still looking...

for my muse. One of the books I got has some wonderful ideas for using paint on textiles. A lot of the ideas involve rubber stamps, but I have quite a few of my own stamps for this just might work. I've tidied up my studio, and then spent the afternoon putting together some greeting cards. It's mindless work and they seem to sell well. Next I'm thinking of digging out my file of "Fast Friday" Challenges. I've only done 2 out of the nine but maybe if I give some of the others a try, my "artist/child" may come out of hiding. I also spent a fair bit of time today sorting through some painting and dyeing that I did a couple fo years ago. I found some mono-prints and some shaving cream prints that I plan to experiment with. I don't think any of them is great art,but they are certainly good enough to fool around with. So I'm off on a journey of discovery, after having given myself permission to relax and enjoy the ride, without any worries about the final destination.

Got in again!

I have been working very, very hard lately and recently I've had three major projects go wrong. I have to wonder if the stress of trying to do too much, and to meet deadlines, is interfering with my creativity. Technically, things are going well, it's more in the design and creative area where I'm having problems. I recently found a list of 20 creative exercises that are supposed to help a textile/fibre artist learn and grow, but half of them don't make any sense to me. I honestly don't know what the words mean. So, I'm going to give myself a holiday and not attempt anything serious for the next few days. I actually spent the morning making jam! Now I'm thinking of going to the library and finding some simple books on design and creativity, in hopes that they might clarify the list of exercises, but they are going to have to be fun. No serious work for me.

And here is the close-up. I love doing these, and I've been converting my friends to, at least, try the technique. We are finding out that the process works under full-spectrum lighting and that you don't necessarily need the sun to produce a good print. Somehow, I feel that the process of painting, printing and then sitting and watching the sun do it's thing, adds to the whole-ness of the experience. I don't know if it would be the same emotional experience doing it any other way.

This is a second finished sunprint hanging. I've been told that orange will not sell, but I love this piece as the images are so very crisp, and clear. There is no beading in this piece--the colours are so strong that I didn't feel it needed it. This one may not go into the sale.

Boy, I sure don't take very good pictures! This is a close-up that may show you how I've added beads to the sunprint.

Well, I'm not sure what I've done here! the image is sideways and I'm going to have to figure out how to rotate it. This is one of my finished sunprint hangings. My favourrite.

Hot D--n!

Wow! I got in again--can this be the start of a trend? Maybe I need to get a whole bunch of pictures of my sun prints to post before Google kicks me out again.