Oh Creative Lady - Oh Creative Day

Through blogging and Instagramming, I’ve been introduced to an amazing Virtual Sisterhood of Creative Ladies.

The Oh Creative Lady series is your chance to meet these incredible, kind-hearted, inspiring <insert ALL the happy, positive adjectives HERE> women.

I love a good Leap-of-Faith story. I also love a good Motherhood-Changed-Me-Forever-and-so-I-Took-a-Leap-of-Faith story. If you do too, then you’re going to love reading about this Oh Creative Lady.
Shelly is the Head Creative behind Creating Creatives, an insanely rad site for ideas on raising artsy and craftsy small humans. We first met on Instagram where we bonded over music, colour, British vs American English and the antics of her hilarious and adorable daughter. Shelly also happens to be just a wonderfully lovely and supportive human. Although I’ll overlook the whole Marmite-loving thing. #Vegemiteforever

It’s a pleasure to introduce, Shelly.

I am… Shelly Lloyd-Samson, @creatingcreatives, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a Catholic, a swing dancer, a visual effects producer, a dreamer, a coffee drinker, a Marmite lover, an English citizen with an American accent, a traveler, a watermelon addict, a cup half full believer, a go getter, a teacher, a student, a little bit OCD, a Tottenham Hotspurs supporter, a sucker for a game of foosball / table football, a Gilmore Girl fan, an entrepreneur, a limited edition, a woman, an artist, and a strong, enthusiastic, compassionate creator. 

Oh Creative Lady Meet Shelly from Creating CreativesI find inspiration… all around; nature, street signs, coffee shop furniture, stories, music, but some of my favorite inspiration comes from my little creatives. They are 2, 4 & 6, and have such a wonderful way of looking at the world, and it intrigues me. I love that paying attention to them rewards me with ideas, it’s a major win from all aspects.

Oh Creative Lady Meet Shelly from Creating CreativesI am excited about … my new website. I mean seriously excited! I have been dreaming about this for the last 3 years. My husband, Roy, and I are always telling our little creatives that dreams can come true. However, saying this so often we quickly realized if we can’t make our own dreams come true how will they ever learn to make their own dreams come true.  After many long drives to and from work, and much discussion with Roy, I realized I wanted to create an online space with fun and simple projects to exercise the imagination, inspire thinking outside of the box, and encourage creative exploration. After many late nights, much coffee consumption, and a kick-in-the-butt learning curve of how to build and design a website, Creating Creatives is finally here. This is just the beginning, there is so much more in store, including some pretty awesome freebies.  If you don’t want to miss out head on over to my digital hang out and sign up.

Oh Creative Lady Meet Shelly from Creating CreativesWhen I’m in a creative slump, I… unplug and go outside. Sometimes I run around and play pretend or Pokemon with my little creatives. They are gold mines when it comes to creativity. They also bring me back to what matters, and center me, but when they’re tired and cranky and I need some magic creative dust I love going for a walk outside, there’s just something about fresh air.
 
I’m really proud of…  choosing my husband. This may be a weird thing to be proud of, but as I sit here sipping my coffee pondering my life and my achievements, I realize most of the things I truly treasure wouldn’t be here without him. Roy has given me my children, he’s the most amazing father and even more incredible husband. He’s my best friend who I have the most insightful and inspiring conversations with. He is a creative genius with ideas for daaayyzzz, (so that’s always handy when I’m in a creative slump) and has supported me in my new Creating Creatives venture to no end. He’s a Catholic swing dancer who used to be a skater in a ska band, with a heart as pure as gold… can we say soul mate?!Oh Creative Lady Meet Shelly from Creating CreativesSomeone once told me…  to THINK before I speak.
T – Is it True?
H – Is it Helpful?
I – Is it Inspiring?
N – Is it Necessary?
K – Is it Kind?

Thanks Dad.

My advice to you is … do what you love and you’ll love what you do. Six years ago something happened that would change my life forever, I became a mother. I was working in the film industry at the time, and lets just say working in the film industry and motherhood… well, they’re not really the best fit. After a few more years and a couple more children, the film industry wasn’t fulfilling me anymore, but being with my children and creating things with them was. “Could I possibly do this full time?” I thought to myself. Well there’s only one way to find out! You see, I’m a go getter, when it was time for me to find a real job after college, I told everyone I was going to move from Florida to England and go work on Harry Potter. I had NO film experience, I didn’t even go to film school, I graduated with a degree in Fine Arts, but I knew I wanted to work on Harry Potter. I didn’t think about the obstacles in my way I just kept my eye on the prize, and you know what? My very first job in the film industry was on Harry Potter, and I LOVED it. When I finally got the job, people told me how lucky I was, and I told them luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Fast forward to today, and I feel like I’ve just gotten my first job on Harry Potter again. I am SO excited about Creating Creatives and all the fun and excitement to come. I knew my children and my soul needed more, and I knew I could make it possible, I finally love what I do again. So have a think, do you love what you do? If you don’t, what do you love? There has been no better time ever in the history of our world to do what we love, and fill our hearts and our souls.

 
You can find me at … 
Oh Creative Lady Meet Shelly from Creating Creatives