Well what an exciting week it's been!
The Samitomoto website went live and I'm loving the online sales!
Some of you have asked, just what is the Samitomoto Drawing Game? Well, it is a fun creative card game for creative spirits from 8-80 years old. It is designed to be non competitive, to help you to get into a state of creative flow and to help you to unblock creatively.
It gives you permission to be silly and have fun with your drawings.
How does it work?
Simply separate the cards into the four coloured piles; pink, green, blue and yellow and lay them face down. Roll the dice and turn over the top card in the pink pile. Whatever the dice rolls for example, 'two', you will be drawing the words next to that number on the card. Continue rolling the dice for all four piles until you have a complete phrase; for example- 'A glittery silver cat in a sports car'. Write this phrase down, your task now is to draw this.
It's about using your imagination, having fun and getting into creative flow.
You can play alone or in a group and I encourage you to join the Samitomoto facebook page as we will soon be playing the game there.
And here's one of my drawings I prepared earlier; 'an enormous red and white spotted mouse rollerskating'.
It makes me smile every time I look at it and I want to share this creative joy with the rest of the world! That's why I created this game. Click here to buy your game.
I would like to thank all the wonderful people who helped make this game a reality; especially Papercut for the fabulous design, Create and Print for the printing, Copperhead for the screen printing of the packaging and all the family, friends and business associates who supported me through this process.
Copyright Rarified pty ltd 2010.
Samitomoto is my new design brand that helps you to have more creative fun and experience the magic of drawing.
But let's go back a bit. Some of you may know me from my picture framing gallery; Rarified. I started Rarified from scratch in 2004 and it was a wonderful entrepreneurial journey. I met many wonderful people, saw lovely art and designed beautiful framing pieces- together we created the prettiest framing shop in Canberra. I felt priveleged to hear peoples stories and to mentor staff.
In 2007 things were booming, I had achieved my three year business goal, we were growing fast and I had plans to expand to a second shop. But something felt wrong. At the same time I discovered a book called; 'The Artists Way' by Julia Cameron- about recovering your creative spirit. I felt compelled to buy it, I read it and I sobbed the whole way through it. I realised I had built a business that supported everyone else's creative spirit, but not my own! When I calmed down, I re-read it and then did the twelve week course in the book.
It changed my life.
My goal at the end of 2007 was to go to Bali alone and draw- which I did. It was a magical and emotional experience to be in such a special, mystical space surrounded by supportive creative spirits.
When I returned and the 2008 business year started I realised I couldn't go back to how things were. I was so passionately re-connected to my creativity and the the love of drawing again. I didn't want the same business goals. Then the financial crisis hit and Rarified had two and half very challenging years.
In 2010 I made the tough decision to close Rarified, follow my heart and to shrink it to a small home design studio while I build my design label Samitomoto.
Why? Because I passionately believe that we all need more creative fun in our lives. I believe many of us are creatively blocked and that our souls yearn to be more creative. Having re-discovered the meditative joy and magic that comes out of the process of drawing- I want to use Samitomoto as a platform to develop fun products that allow me to share this with the world!
I look forward to sharing this journey with you!
Samantha Simpson-Morgan.
