This post is dedicated to a book that I have been waiting for! Yey! This is the first book review in Sunday House, and I hope I'm not too late because this has been creating quite a buzz. When I first read about the book announcement, I put off making my reservations on Kelly Rae's etsy site, but all that's past now because I got this in the mail last Tuesday, the perfect beginner for my short week after Labor Day weekend, when the motivation to go back to work was so little:
I was so, so excited to receive it, and couldn't wait for the end of the day to surrender to my sofa at home, curl up with Momo, and read the pages. I allowed myself this indulgence a little bit at the office. I love how Kelly's autograph read: "Possibility and wings to you, Anna," and by the way, her postage envelope read, "Creative Soul Anna M. Rosete." From these little details, you can tell that she is so committed to the possibilities one may experience through answering their call to the creative life, no matter how it speaks to us: through whispers or loud, not-to-be-dismissed voices.
I got through the first three chapters, and could not resist whipping up a creation of my own after reading Kelly Rae's very inspiring work. I have been blessed with the perfect timing for this inspiration, as my mom's birthday is on Monday. With her traveling to India every two weeks, the time we have together flies, even with me working in her company. So, I skipped to Chapter Five of Taking Flight, where Kelly's friend, Mati Rose shares her technique of using a sewing pattern and a collaged background. I must say that I used to be anxiety-ridden before beginning a painting. In the past, I couldn't depart from my fine point pen in order to stay within the lines. When I tried the technique in the book, I had fun from the first second I started the project. It just kept going, and although I must admit that I am still attached to the coloring book mentality of sticking within my dark boundaries, this technique definitely inspired me to take time with the work, enjoy its creation and delight in the process. Here is my Thursday night experimentation with collage, my first ever:
It's called "Gratitude," an homage to my mom for her birthday. The baby was me in 1978. It's from a Baby Gallery in a magazine's August 8, 1978 issue. I found the clipping when we unearthed our things a few months ago.
My experience with the creative life is probably the opposite of Kelly Rae's. She started her exploration of the arts later than I have, but the fear, the anxiety, the doubts that she generously shares with her readers in Taking Flight is a very familiar story to me. I will say that no matter what our backgrounds are, the ghosts that haunt our creativity are all familiar. Mine came from the fear of going a bit looser, and pursuing craft rather than the be consistent with the rigid, firm and "buildable" lines that I drafted as an interior architect. It also came from the concern of not being dismissed, being ridiculed because I am exploring my non-architecture side. I can't say that I have completely been healed from all of it, but one thing's sure: it was very soothing and inspiring to read a voice that echoed my sentiments, encouraged, affirmed and honored the creativity in everyone who seeks to pursue it.
The Verdict: Definitely, a must-read! The pages are beautiful. You can tell that so much care has gone into this book. I have at least three people in my gift list for whom I will absolutely order Taking Flight.
