Hitting a Wall

My studio door has been closed for too long. I think the kids have been in there more often than me. I have had weeks of broken sleep and cannot find the energy for anything creative. I had to break the silence but really I have nothing to offer except more silence.
For now.
Pray for change and motivation.
Deb

Being an Artistic Mother

Being an Artistic Mother is often challenging, especially when you have a Thomas train track making its way into your studio with the three year old not far behind driving his train. Its hard with constant interruptions and turning around to find your baby eating paper from the floor - perhaps proof that love of paper starts early.
You have to learn to make the most of your five minutes and be able to pick up where you were forced to leave off. Some nights I feel like crawling into bed after the kids but always feel better if I can get into my studio.
The other thing is - you are on your own, I don't know any other artistic mothers where I live. So I rely on the online community of mothers trying to balance both loves.
ok see thats what I am talking about - now I have to go and fix a booboo.
Later
Deb

Collage Diversion - Short Terms Goals List

Inspired by Shona Coles Project "Backgrounds and Lists", I took a break from bookbinding and made this collage piece.

I have printed a copyright free empherma piece onto a canvas sheet which I then put back into the printer and overprinted my short terms goals list. I then collaged this piece with stick on lace, buttons and cross-stitching in linen thread up the side. I hand-stitched a casing to thread a chopstick through.

I have also completed a Vision Statement and Long terms Goals List which I will post later.

I love working in my studio first thing in the morning. I get the best light and warm sunshine.

Deb

What Katy Did Next.....

What Katy Did Next - Collage, mixed media book art.

A refillable pages notebook, just for me to write my notes in.

I printed copies of the cover and inside pages of this book to construct my own book case. My label, 'Hand Stitched Books' runs inside and outside the spine.

I have added a peice of lace to the outside cover for further texture.

A childhood favourite was the inspiration for this notebook. I took a slight detour from finishing some other projects to quickly make this up so I would have somewhere meaningful and nice to write my notes in.

I will be using this design to make a photo album. I just have to dream something up. Watch this space.

Robert Browning deconstructed in Stitches

A wonderful old Robert Browning Poetry book was the inspiration for these little miniature books.

I tore pages from the books and wrapped each section in them, I then used the pages for collage work on the books, the titles, spines and inside the covers.

Each book is made up in a different stitch to showcase a few wonderful stitches.

From Left to right:

1. Long stitch with chain stitch

2. Long stitch over tape

3. Coptic binding

4. French stitch over tapes and

5. Case-bound.

Workshop Projects

I think I am guilty of doing more than one thing at a time. Take my studio for instance, in progress and ongoing for quite some time is my beautiful Angel mosaic, I have quite a few bookcovers made up but have not yet finished them and just as importantly I am designing workshops as the mood takes me. Have quite a few in mind and I need to make up a project for each one of them, so I am in the process of collecting materials. Also, I am almost finished a beautiful crochet blanket I made for my baby girl.

It sounds like a lot but its all part of the process of coming together. Just watch me tick the jobs off my to do list.

Back to work, so I can post finished projects.

Deb

ps: this is my first child free studio day, so I am hoping to be productive. I am enjoying the creative process and not being interupted by cries of "mummy". A little guilty YAY from me.

Behind the scenes

I havn't posted for so long because there has a lot been going on behind the scenes. I can promise you, myself and whoevers listening that I will have time to post some photos and some works in progress. My son started kindy, my baby will also go one day a week and I will be Free As A Bird.
I have many long lists to get through. Practical things like ordering materials and then studio work, making books, painting and doing a couple of mixed media projects. I am going to expand on my teaching, adding some different classes/workshops and in different settings.
I wanted to say something about why I love mixed media. It encapasses all of my likes and talents, sewing, book-binding, painting, collage work, poetry, book-art. I just love playing with paper and textures and images and then turning them into art.
Well I must get to that List.
Deb