Surround Yourself With Creative People

Laura Scarborough

Mrs. Eaves and Zuzu agree that the best formula for inspiration is to simply surround yourself with wildly creative people, regardless of what form their creativity takes.

Case in point, Laura Scarborough, a self-described “pianist-composer-singer-perfomer-producer-eklectronik-musician-piano teacher-accordion player-hula hooper-bike rider-video editor-runner of a rural tech-farm in Austin, Texas.”  Talk about a job description that’s tough to fit on a business card!

At first we knew her only as “Miss Laura,” Lil’ Zu’s totally hip, beyond cool piano teacher. Miss Laura sashays into our home each week wearing swinging bell bottom pants and feathered flowers in her hair (some of which even had blinking lights!). No lifeless piano recitals for Miss Laura; rather, her pupils have a “gig” each year at a local restaurant where Miss Laura herself performs weekly with a jazz trio called The Mingtones.

Laura could have a solo career as either a vocalist or pianist— indeed she won the Austin Music Award for Best Keyboardist in 2009—but she often prefers to accompany others. Laura possesses a gift for making other people look and sound good. In the summer, she performs as a soloist, choreographer and keyboardist with the Kansas City based group Quixotic, a multi-sensory performance group that combines music, dance and video. Take a look: http://vimeo.com/13169998

But wait—there’s more! Laura is passionate about her hooping, the artistic dance and exercise craze crossing the globe. Zuzu and Mrs. Eaves had the pleasure of helping Laura design the logo for her business HoopCircle. 

While Mrs. Eaves had seen Laura hooping it up in the annual Austin First Night parade, she was completely dumbfounded to discover how popular this dance-sport has become. College girls to soccer moms are grabbing these hoops (which Laura custom designs) and taking them for a spin. Mrs. Eaves thought even she might be able to hoop it up and envisioned her ownself leading the parade, but then Laura jetted off to Japan for a hooping exhibition that takes hooping to a whole 'nother level. Check out this video of Laura (in a Japanese Noh mask) and yes, that is real fire. http://www.youtube.com/scarbiedoll#p/a/u/0/E5AzOdI7zOo

Laura Scarborough performing in Japan

Zuzu and Mrs. Eaves agreed that they would be best to keep their flames limited to their encaustic paintings but it sure is great to hang around such creative people!