Going back to the beginning

 My plan, whenever I face creative block, is to do something, even if it's just to fondle fabric.  I also tidy and clean the studio, which also leads me to fondle the things I find.  Well, I found several stitched samples that I've put in my sketch book, when working on a major piece.  The pieces are long gone, ant the samples really don't serve any useful purpose, so I've re-purposed them.

This first one was a machine quilted  piece of fabric to which tiny dots had been added with metallic fabric paint.  I added the silver beads, and mounted it on one of several pre-cut mats I had bought years ago and never used.  I then packaged it in a Crystal Clear bag.  Since the bag was sealed I hadn't wanted to open it, as that might have meant that I would have to find another bag, and I don't have many left.  Sorry for the glare, but I took the photo through the bag, as I did with all of the pictures.

This was similar process, but I had to block the quilted remnant  before I started stitching on the beads.  I used two hand made beads. I painted Tyvek  with metallic paint in different colours on each side, then rolled it up, and hit it with a heat gun.  I'm very pleased with the final effect.

For this piece I used all commercial beads, but varied the shapes and sizes.  For all of the pieces, I tried to have the colour of the mat, work with the beaded design.

This is different.  It is also a much older sample. The background is dried flowers held in place with tulle, which has been stitched down around them.  Then I made a similar flower using hand stitched, free standing, "stump work"

This whole effort has pleased me, and I hope to place these pieces in a gift shop for sale.  All of the components came from my stash, so I consider them to have been 'found objects', and therefore having no supply cost.  Always a bonus in my mind.

Not really accomplishing much

 I don't know if it is a remnant of the sloth that developed during the Covid lock down, or if I'm still experiencing the side effects of the virus( of some sort) that I suffered with in late March, but I just can't seem to settle to anything creative right now.  I found some Tula Pink videos about EPP, and thoroughly enjoyed them, even learning a bit.  I sure didn't think there was anything about EPP that I didn't know, but I was wrong.                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzTBbxHsj9Y  So, I've been working on that whenever I can.  It was originally something to work on during those rare periods when I watch tv, but there has been a little more tv watching recently, and I'm accomplishing a fair bit.  I have almost finished the fourth "square" from the Flossie Teacakes book, and have ordered a kit from Tula Pink, that consists of a pattern and includes all of the papers needed to make the pattern.  The piece, titled "Nova", will finish at about 46" square.  Now, her fabric designs can be pretty bizarre, and I can't afford to buy too much of her fabric, but I'm going to take a look at what might be available in a local quilt store, but also know that I would be more advised to wait until the pattern arrives before getting too much. Darn it!  I wonder if I might be able to use some of my Kaffe Fassett fabric?  Hm-m-m?  I'll have to think about that.

Yesterday, I was privileged to be able to participate in a 3 hour video workshop with Lyric Kinard.  I have followed her for a few years, and she has been one of my "gurus" for a long time, so this was a special occasion for me.  It was very much a theoretical class, so there is little I can actually show you, but I have several pages of notes in my scrap book.  Textile and Fibre Arts Manitoba, who sponsored the workshop, are working on a couple more, so I'll look forward to what may come up.  I had wondered what an internet workshop might be like but it ran quite smoothly and  I was very impressed.