Changing Patterns: Discovering the Fabric of Your Creativity [Paperback]

Wren Ross (Author), Daena Giardella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2006

In the first part of the book, Daena Giardella takes a fascinating look at how developing a dynamic relationship with your creative process can change your life. By understanding the psychological stages of the creative process, learning to define your unique work cycles, and making peace with your inner critic, you’ll learn to overcome the obstacles that keep you stuck, so you can finally allow creativity to take center stage in your life with passion and confidence.

In the second part, Wren Ross invited you to experience the power of the creative process using knitting as an active form of meditation. “Knitting is a profound metaphor for life,” says Ross, “by observing how you begin and end a project, get out of tangles, and deal with mistakes, you’ll see how the act of creation can teach you a lot about yourself.” Included are two simple and beautiful projects designed to help you reflect upon your personal life patterns.

This unique book combines the wisdom and creative genius of two artistic pioneers who have helped thousands of people access and express the fullness of their own creative potential.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daena Giardella is an actor, creativity coach, and motivational speaker. She was featured in The Life Makeover Project with Cheryl Richardson for the Oxygen television network; and she has appeared on numerous other TV and radio programs, including the PBS series Discovering Psychology. She has received kudos for her many original one-woman theater performances. Website: www.daenagiardella.com

Wren Ross is an actor, singer, knitting designer, and fiber philosopher. Her writings about knitting have been published in two editions of Knit Lit as well as Interweave Knits magazine. She has created many cabaret performances, and is also an accomplished voice-over actor. Website: www.wrenross.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Hay House (January 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401907563
• ISBN-13: 978-1401907563
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,559,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Patterns & Changing, February 13, 2006

By 

Sherry Cohen (Newton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changing Patterns: Discovering the Fabric of Your Creativity (Paperback)

From the initial pages of the preface where Daena and Wren outline their vision of this book during their brainstorming sessions through to the afterword Listen to your River, I felt mesmerized by the words, by the depth of information & wisdom about the creative process, by the photographs (most by Daena), by the metaphors, and by the intricate weaving of the creative process. I loved Daena's journey through improvisation, her wonderful stories about her students and their relationship to creativity. Daena's framework of the structure and spontaneity of creativity is spectacular. Daena teaches the reader how to be in the moment and say yes, even if that sometimes entails the pain of enduring the obstacles until creativity is achieved. I loved Daena's story about Arachne. I loved her take about neurobiology, the brain and creativity. A brilliant piece of work. Wren's chapter titles alone make the book worth reading, for example, I keep thinking, why knit, why knot? Wren's play with words about knitting and about human relationships coupled with her fiber philosophy has provided me with hours of reflection. Her ability to intertwine the patterns of knitting with human connection is marvelous. I am from a family of knitters, thus I so thoroughly loved Wren's delightful and enormously radiant work. The book title, itself, Changing Patterns: Discovering the pattern of your creativity is so apt. This book provides many useful and hands on opportunity for all readers to discover ways & tools to practice change. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I plan to read it again and again, as an inspiration and as a guide in my work and in life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "PlayDate" for Me!, February 23, 2007

By 

Kiki Burns (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changing Patterns: Discovering the Fabric of Your Creativity (Paperback)

If you are struggling to connect with the part of yourself that played in the dirt, sang nonsense songs in the car and ran after fireflies, this book can help reignite your passion for all things fun and creative. The stories and anecdotes help to deliver the authors' message in a friendly, unassuming way; everyone has a creative rhythm and can connect to it in simply by tuning in. I picked it up as a knitter, but left with so much more. Kudos on such a fun book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One can change!, September 3, 2009

By 

seeking truth - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changing Patterns: Discovering the Fabric of Your Creativity (Paperback)

This is an outstanding book - filled with eye-opening processes of changing, as well as giving excellent examples of proceeding in that direction. Would definitely recommend. Both authors are proficient in their explanations and inviting in their recommendations. Will be using some of their inquiries in workshops. Thanks to both of them.