Actually, my work space is empty. You see I have been on a creative retreat this weekend and my bags are still packed....
I had a glorious time with an amazing group of women. There is nothing like crafting from morning til night, or if I am honest, the early hours. I found my mojo two weeks ago on my last retreat. Yes, two retreats in two weeks, how lucky am I?!
This time I was inspired by a Christmas advent that I'd seen in the latest Craft Stamper magazine. It used Tim Holtz 'Artful Dwellings' die, but I decided I didn't want to buy this as the houses looked simple shapes. So I cut card templates and made my own. 50 of them in 4 different shapes.
Meanwhile a friend posted on Facebook, asking if anyone had the die that she could use. I offered her my templates but she managed to buy a die before the weekend, so that made two of us making this calendar. I turned up full of motivation. I have too much Christmas paper so using it up on this project pleased me. I spent Friday evening cutting out paper to decorate the houses. And I did it again all Saturday morning. And afternoon. What had seemed a simple project turned into something much more complicated. Though perhaps that was just me over thinking things because trying to balance patterns, colours, size and shapes was much more time consuming than I ever imagined. I was not going to bed before I had finished because I could not face getting up and working on it again! The row of 25 houses were attached with tape and backed with another house shape to give strength and neaten the back. Meanwhile, my friend with the die cut out her houses and papers in a short time. She used just a small selection of co-ordinating papers and the same for the numbers. Hers took a fraction of the time it took me and I learnt several good lessons:
a. Using up old papers is a good idea in theory
b. Using different sets of numbers and materials is also good in theory
c. Cutting out my own templates is cheaper than buying a die
d. Cutting out my own templates takes considerably more time than using a die
e. When you plan a project it is worth thinking about the time involved to prepare materials rather than assume using up your stash is a good idea
f. You can save much time by using co-ordinating or complimenting papers and embellishments
g. Time has a cost. Enjoyment can give way to frustration!
The day after I got home my friend let me know that Sizzix had the Artful Dwellings die at a great discounted price. Guess what? I BOUGHT THE DIE!!! I also bought 9 others. Next week these might be on my workspace. Do pop back and see!
I hope your own creations have been less frustrating than mine, but I'm pleased to say I like the Advent Calendar now it is finished and on display. What's more, it's a perfect fit. At least I got that right!
This post is part of Julia's weekly sharing of 'What's On Your Work Desk?' To see what others have been up to why not pop over and see.
Lately it has been difficult to find time to create. I always know when this is lacking in my life, I feel off balance, not quite complete. And so it was with huge relief and excitement that I packed my bags and set off for a weekend retreat. I met these ladies for the first time earlier this year and had one of the best weekends ever! I have never been made so welcome or laughed so much.
This time I also took my friend Pauline. Now, this is no grand affair. We sleep in a village hall on lilos, and create/crop in the other half. Like grown-ups on a Brownie camp! And do you know what? I was so comfortable and relaxed in the company that I shared that on Saturday I did not get dressed! No - I had a pj day! I never do this at home unless I am unwell but I have had a lot of pressure lately and having a r-e-a-l-l-y chilled day was just what I needed.
Sometimes it is good to listen to the body and do what feels right, this felt really liberating and rebellious and it fed my inner child!
Some of you will know that I am working through The Artists Way book written by Julia Cameron. Well one of the things I most enjoy and embrace is 'morning pages'. Much like journaling this is time for me to empty my mind and create space for other ideas and thoughts. Hopefully useful ones. And this weekend my writing blew me away by what it unearthed. Earlier this year I started a new Art Journal following an online course 'Passport to Art' run by Bernice. Well, I started the journal on the last retreat but I could not connect with some of the prompt quotes. I made several attempts to fill more pages when I got home but I was not excited or inspired. But I wanted to work on this so I took my journal and during my 'morning pages' I had a realisation. I needed to make the journal more personal.
AND I WAS AWAY!!
I made up my own quotes or journal related themes and completed lots of pages. I wondered why I hadn't done this before but I guess when we are overloaded the obvious can be overlooked. I am grateful to Bernice for the inspiration because I LOVE metaphors and things to do with travel and journey. I LOVE art journaling and getting messy with ink and paint. I LOVE being experimental and doing things just for sheer fun. And now I LOVE my Atlas-journal! Here are a couple of my early pages. I will make a video one day and show more. Other pages are shown on the link above.
Now this page irritates me. The spacing is wrong and I want to redo it. But I am learning to live with imperfection and I challenge myself to let go and walk away. To acept that sometimes it is 'good enough'. So it is almost fitting that this page came together in this way. My cabin is too full for me to use right now. Another reason my creativity is stifled. There is no room for play! I find it hard to throw things that might have another use, you see. I love upcycling, making things from old. And it was interesting that the words on this page just flowed, there was no practice run or pre-contemplation. With the recent loss of a dear friend and other things going on, this page is very much where I am right now. I did have a good day in the cabin and I can find the floor and table top again. There is still much to be done but this weekend I am off on another retreat. I am super excited! I'll share more about this another time, and what I made this first weekend because day 2 of my 'morning pages' was also liberating and productive.
So glad that my mojo is back!
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