When I think about designing, I automatically call it creativity. For me, probably due to about 20 years of dedicated study and writing about the topic, creativity is problem solving even in the art forms like designing. Each time I examine a set of materials, whether it is a strand of beads, a piece of metal or something to be wire wrapped, a problem presents itself. What other colors go with the bead strand? Should it be used in a simple or intricate design? What length should the piece be? Similar questions arise for visual artists. If the person has a preconceived idea of the painting the problems is, of course, how to replicate the picture held in the mind’s eye. One of my friends who is a painter problems solves differently. She told me that she selects a color palette, makes a brush stroke on the canvas and then tackles the problem of what to do with the mark.

Today, my Mother reminded me of her problem solving and creativity the afternoon of my senior prom. Now that she brings in up, I do actually remember the sound of her scream emitted as she was ironing my formal. Somehow, the chiffon overlay of the skirt was drawn like a magnet to the iron and disintegrated leaving a large hole in my dress. It was almost five o’clock and in Medford, Oklahoma, the streets roll up about then. She quickly called the five and dime store. Of course in a town of only 1200 people she knew the woman who ran the store. Telling the store owner not to close until she got there, she raced downtown. To my amazement, she returned to fix my beautiful blue dress with plastic flowers. That’s all she could find to cover the hole. She sewed them over the burned spot and fortunately in the darkened arena of the prom, no one knew our saga. Later, as I continued to wear the dress for other occasions, she replaced those ugly plastic posies with nice silk flowers purchased in the city. What began as a problem ended with a lovely embellishment for my long dress.

I never really thought of my Mother as creative since she always followed a pattern for sewing or needlework. Yet, upon closer examination, I believe she is very creative. I could cite the many ways she problem solves with her current living situation, but I’m sure you get the picture. Creativity – problem solving - my Mother.