Books

 I have just listened to a random Live with Austin Kleon and Sam Anderson . It popped up on Instagram and so I listened in. Fascinating hearing two writers and artists chat. One thing Austin said was , it’s a creative act to buy a book. That puts a lot into perspective. I don’t need to feel guilty about buying books. He didn’t mention anything about reading them. 

Online workshops

 I seem to get carried away with online workshops or the abundance of wonderful artists and techniques. Some finished many not. The thought is that when I retire I will have plenty to keep me busy and learning. But they keep coming and it can’t resist. So I tell myself no more until I finish some or all. But when a free workshop with Ema Shin put on by a gallery in the Dandenongs I couldn’t miss it. I love Ema’s anatomical hearts, her embroidery and the surface design in her pieces. So tonight it was on and I grabbed the material ´s needed and really jumped in. No second guessing no procrastination no self doubt. And I am loving the piece I started on

Still going

 I can’t seem to focus on anything else but getting these scrap pieces made. Finding inspiration everywhere including books and Instagram. 

The last image here of a basket made by adding strips and small pieces to an upturned plastic cup. Then stitching in big visible stitching with 6 strands of embroidery thread. The thread was also not purchased new by me. From others destash or op shops.  This was inspired by Judith Scott a neuro diverse artist who wrapped items known and unknown with whatever threads she could source. She spent many years in an institution and her art may have been a response to that dreadful living environment. I relate to the wrapped and hidden . What lies within ? Is it being kept safe from others, protected so no one can get near , close ? I love hidden secret meanings and even though my basket is not hiding something it may be hiding perfection or removing the need for perfection, flaunting my need to be wonky , imperfect , and wabi sabiness of it. Removing the adherence to straight edges , neat edges. A sign of the hand of the maker.

Scraps

 At the last ATASDA meeting there were some piles of linen scraps for the taking. So I obliged to clear the piles. They are lovely soft linen fabric from a dress maker with a small business. She prefers no waste being involved in her production. So of course I took too many to use until I stopped and thought deeper into what was in the bag. I decided to do a small challenge to use up in small projects , as a daily practice. I have now done 5 days and I am really enjoying the process. By limiting myself to supplies I find I can be creative with just these scraps and some thread. 

I will continue with this process until either the scraps are used up or I get tired of the doing or can’t come up with something different . Not wanting to repeat. Not wanting to add to much other fabric