The art of reinvention

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Linda Matthews

A brand new day … a brand new opportunity to re-invent ourselves.

Don’t you just love that concept?

I like the idea that we can start again from where we are right now. And change direction. Just like that.

It’s very freeing to embrace whatever creative curiosity presents itself to you. And to follow that curiosity to see where it takes you. Without excuses, without apologies. Just because you want to. And just because you can. Guided by intuition and sometimes impulsiveness.

This year I’m fully embracing my persona of “Creative Explorer”.

The first step is reinventing my website. Just because I can. Ok, just did it! It has a brand new look!

And I’m reinventing my business as well.

Some things will be disappearing. And I’m embracing a new method of inspiring and motivating others creatively. And of course there will be new stuff coming.

This year I’ve decided to let go of some of the traditional methods of doing business and approach things a little differently. So I’ll be shaking things up a little; changing things, moving them around and keeping things interesting.

This year I’ve decided to view each new day as a new opportunity. An opportunity to do things differently and to be open to new possibilities. To challenge myself creatively, and to challenge you creatively also. And perhaps be a little impulsive once in a while. Instead of following a business plan, allow my business to unfold, and to build it from a place of fun and passion and intuition … and maybe some unexpectedness. So pay attention.

I’m not sure that’s a very good basis for developing a business – a business plan with no plan – and I’m sure there are people who’ll tell me it isn’t. But I’m doing it anyway. If it doesn’t work .. well, I’ll just change things again. Because I can.

So that’s what I’m doing with my brand new day. What are you doing with yours?

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Focus on Fiber

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Linda Matthews

Where will you be March 19-25 of this year?

This is where you’ll find me ..

Focus on Fiber

And this is what we’ll be doing …

Focus on Fiber

And maybe a little of this …

Focus on Fiber

And definitely a lot of this …

Focus on Fiber

Focus on Fiber is an annual gathering of artists spanning the field of fiber from felting through hooking, quilting, painting, dyeing and manipulation. There is no technique or material ignored as we bring together fiber artists including quilters, rug hookers, knitters, felters, sculptors, and recyclers for a retreat in the woods at Atlantic Center for the Arts. Artists work on original designs and share their knowledge as they dye and paint fabrics, collaborate, and learn techniques from one another. There are no formal instructions or format except for meal times. Participants can work all day or night by themselves or in groups in a secure wooded facility in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The event is self-directed and appeals to novice through professional.

I haven’t been to this event for several years due to “life getting in the way” but I’m definitely looking forward to it this year.

And I’m definitely looking forward to teaching there also this year, so if you’re in the mood for exploring some surface design techniques for paint and print, come join me! This is a two-day workshop so we’ll get a *lot* done. Central Florida in March is a nice place to be, and the Atlantic Center for the Arts is an awesome facility.

All the information about the even can be found here on the Focus on Fiber website. But be quick; I think this event fills up pretty quickly. I hope to see you there!

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Out with the old, in with the new

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Linda Matthews

Out with the old
I have a strong belief that in order to make space and allow new things into your life you have to let go of old things. This is a process that I’m not always very good at but I think I’m getting better.

For instance, when I buy something new I get rid of something old. Like new clothes. Each time I put a new piece of clothing in my closet, I remove an old piece and recycle or donate it. If I buy a new book, I remove an old one and donate or sell it. Plus this year I’m still getting rid of all the excess I’ve accumulated over the years. With every little thing that’s removed, I feel a little lighter. In body and spirit.

This year I’ve decided to take that principle and apply it to my business also.

My business focus has changed over the last several years and some of the aspects that comprise my business no longer feel in alignment with the type of work I’m doing now and my vision of how I want my business to look. These things tie me to a business model that I no longer feel a connection to.

So at the end of January (yes this month!) I’ll be retiring the entire series of instructional dvds and the online classes that are currently available in the Home Study section of my store.

I’m giving several weeks notice in case you want to grab one before they’re gone. (Please note: Students who are currently signed into the online classroom will continue to have access.)

Am I crazy? Possibly. Particularly since sales of my dvds over the last several years have always been good. This wasn’t an easy decision, but sometimes it isn’t just about the money.

I know hundreds if not thousands of students have been creatively inspired and motivated by the techniques presented on my dvds, and I fully intend to continue inspiring and motivating you! Just not using the same old tired techniques that have been around for years. I’m ready to creatively inspire and motivate you in a whole new way. There may be new, fresh dvds soon, but the only place you’ll find me teaching at the moment is here.

In with the new
So now I’ve purged my business of the old stuff, what am I bringing in that’s new?

Well, if you’ve been following my blog for any length of time you’ll know that for the last several years I’ve been playing around with photoshop and teaching myself to use it mainly as a way to bring to life the digital art designs that I use to print on my handbags and accessories. I’ve enjoyed the process so much that this year I plan to fully develop the design side of my business.

Looky here at my new toy! It’s big and shiny and I’m not quite sure how to use it yet; there’s obviously going to be a learning curve.

Bamboo Create

For those of you who haven’t a clue what this is, the Wacom Bamboo Create tablet is a design tool that plugs into your computer and allows you to sketch and draw directly into a program such as Photoshop. Similar to sketching in a sketchbook but with a few advanced features, plus you don’t have to scan it to get it into photoshop.

I’ve had a very small tablet for some years that I use from time to time and it was kind of fun but a bit limited in scope. This big tablet takes designing to a whole new level. I’m kind of excited!

I think that’s a fair swap of new for old, don’t you think?

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Better late than never!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Linda Matthews

Do you find that sometimes even the simplest tasks can become a journey?

Several days ago I began designing the January pages for my Daily Art Journal – you can see where I started it here. I thought it would go together fairly quickly, and it did. Till my attention got sidetracked while I was in the middle of adding some doodle decoration to the page and my hand slipped. I tried to turn it into a decorative edge but I wasn’t loving it.

Daily Art Journal

So I started again. This time I gave it my full attention and I kind of like the way it turned out but I’ll probably add some additional embellishment as the month goes on.

Daily Art Journal

It may be winter on the outside, but it’s summer in my heart. I love my little flower garden!

Daily Art Journal

I love those little spaces also! But when you know you only have a tiny space to fill it somehow becomes more important about what you put in there, doesn’t it? It makes you want to pay close attention to what you put your energy into during the day so that the tiny space gets filled with only the best you have to offer.

Daily Art Journal

Now to fill in the first few days and catch up with the month. Luckily I’ve been keeping notes! I’ll share the page again at the end of the month. I’m sure it’ll look much different.

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Daily Art Journaling for the time challenged

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Linda Matthews

Phew! It’s been an incredibly exciting beginning to 2012 and particularly these last few days as I’ve been working hard behind the scenes getting my Creative Explorers settled into their new home. I opened the doors on 1st January and as with any new project there’s always bound to be a few glitches along the way, but we’re all finally settling in and getting to know each other.

It’s only day two of the club but already we’re organizing ourselves and setting up various group projects that we’ll be working with during the year.

One of the projects I’m introducing to my club members and I thought I’d share with you also because it’s such and awesome project, is the Daily Art Journal Project. A super way for the time-challenged (aren’t we all – time challenged I mean) to be artfully creative and get to do some daily journaling.

I got the idea from the Nov/Dec issue of Somerset Studio magazine in an article by Kate Crane and if you check out her blog here you can see how she sets up her art journal pages – just like a double page calendar with little square blocks of paper glued on – one for each day of the month – and just big enough to write a few words or a short sentence. I absolutely love the idea of little blocks of space!

So here’s my effort so far. I’m running a little behind with my January pages but I should be finished soon.

The first step is always the blank page which can sometimes be terrifying, particularly with a brand new journal. I kind of like this photo though because I accidentally cast my shadow across the pages as I was taking the photo.

Daily Art Journal