I. Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to

your personal and professional development

By: Mary Louise Díaz C.

I enjoy being crafty,

working with my hands and

being creative

External Source Picture

External Source Picture

I love working in projects that are appealing to me because of their beauty, delicacy and harmony, in all senses.

Something I especially like about crafty projects is how they combine colors, textures, materials and creativity to make beautiful, unique pieces of work.

I love to see the endless possibilities one has to beautify a gift, an space or an event with one’s hands, one’s creativity and a few materials.

I like to work with crafty projects that catch my eye, that I personally identify with or that are particularly special to me because of the purpose they serve. For instance, a gift for someone I cherish or a special occasion; regardless of the nature of the project.

From graphic design to cooking, events planning, travel itineraries programming, and sewing; if the project interests me, I find the way to make it.

Photos: Examples of gifts I have prepared

Some of my projects

PhotoBooth Backdrop

Ticket design

Homemade

Alfajores

Luggage Tags

Bachelorette pa

rty

invitations

Cupcakes for a

dessert’s table

Gumpaste modeling

for a dessert’s table

Cherry Cheesecake

Making of a sign for a fundraising movie screening

How do arts and crafts contribute to my Personal and Professional Development?

CREATIVITYThey help develop

Creativity is not usually related to business professionals. However, it is one of the building blocks of an important business aspect:

INNOVATION!

Innovation adds value to your service or product, and

differentiates your company from the competition.

Development of creativity helps you think outside the box in work and in all aspects of life.

Creativity induces you to come up with ingenious, innovative ideas and solutions to problems at work, and outside of it.

Creativity and innovation are not confined to product development and marketing only. They

also help you find more efficient ways of working:

“This could be anything from improving a process to make it more efficient and cost-effective,

solving a problem that is impeding peak performance by employees, or developing a new money-making strategy or an innovative way to

stay ahead of the competition.”(1)

1.  h%&://creativit0forlife.com/why-­‐is-­‐creativit0-­‐impor:ant-­‐in-­‐business/)

“Creativity unlocks your strategic mind and bring your business

skills to bear in new, meaningful ways that can benefit your entire

organization.”(1)– Boland Jones

1. h%&://www.ent?epreneur.com/ar:icle/232656

Since creativity fosters innovation, it is a key stone of entrepreneurship.

It also fosters leadership

Creative work such as crafts and arts projects helps develop empathy, inventiveness, and understanding. Skills most needed by business nowadays.

Creative people tend to be more daring. Consequently I think they are less likely to let their fears paralyze them.