A Challenge

Recently our "Inspired Arts" group took on a challenge.  We were given a piece of this fabric (although it was white with black printing when it was passed out I quickly stuck it in a cup of tea) *smile*.

Our instructions were to use some or all of this fabric and to use it in some form that you usually work in.  Uh-0h!!  Because I was deeply involved in "The Owl Project" I didn't want to stop that, plus I had no idea how this fabric could be used with punch needle.

As I read the words on the fabric, an idea came to me.  And so I fashioned "A Box of Good Intentions" using the fabric attached to paper tags that I made.  

Voila!!!

"We shall act with good intentions, but at times we will be wrong.  When we are, let us admit it and try to right the situation." - Joe Peterno

Over the past month I've been challenged to stretch myself.  After using the pattern from Skunk Hollow for my little rabbit, I decided I needed to make smaller critters and make items that actually have 'form' instead of the simplicity that I have been making for so long.

I had discovered Ann Wood and her delightful small animal patterns.  I set forth using her squirrel pattern, but reforming it as a mouse.  The pattern involved two gussets and much maneuvering of fabric and thread.  Drawing the pattern, pinning, basting and then stitching these very small pieces together became a challenge.  I began with a series of nine, which quickly shrunk to six, then three.  As I started to assemble the last remaining members of this 'family' I realized that I was NOT pleased with them -- too many small errors which loomed large in my eyes.  

I have learned much about myself from this misadventure!  I give myself kudos for trying to make these little 3" mice.  It was a good experience.  However with my aging eyes and not-so-nimble fingers I've learned a valuable lesson.  At this point in my life, being true to myself is far more important than challenging myself. An interesting thing to learn.

 "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." - Erich Fromm

Intuition versus reality

I knew what I wanted to do.  I knew I wanted to rescue a design, rework it and make it become something else.    I began knowing that I would change the arms of the earlier design.  Sounds easy huh? Well, many hours, several designs, attaching and detaching as I went along and getting a huge case of the 'frustrations' and I was still working on arms.

Finally, in a fit of peak I decided to not use arms at all.  So there!  Take that you hard-to-deal with piece of cloth and stuffing!!  Of course she looked bare and barren.  It finally came to me -- since she is supposed to be a 'spirit' of sorts why not give her wings.

At this point I'm sure the poor thing was getting a bit worn.  I'm not sure she's learned to use her wings because there she sits.  Perhaps she's wondering how she can 'seek beauty' while sitting on the shelf of my studio.

"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds.  It will get you nowhere.  Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be revelation." - Eileen Caddy

The Challenge of Spools

Tah-Dah -- here are my spools sitting in their bowl, fulfilling my InspiredArts Challenge for the year.  Not without a few glitches I might add.  Even at the last minute I was taking loops out and putting loops in.  I believe my 'measurement godmother' deserted me during this process.  But it is finished - ready for show today and ready to see what everyone else brings.

"I have the wherewithal to challenge myself for my entire life.  That's a great gift." - Twyla Tharp

"Freedom is a State of Mind"

 

As you know, I've been preparing my submission for the "Freedom" challenge due today. Over the past six months I've thought much about this word and its meanings.  My dictionary has no fewer than seventeen definitions for 'freedom'.  No wonder it took me awhile to study this word and put it into stitchery.

After much thought I decided that there is no true freedom.  At the beginning of my life I was destined, through genes to be a girl, to be small, to have poor eyesight, among other things.  I could not choose before birth who or what I would be. 

As my life went on I became most pleasantly 'encumbered' by family, school, a husband, a child, friends, jobs.  I never, ever thought I was not free -- because I didn't think in those terms.

Sometimes we don't have the ability to change our circumstances.  At those times I believe the saving graces are acceptance and thankfulness for what 'freedoms' we do have. When all is said and done we are only free if we believe we are.

I believe 'freedom' comes from my state of mind and those things that might seem to limit my freedom are actually blessings in disguise. 

"There are many ways to be free.  One of them is to transcend reality by imagination, as I try to do". - Anais Nin

A Challenge

Every year our InspiredArts group sets up a challenge. 

This year the challenge - determined at our January meeting - is the word "Freedom" and will be shown and discussed at our July meeting.  We may do whatever we wish with the word which gives each of us the 'freedom' to explore this challenge.

I read definitions of the word.  I pondered the word and its meaning to me.  I pondered the word and its meaning to others.  Basically I just 'pondered' for 5 months!

At last an idea formed - at first quite vaguely and finally with enough substance that I could move forward.  I can't show you what my idea is or even what form it will take but I show here a few bits and pieces that might/will make their way into my view of freedom.

This story is to be continued...

Art Guild Challenge - Part 3

I wish you all could have been there to see the revealed challenge pieces in person.  What a treat.  Above is a picture of Peggy's needlework.  She had a woven piece that had been 'sitting around' and she embellished it with her fine stitchery creating an apple tree complete with golden 'felted' apples. After embellishing the woven piece she finished it all off with a beautiful backing using two pieces of wool.  Her stitches were perfect (as always).

Sandra is our resident photographer.  She took a picture of an apple tree (in one of our local apple orchards) and then she copied it in various forms and brought it all to life by making it a three-dimensional piece.  I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to cut all of those intricate pieces out and then to cut the foamcore board (on which she mounted them).  Whew!!!  This is a new form of photography for Sandra and its obvious that she excelled at it.  A special thanks to Sandra for photographing our challenge pieces as we presented them.

Libby also used photography for her project.  She has been wanting to learn more about photoshop, so she spent hours manipulating the actual Gustav Klimt picture.  She was able to make a small book - showing many, many forms and variations of the picture.

Mary Beth brought along a wonderful punchneedle piece which she designed and made.  She used the tree after the leaves had left it.  Her punchneedle was superb and I was very envious that she had used punchneedle in such a creative and beautiful way (since I'm trying the master my skill in this area).  Mary Beth mounted the finished punchneedle work, matted and framed it.

Andrea created several beautiful silk scarves.  She has been working with polka dots lately so the apples in the tree were a perfect venue to use on her scarves. 

We all agreed that this was a LOT of fun!  Although none of us wants to be tied down to having a deadline challenge very often - I know another one will be in our future next year! 

"...Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins". - Jim Rohn

Art Guild Challenge - part 1

This picture by Gustov Klimt, entitled "Golden Apple Tree" is the challenge for our small group of mixed media artists.  We were given this picture in June and asked to interpret it in our own medium and style.  There were no rules or regulations - except for the deadline of Monday, September 20th.

InspiredArts is a group of mixed media artists who meet once a month to share, and chat and discuss creativity.  We inspire each other and are a built in 'cheering section' as each of us creates our own work.  Our members' talents include: jewelry, rug hooking, photography, beading, embroidery, silk painting, basketry, felting apparel and weaving.  Quite a variety huh?!

This is the first challenge we've done and I can hardly wait until next Monday when all is revealed.

I've had a lot of fun creating my interpretation - but I'm sorry I can't show it to you until after Monday.  Stay tuned...

"Challenge yourself, its fine not to be a totally finished person". - Leigh Steinberg