fiber artist
One of my goals I decided on as I cleaned the studio this fall was to “finish projects” — I find it too easy to be too hard on myself and never finish anything, but then I don’t learn either. I want to learn! and grow! So, I finished the cards with the fun circles, “Joy is contagious”, and yes, from a very fun recycled stamp, Buzz Lightyear does make an appearance.
This summer I made a bunch of paper circles from fun, wacky papers (Buzz Lightyear may or may not have been included in this project – To infinity and beyond!) Cleaning up the studio, I decided I should make them into happy cards …. here is the first. A reminder to myself that joy is catching, and a way to share it with those around me.
Everyone has a challenge to face when being creative – I tend to be too critical of my process and never finish anything. So – I’m working at finishing things regularly so I can continue to learn and grow. Made this “super potholder” in colors that might match Kelsey’s aqua plates and red accents in her apartment kitchen. I finished it! While fun colors and bold, it looks somewhat like Christmas. However, I love the simple angled quilting – so, I learned something.
Even the studio has been warm, so I’m enjoying making composites for cards, but the sewing not so much. Finally with less heat, the studio has been much cooler. My “going green” cards are fun to put together … I’m enjoying thinking about my ex officio green cargo pants and miscellaneous thread getting a new lease on life!
I finished this Christmas project back in February (just a little bit late for donating for 2011), and finally got around to downsizing the image so that I could post it. Found a great technique for a finished lining and love the “stone” binding on the top. Hope to donate it for 2012 to the Cancer Center project.
I love to make projects from recycled bits of fiber I use in other projects. It was too windy out yesterday to do much gardening without constant sneezing, so I enjoyed some down time making these cards.
Wisdom: AACRC Fall 2011: In working toward a design for this installation, we the members of the Worship and Art interim class considered the passages of Proverbs 8 and Ecclesiastes 3.
There were many images that came to mind as a result of these passages. As a group, certain things stood out–one of them was the perception of Lady Wisdom who predominantly figured in our corporate minds in white flowing garb which has led to the back drop of white that you see in this piece.
We also looked at the description in Proverbs 8 of Wisdom’s presence everywhere–in the city and in nature as well as at home.
The depiction of a colorful globe represents this inclusiveness and the beauty of life with Wisdom in the times of abundance and the times of need.
Finally, the door way is the reminder that Wisdom is waiting at the door for our response and gives a sense of the security of being at home there.
Another way to free up creativity is small pieces. Cleaning up the studio I put away a collection of fabric and fused plastic from this palette from summer of 2011.
Bottled-up creativity remains quiescent until an outlet is created. Returning to the basics frees the muscles to remember paths once followed and frees the mind to imagine new ones. A stash in need of cleaning, fingers in need of freeing, and a gift not needed combine to form these simple table centers, ready for hospitality.
Hands and imagination shaking off the accumulated rust of doing what is needed, to do it just for fun!
