Still feeling inspired.
I have just received a lovely parcel of heat reactive fabrics from nidnoi. I was feeling all inspired last week, went to the cupboard, got out what i thought was heat reactive fabric and it wasn't. When i zapped it with the heat gun it just went brown and smelled like a singed dog.
But now I have some new stuff. I seem to be fixed on decay! Cheerful eh?
Last time I did this I embroidered a lad of stuff on what i thought was kunun felt, went to hear it to distress it and it just burned. No melting happened. So I had 2m of unmelted embroidered trim to re stitch. My own fault really, i should have tested it beforehand.
I am hoping that over Christmas i get some time to be creative. At the moment I just feel exhausted having spent the weekend at the Cologne Christmas Markets. But with a few good nights sleep I should be fine. I do have some nice ideas I want to try out. I just have so much going on at the moment.
Coz I also play in a local wind band. Christmas is a very busy time for the band. We have carols outside the supermarket, the christmas concert, the christmas party etc etc. I think i am going to need the Christmas holiday to recover.
Lx
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Thursday 1 December 2011
A Miracle has occurred
Hope you are all sitting down. Wait for it, wait for it.......
I am feeling inspired. Yes, after a lengthy search for self expression I came to the conclusion that I work best if I give myself a topic then stick with that as an inspiration until it is exhausted.
So I started to think and with the help of the dearly beloved I found a topic that ignited a spark. Now I have the opposite problem - I want to be at home getting creative but I am here at the day job (earning the £££ to buy the stuff etc).
So, when this gets past the sketch book and thought stage and starts to take a stitched form I will post some piccies.
Everything will be designed with the intention that it can be exhibited next summer at our local art show so it will have to be frame based as they really are not ready for installations yet (they tend to feel adventurous when they include scultpure). But it will come. We are in a small rural community so I am delighted to just see my work on the wall where people can view it and maybe, just maybe someone will feel the urge to purchase?????
I will also try to blog a little more than once every 6 months. I think it is fair to say I lose focus very easily.
So, tonight is planned to be on the sofa with pencil, sketch book and some books of inspiration (this is the point where I usually get frustrated at my poor drawing skills). I can usually manage to get a good enough sketch to guide the creative process. i tend to craft organically anyhow so whatever i design will grow into a final form that may, if I am lucky, bear a passing resemblance to my original design.
I will need to keep some water colours close as there is nothing more guaranteed to block my creative process than a large sheet of white paper. it is so intimidating.
One thibg i do wish, I wish I had others of a similar ilk as me close enough so that we could get together regularly and bounce ideas of one another. But it is not possible. The nearest thing is the Midlands textile Forum based in Birmingham. All other groups seem to be made up of friends who have been sewing together since they did their college courses / had their kids / worked together / whatever.
I have prposed to a couple of friends that we form our own small group, just the 3 of is. We can meet every 6 weeks or so and share ideas. We all do slightly different things. 1 is a great lace maker, 1 likes traditional stuff (cushions, samplers, pictures) and I am definitely freestyle.
We will only meet every 6 weeks as we need to get around 1 persons physical limitations, 1 who has 2 sons to look after and me who travels a lot for work.
But 2 of us are keen so we just need to find out if the 3rd lady is interesated then off we go. It will not be permanently limited to the 3 of us, if we know anyone else who may be interested then they are more than welcome to join us "Lucas Ladies".
Lesley x
I am feeling inspired. Yes, after a lengthy search for self expression I came to the conclusion that I work best if I give myself a topic then stick with that as an inspiration until it is exhausted.
So I started to think and with the help of the dearly beloved I found a topic that ignited a spark. Now I have the opposite problem - I want to be at home getting creative but I am here at the day job (earning the £££ to buy the stuff etc).
So, when this gets past the sketch book and thought stage and starts to take a stitched form I will post some piccies.
Everything will be designed with the intention that it can be exhibited next summer at our local art show so it will have to be frame based as they really are not ready for installations yet (they tend to feel adventurous when they include scultpure). But it will come. We are in a small rural community so I am delighted to just see my work on the wall where people can view it and maybe, just maybe someone will feel the urge to purchase?????
I will also try to blog a little more than once every 6 months. I think it is fair to say I lose focus very easily.
So, tonight is planned to be on the sofa with pencil, sketch book and some books of inspiration (this is the point where I usually get frustrated at my poor drawing skills). I can usually manage to get a good enough sketch to guide the creative process. i tend to craft organically anyhow so whatever i design will grow into a final form that may, if I am lucky, bear a passing resemblance to my original design.
I will need to keep some water colours close as there is nothing more guaranteed to block my creative process than a large sheet of white paper. it is so intimidating.
One thibg i do wish, I wish I had others of a similar ilk as me close enough so that we could get together regularly and bounce ideas of one another. But it is not possible. The nearest thing is the Midlands textile Forum based in Birmingham. All other groups seem to be made up of friends who have been sewing together since they did their college courses / had their kids / worked together / whatever.
I have prposed to a couple of friends that we form our own small group, just the 3 of is. We can meet every 6 weeks or so and share ideas. We all do slightly different things. 1 is a great lace maker, 1 likes traditional stuff (cushions, samplers, pictures) and I am definitely freestyle.
We will only meet every 6 weeks as we need to get around 1 persons physical limitations, 1 who has 2 sons to look after and me who travels a lot for work.
But 2 of us are keen so we just need to find out if the 3rd lady is interesated then off we go. It will not be permanently limited to the 3 of us, if we know anyone else who may be interested then they are more than welcome to join us "Lucas Ladies".
Lesley x
Monday 12 September 2011
I have arrived
Well, after a lengthy hiaitus I got back to creating and actually put some pieces into a local art exhibition.
There was the vaguest chance that someone would buy them but i wasn't holding my breath.
Then, while at the champagne launch I overheard to elderly ladies looking at my work and I eagerly listened to their comments. "Hmm, one said, well it's pretty but it isn't reallt ART is it".
They then went on to coo raptures about a bad painting of a teddybear. So it is official, I have arrived.
I will still put more in as the buzz of seeing your own stuff on the wall in a public exhibition is amazing.
Inspired!
There was the vaguest chance that someone would buy them but i wasn't holding my breath.
Then, while at the champagne launch I overheard to elderly ladies looking at my work and I eagerly listened to their comments. "Hmm, one said, well it's pretty but it isn't reallt ART is it".
They then went on to coo raptures about a bad painting of a teddybear. So it is official, I have arrived.
I will still put more in as the buzz of seeing your own stuff on the wall in a public exhibition is amazing.
Inspired!
Thursday 24 February 2011
Kick Start
Well, I had an unexpected kick start to my creative side last night. I got home to find the latest copy of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios waiting for me.
As usual I flicked through and was immediately envious all all the "lucky people" with their perfect creative space. Then I read one article where the person said you had to claim your space and not let it become the family dumping ground. And suddenly it clicked. It is my studio. It is up to me to get it how I want it. No one else uses the space. If it looks like a working organised area the others will be less lilely to dump rubbish in there (basic and obvious I know but sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest to see).
So, I will get that space sorted. OK, it is not a huge room with lots of lovely natural light flooding in but it is a better space than many people have (and the new light fittings are being installed on Tuesday).
But it is a mess at the moment. The shelves and storage cupboards are fine. Everything has a box and the boxes are labelled ad placed neatly. But the work surface looks like a bomb has hit it. Why have I got bottles of massage oils in there? They should be in the bathroom.
I will also reclaim my workchair from the nextdoor office where it has been "borrowed". If the family want a chair in there they can go and buy one. I did!
So the worm has turned. I will embrace my obsessive organising side and set a few hours aside to clear the clutter. If it isn't cluttered maybe there will be space for the creativity to flow better. I do feel stifled!
Yay, here's to the new improved me.
I'll let ya know if it works.
Lxx
As usual I flicked through and was immediately envious all all the "lucky people" with their perfect creative space. Then I read one article where the person said you had to claim your space and not let it become the family dumping ground. And suddenly it clicked. It is my studio. It is up to me to get it how I want it. No one else uses the space. If it looks like a working organised area the others will be less lilely to dump rubbish in there (basic and obvious I know but sometimes the most obvious things are the hardest to see).
So, I will get that space sorted. OK, it is not a huge room with lots of lovely natural light flooding in but it is a better space than many people have (and the new light fittings are being installed on Tuesday).
But it is a mess at the moment. The shelves and storage cupboards are fine. Everything has a box and the boxes are labelled ad placed neatly. But the work surface looks like a bomb has hit it. Why have I got bottles of massage oils in there? They should be in the bathroom.
I will also reclaim my workchair from the nextdoor office where it has been "borrowed". If the family want a chair in there they can go and buy one. I did!
So the worm has turned. I will embrace my obsessive organising side and set a few hours aside to clear the clutter. If it isn't cluttered maybe there will be space for the creativity to flow better. I do feel stifled!
Yay, here's to the new improved me.
I'll let ya know if it works.
Lxx
Tuesday 22 February 2011
Still trying
Well, I am still trying. My craft room is almost useable again. But it is still the family dumping ground. No matter what i say or do, short of putting a lock on the door, no one seems to think it unfair to put anything in it that doesn't have a home. So I have boxes and bags of STUFF.
But I am regaining my domain. I am kicking out anything that does not belong and it is staring to take effect. I am sure that less and less is finding its way back in.
Now I just need to find my spark and just do it.
It is coming back. I am starting to have ideas for projects. My art journalling is sort of happening although not being helped by hubby looking at my 1st sketch and asking "why are you drawing a man with a dog?" It was just something that appealed to me.
I still have an agreed deadline to submit a few pieces to a local exhibition. They are designed I just need to work out how they will be done. But there are so many distractions. Hubby in the lounge, the computer next door, this, that. I can procrastinate with the best of them.
But I will be strong. My life is settling down in other areas so I should have more time for myself soon. No need to make curtains, paint walls or clean furniture. The builders have gone, the decorators will finish this week. Next week it will just be me and hubby and I intend to use the time to get back into things.
But I do need to sort out the light in my craft room as well. It has a small window and a poor bulb. So i think I am going to have to invest in some better lighting. Maybe some strip lighting or something. Anything bright and clean. It is a bit like a cave at the moment.
Come on Woman, do it!
Lxx
But I am regaining my domain. I am kicking out anything that does not belong and it is staring to take effect. I am sure that less and less is finding its way back in.
Now I just need to find my spark and just do it.
It is coming back. I am starting to have ideas for projects. My art journalling is sort of happening although not being helped by hubby looking at my 1st sketch and asking "why are you drawing a man with a dog?" It was just something that appealed to me.
I still have an agreed deadline to submit a few pieces to a local exhibition. They are designed I just need to work out how they will be done. But there are so many distractions. Hubby in the lounge, the computer next door, this, that. I can procrastinate with the best of them.
But I will be strong. My life is settling down in other areas so I should have more time for myself soon. No need to make curtains, paint walls or clean furniture. The builders have gone, the decorators will finish this week. Next week it will just be me and hubby and I intend to use the time to get back into things.
But I do need to sort out the light in my craft room as well. It has a small window and a poor bulb. So i think I am going to have to invest in some better lighting. Maybe some strip lighting or something. Anything bright and clean. It is a bit like a cave at the moment.
Come on Woman, do it!
Lxx
Thursday 17 February 2011
A new direction
Well, as well as rediscovering my studio I have agreed to put a few pieces into a local exhibition this year (aarrgh!)
I have also decided to do something I have fancied doing for a while - create an art journal.
it is quite daunting as I have no confidence in my ability to journal or draw. I see all these beautiful journals that people have created and I think mine will just be a poor relation.
I don't know why I am concerned, this is for me, no one else. But i look at the beautiful book (and I have plenty of them) and I freeze. I am going away for a weekend soon and i want to use it to kick start my journal.
The problem I have is i look at the blank page and it sends my mind blank. If i start to write i just end up putting garbage down (in my mind anyway).
But I will try this time. I have a nice pen, graphite sticks and waterbrushes as i intend the 1st ones to be black and white only.
I will also carry a glue stick so i can attach anything that inspires.
I have downloaded some suggested page prompts and I may give some of them a go.
Wish me luck!
I have also decided to do something I have fancied doing for a while - create an art journal.
it is quite daunting as I have no confidence in my ability to journal or draw. I see all these beautiful journals that people have created and I think mine will just be a poor relation.
I don't know why I am concerned, this is for me, no one else. But i look at the beautiful book (and I have plenty of them) and I freeze. I am going away for a weekend soon and i want to use it to kick start my journal.
The problem I have is i look at the blank page and it sends my mind blank. If i start to write i just end up putting garbage down (in my mind anyway).
But I will try this time. I have a nice pen, graphite sticks and waterbrushes as i intend the 1st ones to be black and white only.
I will also carry a glue stick so i can attach anything that inspires.
I have downloaded some suggested page prompts and I may give some of them a go.
Wish me luck!
Monday 9 August 2010
Who Am I Creatively?
Well, like many amateur artists I am going through an identity crisis.
I know what I like to do - machine embroidery. But I don't feel I have direction, a creative voice.
I am a course and book junkie. Always trying something new. But at the end of the day it doesn't make me happy. I would love to have a definite identity whereby someone could look at a piece of my work and KNOW it was by me.
So, I am investigating joining a textile group where I may find direction. I am also working out what it is I actually like.
So far:
Wall hangings, bags, texture, distressed materials, ethnic styles.
So, that give me a bit of direction but also the freedom to create a felt backing fabric and then make a large distressed ethnic wall hanging - yeah, sounds simple. But what of?
I'll keep ya posted.
Lxx
I know what I like to do - machine embroidery. But I don't feel I have direction, a creative voice.
I am a course and book junkie. Always trying something new. But at the end of the day it doesn't make me happy. I would love to have a definite identity whereby someone could look at a piece of my work and KNOW it was by me.
So, I am investigating joining a textile group where I may find direction. I am also working out what it is I actually like.
So far:
Wall hangings, bags, texture, distressed materials, ethnic styles.
So, that give me a bit of direction but also the freedom to create a felt backing fabric and then make a large distressed ethnic wall hanging - yeah, sounds simple. But what of?
I'll keep ya posted.
Lxx
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