Introducing The Curiosity Project
An 8-week course to explore, experiment and reconnect with your creative self.
Hello!
It has been a while! I’ve been MIA with substack these past few months, just posting the odd note here and there. Instead, I worked on a massive arts grant that would help fund my textile art practice, so fingers crossed for that! And I’ve largely been working on what I’m about to share below.
But of course, I’ve still been making things as well 😊 My knitted jumper (that I started way back in May) is almost done. I just need to learn how to interpret the final instructions for doing the neck and that will be it (for those of your who haven’t tried knitting, the patterns are like some sort of alien language!) I pulled out a bunch of bright scraps and made some cushion covers and coasters. And I also rejoined a local shop called The Kōwhai Collective. It’s a lovely good ol’ fashioned brick and mortar shop where local makers run the shop and sell what we make. It’s also a great community of like-minded and very creative individuals, so what’s not to like.
But today I want to share the big project I have spent the last 3 months or so working on.
Introducing The Curiosity Project!!
I’ve had people testing this 8 week course and the feedback has been lovely, so it’s finally time to offer it to the world.
Do You Feel Stuck or Lost?
Whether due to burnout, perfectionism, self-doubt, or life transitions, it’s easy to feel stuck; to feel a little bit lost (trust me, I know all about it!). But finding a way to creatively express yourself can help you reconnect and maybe even uncover possibilities you didn’t know were there. I created this workbook as a way to get myself creatively unstuck. I wanted to step back and reflect on what was blocking me, what were the things always getting in my way (the feeling that I always have to sell what I make was a big one!) I wanted to get curious and experiment with light, playful creative activities. I needed to focus on the process and not the product!
What this course will give you:
There are no tutorials and no obligations in this course. It’s just an invitation to find your creative self again.
It isn’t about becoming a better artist, or becoming an artist at all! It’s not about making perfect things or coming out with a creative business idea at the end. It’s about tapping into your creativity, slowly and kindly. It’s about finding what you might be missing and sinking into some creative joy.
A break down of what’s inside the course:
You can complete this course week-by-week, or simply pick it up and jump to whatever part pulls you the most. Take your time or complete it in an epic weekend of reflecting and creating. This course is designed to be flexible to suit how you work best. Each week there are a set of reflection prompts, a creative activity and an optional extra activity. Choose what works for you.
Week 1: Your Creative Self
Reflect, reconnect, and then dream about your creative self.
Week 2: Making Space
Creating space, both internally and externally to explore creative ideas.
Week 3: Make It Ugly
Explore what happens when you stop trying to make it perfect.
Week 4: Tiny Experiments
Time to get creative in small, playful ways, every day.
Week 5: Your Creative Palette
Discover what colours, materials, patterns or sounds you are drawn to.
Week 6: Expression + Style
Follow your curiosity and explore what feels like your creative voice.
Week 7: Your Inner Critic
Playfully turning the tables on that unhelpful little voice in your head.
Week 8: Carry It Forward
Finding ways to keep making space for your creativity to thrive.
A Gift for You: Week 1
Today, I’m sharing Week 1 of The Curiosity Project with all free subscribers — my gift to help you start reconnecting with your creative self.
Paid subscribers get the full 8-week course included automatically. If you’d like the whole experience, you can upgrade anytime.
Whether you just try out Week 1 or upgrade to a paid subscription and dive into the whole course, my hope is that the prompts and activities in The Curiosity Project remind you that creativity isn’t something you have to earn. It’s already within you and it needs no one else to validate it; something that is a work-in-progress for some of us 😉
Until next time,
I was lucky to be able to test Esta's eight week course called "The Curiosity Project". I thoroughly enjoyed this course as it introduced me to other areas of creativity that I probably wouldn't have attempted myself (I've mainly stuck to needlework and patchwork quilting), Each week could be explored consecutively or in isolation and you are able to really drill down on a particular part of any week if you so choose. I loved being challenged to think differently, reflect and use a range of materials that I wouldn't normally choose. A common thread throughout was to use what you have on hand so there's no need to rush out and buy a whole bunch of expensive items. For example I used some soft household plastic wrappers, biscuit packets, tin foil and even surgical masks! It was fun! Well done on creating this course and thank you very much Esta.