Textiles, textiles,textiles....

Three times for emphasis....

Its funny the way the universe conspires to bring things to fruition.....

A while back, I wrote a post about how I wanted to incorporate more textiles into my artwork. I end up trying to create texture using paint, so why not throw in the real thing, and all that?! And then in the last week, two things occur that bring these thought back to the front of my brain.

The first thing is finding out about a new "Stitch and Bitch" group that is starting up at 'Loves' cafe bar in Weston. Now, I'm rubbish at knitting, but its an opportunity to meet with other creative people in my home town, and drink tea. Whats not to like?! And anyways, I am thinking of trying a bit of sewing/general mucking about with embroidery and textiles instead. I would like to learn to knit, but as I also need to Bring Ms Ruby with me to this group, it might be better to work on something that doesn't require tons of concentration.... mind you, I'm not really sure there is ANYTHING I will be able to do one handed if Rubester is not in the mood to rock and roll about on the floor..... hmmmm, except perhaps drink tea and eat toast?

SO! My brain has been ticking all weekend on all things knitting/textile/material/embroidery related, and then I find a message in my inbox from Laura Crouch Collins, an old friend of mine who lives in America, and makes the most amazing bags, one of which I am lucky enough to own....



Anyways..... she is interested in working with me to design some fabric for her Spring/Summer collection of bags for 2010! I am THRILLED at this prospect, especially as she will be paying me in handbags if the project comes off. WOOOOO!

Now I am really buzzing on all things textile, to the point where I am having trouble sleeping due to all the ideas flying round my head. (SIGH! This side effect of having a creative brain just doesn't mix with having a baba that likes to get up LOTS of times in the night for midnight feasts.....)

Here are a few images that excite me....



Made by Lupin Kind of remind me of some of my paintings, and I LOVE all the colours....



From 'Love Stitching Art'

And is it sad that this photo makes my heart beat a little faster? (And yes, I did end up buying some felt.....)

Confessional #2

I LIKE colouring inside the lines....

Confessional

Sigh..... where are all the months going?

Yup, its been ages since I last posted.Summer has well and truely left us, and I'm afraid I can't pretend it is Autumn either. It is cold, wet and pretty miserable, and I am mourning the loss of my long walks with The Rubester every day. (although we still walk, it has to be said, we just end up getting a little soggier.)

This is going to be a post where I am most honest with myself and own up to something that has been becoming increasingly more obvious to me recently. I have had a stark realisation that I have outgrown my studio down at The Quarry. If I am honest, I probably outgrew it on the day I moved into it. Since having "T.R", I have been buzzing with new ideas and creative thoughts, despite having little time to realise them. And being flooded with inspiration has made me realise that I have probably not created anything truely new since working at The Quarry. I have spent lots of time procrastinating by finishing off old work and reworking stuff, rather than following any new paths. Because of this, my practice up there feels pretty stale.

I think there are a number of things that have contributed to this feeling. For a start, the space is too small. Secondly, much as I have enjoyed and been challenged by having a studio that is occasionally open to the public, I have found it equally stiifling. I have struggled to let go of myself and go a bit wild and experiemental. When I had my room at home I could really go for it without fear of being judged. Ok, so the work wasn't always good, but it was freer and I could be much less inhibited.

It feels like time to move on, I'm just not sure where to yet. My ideal would be to have a big old studio at the bottom of my garden I could retreat to, occasionlly get drunk in and paint away to my hearts content. Sadly, in a flat with no garden, this is not really an option!

I'm not really sure what the solution is, but to have acknowledged this feels like the first step to finding it.....