A look back at 2014 best crafts books - Finally, there’s The Little Spark (Stash Books), by Carrie Bloomston, which calls itself an interactive workbook for igniting creativity. It’s peppered with tales from dancers, yogis, artists and more, and is filled with fun ideas. Bloomston’s point: Unleash the “spark” of the creative life. It’s a fine motto for embracing the new year. (Jennifer Forker Associated Press, December 2014)
The book's design beautifully weaves together text, blank write-in spaces, stellar photos and a host of other charming design elements. A sparkling blueprint for stimulating creativity. (Kirkus, 12/18/14)
Plunge into a riot of color and shape, slathered with a big helping of encouragement. Bloomston, a fabric designer trained as a painter, offers 30 tips for finding and nourishing the inner artist. Creativity books can be a bit pious, but this one emphasizes the fun of creation. The book is chock-full of concrete, hands-on tips that can help the newbie develop habits of creativity by making things and then making some more things, the principle of repetition (spark #23). (Publishers Weekly Starred Review) (Publishers Weekly, 10/7/14)
According to fabric designer Bloomston, creativity is not something you do, it's who you are. Therefore, the author's exercises are designed to help readers think from their hearts and outside the box. Some of her “sparks” advise to get involved with physical materials by looking online for craft or community education classes or creating a ritual or talisman. Other ideas comprise removing doubt through positive self-talk and developing a sense of wonder through slowing down. The color photographs and layout of the book are particularly pleasing and inspiring. VERDICT A beneficial and enjoyable title for people who need a bit of a nudge to try something creative, or those who used to paint, write, or sew, who want to do it again. (Library Journal, 11/25/14)
You may know Carrie Bloomston from her work as a rising star in the world of fabric design... Bubbling up inside of her was an idea about an unusual how-to book that would lay out in a playful fashion "all the pieces of wisdom that I've learned about creativity from my teachers, or picked up over the course of my life." She says at the beginning "Your creativity is like a pilot light -- it's always on, even if you aren't using the stove.” Some of her exercises will help disrupt your normal way of working or looking at the world. Others help you deal with fears or figure out your working style. There are a few projects, including a vision board and something called a Soul Box. How can you not love a book in which the final spark is "Nothing You Need to Know is in This Book Or Any Other"-- but still guides you to be more playful and creative? This book is for any person you know who wants to make stuff, any kind of stuff, that is an authentic expression of themselves. (Meg Cox Quilt Journalist Newsletter, 11/24/14)
I haven't felt this way about a book since The Four Agreements, which I purchased and gave away repeatedly. (One Girl Circus, 11/25/14)
Carrie Bloomston’s new book, The Little Spark – 30 Ways to Ignite Your Creativity, has completely blown us away with page after page of absolutely inspiring exercises and images to get you out of any creative funk. As much as I wish every single day I woke up with a list full of new ideas, it doesn’t always exactly happen that way, so a book like this is perfect for getting the wheels turning again. (Pretty Prudent, 12/4/14)
Carrie writes with great passion, joy and honesty about her creative life. She shares her enthusiasm, her struggles, and her discoveries on her path to greater creativity and personal fulfillment. This is a deeply spiritual book. Not a religious book, but a book about finding meaning and contentment through personal growth, connections, and giving back. It's about harnessing your essential core – your creativity – and why it is so important to finding your bliss. (Susan Brubaker Knapp Quilting Arts TV, 12/4/14)
Learn techniques you can use to cultivate your creative life and live a more creative life. (The Applique Society Newsletter, January 2015)
Everyone is born with a creative spark inside, although many may feel that it's gotten lost amongst their hectic lives. Thirty engaging exercises, fun activities, inspirational images, and motivating ideas help creative minds recapture that spark and make room for it in their lives. Whether done once a day, once a week, or once a month, these exercises inspire a more creative life. (American Sewing Guild Notions, Spring 2015)
