Flowers and Faces

Jessica Mack (aka BrownPaperBunny) from Seattle, WA is drawing / painting a flower or a face every day, in any medium, on any surface available for her project Flowers and Faces...

Why did you decide to do this project? Drawing and painting flowers and faces is something I enjoy but also something I want to improve, so I’m setting out to draw a flower or face every day.

How has doing a yearlong / daily project affected your life? It has become a habit now, and I start to feel ‘the itch’ if I miss a day because I’m traveling or sick etc. It has also become a little piece of my day that is just for me, which has done wonders for my stress levels. I’d even go so far as to say I’m sleeping better at night because of my daily creative habit.

See all of Jessica's project on Instagram at @100daysofflowersandfaces.

Elaine's Flower A Day

Elaine Greywalker is in the midst of her 4th 365 project(!), this time it's A Flower A Day...

Why did you decide to do this project? I started the first project because I like making something every day whether I want to or not. Having a daily mini-creative project gives me a sense of accomplishment and keeps the creative source open."

I did the "Morning Pages" for years before I did my first Make Something 365 project: "Archives", which was an attempt to cull the morning pages. It was a failure. Probably because it wasn't about making something. Then I started "Skies" which was successful. I only missed 30 days.

Flower a Day is the best so far: the most fun and freeing. Having a concrete object makes it easy to create. I tried making "Spirit Boats" but that was too broad.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? It's about being in the now and seeing possibilities. I find a lot of similarities between making art/being creative and meditating or being present. Art/creativity transforms by opening up childhood wonder and appreciation of what is. So, it is about being fully me. A daily project keeps me in touch with the my source.

I come to this with a lot of training and experience in art, a lot of practice with hand-eye coordination (which is about being present and noticing), years of making abstract expressionistic works (which is about how I feel and relate to color, shape, and gesture). And also many years as a graphic designer. I want to unlearn a lot of formalized training and dig deeper in to what resonates with me. The daily project makes that happen.

During the "Skies" project I generated some really cool art. The "Flower" project looks to be going the same way. I'm happy and thrilled to be embarking on another year of discovery.

See all of Elaine's flowers HERE. And read more about her 365 projects HERE.

Marieke's A Flower A Day

Marieke Rolloos in Delft, the Netherlands is making A Flower A Day...

Why did you decide to do this project? I wanted to do a year project to inspire myself. I choose to make flowers, because they make me happy. I want to share with other people, that's why I put the flowers somewhere in Delft. Other people like it and give positive feedback. It makes them smile!!!

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? Because of this project I came up with new ideas and projects. I am giving creative workshops and this project inspires other people as well. That is very nice! It is a positive project with "good news", it makes people happy. I think the world can use that! ;-)

See all of Marieke's flowers HERE.

Flower A Day Follow-Up

I've decided to periodically check back in with some folks who have completed their 365 projects...

Jackie started making A Flower A Day on November 27, 2010 and finished 365 days later!...

What are the biggest lessons/skills you learned from doing your project? The biggest lesson I learned was that, seeing something you started all the way through so dedication, determination, and has a fulfilling feeling. The biggest skill I learned what wood burning, I would love to start doing more wood burning projects now.

In what ways did the project change your life? It made me see things differently in terms of art. This project taught me to think outside of the box to find different and unique things to make something with. I also learned how important it is to finish what I started.

Now what? I was thinking of doing another year long project, but I am not sure what I want to do.
Thanks!

See Jackie's original 365 interview HERE.

See all of Jackie's flowers HERE.

Linnepin's A Flower A Day

Linnepin in the Netherlands just started making A Flower A Day...

Why I decide to do this project? I was inspired by Flow Magazine [which recently featured 365: A Daily Creativity Journal]  to do something like this, and I love being creative.

See all of Linnepin's flowers HERE.

Bree's Blooms

Brianna Warren in Fairfield California is making Bree's Blooms. She explains, "Every day for the next year I'm going to create a new interpretation  of flowers given the suggestion for each day and see what I end up with. It's very general but that just means I have more room to work with what little time I usually have to spare. I may not update the blog daily but it will be flower packed with 365 things by the end of the year."...

Why did you decide to do this project? I'm always looking for a creative outlet. I make my own clothing and accesories, make collages, room decorations and doodle on all of the paper I'm left with for more than a minute. But all of it was so random, not structured and all the same things I'd do whenever. I wanted something challenging that involved my love for making things and stumbling across this book I fell in love with the idea and bought the book the next time I could (months later). I've been obsessed with drawing hearts and flowers for years so when I decided to do this project it was obvious what I'd do. Hearts. When I sat down to do my first days project I couldn't help but feel that I'd rather go in a different direction and before I knew it I'd created a flower on the palm of my hand. Now I'm going to make a flower a day in whichever way I come up with.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? Well I've only completed my first 2 days but already it's shown me I'm a busy person and I need to make room for me time which is exactly what this is.

See all of Bree's Blooms HERE.

Project Bloom

Deborah Uhlig in Rancho Cordova, California is making daily flowers in Project Bloom...

Why did you decide to do this project? I started this project because I needed help finding my creative side again. Life had become so dull and had a processed feeling. Working for the school system didn't seem to help, the depressing talk of budget cuts and the over inflated curriculum. This was starting to even bring my children down, both just becoming teens can now see how life can get to you with the demands of good grades and testing scores. I just happen to be walking through a craft store when I came across your book. We had just moved into our new home and the previous owners had planted and landscaped so many different flowers I love it and I was so inspired, like a spark being lit. I had to share, so using your ideas(sort of) I decided to make blooms out of anything and everything. (if possible)

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? My project has given me commitment. Showing my kids sticking with something till the end, whether or not people understand or think it's a waste of time. With the fast paced demands of school, kids, work, and just life in general focusing on something and completing it is nearly impossible.This project has help me focus and realize all the creative, think outside the box, things I've stuffed down inside me to placate the demands of "fitting in", "keeping up with the Jones's" (who ever they really are) are still there. It truly has brought back more of my imagination and help me learn to relax and enjoy the finer more simple thing things life has to offer.

See all of her flowers HERE.

Flower A Day

Kristen in Jersey Shore is making a Flower A Day...

Why did you decide to do this project?  I had been in a crafting rut for the past 4 years because of a career change- I didn't have the time, energy, or in some cases a need to make things. I wanted to change this, because I miss being using the creative part of my brain...that and my craft closet is full,
I decided on flowers primarily because of my upcoming wedding- I have no desire to have real flowers for financial and ethical reasons, and I had been talking about making fabric flowers for awhile. Then I saw a cookie bouquet and flipped out because it was so awesome. Then an origami bouquet on etsy. Then felt rosette boutonnieres. Basically I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to make. So Flower A Day seemed like a good project because I could try out new techniques, or even just making different types of fabric flowers to see how they looked, and so far things are going pretty well!

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? So far it hasn't had a major effect (but I am only on day 4), except for on my 12hr shift days. I'm a Veterinary Technician by trade, and some days I don't get home til 8 at night after working since 8am. I'm trying to make simple projects on those days so I don't completely lose my mind, and save the more complicated projects for my days off.

See all of Kristen's flower's HERE.

A Flower A Day

Jackie read 365: A Daily Creativity Journal and was inspired to make A Flower A Day!...

Why did you decide to do this project? Flowers are one of my favorite things. are a symbol of friendship and love. No matter where they are they always bring beauty.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? It has taught me to think outside of the box and to explore new forms of art. It has also pushed me to take other art forms that I know but not good at and become better. It has also made me more aware of the the world around me.

See how Jackie's flowers are growing on her blog HERE.