Show and Tell (1/30/16)

Here's a bit of what I've been up to this week, from a creative standpoint. A creative week-in-review.

I finished carving another lino, and got around to trying out some of my new inks for printing. I am printing on fabric, and this week for the first time I printed two different layers. I'm really happy with it, and find myself popping into my creative space just to visit it again, and occasionally pet it.

'Folk Flowers' Block printed on Fabric

The hexagon pattern is a silicon trivet that I picked up at Dollar General on clearance, because I thought that the texture would be interesting. I am trying to print my own 'low volume' fabric, but at this moment I'm not sure what I will sew it up into. These could make fun charms though, if I trimmed them down. I have been running with this 'Folk Flower' theme that popped to mind several weeks ago, and it's been a fun place for me to explore this new Craft. or Art.

Into the world of what my mind considers art, I've been putting effort into amping up my drawing skills. Which are seriously lacking. I've signed up for Creative Bug this month, and I've been doing some of the daily drawing challenges. I have a long way to go until I am satisfied, but I have enjoyed the time with pencil to paper.

I would not want to sit in any of these chairs. 

I gave up on leaf towards the end

I am easily frustrated with my drawings, and often give up on objects, which you can see in both these pictures. But I haven't given up overall, which is a victory for me, even if my improvements aren't apparent by leaps and bounds in my drawings themselves. I am extending myself a bit of grace, as modeled by my Heavenly Father. It's very freeing. 

In the sewing arena, I've branched out with some a Block of the Month, the Sugar Block Club. It's free, and it's a chance for me to learn some new skills on a smaller, manageable scale. I'm pretty happy with my block, I've focused on metallic, geometric fabrics, and a solid color that I will switch every month. I may end up with a rainbow quilt. Yay. :) I sewed my first flying geese units, and it was exciting for me. They aren't perfect (just like my block isn't perfect), but the experience and outcome were both great by my standards.

My First Flying Geese! 

My January Sugar Block Club BOM, Loving the Purple!

Also I've ventured this week into paper craft of sorts. Coffee Filter Flowers. I'm making them, not for personal joy necessarily, but for an upcoming event. I was indecisive, but after consulting my social media friends I ended up going with the 'imitation roses' over the 'generic flower'.  I felt unsure of myself, like I was on unstable ground, since it's not a craft I would have pursued for personal enjoyment (although is it enjoyable and satisfying) and it's for a specific outcome (display at an event), not so much just for play. Still it's a creative endeavor, that branched me out into new skills. I dyed my coffee filter with food coloring, and used a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. I think I like how they turned out.

'Generic Flower' and 'Imitation Roses' made with coffee filters

'Imitation Roses' in process

So, I've been up to a lot this week, creatively (and otherwise as the mother of two small boys). I'm glad I've started up this blog outlet to share my creating journey with others!

CRAFT vs ART

Lately I have started to sense a shift in my ideas about the purpose of creating.

This post by Abby Glassenberg really brought to the surface some internal conflict with some of my creative endeavors. I personally feel a very derisive division between craft and art (as I often think of it: CRAFT vs. ART). I want to be clear, I don't sense this angst or tension displayed in Abby's post. She does a great job of sharing her feelings with passion and kindness, without pitting the two concepts against each other. My own personal crazy is what has been putting the conflict between them (for years, and years, and years).

I love to make things that ultimately have a hands on purpose. So, this is why my love of crafting has blossomed though out my life.

But. But...

I also love to make things that are beautiful or provoke something within me. There is certainly room for that in the world of craft, but lately I've been wrestling with the idea of if it is acceptable to make things purely for the sake of being beautiful. I have put the idea of function over form for a long time, to the point that I have subconsciously decided that if something doesn't have a hands on function, ultimately it is somewhat worthless.

So, I have been trying to remember lately that the joy experienced when seeing something beautiful is a very worthwhile function of something. I would never look at an artist's masterpiece and think, "what a waste of time, this isn't doing anything!" No, instead, when I had the privilege of seeing the Sistine Chapel I was delighted beyond measure! Granted there are other factors at play, the talent of the artist, the personal draw to particular styles, hype from other outside sources, etc. Obviously, not everything created with the simple intention of being beautiful (or provoking other emotions besides joy), is as well crafted as the Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel created by Michelangelo, Rome

I want to start giving myself freedom to make things for the sake of giving me joy or being lovely. I love making "useful" things, and will continue to do so, but I have decided that I have permission to make things that are for the sake of being beautiful, or expressing something. Even if they don't accomplish any hands on task, they are still useful, if they bring me delight.

I'm trying to actively remember and practice the idea that something that engages someone (whether or not it keeps them warm or gives them something to put their keys in) has an important purpose.

I'm trying to throw out my long time idea that there is a CRAFT vs ART war going on, and that I have to pick a side and stick with it. I can instead pursue whatever creative path my heart and mind have landed on, and it's perfectly reasonable.

NOT an artist

There are certain titles, that make me scoff a bit.
When self applied, even more so.

Artist is one of them. When someone tells me they are an artist, in my mind I have to reign in my personal crazy that focuses on the pretension of such an idea. Imagine a person in a beret, paintbrush in hand, twirling their pencil thin handlebar mustache. These are the types of people I think of when someone pronounces themselves an artist.

Also, in my mind, artist's can draw. Like real life things, not just geometric shapes, not embellished stick people. They can draw beautiful, accurate portraits, and landscapes. They don't trace, they don't copy.

I cannot draw. I do not have a beret, or handlebar mustache (thankfully). I am NOT an artist.

But. But...

I have this deep heart longing to create things, and it takes me to unexpected places when I let it. I love to sew, I love patchwork, I love exploring new ideas, trying to see what can be made, to play. I love to touch and feel and learn. I need to soak in beauty to stay sane. This is part of how God made me, in His image.

Another work, that has made me scoff, is the idea of a Studio. I've used the phrases, sewing room, craft room, sewing space, but the idea of calling my creating space a Studio makes me cringe.

But. But...

Lately, I have branched out into odd places with my creative endeavors. I'm cutting lino (wait, what?) and doing a bit of block printing. I just received a screen printing kit in the mail, and am giddy with the idea of using it. I've been trying to draw, first inspired by a book of flower motifs, and then continuing on just for the enjoyment of pencil on paper (then on lino). My ideas of what I want to try aren't being limited by seams and hot glue.

Lino Cutting of what I am choosing to call a "Folk Flower" 

So, I am moving my sewing space in my house (again), and I find myself thinking of it as my Studio, not my craft room. What is going on?

I don't know where this came from all of a sudden, but I just keep remembering that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17 NIV) So I think God just handed me a gift, and I'm just starting to open it more and more.

Coffee Filter flower that I dyed with food coloring, for an upcoming event

With all of this new, and old creativity that is bubbling up inside, comes another longing: to share all of this. With family, with friends, with anyone. I've been posting on Facebook and Instagram, but I want to talk about it more! I've heard that blogs are dying, but here I am. So, we will see what the future holds.