Creative Camp: Week One Recap
Sunny days, kinetic sculptures, and one group to keep us accountable
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Creative Camp: Week One Recap
The idea to host this challenge came to me as I was going through a creative rut, spending too much time online, and feeling disconnected from making things with my hands.
When I announced this month of making, I was hoping that at least a couple of people would join me and that we would have some level of accountability through the community chat every week, but what has unfolded (more on that below) has been so inspiring, and seeing so many of you engaged in the challenge makes me excited to continue showing up and making things.
Come join me for Creative Camp this summer
Creative Camp is a self-paced, month-long challenge where we’ll create four crafts alongside the apartmento 710 community. Each week throughout July, I’ll open a thread where we can check in, share our progress, and show what we’ve been working on.
The premise of Creative Camp is simple: To make one creative project each week in July to get back into the creative flow and leverage this space for accountability to help you pick up an old hobby, finish something you’ve been putting off, or spend at least a couple of evenings this summer making with your hands. Every week, a thread in the community chat will keep us accountable.
Week one progress and reflections
This week, we saw a variety of creations come to life. From sewing projects with fabric that had been sitting in the storage room for years, kinetic sculptures as a gift for friends who are moving far away, a zine to honor the mundane but magical moments in life, a top made from a vintage crochet table runner over a linen napkin, and so many other cool and special experiments.
My favorite part of Creative Camp has been seeing the community explore a wide range of creative mediums and make unique pieces with materials you already had at home. A common creative block is the belief that you need the most handsome supplies for a project: the best sewing machine, expensive brushes, the most beautiful fabric - but that’s the least important part. You can make something beautiful with found and foraged leaves and grasses from a nearby park. It’s never about the tools; it’s about the process and expressing yourself.
Projects I worked on
I finally started working on my sewing skills. Nothing is too humble for art, and I think that learning how to sew is one of the most rebellious things you can do in a capitalistic society that encourages us to throw away things as if they were disposable.
I mended a few shirts and swapped out some old, ugly buttons for shell ones. I sewed two mini pillowcases, which turned out to be the perfect beginner-friendly project. I also made a magnetic bulletin board (which, for some reason, went super viral on Instagram?!) and a flower-shaped bulletin board. Cute and practical.
Super makers⋆˚꩜｡
Adorable piece made from collected lace and crochet pieces by Katy Gaines
First look at this ceramic frame by Meg
Upcycled dress from curtains and bedsheets by Mia
Kinetic sculpture #1 by Rachelle
A couple more projects from the talented Katy Gaines
Kinetic sculpture #2 by Rachelle
Floor cushions by my dear Ceci. (Fun fact: she also made all the furniture you see in the back.)
Final thoughts from week one 🎈
As I type this, I feel so energized and inspired to continue exploring more projects of different sizes and complexities for the rest of the month. I have a few ideas that, depending on how busy life gets, I’ll be able to pivot and adjust to keep momentum.
Remember that the point of Creative Camp is that you get into the groove of making things, so keep the focus on experimentation vs perfection. Use what you already have, borrow, thrift, or swap with a friend, rely on the group for accountability, and take it as a chance to make things alongside curious people like you from around the world.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their projects, updates, and words of encouragement in the apartamento 710 chat. I love making things alongside you <3 Please share your reflections from week one in the comments.
We’ll talk in the next chat check-in. Happy making!
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More of apartamento 710:
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⋆˚꩜｡ More creative inspiration
PS. This year, I’m starting to work with brands to help me grow the world of apartamento 710 and also enable more creative spaces like Creative Camp for all readers. Please know that I am very selective and will also always disclose any partnerships to you. I’m hoping this will help fund the newsletter and allow me to collaborate and pay other artists, and also reach my dream of doing this full-time. You can also always upgrade to a paid subscription if you want to support my work. Thank you so much for all being here!
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This camp has been the best part of my summer.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this creative. Not because I’m making anything extraordinary, but because I’m making things again 🤓
This is so beautiful! I love seeing community stuff like this on Substack!