Plans to break a creative slump

I've been in a bit of a creative rut this week. Often when this happens, I get sucked down into the interwebs and have to claw my way out. In this case I did a bit of that, but  happened to run right into this great "Ten Paths to Help You Emerge from a Creative Slump" post from Alyson Stanfield on her ArtBizBlog. Hooray! 

I jumped right in with #1 on the list: Wallow. Yes, that's right — wallow in it just a bit. I wallowed while devouring a great book, The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food and Love by Kristin Kimball, which I would highly, highly recommend. 

I tried out #4 and had a lovely lunch with a pal at Earthen Jar with the added feel-good bonus of supporting a great restaurant suffering a bit because of the massive construction on the street where it lives. I also fell for #9 and watched a terrific, yet angering documentary called The Art of the Steal about how a multi-billion dollar collection of art you've never heard of was in essence stolen after the collector's death. Ack! 

And so now… having wallowed and read and talked and visited and watched, I'm moving on to #3 on the list: Get out! With so many great things happening this weekend in town, I will be out and about lifting the old spirits:

FRIDAY, April 29: In honor of Arbor Day—today—Arbor Brewing Company is serving up spruce ale and $1 from every pint sold will be donated to Ann Arbor's Adopt-a-Park program! The money will be used to plant trees at local parks. So drink up!

SATURDAY, April 30: Come on down to Blue House for a spring trunk show! Six of us—Courtney Fischer Jewelry, Deid Goods, Brown Joey, Little Sister Jewelry and Tinkerdot Designs—will be hanging out with our wares and soaking in some spring time crafty goodness whilst the UM folks graduate across the street! We'd love to see you there!  

SUNDAY, May 1: First — head over to the lovely Pot and Box and sip a little coffee. And then head right up the hill for the Water Hill Music Fest. This one-of-a-kind music festival from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.will feature residents of the Water Hill neighborhood performing on their front porches and yards for other neighbors and anyone who happens to wander by.

Wow!!! If this doesn't perk me up creatively, I don't know what will!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hot glass and cold beer — oh my!

Glassblowing and beer tasting — together at last! Have you heard about this event on Thursday night in Dearborn?! Wow! Five Michigan breweries paired up with hand-crafted glass tumblers and live glassblowing. How hot and cool is that?! $45 gets you a hand-blown tumbler and two drinks, plus tasty local treats provided by Edible WOW. Unfortunately, you have to purchase tickets in advance, so plan ahead! It's from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Glass Academy and tickets can be purchased here. The breweries participating are: Arbor Brewing Co., Motor City Brewing Works, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Corner Brewery and Rochester Mills Beer Co. I totally want one of those swirly glasses with the amber lager-y looking beer in it!