20.8.10

Inspiration vs. Focus








I named this blog Threads of Inspiration and now I'm wondering if I should have left off the -s in Threads. It seems I have had a lot of inspiration lately and now I'm needing some focus. I thought I would show you some of the works in progress that are staring at me in my studio. I'm hoping that making them public will get a few of them completed.

The turquoise and white fabric is a skirt I am making to wear to a picnic next Thursday...this one has a deadline so I'm guessing the waistband and hem will get finished by then. The green fabric is a doll body and I am stitching a separate embroidery (not shown) as a decorative element for the bottom. I could stuff the body while I am waiting for the embroidery, but hey, I should just work on the embroidery.


This little box with wooden balls in it is the beginnings of another doll. I thought I would use this as the torso and attach legs, arms and head to the sides of the box. It is screaming for some vintage colors...I picked up a few color samples at the paint store but they were a little too garish, so I need to do a little research for this.


This embroidery is one I began at the beginning of the summer and I clearly haven't gotten very far on it, but I love the image and I think it will be beautiful when it is finished. I'm debating about what elements to do in stumpwork (a bunch of techniques that give the work a three dimensional aspect). I think the birds in the tree and some leaves in the tree will work well with these techniques. I also plan to put some foliage in the grassy area that is already embroidered, so basically what you see completed will most likely be covered with other elements. That's my plan anyway.

Lastly, is this doll which is mostly completed. The wild heap of illusion you see at her feet is really a tutu that I have to put on her, but I don't want to do that until I figure out what kind of hair or headpiece she will have. So, now you see why I must end this post and get to the studio!!!!

8 comments:

Bea said...

Well, I'm glad you let us peek over your shoulder and see what you are working on. Now, I'll tip-toe out of the studio and let you get back to work. :)Bea

Yvonne said...

All very interesting and sometimes you have to step away from it for awhile to ragain your focus. Sometimes when I'm explaining my problem, whatever that may be at the time, to someone else, then all of a sudden, it becomes clear to me what the answer is. Sometimes it even comes to me at some unexpected moment...so remember balance....play, work etc. and you will get your focus back for these beautiful projects. I can't wait to see them finished. The box with the round wooden balls really interests me.

Yvonne said...

Me again.....:)
Also, I think moments like your "apples" are telling us something. Don't you!

Threads of Inspiration said...

I definitely think the "apple" moments are about something! Abundance, maybe...not worrying about what you need or want, it will show up in unexpected ways...

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Actually, you have less works in progress than I have. But at least yours are better organized than mine. Or maybe I should say they are more sewing oriented than mine.

Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog today. How sweet of you!

Dianne said...

thanks for stopping by my blog...I appreciate every comment! Really enjoyed seeing your fantastic art dolls & embroidery...and wonderful story about the apples! wishing you & your family all the best...

Connie said...

Hi,
I met you at Quilting Adventures when you lived in Va. Your embrodiery really impressed me. And I loved the way you just found things to incorporate into your work. It sounds like you're a little stumped. So just pick up the needle and take a stitch. One will lead to another. All your projects look really cool. I'm looking forward to seeing them all completed.

Perpetual Chocoholic said...

I enjoyed looking at what your working on! I'm having the opposite problem of not having any inspiration at all.