The Dare Dreamer Movement by Julene Fleurmond

This TED Talk from a few months back featuring designer Jessi Arrington is so creative and quirky. Jessi is a self-proclaimed “color-loving…outfit-obsessed Brooklyn designer” who is determined to feed her love for passion only by shopping secondhand at flea markets and thrift stores. She also photographs and blogs a different “colorful, crazy outfit for every single occasion.” I love her care-free take on fashion to express herself, and how she doesn’t take her outfits or herself too seriously (which she shows in one of her tips: “Embrace your inner child. Sometimes people tell me that I look like I’m playing dress-up, or that I remind them of their seven year-old. I like to smile and say, ‘Thank you.’)

Visit Jessica’s blog to learn more about her take on the TED talk and her passion for fashion, used and unique.

” Jessi Arrington packed nothing for TED but 7 pairs of undies, buying the rest of her clothes in thrift stores around LA. It’s a meditation on conscious consumption — wrapped in a rainbow of color and creativity.”

From Jessi’s TED Talk
“…Confidence is key. If you think you look good in something, you almost certainly do. And if you don’t think you look good in something, you’re also probably right. I grew up with a mom who taught me this day-in and day-out. But it wasn’t until I turned 30 that I really got what this meant. And I’m going to break it down for you for just a second. If you believe you’re a beautiful person inside and out, there is no look that you can’t pull off. So there is no excuse for any of us here in this audience. We should be able to rock anything we want to rock.

“…Developing your own unique personal style is a really great way to tell the world something about you without having to say a word. It’s been proven to me time and time again as people have walked up to me this week simply because of what I’m wearing. And we’ve had great conversations…”

“So obviously this is not all going to fit back in my tiny suitcase. So before I go home to Brooklyn, I’m going to donate everything back. Because the lesson I’m trying to learn myself this week is that it’s okay to let go. I don’t need to get emotionally attached to these things, because around the corner, there is always going to be another crazy, colorful, shiny outfit just waiting for me, if I put a little love in my heart and look.” – Jessi Arrington

More About Jessi

Jessi Arrington is a founder and owner of WORKSHOP, a designer firm in Brooklyn. Her favorite color is rainbow and her default answer is YES. She’s taught Design Fundamentals at Touro College and given guest lectures at NYU; she’s a board member of AIGA/NY. Before co-founding WORKSHOP, she carried out branding for Brooklyn Brewery, Tomato Records and Lion Brand Yarn under the direction of Milton Glaser. She makes a hobby of wearing nothing new (except undies).
She blogs at LuckySoAndSo.com about design, consumption and color.

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou

I love this quote and how it reminds me of how what may appear beautiful (or successful and esteemed) may have been molded through a long period of trial, darkness, growth and solitude. What we believe to be an over night success is never really made over night. There’s always a journey that shapes us, and a process that graces us to achieve true beauty.

(Above: I loved this quote so much that I created a little photographic illustration, using my favorite brooch and bedspread).

Jim Munroe’s show the MAZE is an amazing experience that goes beyond the typical “magic show.” I got to see some of his tricks in person at a campus event I attended a few years back, and loved how he merges illusion, humor and his own story to inspire. Jim says he loved playing with cards since he was a child and I love how he turned a passion of his into a unique endeavor.

Click here to hear Jim’s story of how he faced a serious diagnosis and dealt with reality.

Watch a preview of the MAZE show below:

More About MAZE

MAZE is an experience that escapes the boundaries of any single definition. In stark contrast to the typical “magic show”, MAZE presents a unique blend of illusion, intuition, psychology, humor, mystery and danger.

The events that happen during a MAZE show leave you entertained, bewildered, distrubed and inadvertantly pondering the question “How can I know what is really true?”

MAZE exists to make waves in the ocean of the widely accepted, rarely challenged, cultural definition of truth.

Designed to evoke emotion, provoke dialogue regarding what you believe to be true, and to expose the rampant deception that exists in present day culture.

To learn more and for booking information visit: http://whatisthemaze.com

STORY is a conference geared toward creatives, from artists, filmmakers, musicians, authors and designers, among others, and takes place in Chicago, Sept 15-16, 2011. From the amazingly eccentric website, created by a design studio that continually inspires me, Pixel Peach, to the list of speakers, I’m mesmerized and hoping I can attend in the future. If the audio clips on the website were not enough to satisfy your curiosity, check out photos from 2010 and a recap here.

I was also really inspired seeing some of the works of some of the visual arts who are working on STORY, check out some of their projects here on the website of STORY’s founder Ben Arment

2011 Speakers

Here are some of the presenters this year:

• Kyle Cooper – founder of Prologue Films, leading VFX company in Hollywood
• Tom Ryan – CEO of Threadless.com
• Ed Saxon – producer of The Silence of the Lambs, Adaptation, Philadelphia
• Santino Stoner – principal of Dot&Cross, director of Nooma film series
• Esther Havens – humanitarian photographer for orgs such as Charity: Water

Continue Reading on my site Dream in Soul for More Speakers and info…

No matter what creative field you’re in I think it is always a good idea to stretch and grow yourself in what you do, and beyond what you are known for doing, even if just for fun.

For years my main methods of expression have been in the visual arts (design, fine arts, etc.) and writing but the Renaissance dreamer in me has always loved to experiment and try new things.

I’ve decided that this Fall that I’ll explore some areas I’ve always had an interest in but haven’t made time to pursue: theater, music and photography. I’ve always dabbled and been captivated by these fields but haven’t yet pursued them officially.

I’ll be taking classes and experimenting more into each of these fields and hopefully will be able to sharpen my skills as well as get a fresh perspective on the areas I’ve always pursued.

I want to document my progress and journey here on the blog – won’t you join me in stretching and growing our artistic muscles and creative sinews.

What creative fields have you always wanted to delve into; what’s stopping you?