half time update

slow, quiet note no.79

This week, spent mostly at home, has brought a welcome change of pace.

stitching outside the lines

There’s also been a fair bit of telly. The World Cup has provided me with a daily opportunity for sofa-stitching and there’s an occasional match at Wimbledon to keep an ear on. I wouldn’t like to be quizzed on any of the scores or details but I have managed to fill another cardboard box with Suffolk Puffs (future purpose as yet undecided) and have dissected half a dozen vintage table cloths for use in workshops and other projects.

It won’t surprise you to know that I’m slightly more excited about Series 12 of the Sewing Bee starting here a week on Tuesday. I can’t remember when I last made a garment of any description but I’ve watched every series, love the format and am a big fan of Sophie Willan (and Esme, AND Patrick of course).

This time last year I wrote about the excitement of unexpectedly winning our local landscape artist of the year competition (itself a tv-inspired event). It was a great way to spend a morning (despite the drizzle) and I was very pleased that my fabric collage took first prize.

I probably should have stretched and framed it after the event but, instead it has been propped up on a shelf in my workroom since, waiting for a little more stitching. I’d like to work a little more definition into the structure of the abbey and some softness into the sky, perhaps add a few layers into the topiary.

I also gave myself a six-month performance review in the same post, having just got back from a summer holiday:

I often read posts and articles pontificating the benefits and wonders of regular self-reflection and I am sure that this kind of activity would be more effective if done more frequently but I still shudder from the memory of such things from various part-time jobs and twice a year (for me, for now) is quite sufficient.

Here we go:

• am very pleased to say that I haven’t missed a Sunday posting for eighteen whole months and next week’s post will be my eightieth, yep, eight zero, MY EIGHTIETH!

• as of yesterday 1,500 people have been interested enough to subscribe and receive a weekly email from me. A quick google reveals that (counting the 1,000 or so followers I’ve also seemed to gather along the way) I could book the Royal Festival Hall for a chat and stitchalong IF you all promised to turn up

• my teaching/workshop commitments have been gradually gaining momentum and I’m looking forward to exploring more online possibilities over the next few months

• I’ve exhibited as a member of our town textile group and enjoyed running an associated workshop/gallery tour

• I’ve currently got a piece in a show that is touring around the UK alongside a 70-plus strong group of textile artists (if you head over to instagram there’s more about it there)

• plans are in motion for this year’s art-trail including a potential weekend residency

This time last year I was very pleased with myself for having managed to establish a daily stitching and writing practice. A year on and I think I can say I’ve been able to sustain that daily creative practice - if I haven’t stitched, I’ve written something and if I haven’t got round to writing, I’ve made a collage or done a couple of sketches.

I would say, though, that most of the pieces I’ve made over the last year have been in preparation for or alongside my workshop commitments. This has worked well to date as I’ve been able to shape the workshops I offer around my own interests. The preparation and planning of workshops definitely feeds my own creativity more than I ever expected it to. The more I teach, the more ideas I have.

What I need to do now, though is pull out some of those ideas, edit and select two, maybe three to focus on. I think that just as I encourage others to think about what they want to work on and what they want to do next, I need to take some of that advice and do the same. Fortunately, with the summer months bringing a natural lull to workshop bookings, it’s a good time to shift focus and work on some new ideas.

I leave you this week with a glorious view of Wiltshire countryside, snapped from the backseat of the car on my way back from a daytrip with friends to Potfest in Shaftesbury yesterday.

These well-attended ceramic-focused events happen every year around the UK, bolstered by the popularity of the Great British Throwdown, another long-running TV series. They are a glorious celebration of creativity and craftsmanship and a great place to see a wide range of contemporary ceramicists and potters.

Yesterday was my second visit and I saw more connections and parallels between working with clay and working with textiles particularly in relation to choices around form, glazing and surface design.

There were over 90 exhibiting artists and makers on Friday but it was tricky to take photographs with so many visitors (both of the two and four legged variety) bustling about. Instead I’ve come home with the programme, a stack of business cards and a notebook full of scribbles to refer back to.

I can’t see myself throwing pots or sculpting with clay but looking at all the different techniques and styles did prompt a long list of materials and processes that could be combined with fabric and thread. If nothing else, it was really inspiring to take a day trip into another creative field (literally) and to look at making from a different perspective.

Thank you, as ever, for taking the time to read this week’s slow, quiet note.

These slow Sunday posts are free to read but a coffee is always appreciated and taking a little time to like, share or re-stack my posts is a great way to help me (and you) connect with other readers, writers, artists and makers.

Have a great week.

Janice x