Hmm - refocus...

Ok. I started with the best of intentions, I swear I did. To be honest, I don't even consider this a fail. I've learned some very valuable things about how I work this week. One, small, rushed thing every day is unsatifying for me. The way I work, it doesn't lend itself to this, I often have more than one thing in development and I like to have some time to consider what I am doing. A completion per day is just not good for me. I may go a week without one thing complete, then finish 5 in one day. So - new rules. At least one completion, blogged and photographed, per week. Sometimes it may be more, but no less. Flexible, yeah - I can do that.

A bit late but...

Worms! Day 2, part of a larger piece to be completed at a later date.

First day - complete

A fly! I'm not sure if it will be 365 bugs, or 365 embroidery, or what exactly - but for now, I am going to be happy that the first day is a success. :)

Studio Practice

I am not a great self-starter. Wait, no, I am a great self-starter - I'm a really bad self-finisher. (I am aware that it isn't a word, but it's my blog and I like it.) So, yeah, that means there are a gazillion (conservatively speaking) unfinished projects in my studio. Some got derailed by pets and/or kids, some just didn't got the way I wanted them to go, and some kind of scared me so I put them away. Mostly, it comes down to this: if I don't finish them, or make the decision to repurpose them in some way, no one else will. It is New Year's Day, and in years past I've often spent the day recouperating or continuing the celebration, as you would. This year is different. It's not about resolutions or the changing year, it's about taking control and living life out loud. We all have excuses, we all have valid reasons even, to not do the things that bring us joy. Sometimes we trade one joy for another, that's a hard one to sort out in your head! In the past couple of weeks, I've been noticing change - from the corner of my eye, around corners, lurking in shadows. Today I am calling it out. I've commited to making something for 365 days, something has to be accomplished every single day. Not my idea, lovelies, this person: Make Something 365 who has some really good ideas for people just like me.

Studio practice just doesn't come naturally to me, I have a million ideas and they don't get exercised (or exorcised). I truly admire people who can put their heads down and just go, I wish I had that tenacity. Will this actually change my practice? Lord, I hope so! Let's see where this year leads...

One down, one to go

This is the invitation for the most recent show, I was absolutely blessed to be asked to participate in this one. It really stretched my comfort zone and gave me chance to work on some new techniques that I needed a good push to do. The work has returned, and will be shown here next year. Although I don't have the time to devote to my work that I would like (24/7? Yes, please!) I am slowly figuring out how to keep on keeping on.

A show invitation, how exciting!

I received notice that a group show I'm involved with is a go. This is very exciting for me, it provides several different opportunities at once - not to mention the fact that it has jump-started my flagging creativity (thankfully!) Now - research, research, research...

One for Sorrow

A piece for the most recent show - hand and machine embroidery with crow and pheasant feathers. Masks and secrets, abiding fascination for me.