I discovered Becky Kazana’s talent for arts and crafts when I clicked through to a set of clever “Miniature Champagne Cage Chair Place Card Holders.”
Now, I am no champagne and wine aficionado, but I do have quite a collection of wine corks and I like to place orchid blooms in wine bottles. At times, I’ve experienced a pang of guilt when popping open a bottle of bubbly, only to toss the wired cap that didn’t deserve to be in the trash or the recycle bin.
Not only did Becky respond with clever ideas to re-using wine corks and champagne caps, but I discovered a plethora of creative work that is supported by her strong sense of self-awareness. Becky Kazana understands the importance of connecting within to manifest favorable results – a woman after my own heart!
I’m happy to have Becky Kazana here, sharing her insight to her form of creative expression.
Kim: Thank you for being here, Becky. Please tell us a little about yourself.
Becky: My name is Becky Kazana. I’m an artist and writer, and my funny last name “Kazana” is a Swahili word that means, “to make a home”. My husband and I fell in love with this philosophy during our travels in Africa, and decided to adopt Kazana as our last name. It reminds us that our home is not a physical place, but our life together.
In the last four years, our travels have taken us through Africa, Europe, China, and all over the United States. We have recently moved to The Big Island in Hawaii where we are enjoying the endless summer denied us growing up in Minnesota!
Kim: What ignites your creativity? Where do you find inspiration for your creative work?
Becky: I’ve just finished reading Einstein’s biography and he said, “A life of quiet monotony leaves the mind free to engage in creativity.” He thought young scientists should tend lighthouses so that they could have quiet monotony and undisturbed thought. I’ve built a lighthouse of a life that leaves a lot of space and quiet for me to do my creative work. I believe inspiration is all around us, so my work is to pay attention, observe and allow time for those observations to be digested and manifested in my writing and art.
Kim: That is a beautiful analogy to your creative philosophy. How do you stay motivated in pursuing your craft?
Becky: The great thing about the creative muscle is that the more you use it the better it gets! I’m always struggling to keep up with the waves of ideas my mind tosses toward me.
Kim: What would you say has been your biggest obstacle to success?
Becky: My own impatience. I spent a lot of time looking for a magic bullet, when in reality, creating a successful creative business is about planting and tending magic beans. You aren’t always sure which individual bean is giving you results, but you have to continue to be diligent, watering and weeding as you go.
Kim: I like the way you acknowledge the importance of appreciating the process in creating. Everyone experiences peaks and valleys. How do you overcome challenges?
Becky: My husband offers me support when I’m frustrated, his encouragement and faith in me are invaluable. When I’m frustrated, I try not to dwell on it. I take a break, go for a walk, chat with a friend, and get some fresh air and perspective. This helps me to remember how lucky I am to do what I love.
Kim: That’s great! I have recommended similar strategies to gaining perspective on the creative journey. Also, we set ourselves up for success when we are in an environment that includes encouraging friends and loved ones. What advice do you have for people just starting out?
Becky: Have confidence in yourself and try to maintain a positive attitude. It takes courage to pursue something you love, and you should also be rewarded for it. An engineer doesn’t feel guilt for accepting a paycheck just because he enjoys his work and neither should creative people. Don’t be afraid to love your work and be paid for it too.
Kim: Fantastic advice! What’s up next for you?
Becky: At the moment, I am working on finding new outlets for my writing, especially in magazines.
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share a bit about my work and life. I’m honored to be included on this lovely blog.
Kim: Thank you, Becky! We look forward to reading your up and coming work and learning even more from you.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to find more of Becky’s current work, she sells her original greeting cards, prints, wedding cake toppers and gifts on Etsy. Becky also charts the inspiration she finds around her everyday on her blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter!
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