dreams, and that’s where the conversation starts this week. It seems an appropriate question since my guest, Courtney Cerruti, is one of those creatives who seems to do six impossible things before breakfast! She and I talk about creative productivity, finding your own artistic voice and why it’s worthwhile to do things that are scary!
Maker extraordinaire, Courtney is an artist, author, collaborator and shop owner. Her books, Playing with Image Transfers, Washi Tape 101 and Playing With Surface Design been translated into Italian, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. Courtney teaches workshops all over the country and online at Creativebug.com. Her work has been featured on Oh Happy Day, Design Sponge, the SF Chronicle, Instagram, The Jealous Curator and BuzzFeed among others. She makes something everyday
Courtney’s Special Offer for Creative Living with Jamie Listeners!
Click here to sign up for your introductory month free with the Creative Living with Jamie discount code CREATE.
Shine a Light ~ Spread the Magic
Whether this is the first episode that you’ve listened to or we’ve been hanging out for years, I am so glad that you’re
here. I love knowing that we’re hanging out in your studio, folding your laundry or that we’re hanging out while you’re walking your dog or going to work. Wherever you are and however you listen, I want you to know, I cherish you. And if you cherish this show, if it has been a blessing to your creative life, please spread the magic! Take a moment to leave a positive rating or review on iTunes. Share the podcast with your friends! You really can make a difference by shining a light on the show so that it can be found by other creative hearts just like you.
Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning I invite you Behind the Scenes at my studio.
Today: I’m thinking about Creative Projects and how we can get them done – our way. Plus, tomorrow’s our free Studio Forum on Our Art Stories – I hope you’ll join me!
Me, sitting in a lovely bistro in Avignon, France – a dream come true.
Recently I realized that I had stopped dreaming impossible dreams.
I’ve been wearing my practical pants and sensible shoes. I’ve been working with what’s working and getting into a habit of maintaining – all of which is good. But without impossible dreams, I’ve found myself a little bit empty, a little dull around the edges. Without impossible dreams to draw me out into the adventure of the great beyond, I find my borders getting a little smaller and my spirit getting a little sleepier.
Why do we avoid impossible dreams?
Because sometimes they hurt. Deeply.
You look at that brochure for art school, you peruse your friend’s travel-filled Instagram feed, you see that creative blogger joyfully leap from their full-time job to online entrepreneurship and you cry or growl or simply turn it off. You turn off not only the stimulus but your feeling about it.
A mix of desire and deprivation is just too much for the heart to bear.
But that desire is your true north and when you turn it off, you lose a part of who you are.
Whatever you are in your heart, be that an artist, a world-traveller, a chef, a dancer, an author, whatever, you must find a way to express that part of your soul. An impossible dream can serve as a focal point, a light to guide the way.
An impossible dream can be the brilliant sun on the horizon line calling you to move and to become.
As you journey to what you believe to be an unreachable destination many things can happen. Yes, you can get discouraged. Yes, you can get lost and you can get hurt. But you can also get stronger and grow your courage and I can guarantee you that you will have experiences that you never would have had otherwise. Sure, you might not become a full-time artist but you will create art. You will study and hone your skills. You will build a body of work and an artistic voice. On the road to that dream, you may build a C.V. and enter exhibits. You may have one, two, three solo shows. Your friends and family will come to know you as “the artist” and you will have spent hours, in fact, days, months, years of your life doing something that your soul loves to do.
Imagine that.
Isn’t that better than turning off that desire? Isn’t that better than deciding not to dream?
I’ve decided that it is.
And so, I have invited some old and familiar dreams into my heart again, dreams I had stopped thinking about, dreams I had relegated to the world of “impossible”. Now, when this dream comes up, I no longer respond with a dull ache and deep sadness. Instead, there is a fresh and mischievous twinkle in my eye as I begin again to wonder, “What if?”
We are not defined by achieving our dreams but through having the dream in the first place and the journey we take on the road our heart dreams of will take us places that enrich our lives and awaken our souls.
