Carolyn's Creative Connections
Carolyn's Creative Connections

Welcome!

Welcome to the first issue of "Carolyn's Creative Connections". You may be familiar with the older incarnation of my e-newsletter, which was rather awkwardly titled "The Carolyn Hasenfratz Design and Carolyn's Stamp Store Newsletter" (archive here). Way back in the days before any of us had ever heard of the internet, I published a paper 'zine. Although those two publications varied a lot in the specifics of what I wrote about, they had one thing in common - they were mainly about creativity! My 'zine survived for 17 issues and the "The Carolyn Hasenfratz Design and Carolyn's Stamp Store Newsletter" was published 19 times. It seems like the right time to take my newsletter in a direction that is not really that new but perhaps easier to explain.


This publication is about all the ways in which creativity can contribute to the quality of life on Earth. It is for artists, crafters, designers, inventors, entrepreneurs, hobbyists or anyone who considers creativity to be important in life. My introductory essay in this issue will explain why I think creativity is such a precious resource. Thank you for subscribing and I hope you enjoy the new newsletter!

Contents:



Carolyn's Creative Connections

Creativity, Eco-Chic and the New Frugality

As a retailer and business person, it's not really in my best interests to discuss hard economic times. One would think I'd be more likely to try to persuade you that employment is going to go up and taxes are going to go down and prosperity is just around the corner so you'll spend money on what I'm selling. I wish I really believed that, it would make the future seem a lot brighter and the daily tasks I need to perform in order to try to grow my business and that of my employer would weigh on me a lot more lightly. The human capacity for creativity has a way of working around obstacles put in our way. I don't know if there has ever been a more important time to nurture creativity in our society and apply it to issues that we have to deal with.


DIY culture has always been popular in certain segments of society - hippies in the 1960s, punkers in the late 70s and early 80s, zinesters in the grunge era. DIY culture might have to become more mainstream for survival reasons. I hope I'm wrong but all indications point to survival rising by necessity to the top of more and more peoples' priorty lists.


So I find myself as a purveyor of goods and services in 2013 in the paradoxical position of urging people to be more careful with their resources and to consume less! In my opinion the key is not to stop consuming entirely because you can't do that and remain alive, but to consume more intelligently - and to consume in ways that make you stronger and better able to face the challenges we will have in the future. My personal experience has taught me doing something proactive to alleviate whatever events or conditions that you fear makes you feel stronger and more capable. There are some things in life we can't control but in some cases I believe people have been brainwashed into believing they are more helpless than they are.


Save money the easy way - grow a garden. It's thrifty - it's patriotic - plant to-day! According to Thomas Jefferson, "Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds."


If you find yourself unhappily in the position of having no choice but to be frugal, creativity can make your situation a lot more palatable. Loss of income is associated with a loss of status in our culture, but frugal practices are often beneficial for the environment so you can disguise your frugality by being eco-chic, an attitude made fashionable by entertainment elites. In a culture where the appearance of something is as good as the real thing, the celebrities only have to appear to be eco-chic but in your own life being more environmentally aware has real benefits for you. Take control and use eco-friendly practices to gain more autonomy in your life.


Here are a few examples and suggestions:


Organic gardening


Frugal and Survival benefits:

  • High quality nutritious food and herbs filled with vitamins and free of poisons is added to your diet and improves your health.
  • Improving and caring for your soil helps make up for the choice farmland we're losing to urban sprawl developments.
  • Knowledge of how to grow food is preserved to pass on to future generations.
  • If you open pollinate and seed save, the genetic diversity of seeds may save our lives if something affects monoculture crops.
  • Good soil and reduced use of chemicals contributes to a healthy life-sustaining water supply.
  • Physical activity - a stronger body is less prone to injuries in riots, natural disasters, etc.
  • At least there is a chance of some kind of food supply being available if roads are impassable, there are fuel shortages or there is civil unrest.
  • Plants reduce erosion and preserve soil.
  • Plants reduce urban heat sink effect and reduce air conditioning bills.
  • Contact with nature beneficial for mental health.
  • Less chance of food contamination and tampering.
  • Healthful foods more available in areas where there are no grocery stores such as depressed urban areas.
  • More diverse stock of plants adapted to your specific climate or microclimate conditions will be developed.
  • Plant stock and seeds can be used as barter if there is currency trouble and food shortages.

Eco-chic benefits:

  • Helps sustain wildlife (if you garden organically you will be sharing at least a little of your harvest!).
  • Lowers cost of trendy food choices (vegan, raw, smoothies, detox water, etc.).
  • Not going to the store as much reduces packaging materials and transport fuel consumption.
  • Less dependent on food produced from genetically modified seeds.
  • Children who observe you gardening learn about where food comes from and the importance of healthy soil, air and water.
  • Plants absorb CO2 in photosynthesis if global warming is something you worry about.
  • Composting reduces waste going to landfills.

Raising a serious amount of food, especially organically, is not an easy task. I myself am in no position to have a self-sustaining garden for all my food needs - I'm not even allowed to grow vegetables in the ground where I live (I can grow them in containers on the deck but don't have enough sun). But I've always believed it's better to do somthing than nothing, so I have an herb and wildflower garden. I save a lot of money on herbal tea and fresh herbs for cooking, I'm as certain as I can be that my herbs are not contaminated with anything and I'm providing a home for lots of beneficial insects which have reduced the amount of pests in my immediate vicinity - that makes life better for humans and wildlife around me due to the reduced need for chemicals. If you have a yard or even space for a few containers on a porch or windowsill, you can make a difference. Aquaponics and hydroponics are also possible indoors if you can manage the lighting requirements.


Making crafts from repurposed items


Frugal and Survival benefits:

  • Creative outlet improves mental health.
  • Gives resources that would otherwise be wasted an economic value.
  • Better lifestyle for less money.
  • Cottage industries help provide income for people who have lost their jobs.
  • Improves hand skills.

Eco-chic benefits:

  • Keeps resources out of landfills.
  • Reduces the need for new goods which these days are often poorly made in countries with environmental laws a lot less stringent than ours (if they have any).
  • Shows off your committment to recycling and being "green".


Making your own personal care and household cleaning products
(See this web page for ideas -
http://www.chasenfratz.com/soaprecipes/)


Frugal and Survival benefits:

  • Creative outlet improves mental health.
  • Better lifestyle for less money.
  • Avoid unhealthy chemicals in commerical products.

Eco-chic benefits:

  • Fewer trips to the store mean less fuel consumed for transport.
  • Natural products very fashionable.
  • Refill your own containers and reduce the need for packaging.
  • Fewer harmful substances go down the drain and end up in water supply.


Making Gifts


I used to work at a large retail store and was appalled at what constitutes a celebration of the birth of Jesus in today's society - waiting in long lines to buy cheap junk made in other countries employing slave labor. Borrowing money to pay for things beyone one's means - believe it or not after all we've learned about the consequences of too much debt you can still hear ads on the radio at Christmastime encouraging people to mortgage their home to buy Christmas gifts. Trampling people to buy cheap junk (yes someone was trampled at the store where I worked but not injured fortunately). Extra security guards on duty - what does that say about the Christmas spirit?


Frugal and Survival benefits:

  • Creative outlet improves mental health.
  • Avoid debt.
  • Avoid stress of crowded roads and crowded stores.
  • Avoid disease from being in crowds (yes there will be more diseases rampant as our society deteriorates, for example the current TB outbreak in California).
  • Improves hand skills.
Eco-chic benefits:
  • Fewer trips to the store mean less resources used on packing and less fuel consumed for transport.
  • Teaches the value of homemade things.
  • Emphasizes the Eco-chic values that Jesus taught - keeping in mind the welfare of others, not placing too much value on material things, the value of humble and honest labor, the meaning of a gift being the love and caring that went into it and not the monetary value, etc. Whatever your spiritual beliefs are, I'm sure you can think of eco-chic ways to enhance your religious and cultural activities.


Cooking meals at home
(Some of my favorite recipes)


Frugal and Survival benefits:

  • Creative outlet improves mental health
  • Can choose more healthy ingredients
  • Catch fewer diseases from food preparers, salad bars, buffets, etc.
  • Families that eat together have healthier relationships

Eco-chic benefits:

  • Fewer disposable containers consumed
  • Can make your own sustainable choices of ingredients


PinterestCheck out my eco-friendly ideas Pinterest board! http://pinterest.com/chasenfratz/eco-friendly-ideas/


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Carolyn's Creative Connections

New Client Web Site Launched

I am working on graphics and promotion for a new web site called Events on Route 66. Events on Route 66 is a web site developed with the purpose of giving all events on Route 66 maximum exposure. The focus is to provide a venue that will reduce or eliminate scheduling conflicts that happen when Route 66 related events are planned in advance. The site will give event planners notice of when an event is already taking place on any given day. This will maximize the potential of attendees to all events.


Eventsonroute66.com is also a great reference for tourists and visitors to use for planning a trip or finding an interesting event going on near them while they are on tour. The use of this site is free for anyone to use. Please feel free to sign up and add any events that you know of related to Route 66.


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Carolyn's Creative Connections

Planning a Multi-Channel Marketing Campaign

My ecommerce web site, Carolyn's Stamp Store, is a real business but it also functions as a laboratory for testing out techniques and strategies to employ on behalf of clients. I am currently running a Spring Clearance Sale campaign. I would like to share with you some ideas on how to plan your own multi-channel marketing campaign.

  1. The first step in my planning process was to decide what the purpose of the campaign is - in my case, to let people know about my clearance sale and to recruit signups for my free e-newsletter. Read more

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Carolyn's Creative Connections

Carolyn's Stamp Store Clearance Sale

Carolyn's Stamp Store Spring Clearance Sale


Save big on seasonal and discontinued products! Sale continues until June 21, 2013 or until stock is gone. 50% off on:

  • Plantable seed paper
  • Christmas items
  • Valentine items
  • Selected rubber stamping inks and ink pads
  • And more!

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Carolyn's Creative Connections
Carolyn's Creative Connections

Project idea: Seed Packet with Collage Insert

Seed Packet with Collage Insert In this newsletter I previously mentioned seed saving as a survival strategy. Seeds are a great spring gift for those in your life who like to garden - think Mother's Day, Father's Day, Arbor Day, Earth Day, Easter and spring birthdays! Whether you have seeds to give that you have harvested yourself or you buy some and want to package them in a more festive way, you'll find a use for this project.


Read more: Seed Packet with Collage Insert


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Carolyn's Creative Connections

Carolyn Hasenfratz Thank you for reading Carolyn's Creative Connections!

Until next time,

Carolyn Hasenfratz



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Carolyn's Creative Connections

Copyright © 2013 Carolyn Hasenfratz
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