I feel like I’m coming back to civilization. 😄 Back to my creative supplies. I love flying, but hate that without paying for checked bags (and lugging them around,) I don’t have room to bring my usual tools of creative transformation. My most happy place for soul care.
My phone’s camera lens was my main creative outlet on this trip. The Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Junaluska were beautiful, and I saved those gorgeous images digitally, as well as in my mind.
I moseyed though the retreat’s craft station, where they provided a variety of supplies and instructions for several craft projects. Such a blessing to so many, and I’m so happy they include this therapeutic space. But nothing caught my interest enough that I was able or willing to squeeze out suitcase space to bring it home.
What to do? My right brain just can’t go that long without something connecting hand, brain, color, and design. Spicy brains have a very hard time turning off, to just relax and do nothing. But I was determined to make this retreat a true RETREAT! Thankfully that right brain was generously fed with the soul care benefit of singing. A one hour scheduled Hymn Sing turned into a 3 hour, perhaps 100 voice choir of angelic harmonies in a quaint little chapel with fantastic acoustics. The highlight of my trip.
But I did still need to feed that brain-hand connection. Enter my small-enough-to-go-anywhere small artsy bag that saves any day and fits in the tightest of suitcases and almost any purse—and even eludes TSA. Some index cards. A pencil and a couple markers. A small box of colored pencils. All that’s needed for Neurographic drawing, while sitting in sessions or quietly rocking on the porch—or during long layovers and delays, and even the flight itself. I was so glad to have it with me.
This little bag is always ready to grab and go—whenever and wherever, even when flying. But, grateful as I am for this, I desire more. Handy as Neurographic drawing is for doing anywhere, it doesn’t fully satisfy my need to create and soul care. When I’m traveling by car, I have my curated favorite mixed media supplies I take—in their own rolling case. This on-the-fly bag needs some expansion for my brain and hands—without expanding space too much or violating TSA restrictions. I need that “just right”, in-between solution.
Oh, how much easier packing would be if I could draw or paint—to just grab a sketch pad and pencils, or watercolor pad and compact paint pans. But alas, I don’t have those talents, and I’m not a minimalist creative. Planning and prepping ahead of time, to complete a specific project, with specific minimal supplies (that are TSA compliant), just isn’t going to happen in my lifetime, with my brain space and time factors. I’m usually down to the wire just planning and packing the physical trip necessities and don’t have time to think through the specifics of what exactly I want to create while traveling.
So I’m working on that bare minimum mixed media supplies list that is compact, versatile, needs no pre-prep, and passes TSA—(including can’t take up much of my quart “liquids” bag that is already about maxed out with toiletry items.) My goal is for it: To fit in either my old iPad box or this new little bag I just got from Retreat. To have enough supplies to complete a project—not just get started then stall because I don’t have the supplies to finish it. To satisfy my soul’s need for hands-on messy, colorful, creativity. I need a super small creative toolbox that fits my love for variety and spontaneity, Mixed Media Art and Bible Journaling, and all those restrictions.
So, help me out here! Do you have some minimalist, compact, versatile mixed media supplies that work perfect when traveling by plane? What creative supplies do you take—with small space, weight, and TSA restrictions? I’ll be back with what I come up with.
P.S. Other compact (non-mixed media) projects that work well “on the fly” are small crocheting or knitting projects, or small, pre-cut hand sewing or embroidery projects, or jewelry making projects. Those would fit these parameters. And at times I do them. But they’re not what my soul, brain and hands need on the regular.
💖👩🏻🎨💖
💝
Living Coram Deo & freely whole
SDG!
~ Liberty—Life Restoration & Therapeutic Creativity Coach
Providing Soul-healing, beauty from ashes content through Creativity & Coaching—to empower you to live a life that is Freely Whole—spirit, soul, and body—in Jesus!
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