11. Guest books & love letters: inhibition and inspiration from the past

Capri Aspe is a little bit of everything: ballerina, composer, contra caller, puppeteer, film editor, travelling performer... and she's not afraid to add new things to that list!

We talk about:

• Using existing works (eg. Barney) as a springboard for learning new skills
• Creativity as the arrangement of different types of media
• How to keep perfectionism from bogging you down? Quotas.
• Weight lifting is for ballerinas too

Check our her children's show, Sugar Plum Celeste and the Big Book of Ballet:  https://sugarplumceleste.com/. I've watched a few episodes so far and honestly I think it was made for me haha "The experts in Celeste's ballet book are giving conflicting advice. How can a fairy make progress when the instructions aren't clear?" okay just @me already

This episode was recorded in August 2023. We last heard from Rikka in episode 103! She's a writer, sewist, and Asian ball-jointed doll enthusiast. You can find her on Instagram @crimsonchimera.

• The routine is not writing 500 words every morning. The routine is asking myself, "what do I have  the energy and the heart for today?"
• How can I commit to making something if I don't even know if it will be good?
• I'm scared _____ because _____ 👀

We mention:

• Devon Walz's podcast Art + Magic
• TMNT artist Woodrow White: https://www.instagram.com/woodrow_white 
• I Solo Balboa with Olga Marina: https://isolobalboa.com/
• (book) How to Calm Your Mind with Chris Bailey
• (book) Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman
  
  

A walking around the house carrying baby episode.

• how many ways can you fuck up one pair of baby overalls?
• if I'm not making it like instagram says (bright colours!) then what's the point?
• play is only fun if it turns out EXACTLY HOW I PLANNED
• how do you breathe love into a windowless room?

I mention

• Zak Foster: https://www.zakfoster.com/
• The Quilty Nook: https://quiltynook.zakfoster.com/
• Amanda Nadig: https://www.amandanadig.com/
• New Song Quilting Co: https://newsongquilting.com/shop
• Emily Van Hoff (quilter): https://www.emilyvanhoff.com/
• (book) The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations, by Elizabeth Keating

Caitlin McIver ("mc-EE-ver") is a ceramicist based in Seattle, WA. About a year and a half ago she moved across the country and found the creative love of her life: CLAY. A background in industrial design helped her find her voice in sculpture surprisingly quickly. Now she can't get enough and she's at an inflection point - how do I do more of this and less other stuff??? You can see her work on her website: https://www.cmciver.com/, or her instagram @cmciver.studio.

We talk about:

•  your voice comes from places you've been and things you've done
• teachers: resources + connectors + opportunity finders vs. blocked creatives
• people been making pots in pits for 1000s years you're fine (I'm fine)
  
  

We mention:

• "If you had a shitty parent..." (KC Davis): https://www.instagram.com/reel/CinEcl8O-8e/
• Sarah Nelson: https://sarahnelson.art/ (episodes 74/75, 98, 116)

A walk around the house:

• What happens when you get the right equipment for the job? You avoid it
• Leaving projects until they naturally resolve themselves
• 2024: the year of no pressure but also a few long overdue things and some big projects and ok maybe some pressure

I mention:

• How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
• Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
• Birth resource: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/
• wtf is a coverstitch machine: https://threadsmonthly.com/what-is-a-coverstitch-machine/
• ADORABLE kids clothing patterns: https://ohmeohmysewing.com/

I had a baby! And we're getting back on the horse with an unedited walking episode. Content: I talk a bit about How It Went aka doctors scaring me until about 11:53, and mention stillbirth but don't talk in detail about it.

I talk a bit about what I worked on while I waited (literally loose ends) and some hopes for 2024.

I mention Certified Nurse Midwife Beth Connors: https://www.bethconnors.com/ - she gave me the courage to advocate for myself in the last few weeks, and she can meet virtually! In case you don't have access to a local midwife like I didn't. Highly recommend.

A walking episode 🥾🐕  I chat about how 'Nostalgia' finally went, and some learnings from hosting creative events (the first Art Party!)

Jackie E. Davis is the artist behind Underpants and Overbites and our Rochester correspondant. She's been on the podcast a bunch of times - if you're looking for more Jackie you can find her in episodes 13, 50, 71, 76/77, 89, and 95.

In this episode, we talk about how Jackie's new baby Peanut has affected her creative process/life/psychology. Jess feels the tension between doing too many things at once and the irresistible urge to follow the many-stranded thread of interests.

This episode was recorded in August.

We mention:

•  Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
•  How to Calm your Mind by Chris Bailey

Sarah Nelson is an environmentally focused illustrator who's currently making work about climate change (among other things).

We talk about the future of AI and the planet (we might have more of a say than we think), creating from passion vs. personal narrative, and what do you do when your job disappears overnight? This episode was recorded in June.

Her solo exhibition is on now!!

Change: An Arctic Journey
Opens September 6th, reception September 22nd
at the Art History Gallery at the University of St Thomas
2115 Summit Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105

You can find Sarah Nelson:

• on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_ann_nelson
• on her website: https://sarahnelson.art/
• on Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/user/sarahannnelson
• by email: sarah@sarahnelson.art
• in episodes 74, 75 and 98!

We mention

• The Arctic Circle Residency (you should apply!!): https://thearcticcircle.org
• Asmat Art: https://www.theamaa.org/
• The Arctic Circle Podcast: https://www.arcticcircle.org/podcast 
• Book: The Art of Making Memories by Meik Wiking
• "What is an Image" - Lynda Barry
• The painting of 3 boys on the dock: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjljVmMpYwD/?img_index=9

Just a little update.

• Bluegrass camp got cancelled :(
• I went to a jam though!
• I get interrupted by a kid on a dirt bike and I left it in (sorry)
• Improv quilt!
• Log jam / burnout revelations

If you're listening in the future and you're feeling chronological about it, this episode was recorded after chatting with Sarah, Jackie, and Rikka (but those episodes aren't out at the time of publishing this one!).