So the excuses for my lack of creativity are;
We've had a lot of visitors over the summer and autumn and I haven't had any time to do anything apart from cooking, cleaning and entertaining;
My beloved Juki sewing machine isn't behaving itself and I haven't been able to use it;
It's been too hot/ cold/ light/ dark to work in the conservatory and my famous shed still doesn't have power or insulation;
We've been working nonstop in the garden;
I don't ever seem to have the right colour fabric that I need and I've run out of some of the dyes/paint I need
I could go on and if you believe any of the above I shall be very surprised! True we have had visitors and we have been doing a lot in the garden, but the real reason I haven't been creating anything in the textile line is that I just don't seem to be able to think of any ideas for making a start.
Being a member of two textile groups should have been enough to spur me into activity and although I've enjoyed the various meetings, that's as far as it's gone!
The St Ives textile group meets at the Porthmeor Studios which overlooks the beach and the following photos show us busy making mono prints. Our theme this year is seed heads and I've collected a fair number of these which have been slowly shedding debris everywhere!
I've also been on various courses and workshops and have been busy honing my free machine embroidery and quilting skills.
This is the design for a quilt I produced with much guidance from Susan Denton. A wonderful teacher who makes fabulous art quilts but who is so patient with those who are a bit lacking in grey matter! This will be my contribution to an exhibition at Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum in September, if I can get it made!
And below is some free machine embroidery, now actually finished and made into a cushion!
These samples were made at a workshop with Jan Tillett using shrink polyester. I love the textures, but haven't yet thought of a way to use it in a project.
All too soon Christmas was upon us and off we went on our travels to Yorkshire and St Austell and finally landed back home last Sunday. Then, I remembered the dreaded journal quilt deadline and after quite a bit of displacement activity, e.g. tidying the workroom, reading my kindle books, sighing etc, I finally got started! This is how I knew I was in trouble. The ideas just wouldn't come so rather than sit and fret, I just got some fabric out of the stash, cut it up and started sewing it together. After getting four little pieces made, I quilted them and finally got them uploaded today only a day late.
And here they are!
That does seem to be the answer. Rather than just sit and think about it, just get on and do something, anything and after a while the ideas do come along! So now I have finally got the ball rolling perhaps I will get on and do more after all a sunrise does suggest endless possibilities!
Happy new year everyone!
