MISTAKE
miss take
i am a mistake
my missed takings
are the best of me

what do you do, how do you see your mistakes?

I have discovered that my best work and discoveries come when I err...error from err...to wander, often aimlessly and without intention...perchance to dream?
  
mistake
/mɪˈsteɪk/ 
noun
noun: mistake; plural noun: mistakes
1.    an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong.
"coming here was a mistake"
Similar:
Error fault inaccuracy omission slip blunder miscalculation misunderstanding flaw oversight misinterpretation fallacy gaffe faux pas solecism misapprehension misconception misreading
slip-up boo-boo howler boner fail boob clanger goof bloomer misreckoning
 
Misunderstand misinterpret get wrong put a wrong interpretation on Misconstrue misapprehend misread miss take amiss be wrong be in error be at fault be under a misapprehension be misinformed
be misguided be wide of the mark be barking up the wrong tree get the wrong end of the stick
 
confuse with mix up with take for misinterpret as confound with
Origin

late Middle English (as a verb): from Old Norse mistaka ‘take in error’, probably influenced in sense by Old French mesprendre .
 
 

HEADonistic
 
You may have noticed my recent post inviting you to participate in a hat making challenge...ESOTERIC may seem like a tricky theme, however, as with any challenge, it's all in the interpretation. That is what I love about creative work shopping, so much magic and inspiration evolves from our interpretations!
So please don't get caught up in trickiness, go with the first idea that pops in your head.
Describe an esoteric hat or headpiece, and then because I know you have creative bones, make it!  I will be calling out to my witchy poetess energy and who better than the ancient Greek poetess Sappho to guide us! 
Share as many inspiration posts as you like.  I can’t wait to see what you imagine!
esoteric
/ˌɛsəˈtɛrɪk,ˌiːsəˈtɛrɪk/
adjective: esoteric

Origin

mid 17th century: from Greek esōterikos, from esōterō, comparative of esō ‘within’, from es, eis ‘into’. Compare with exoteric.
intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.
"esoteric philosophical debates"
Similar:
Abstruse obscure arcane recherché rarefied recondite abstract difficult hard puzzling perplexing
Enigmatic inscrutable cryptic Delphic complex complicated involved over/above one's head
Incomprehensible opaque unfathomable impenetrable mysterious occult little known hidden
Secret private mystic magical cabbalistic involuted

​Vide son sac! 

Empty your bag
Make a list of everything in it
Use this list to write a portrait of ownership
 

​  Circle of life…
 
Focusing on the deeper meanings and universal symbolism of the circle, create a mandala of words reflecting what this shape means for you.

 Poem for the day
 
I’ve been manifesting my witchy poetess self this year; reading more poetry, studying poetry, joining a poetry book club, writing poetry, seeing and living poetry everyday…it is nothing less than po-epic!
It fits right in with my creative vibe and is a welcome reminder of all that is wondrous around me.
 
So have a read of Mr. Cohen’s poem, you are possibly familiar with his songs.  I’ve highlighted the lower comment as our writing focus. 
Where is your everyday magic?  (Maybe you found it in your bag!)
 
 
 
“Out of the junk of everyday – ‘the garbage and the flowers’ – the magical world of the imaginative is created.  There is a strong sense in which his poetry is a prodigious search of experience for the exit from the ordinary.”
​

While we have steamy young love on the mind, why not navigate some serious contours.  Keeping with the map theme, this week (and every week) you are the treasure.  Design a mud map of your body.  Describe, explain and give directions to the song of your curves, the blossoming of your being, what makes your skin sing…plenty of gooey clichés and juicy metaphors available. 
How about the key to your heart, secret gardens, mossy caverns, tangled bushes, rolling hills, forbidden forest fruits…ha!
We are infinitely luscious and limitless!
Will your lover be able to brave the perils and unearth your treasures!

While driving to work this morning, a bird flew by in front of me and a split second later, I saw its shadow flying after it.  It occurred to me that a bird shadow, when in flight, is completely separate from its body - unattached. It seems quite peculiar to me. 
As far as I know, this is not the case for most shadows; they are, we are, permanently attached, (unless somehow you have figured out how to fly), they are always with us.  Thoughts of Peter Pan’s mischievous shadow came to mind and all the shadow photos I like to take, stretching out in funny elongated angles.  How attached are you and your shadow?  What is your shadow story?
​

2020 is a slow fast year and I am so lucky to be part of some amazing online creative communities that help me navigate through all the ins and outs, ups and downs, highs and lows of the current age.


I believe that everyone is creative in their own unique, imperfect way.
Art isn’t only about drawing.
Poetry isn’t only about words.
Creativity isn’t only about making.
Art, poetry, beauty and creativity are all around us,
they are in the way we see and do things.
Each one of us has a spark within that keeps us alight
from the inside out.
Maybe you have many fires burning within or only one,
what matters is that something fuels you.
Creativity lies in that which gives us purpose, in what inspires us; whether you find it in the kitchen, the garden, at work, in the shed or studio, the where is not important.
The magic happens in how you nurture that spark,
how you tend your fires,
your creative energy.
It is there.
It is yours,
to keep private or share.
Embracing it is incredibly liberating.

Sharing and developing your creativity with likeminded souls is extremely rewarding. I am sending out much appreciation and gratitude to these inspiring groups that help keep my creative essence flowing!


At https://www.handmadebookclub.com/with Ali Manning from Vintage Page Designs, I continue to improve my skills, learn new bindings and share with book arts crazy creatives around the globe!

Dyed and gone to heaven paper dyeing and other wonderful bookbinding courses with Liz Constable
https://www.bookartstudios.co.nz/

Easy bake Artisan Papers, course with Roben Marie https://robenmariestudio.com/


With all the writing, journaling and reading I do, I often discover links via social media feeds and sign up to interesting blogs and have found some fantastic poetry courses.

I have been a member of the Mystical Pōm Poetry group with Emily Motzkus https://www.emilymotzkus.com/for a few months now and am so happy to have found such a guide, such a group of amazing, kind women to learn and discover poetry, (among other things), with.

Emily has created a mystical poetry wonderland, of which she is the most perfect imperfect guide, full of vulnerability, excitability and enthusiastic encouragement. Her love for all things poetic is contagious and inspiring. This caring creative community has enabled me to see poetry everywhere and empowered me to embrace the witchy poetess within me.


I had great journaling sessions with:

Susan Eckert MA of https://www.thetransformationspace.com/

And https://michellegd.com/ and blogging advice with Pip Lincolne from http://meetmeatmikes.com/
​

My own online creative writing workshop is open to all. I post prompts Monday's on FB and my blog.
www.facebook.com/groups/Amotisse
www.metissagesdecoeur.com


I have dabbled in more online poetry courses with:

Everyday is a poem
http://www.jacquelinesuskin.com/

Free short courses with https://www.futurelearn.com/

How to make a poem
A-levels study boost: Unseen poetry and the creative process
How to read a poem


And not forgetting all the creatives on Instagram like the #areyoubookenough community, sharing incredible creative challenges.
I am constantly in awe!


​

As it is almost half way through September, last months overview is already old news!

Mountain – this was last month’s challenge theme for the #areyoubookenough creative bookbinding community.  Each month I am awe struck with inspiration as I admire bookish creations from all curves of the globe.  What is your experience with mountains?  What memories or sensations do they evoke within you?  Are you the mountain?  Let your free writer spirit climb the rocky ridges and soar above the clouds!
​

X marks the spot
Do you remember the last time you made a treasure map? 
What was your treasure? 
Create a new map; will you encode the legend, include a key and a rose compass?  Will the path be smooth or are there monsters and booby traps beyond the edges of the page?  What adventure will you take us on?

Grounded
A companion for slow living
by Anna Carlile
www.violadesign.com.au
 
Once again, I praise books (it won’t be the last time, so you better get used to it!).
Once again, I found this one at the library and after only having flicked through the pages; I knew that I loved it!  It wanders through the seasons with thoughts and simple activities to help you replenish your being.
 
This is the year of many things, and despite everything, it is not all bad.  This lovely local publication, (the author hails from Melbourne), emerged this year, so it is rather timely, being that we all have more of it or that we have had to reorganise our time. 
A suitable time for reflection and redirecting our roots.  When do you feel most grounded?  What helps you feel grounded?  If you think like a tree, how do the elements assist you and which ones do you feel most in tune with?
 
Or,
 
For a raunchy spring-fling read…
 
How well rooted are your earthy bits?!

I find that when I am focused on something, I see or hear it everywhere!  This works with writing too.  It is on my mind and I see correlation all around me, whether it is a few words I overhear, lyrics in a song or even random thought patterns while mixing a cake! Somewhere in this process, courage popped into my head.  Is it an idea, a concept, a virtue or a strength and where does it come from?  Can you describe or define courage?

Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson
 
During this topsy-turvy year where little has gone as we imagined, what thing is hope for you?

Last week we described the art of trying, a title inspired by a short reflection by Paulo Coelho from his book Like the Flowing River.  This week, we change the angle of focus and reflect on the traces we leave behind us or that are left upon us, as we attempt to master the art of trying.  Are they visible scars or invisible tracks?  What form do they take?  Do they define you? Do you make them with intention and wear them with pride or are they cause and effect of life?