Dreamland

 
Do you ever feel like you're better at thinking about art than doing art?  While it hasn't stopped me from working my way through a list of techniques I want to try this summer, that nagging feeling is definitely taking its toll.  Yesterday I spent a couple hours in the morning working with my mentor (painting on silk!) and then a couple hours in the afternoon cleaning my studio -- thinking a clean slate would help.  And maybe it will. 

Meanwhile, I'm going to just keep putting one foot in front of the other with my textile experiments.  Here's one I worked on last week -- and so far the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.  I enjoyed finding quotations to use and writing them out, I loved seeing how they looked printed on fabric, and I don't mind the tedious cutting and piecing.  But when I got it all together, it wasn't so exciting.

 
Another technique for my toolbox.  I'm trying to keep an open mind about ideas that don't work now -- but may be useful in the future.

My morning so far.

Last week the proteges in my mentoring group got together for an incredibly colorful & delicious dinner and thoughtful conversation, and someone mentioned the commitment we had all made by joining the group.  I wondered to myself, "Have I really honored that commitment?"

Every morning I wake up about 6am so I can get in a couple hours work before the kids get up.  I wondered...couldn't I spend that morning time on textile work?  I am a morning person, after all.  Why not commit to using my most vibrant energy on my emerging art?

I've also set a goal to experiment this summer, and to that end have made a list of techniques I want to try.  One of them is stenciling on fabric (instead of freehand painting, which is what I usually do).  When I paint with a brush, the paint itself needs to be somewhat thick in order to keep crisp lines.  With stenciling, the paint can be a bit thinner.  Sometimes I like to have the weight of the handpainted lines, but I'd like to have an option with better drape in my toolbox too.

 
I started by drawing a stencil, loosely based on a motif in the Designer's Guide to Japanese Patterns.

 
I made a copy to be sure the stencil could be repeated to create a balanced pattern.

 
I traced my design onto Friendly Felt, a stiffened felt made from recycled plastic bottles.

 
The felt was easy to cut through with an xacto knife; I trimmed a few rough edges with sharp scissors.

 

 
I sprayed the back of the stencil lightly with spray adhesive, then practiced stenciling on an old tshirt.

 
Earlier this morning I had cut my favorite fitted tank pattern from a black XL tshirt I found at Goodwill.  I had originally planned to make the tank as a single layer with embellishment on only one panel...but the stenciling was so easy, I just might have to modify that plan.

 

Quote of the Week No. 12

 
I spent nearly the entire weekend outside (rain and shine), so no other quote would do this morning.  Purchase this one here.

Recycled Friday.

 
At the foot of Forest's bed (home to light sabers and tattoos)

Graduation book.

Eight years ago, I made my first Graduation Book for my niece Kaitlin, when she graduated from high school.  I solicited wishes, memories, and words of wisdom from her friends, family, and teachers, and collected it all in a small album.  This year I made my fourth book, for my niece Lauren. (Four more nieces to go!)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quote of the Week No. 11

 
This week's quote is a digital print of a handwritten & illustrated original, available for purchase here.  (I have also restocked last week's popular quote!)

Recycled Friday.

 
I made this after seeing an inspiring mixed-pattern display at Barney's (circa 2004).  This is the item I can't seem to give up "because someday it will fit again."  What's yours?

Scrapbook themes.

When I started this blog a little over three years ago, one of the ideas I was excited to share is the way I keep scrapbooks for my kids.  I love all the parts of keeping scrapbooks -- the papers, the organizing, the creative techniques, the safekeeping of memories -- but I didn't want the recording of memories to take more time (or be more fun!) than the making of memories.  I started a system when J was 3 of only doing a set number of pages for each year, and using the same materials & techniques on those pages so that there is a theme for each year.

I must have been creatively stale when I developed the themes for this past year because I don't particularly love either of them.  (It all started when I did the doodle theme a couple of years ago and realized I could do a similar theme for both kids at the same time, overlapping supplies & not needing to reinvent the wheel.) So I've been dragging my feet a bit about finishing up winter & spring...until I did a little inspiration shopping for F's next scheme:

 
I try to assemble a theme with 3-4 solid colors, 1-2 patterns, a method for writing out page titles, and a couple of embellishments.  I started with the blue paper (it has teeny tiny reddish-black dots on it) and the kraft letter stickers.  A couple weeks later I added the number stickers, the distressed-looking lined paper and the paper with rulers.  At home, I had the leftover black & white polka dot tape and the tickets, and yesterday I found the yellow and green (both are not quite solid) to round it out.

 

I finally feel motivated to finish up his last theme so I can get started on this new one while I'm still excited about it.  Everything is kept in a large zippered pouch, along with photos (in envelopes labelled "cub scouts" or "4th grade").  I've been using the Notes on my iphone to keep track of the little things I want to include.  Next step:  sort through the "memento drawer" in the kitchen, which I haven't done since the beginning of the year!

Quote of the Week No. 10

 

One of my favorites, available for purchase here.

Recycled Friday.

 
 
From Amy Butler's Barcelona Skirts pattern.

My summer newsletter will be sent the middle of this month, be sure to sign up for info about my upcoming Summer Sale!