The good, the bad and the really ugly

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Linda Matthews

With my online embellishing class ending this week, it left me some free time to do some *exploring*, and playing with fabric paper is always a fun diversion for me. I love the way papers and fabrics can sometimes play “nice” together, and I wanted to try out a couple of techniques that had been rattling around inside my head.

I found some old lace that had been stashed away in a drawer so thought that it might make some nice texture layered over a printed image. You might remember the poppy image from my attempts at visual journaling some time back. Even though that particular piece failed miserably , I really liked the image so I thought I’d use it again with some “fabric paper” collage.

Fabric Paper

And I also wanted to try out some free machine embroidery techniques on fabric paper. I love the way this texture turned out.

But then I lost all sense and decided to combine the techniques into one piece. I totally ignored that quiet little voice of intuition that said “don’t go there”, and I immediately knew that this piece was doomed – too many different textures I think and it looks kind of confusing.

Fabric Paper

And painting it didn’t help any.

Fabric Paper

So with nothing to lose I highlighted the texture and I really like the way it turned out; the contrast in colors is really nice.

Fabric Paper

So separately the textures looked great! But together they had a huge clash of personalities. Slow work is pointless unless you pay attention, especially to that little voice inside. It’s never wrong.

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Being vulnerable

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Linda Matthews

When I get a spare half hour or so, I love visiting the Ted website where so many inspiring and creative people share their thoughts and ideas. This is the internet at its absolute best.

One of my favorite videos is by Brene Brown who is a researcher and storyteller, and in this particular video she talks about the power of vulnerability which is something she has spent many years researching.

I was particularly interested in her findings that while vulnerability is at the core of shame, fear and struggle for worthiness, it’s also the birthplace of creativity.

Dealing with my creativity is a daily challenge for me and that can be a problem particularly as it’s the basis of my business.

Some days I have so many creative ideas I cant’ write them down fast enough.

A lot of days I spend turning those creative ideas into reality.

But some days there’s nothing in my head, and I mean nothing. It’s totally empty in there. It’s like someone blew out the creative candle and I’m stumbling around in the dark trying to find it. And that induces fear. Fear that I’ll never find it again.

Of course I always do. But this is a recurring cycle. And it’s exhausting sometimes. And then there’s the anxiety of waiting for the cycle to come around again and again because you know that it will, and … well, I know you know how this goes.

So …

If, as she says, vulnerability is at the core of fear but the birthplace of creativity, my very own personal cycle of doom, if I deal with my vulnerability issues instead of worrying about the fear and the creativity, then I might learn to disconnect from my cycle of doom?

An interesting thought and worthy of investigation.

Grab a cuppa, you’ll enjoy this talk; she’s funny and touching and of course, vulnerable.
(PS – if you’re reading this post in a reader or by blog-email, you’ll need to click through to the website to view it)

If you enjoyed Brene Brown’s talk, you might also enjoy her blog. You can find here.
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The Story of an Art Doll: The Final Installment

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Linda Matthews

So now she’s done.

Art Doll

She didn’t turn out in any way at all like I first envisaged, I saw her as a more contemporary type of art doll rather than the elegant lady she turned out to be, but sometimes that’s where the process takes you; to places you never intended or imagined, and all you can do is follow along.

I could do more embellishing to her jacket, but I think I’ll leave it as it is for now.

Art Doll

Previous: The Story of an Art Doll: The Jacket

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The Story of an Art Doll: The Jacket

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Linda Matthews

I’ve finished the underskirt for my art doll and I really like the way it turned out even after all the challenges it posed.

So now on to the jacket … red silk dupioni for the jacket, with a front lining of rich gold thai silk – she has expensive taste!

One of my very favorite embellishments – a yo-yo with bead dangles – to pin back the bottom front of the jacket.

Art Doll

For the sleeve edges, the same distressed art lace as on the bottom of the jacket.

Art Doll

She’s looking more pleased with herself with each fitting.

Art Doll

Still have a lot of work to do, but don’t want to rush it.

Previous: The Story of an Art Doll: Embellishing

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The Story of an Art Doll: Embellishing

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Linda Matthews

My art doll still doesn’t have a name yet. Maybe after she has some clothes she’ll tell me what it is.

The embellishing of the underskirt begins. First adding some art lace edging to the bottom of her skirt using water soluble stabilizer to support the decorative stitches.

Art Doll

Then a piece of machine needlelace; lacework machined on water soluble stabilizer. This will be a bib for the front top of her underskirt and will be a decoratively embellished piece that will be visible once her jacket is on.

Art Doll

Then … disaster ….

Washing away the water soluble stabilizer from the bottom of her skirt I expected a small amount of color run-off, but my heart started sinking when I saw that the color continued to run.

With my usual “fabric printing” printer out of commission, I had used a different printer to print the fabric for the underskirt. I made sure to use pretreated fabric that was supposedly washable and permanent. But it didn’t work completely and the underskirt is faded and ruined; for this project anyway. Although I could use it as a lining maybe for a purse.

Art Doll

I can’t do anything about it. Except wait for my replacement printer to arrive so I can start again.

Waiting, waiting, waiting. Days of waiting.

The printer finally arrives so to begin again. This time I know that the results will be better. However this time I also decide to make the art lace first and then attach it to the bottom of the skirt by hand. Not because I’m afraid of washing the printed fabric; I did a small test first so I know the ink is now permanent. But I wanted to make the lace edging a little more distressed.

I like it much better already.

Art Doll