I've been struggling with finding ways to spend more time playing with my fabrics and a bit of inspiration came from my experience with creating other new habits like exercise. I decided to start with a very manageable goal of spending 15 minutes each day in my studio. Logically that isn't really enough time to accomplish much but the real goal was to train myself to cross the threshold and for the measurable to be about time instead of completing a project. It's creating a new mindset that frees me from having to do anything except be in my space. I started out with my plan this past week and so far, so good; I've spent at least an hour playing with fabrics that I wouldn't have done otherwise.
Here's what I've been working on:
Starting with inspiration from Elizabeth Hartman's new book, I am working on a wallhanging for my office that is based on her Xylophone pattern. I'm still auditioning background fabrics--see the pics below for what I've tried so far. I also am trying a cream background but no photos of that to post right now. Of course, I could use a variety of backgrounds...
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| Kona Ash background fabric |
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| Bottom strip has a beige background |
I want the wallhanging to coordinate loosely with a lap quilt that is on a chair in our livingroom, adjacent to the office. Here are a couple of photos I took of the lap quilt last year when I finished it. It's another Elizabeth Hartman pattern called Mod Mosaic.
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| Mod Mosaic |
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| Close up of Mod Mosaic |
I am also working on a low volume quilt. Last year I participated in a Flickr swap of low volume 10 inch charm squares and I have been adding to that collection for a while. The plan is for this to be our summer quilt. I picked the Strips and Bricks pattern.
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| Strips and Bricks fabrics |
Here's a couple of links to finished quilts that inspired me:
One by Rita at Red Pepper Quilts
And one by Malka Dubrawski
So I am making a commitment to spend at least 15 minutes a day in my studio. Starting small and expecting to continue to grow. I want to say I am 'hoping for success' but that would imply that I am not in charge of the outcome. Instead, I expect to have some days when things don't work out but I intend to keep trying and not to be discouraged by 'failures'.
Wishing you creative inspiration.
allison
