March update

We all have seasons of creativity and I'm feeling somewhat demotivated at present. There's a lot in my head and heaviness in my heart including, but not limited to, the situation in the Ukraine, the wave of Covid hitting New Zealand and the protests in Wellington. I feel disconnected from much of the art community, most of whom are in the Northern Hemisphere and my reality is so different from looking forward to Spring. I look at the productivity of others (eg. the 100 day project and output for fodder school) and feel frustrated and disappointed that's not my reality, but also recognise that I am not a full-time artist, I am not retired, I have an almost full-time job, and my art has always been my haven, a way to work through my problems, as well as a place for new learning and great joy. I'm sure that my mojo will come back. I'll continue to post as I have things to share. I post more regularly on Instagram, but I like to keep this blog going to get my thoughts onto the page for my future reference. 

This week I've decided that Anne Brooke's  #52flags project isn't for me. I'm just not motivated as I was with the tags last year and I'm not doing it if it's not a joy. These are my flags hanging on my wall in my studio but I've withdrawn from that project at present. 

Hopefully these will appear in some other form in my work in the future.

I'm still loving my monthly journal project as shared in my previous post

and I think I'll continue to respond to Effy's Journal 52 challenge, although this week's prompt is Spring (see above!). I also started a photo diary this year to help me recognise all the creative things I do - here's a peek at that from last week. 

No words, just photos of what occupied me for fun that day. It's valuable for me to see that I am very productive in the time I have available. Watching and reading, and social events all count as ways that fill me up. That last photo on the page above are my most recent art cards for happenings this month. I don't usually post before they're gifted, but feel I want to share them here. 

As you can see, Fodder creation continues to feature and I'm looking forward to our Fodder School lessons from a new teacher this month. I hope this post doesn't read too negatively, but rather stands as a snap shot of where I am right now. These are challenging times, and I hope you stay safe, inspired and make time for creativity. I know from experience that making art always makes me feel better.

52 Flags : January

I shared the beginning of this project here. While I've been posting the flags to my Instagram weekly as I've made them, I'm just going to do a monthly photo share here on the blog. 

Week 1 : A pocket and a note to self

Week 2 : Darning. Therapeutic stitching - an imperfectly mended heart

Week 3 : Fragments and buttons. A chance to combine fabric and paper with stitch.

Week 4 : Windows. Fun to use some gorgeous felt from my stash and embellishments representing some of my favourite things

You can join us at any time on Anne's Ko-fi page (￡3 = around NZ$6/month). I'm enjoying this weekly challenge - I often stitch them in the evening. And I'm loving seeing them hanging up in my studio. 

If you want to see these every week, check out my Instagram. 

52 Flags

I loved participating in Anne Brooke's weekly tag project in 2021 and as soon as I found out about her new idea for 2022 I joined up. Find out all about it via her YouTube video. The project is bunting and you can do entirely fabric ones, or work on a card base. After some deliberation, I decided that I'd like to make mine entirely of fabric. I've cut these bases and will fill one side for weeks 1-26, and then turn the bunting over and complete the other side.

Week 1 : A pocket and note to self. I decided to use some of my lovely home-dyed fabrics that I shared in my previous post inspired by Fodder School. 

On the back of my tag, I have written a list of the creative projects I've committed to for the year. 

I really love that this project will be hanging on my wall to enjoy right from the start. I'm attaching them with the little pegs and will stitch them once both sides are complete.

From now on I'll post these flags to my Instagram as I make them weekly, and I'll do a monthly photo share here on the blog. You can join us at any time on Anne's Ko-fi page (￡3 = around NZ$6/month).

52 Tags : Project complete

I've been participating in Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. You can view her weekly demos on Youtube #52tagshannemade. Week 52 = Macramé tree. Mine is a bit shaggy cos I used silk fibres and I love the colours. 

That's the last one for the year. See all my posts about this project HERE. They live in a box.

And they all have journaling on the back as a record of my year.

I love this view of the tassles.

Here they are in order for each quarter of the year. See others on Instagram here.

Next week we start #52flagshannemade. Find out all about it via her YouTube video. 

The project is going to be bunting and you can do entirely fabric ones, or work like this year's tags on a card base. A small charge this time and you join via Ko-fi (￡3 = around NZ$6/month). 

52 Tags : Week 45

Time for my take on Anne Brooke's weekly Tag challenge. Week 45 : Fireworks. In honour of the 5th of November. I knew this one would be fun and got out my beading needle! 

I hope that soon I'll be able to post some art that isn't a tag! If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen I've been creating more collage fodder. Not quite done enough for a blog post yet so for now I am grateful that in the busy of my life, I can still manage to finish a small weekly creation. 

This link will take you to all of my posts about this challenge. You can view Anne's weekly demo on Youtube #52tagshannemade. Anne's going to continue with a weekly project next year but with some differences. Find out all about it via her YouTube video. The project is going to be bunting and you can do entirely fabric ones, or work like this year's tags on a card base. A small charge this time (￡3 = around NZ$6/month) Looks fabulous. I have so enjoyed this year's challenge. Might see you there.