beginnings…

… of a cloth…. my first such project. Stitching by hand.

The brainstorming and notes leading up to the cloth.

the base... roughly 23" by 16"

Piecing and pinning...

mostly tacked, some stitched, 'stone' pinned...

Stone removed and painted...

Visual dialogue continues…

And here are the latest pages in my visual dialogue with my friend Jill (see the visual dialogue 1 page to view all the work in my book so far).

Jill's last spread...

...with my additions.

and the latest partial spread that I've posted to Jill for her to continue

sketchbooks…

As promised, some scans from my two new sketchbooks… first, from my textiles notebook:

Brainstorming my windows theme plus some embroidery and a design...

Photos and notes, again exploring windows.

Yet more photos plus an exploratory piece of fabric - threads and scraps and paper between tissue and organza.

And now for my other new sketchbook – no title as yet, just sketchbook, lol!!!

Benches in Weston Park, Sheffield plus zentangle

Blue zentangle plus photo of bandstand

Close up photo of bandstand window and a green zentangle.

Quick 5 minute sketch of mirror in pub whilst waiting for my friend.

Ryan - the latest teddy in my collection, lol.

And finally, yet another zentangle - I do love playing around with these

Considerations and zentangled ATCs

Zentangled "Q"

I know, I’ve been quiet. Doesn’t mean that I haven’t been doing things though!!! Much considering going on, lol. Lots of notes. And some decisions made. One being to resume the Visual Dialogue with my friend, Jill – a joint decision that seemed to be made by us both at the same time. Do love synchronicity!!! Another being to start a new sketchbook similar to the one I made for the ArtHouse project, although this won’t be limited to monochromatic images. Already started in a lovely little A6 book that my sister gave me for xmas. And this one I’ll keep for reference. Plus some notes made in the Textiles sketchbook that I started seem to indicate that I’ll be making a cloth – probably a small one – as a longer term project.

Zentangled "R"

No photos or scans as yet, but I promise I will take them and add them to the blog later in the week. For now, just two images of ATCs for the continuing Zentangled Alphabet ATC series via SwapBot.

Final Sketchbook 2012 Pages

Yes!!! It’s done and will be in the post to Brooklyn this afternoon. Was spurred on to finish by my friend Jill who finished hers yesterday – thanks for the push, Jill!!! I’m much happier with my 2012 sketchbook than I was with last years efforts – I think the theme helped greatly as I really enjoyed working in pen and including a few photographs. Of course, I’m not entirely satisfied with the final sketchbook but then, is any artist ever fully happy with their work? Anyway, here are the final pages:

Pages 34 and 35 - a photo of my home plus a drawing of an old jumper that was hung on a fence that marks the boundary of some wasteland in Sheffield.

Back page and the inside cover. Basically a little about me - I covered the book with bought printed fabric to fit the monochromatic theme.

4 Sketchbook Pages

Pages 30 and 31

Four more pages have now been finished in my ArtHouse Co-op Sketchbook 2012. Leaving just 2 more to do!

Although I missed my personal deadline of the end of December, I’m still on track to complete and post by the ArtHouse deadline of the end of January. Really pleased. I feel much happier with this book than I did with the one I completed for 2011. Perhaps I needed the first one to give me the experience! Anyway, am now considering how to finish the book. I may even add a touch of fabric or textile art although I suspect there will be one more photo inserted – an easy and quick way, I know, to fill a page but then, this is my sketchbook, lol!!!

Pages 32 and 33 - a zentangle and a drawing of my winter decorations - first bought for the xmas season some years ago, they now seem to stay put for most of the winter, lol!!!

Stepping into 2012….

First, here’s wishing you all a very happy, prosperous and creative New Year. With my thanks for following my blog and for all your ‘likes’ and comments, all of them always appreciated.

Last night I was sent an email by WordPress with my stats for 2011. I’d share it with you but every time I try to read it through, Firefox crashes, lol. What I do know is that my little blog is more popular than it was at this time last year, and for that I thank you too.

Over the past week or so I’ve been procrastinating over my WORD for 2012. I had thought of perhaps continuing with STRUCTURE, the word I adopted back in July, having failed miserably to establish a rapport with my January 2011 word Balance let alone be inspired by it. Structure worked well. I’ve laid down some guidelines, structured my creative activities, including learning (and yes, I’m still ‘studying’ from my personal library as well as continuing with my Morning Pages) and am creating within a flexible yet thought out daily schedule, health and the Muse permitting.

But, the WORD has done its job. I can continue along the path now that my structure has been laid down. And so, time to choose a new one.

However, deciding on that new WORD has been fraught with mental wrestling, lol. Eventually I decided, via my Morning Pages, that the problem lies in my wanting too much from one word. There is no one word that adequately conveys the path that I now wish to follow. Briefly I wondered about having two words for 2012 but decided against that. If I want to, I can always choose a new one in June (according to the rules laid down by Christine Kane that is perfectly acceptable).

And so, after much careful deliberation, my new word is CONSIDER. (See Wiktionary for one definition). For me, that definition contains part of what I want to do over the coming months: to think about my creativity seriously and perhaps most importantly, to look attentively at the work that I’m producing as well as to consider and study the processes and techniques involved. My favourite definition however is here, with this line in particular jumping out at me:

“To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on.”

There are other connotations to CONSIDER and I’ll be mind-mapping them in my journal later today. Giving greater consideration to other people and events included: sometimes I feel that I become so wrapped up in my own little world that I ignore what else is going on around me.

Today I’m also hoping to put up the ‘mood board’ that I bought yesterday. Blank at the moment, I’m hoping to fill it gradually and use it for considered inspiration over the days and weeks and months ahead. See you all again soon, and thanks once more for your support.