One mindful week in...

New Year, new handmade sketchbook

We're just over a week into 2019 and as my first post of the year was about looking back over 2018 and looking forward to this year I thought my second post could focus on how I'm doing that. As I wrote last time I don't have any resolutions as such but I am trying to be more mindful and to focus on what I'm doing and enjoy it rather than trying to do several things at once and worrying that I'm not achieving any of them.

Handmade sketchbook (details)

Handmade sketchbook 

When I look back through my notebooks I always see 'need more time for my own work' so I'm trying to address that by blocking out time in my week specifically to be in the studio. I wear so many (metaphorical) hats and work on so many different projects that it can be easy to lose myself in planning, preparation and admin tasks. I'm hoping that by giving myself specific times to do certain things I can get a better balance and be able to achieve more of the things I want to in my personal practice (this morning, for instance, I'm blogging and photographing and this afternoon I AM going to work in my studio.)

Handmade sketchbook (details)

Handmade sketchbook (details)

Handmade sketchbook (details)

Towards the end of last year I got quite down and felt very low creatively. I decided that I would not make any 'proper' work at all in December and that I would instead focus on doing things that I wanted to do; crocheting, making decorations, dress making and so on. All creative things but also things that I often neglect. I'm really pleased that I did this, once I'd made the decision to not 'work' I was able to really enjoy making and playing with materials. It was a really good chance to refresh myself and towards the end of December I could feel myself getting itchy to get going on my 'proper' work again, I had new ideas and was ready to start again.

Daily Drawing 1.1.19

Daily Drawing 2 and 3.1.19

Daily Drawing 8.1.19

I began the new year by making a sketchbook and I've been using this for my daily drawing, another thing that I find hugely beneficial but which can also often be bumped down the priorities list. I love my drawing time, I always feel so much calmer and more focused after drawing, even if I only draw for a few minutes. I've started drawing in the mornings before I go out to work and I find it's a really good positive start to my day. Drawing also helps me work through and clarify ideas so as well as drawings I have some pages of notes (in a different sketchbook, I like to have several on the go at once) about how work might progress. 

Inspired by Winifred Nicholson
Hand dyed fabrics, applique and hand embroidery

Inspired by Winifred Nicholson
The painting that inspired me and my interpretation

Inspired by Winifred Nicholson
(detail)

Inspired by Winifred Nicholson
(detail)

As well as keeping up with my daily drawing I've been looking to clear a couple of things from my WIP (works in progress) list and so far I've finished two pieces started on workshops at Cumberland Embroiderers Guild last year. One was from a workshop with Mandy Pattullo, making textile interpretations of Winifred Nicholson's paintings. I loved this workshop and learnt a lot, it was a quite different way of working for me and I found it quite hard but exciting and I think there are elements that I will take forward and incorporate in my own work. Many is a really good tutor and I learnt a lot from her during this session. It was also a really good way of properly looking at Nicholson's paintings and I enjoyed that side of it too.

Bushkiri 

Bushkiri (detail)

Bushkiri (detail)

The second piece was from a workshop with Hilary Kimber, who showed us how to make Bushkiri (Indian dowry bags.) Again, I really enjoyed the workshop and had a lot of fun playing with colours and stitches. I'm very pleased to have these pieces finished as there is the catharsis of finishing and of having a clear desk (I don't actually have a clear desk, that would be silly...) and I'm also pleased with the finished pieces. I've learnt a lot form both of them and enjoyed making them.

Work in progress on sample for a new workshop

I've also been working on some samples for a new workshop I'm running this year, again new ideas are coming into my head and feeding into other areas of my work. I'm getting quite excited about the possibilities so I think I'm going to save writing any more about it for another post, watch this space...

Changing Impressions: Remembrance Workshops at Cumbria's Museum of Military Life

Objects and samples ready for the workshop

Earlier in the Summer I wrote a couple of posts about projects I've been involved in connected to the centenary of the end of the First World War. One of the projects I've been involved with was designing and delivering a drop in workshop (two actually) for Cumbria's Museum of Military Life as part of their Remembrance 100 programme.

Stitching

Making a rubbing

Adding stitching

In all honesty drop in workshops are not my favourite; the activity needs to be accessible and achievable in a very short time frame but should also be able to be extended if visitors want to stay, you never know how many people you're going to get and a lot like busses participants tend to either not turn up at all or all come at once! However, they are a great way of getting people in to museums and offer an easy way for people to participate which I do think is a really good thing.

Exploring colour

Rubbings and stitching

Adding stitching

Memory and how it changes over time is a theme I'm currently exploring in my own work so I was interested in creating a workshop that looked quite broadly at remembrance; what it means to remember and how that changes. (I wrote a bit about this on my post about the Remembrance 100 exhibition if you're interested to read more.) I'd also been asked to give the workshop a textiles focus, which was good for me as of course I love working with textiles.

Getting involved

Getting involved

Getting involved

I decided to create a workshop called 'Changing Impressions.' Using fabric crayons and cotton fabric I encouraged participants to make a rubbing of an object, creating an impression of it. If they wanted to they could then further embellish their rubbing with stitch. The idea was that by taking a rubbing from the object you would create an impression of it; it's from the object and bears a resemblance to it but it's not the same in the same way that our memories of things are not the same as the actual things (or events.) Further embellishment further changes the memory of the object imprinted on the cloth, just as each time we revisit a memory it subtly changes.

Workshop results

Workshop results

Workshop results

I really enjoyed running the sessions, both were well attended and what I loved was seeing participants, particularly the children, become very engaged in what they were doing and focusing on the process. In our increasingly fast paced world I think it's increasingly important to find time to stop, slow down and properly engage with an activity, especially one that uses the hands. I think I created several converts to hand embroidery, more than one child was heard to ask if they could go and buy threads to do some sewing at home. It was also lovely to see family groups sit and work together, supporting and encouraging each other and creating memories as well as exploring them.

Workshop results

Inventive Sketchbooks at Cloud 9

Set up ready for the workshop

If you've read this blog before you'll know that I love running workshops, I love that each time I run a workshop it's different and I learn something new, even when I've run the session many times before. Yesterday I ran my 'Inventive Books' workshop at the lovely Cloud 9 Studio Gallery in the centre of Dumfries. I had three great participants and we all had a productive, creative and enjoyable time. The gallery is a lovely place to visit, there are lots of lovely things to look at (and buy!) and Julie, the owner is really friendly.

Making pages for our folded books

Making pages for our folded books

Making pages for our folded books

It's unusual for me to have such a small group, hosting workshops can be expensive so generally places need a higher number of participants to make it work financially. It's a very different dynamic working with a small group and it was a nice change. The participants were all very creative people as well so that also changed the dynamic, throughout the day I had to remind myself that I was working as it was such a relaxed atmosphere it was more like a creative conversation than teaching.

Folding our books

Folding our books

Folding our books

I shared my processes for making my favourite folded sketchbook and envelope sketchbook and everyone had a chance to make one of each using a selection of papers that they felt inspired by or drawn to. One of the reasons I love making my own sketchbooks is that I can select the papers I use and make it personal to me. I like to draw on a range of different papers so making my own books means that I can pick out the papers I like and use them to create a sketchbook I know I'll want to work in.

Making covers

Making covers

Beautifully finished folding book

We also discussed ways of working in sketchbooks. Like many things, I think that for most people getting started is often the hardest part. As a starting exercise I gave everyone a word or phrase to get them going, I kept these deliberately vague so that lots of different ideas could be generated, it doesn't matter if these ideas don't lead to a final piece the important thing is to get going and start the creative process both in terms of thinking and making. Over the years I've backed myself into a corner (creatively speaking) so many times by getting overly focused on finding the 'right' idea to work on. Over time I've learnt that it's better just to do something, anything as the thoughts and ideas will flow much more easily.

Starting to work in our sketchbooks

Starting to work in our sketchbooks

Starting to work in our sketchbooks

Sketchbooks are very personal things and I love that each one made on this workshop is so different and reflects the personality of its maker. I finished the workshop feeling inspired by the conversations we'd had and happy that I was able to share some of my favourite techniques and hopefully inspire my participants to carry on their creative journey.

Finished books

Finished book

Finished book

Pictures with Fabric and Thread at The Eden Workshop

Building up an image of wildflowers using fabrics, lace and stitch

Recently I ran a new workshop at The Eden Workshop called 'Pictures with Fabric and Threads.' I had five lovely participants on my course, several of whom had been on workshops with me before. It's always nice when people come back for more, it's a good confidence boost! I'm always pleased to be asked to run courses at The Eden Workshop, it's a lovely friendly and relaxed venue and my participants and I are always well looked after and fed. There is also a great supply of materials and bits and pieces to satisfy my inner magpie.

My sample: layered fabrics, trims, beads and hand stitch

My sample: Lace, fabrics and machine and hand embroidery

Creating texture with layers of fabric and 'stitch and slash' techniques

Stitch and slash sample

The session came about as I'd already run several workshops here and Jane and I were thinking of new ideas. I really love playing with fabrics and textures so that was the starting point; a workshop that would give people an opportunity to experiment with different fabrics and threads to create a unique piece of textile art. When I'm teaching my main aim is to help people discover their own creativity and style, I hope I can give people the confidence to try something and follow their own ideas as well as teaching them specific skills.

Creating a plan to work from

Creating a plan and selecting materials

This workshop was a good chance for me to experiment and test a few techniques out too. Much of my work, particularly the bird portraits, focuses on one element (usually a bird) and rarely features backgrounds so for this workshop I looked at creating work that covered the whole of my base fabric. I take a lot of photographs, often of landscapes, as colour references and I decided to use some of these as inspiration. It was good working in a slightly different way as it allowed me to take processes I'm familiar with, such as layering sheer fabrics, and use them to create different effects. I was also very proud of myself for managing to create some smaller scale work!

Building up texture with different fabrics and layers

Building up texture with different fabrics and layers

Building up texture with different fabrics and layers

I also used this session as a chance to experiment a bit more with the sewing machine, looking at creating different 'stitch and slash' textures with layers of fabrics and trying out some of the more decorative stitches that I rarely use but which I thought would be good to incorporate into our designs. I thought this would give participants a chance to get to know their machines better and make use of more of the stitches available.

Building up backgrounds

Building up backgrounds

Building up backgrounds

During the workshop I encouraged my participants to pick an image and look at slightly abstracting or simplifying it by creating very rough sketches. Once we'd done this I then encouraged them to get stuck into the fabrics and materials and to pick a selection that appealed to them and suggested the textures they wanted to create; such as layers of fabric and lace for water or tweeds for fells. We then worked up our pictures in layers and added details with yarns, trims, beads and other embellishments.

Adding detail with yarn and beads

Adding detail with yarn and beads

It was a really enjoyable session to run. Everyone had different ideas and it was great seeing the pieces come together over the course of the day. Everyone had a go at the stitch and slash technique but because of the different materials they'd chosen and designs they'd created we got really varied effects. I always find this the most exciting thing about workshops; how people can take the same materials and techniques but use them so differently. I find this very inspiring and always go away from workshops full of ideas and eager to try new things!

Building detail with different textured fabrics

Adding detail with trims and beads