I have a coffee pot that leaks all over the counter if I pour too fast.
I know this, and I always begin by pouring slowly, but then I get impatient and speed up, and coffee drips all over the counter.
I’ve been thinking about these coffee “blobs” and have come up with three things these blobs and creativity have in common:
1. Blobs and Creativity are Both Messy (And Messes are Fun).
It’s fun to see what will happen when you pull out the scissors and yarn, the paint and canvas, the charcoal and paper. And, apparently, it’s fun to let the coffee drip all over the counter. There’s a thrill when the coffee begins dripping (or when the first mark or stitch is made).
What’s going to happen? Will it be something cool this time? The anticipation of what a mess might turn into is satisfying. Messes are unpredictable, and that’s fun.
3. Blobs and Creativity Both “Waste” Time. 
Arguably it’s a colossal waste of time to make messes like the ones here, take the time to photograph them, and then clean everything up. Why not just learn to pour properly?
And I know some people feel taking the time to paint a picture or work in a sketchbook or play the guitar can be better spent doing something useful, such as laundry, vacuuming, or making money.
Whatever. It’s more fun to draw, paint, sew and drip caffeine all over the counter!
Making stuff makes us happier people somehow.
Waste time! It’s good for the soul.
3. Blobs and Creativity Can Both Spin Out of Control.
I love the coffee stains in the photo above, but the spaghetti sauce from the night before is just gross. Time to clean up!
Blobs and creativity both require some clean-up, both physically and metaphorically.
For example, at the moment I have fabric on every surface of the living room (couch, chairs, carpet). But it needs to be picked up at some point, or it will drive both me and my husband crazy.
Similarly, sometimes an idea or a project or a painting just gets too big, TOO messy, and needs to be tidied up a bit. Reigned in. Simplified. Edited.
We make a mess, we clean it up; that’s what humans do!
* * *
I’m sure if I thought harder I could come up with more parallels, but that will need to be it for now, because I’m off to Ikea to buy sheets.
Have a wonderful night!
carlasonheim.wordpress.com 
You inspire me in the best ways, Carla. Thank you for that.
It is so FUN to PLAY – thank you for inspiring me to do so! Sometimes it is the little every day things like a coffee spill or a sidewalk crack that teach me to think differently. It gets me to relax and stop and smell the roses – or coffee along the way! Thanks Carla! xoxo
What are the sheets for? Will you use them to cover up the fabric on the furniture?
I bought a bright pink mini Xmas tree and felt SO guilty for the rest of the day: true waste of money (who needs it?), but it made me insanely happy when I saw it….
Now I know that I made the right choice. Thanks to you!
I wish you LOL for the holiday season, for you and your family!
Can’t wait to ‘see’ you and Lynn next year… 😉
I agree with your thoughts about blobs and creativity but I am just too curious about the fabric on every surface in your livingroom? Whats lurking behind it?
Waltraut
Old parquet is great too. I found a bear, an owl and a pinguin on the parquet of my toilets 😉
Thought provoking and fun! However, my coffee blobs are hidden by black and brown granite. Any lighting suggestion?
Yey for blobs and creativity!! I needed this.
Merry Christmas!
Love this. Fun and clever. 🙂
the two mains characters of a story i’m working on came out of a blob, just like the ones you photographed here. I don’t know where they are leading me, but YES, Blobs and Creativity are divinely intertwined !!;O) Thanks for the big smile you have put on my face this morning by sharing these coffee and spagetti stains !!
Love your blobs your thought and your mess, and I love it that you take not only time to take a picture of them, but o share them, and I totally agree. Here’s another thought. Wy don’t you pour coffee over a piece of paper and then you get to keep that blob, and may be something great will come out of it? And you won’t even have to clean up the countr, it’ll all be on the paper!! 😉 It was just a thought.
What? A cliffhanger? I read all the way down the post taking in all your clever, wise thoughts. I was expecting to see the conversion of the coffee blobs into some cute, awesome, Carla drawings!! I’m at the edge of my seat. (and, yes, the tomato sauce is definitely a gross cliffhanger detail to consider)
Thank you Carla for reminding me to slow down and just let art happen!
Hi Carla: MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family : )
This post is simply WONDERFUL !!! I’m looking at my coffee blobs in a totally different perspective now, haha : ) I sooo appreciate how you take the time to share your thoughts/experiences in this just wonderful way – thank you : )
I also LOVE making the blob-amals soooooo verrrry much they now inhibit most of my journal pages and then some : ) I’ve even considered making artist tiles for cards out of some – how’s that for ?? nuts ?? hahahahaha : )
Hope your season is merry and bright – which it looks like it already IS !!!!
Blessings to you and yours – Sandra in AZ : )
Reblogged this on Itaya's Designs and commented:
I love how Carla Sonheim finds creativity in the simplest things such as coffee spills on the counter. It never fails, I always see the potential to create a cute ‘blob creature’ from one of her awesome and happy ‘accidents’. Read on and see if you are motivated to look at ‘accidents’ in a different light as well.
Because of you Carla, I can’t even look at a normal spill anymore without seeing creative potential! Love this post. 🙂
Blobs and creativity are both giant, tested and proven, relaxation methods. They engage the mind and build connections within the brain while lowering the blood pressure and usually giving us a more beautiful face – like plastic surgery only much cheaper – a smile!