Make My Week #10 – Sewn Picture
This year I want to create pictures for a story I have written.
So I started with this one, which is probably the easiest
I’m quite pleased with it
I hope I manage to do the other pages too. This one is just fabric, free motion stitching, a feather and buttons.
Make My Week #45 – Learning to Have a Go
This week’s make my week is a bit different for me.
I’ve spent a lot of my life saying ‘I’m no good at art’. But I’ve been thinking – yes some of our creative expression and inclinations come naturally but even then our ability needs training, practice, time.
So I’ve bought a journal with blank pages. I have my sister’s water-colour pencils and I’m starting with some art. My kind of art: words and snippets of this and that. But art nonetheless.
This is what I made. The words are mine, the picture is mine and I am going to use my journal to play around making things that are sometimes pretty and sometimes disappointing….. because I figure ultimately if I want to learn a bit I need to try. And a blank page is an indication that I’m too scared to try – and I’d rather not be (unless you want me to eat weird stuff or climb to high heights!)
The words are about my spiritual journey – in case you thought I was really going out of my mind!
What creative endeavour have you vetoed out of your life because ‘you’re no good at that’?
Out of my Comfort Zone
52/100 complete
Let’s start by saying I’d like to be good at art. I have 2 sisters with very artistic tendencies but for me my stick figures have always been lacking a little something.
This meant Challenge 7 - was always going to be something of a challenge.
I love art. I love looking at art and dreaming about art I could create. No I am not a perfectionist – although I guess you picked that up already – my art and my visions just don’t seem to line up.
So today I have produced this as my picture of my vision for my family.
My Little Vision
Let me explain it if it seems a little ‘abstract’. The way I see life we are all like little blades of grass growing upwards towards the light and warmth. Sometimes we are blown by the wind or rained on or even mowed. But for me and for my family I’d like to think that in the midst of all that grass we will still allow ourselves to be unique (4 green shoots), we will produce life (flowers and sprigs of colour), we will grow to our potential (tall in character) and we will turn our faces to the ‘son’. We won’t try to be something else, a tree for instance, we will just be uniquely ourselves and hopefully we will encourage the grass around us to take on colour and to grow and blossom in its own way.
So this is my little simple picture. The rows of grass are supposed to start and stop haphazardly because sometimes life does that too. Seasons change and we change too. The taller shoots protect the smaller ones from the sides and perhaps they whisper encouragement when the wind blows.
Working Together
48/100 complete
Today I completed 2 challenges in 1! Challenge 70 required I make a piece of wall art and Challenge 57 that I find an idea on-line and try one for myself. Since I’ve started blogging I’ve also started reading blogs and there are many creative people doing amazing things. I saw a similar idea to what I have done on the Red Gingham blog and felt very covetous.
There is a lot of action in my house, a lot of talking (and not all me) and a lot of imagination but not a lot of art so when Master 4 penned this ‘Octopus in the Shower’ it was love at first sight.
Trace It
Today I traced (using the good old-fashioned stick it on the window method) the octopus onto black calico using a pencil. Then I asked Master 4 to choose colours from my embroidery thread box and stitched the picture in these.
Check For Accuracy
Result!
Checking the Finishing
It is now hanging in the kitchen to inspire me and make me smile.
In Situ
Master 4 thinks it will end up in his room – I plan to win! I love it. I thought the circles around the long leg were the shower but these are apparently his sore knee. Master 4 has decided he is the octopus in the shower!
Day 76
Make, Give, Contribute, Challenge. 1 year, 100 creative challenges. 20/100 complete.
I feel I am inching back on the challenges again! Today we completed Challenge 8. I can’t believe I haven’t done this earlier. The canvas has been here but I hadn’t thought to use the test pots in the garage. We had a great time doing this and Master 3 was especially enthusiastic. He kept saying ‘thanks for doing this painting mum’. Bless him. He is already planning another one.
Master 1 - Masterpiece
Master 3 - Close Up
I have also made the chutney that will be given away so another challenge nearly done and another recipe closer to the end of the recipe book challenge.
Darling husband has arrived home needing a ‘gift from the boys at work’ for a colleague (male) who is about to get married. Being boys it is more about a gesture – preferably silly – than something proper. We have settled on a Peg Pinny (an apron to wear the pegs in while you hang out the washing) and an apron. With a message that says ‘How to keep your lady satisfied’. A man who does the dishes and hangs out the washing can’t go wrong!! So once I have made the peg pinny I will also be able to cross off the make something you haven’t made before to give away challenge.
After that it is work on the charity quilt that is most needed.
