What will the new Year bring....

Happy New Year

hopefully still in time to say that....

though when it ceases to be 'of the moment' I've no idea.

Well I made a decision over the Xmas break, thought about it for a few days to make sure it was right.

Decided not to go ahead with an exhibition opportunity.  I give such options a LOT of thought, as in a huge amount, possibly more than is necessary.  I then give them as much thought when I decide No.

This time it was telling me what to do.... realistically if you have a deadline, months in advance and little has been done towards it, that has to say something.  When you've ruled out being lazy, just not doing, excuses for dithering there has to be other reasons, and I guess the truthful and simplest is....actually I'm not very excited about it.

My initial ideas, the deadline, the challenge, none of it has the buzz. 

Then I looked closer at the schedule.  I'm a firm believer in doing as asked, but this time I found I can't comply with the additional commitments needed to put on an exhibition. 

Every aspect would be a struggle.  It comes down to my 'word of the year' a struggle simply isn't FUN.

Exhibiting isn't always about the status or any financial reward (oops told a joke there) - but the journey to the end item should be more joyful than heavy task.  So if I am to take on board I need more Fun in my life, then well.....

I have another project which I'm also not attempting.  This one is the opposite, does excite, does challenge, would love to give it a try, but the reality of time between notice of the project and the deadline its just not manageable.  So, equally sensible but different reasoning, means another No.

So settle back with the knowns for the year and out of the blue another opportunity comes along.  Details still to be known before I can think that one through and assess it properly. My process of over thinking to consider it, begins!  However, its nice to be thought of.... as in really nice to be thought of.

I have news to share though.....very hot off the press, sizzling.  More info to follow, but look out for more work from The Material Girls at Rainham Hall in February.

In the meantime him indoors has had success with a photo he took, standing outside our patio door at around 5am. We have two cats which wake up at silly o'clock, and have now got their master very well trained!  His fault, he will get up and give them biscuits as a pre breakfast snack.

I'm guessing he will get far more success than me - given that I've found four local photographic exhibition opportunities in the past month!  Plus FREE, yes free, workshops.

Here's to 2016!

Wow I am amazed, here we are Old Year's Night, as us Norfolk born people call it.

Or New Year's Eve.

We all review, assess, and perhaps set challenges of all sorts for the new year ahead. I've heard and read a lot recently on having a 'word for the year'.  Something which speaks, has meaning, and can inform and apply to many areas of your life.  My immediate reaction is.... 'oh dear, what rubbish'.  However it seems a word to guide is more successful than any Resolution.

So I thought on such a word.  Create is obvious, so many ideas not being realised.  It also applies to things like, making a nice garden, learning a new skill.  However, I think I've found a better word to live by.

FUN

For all sorts of reasons life seems to have become too grown up, sensible, practical.  Could do with a large helping of silliness, remembering how to dance whilst in charge of the vacuum.  Make art in fun bright clashing colours, just because I can.

I've challenged myself with my art this year.  Not a deliberate, prior plan, but found myself stretching ideas and techniques used.  Must not let those live in isolation.  New experiences too, such as the Book Fair, which had been in my thought process for a very long time before turning into reality.

As always my arty life is spent in the company of others, from my friends and colleagues in The Material Girls and Embroiderers' Guild, to individuals who share the interest and love of creating with a needle, with paper, and paints, whose company is shared and invaluable in all sorts of ways.  I would like to thank those who also share their art on social media, blogs, websites, Facebook, Pinterest.  You likely don't know me, our paths have never crossed, but much pleasure is gained from your generosity.

So here's to 2016

may your notebooks overflow with ideas, your needle be busy

and above all else, may the journey

be filled with FUN.

Bandit and Spike

The obligatory cat photos which increase readership

more than anything deep and meaningful!

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas 2015

Looks like no White Christmas on the way, not even a touch of frost, so you can have some white doodle stitch trees.

Best wishes to everyone

Beverley

Tis the Season....

for little bits and pieces, catching up and contemplating.

Well let's go back to the Book Fair.  A couple of things I don't believe I shared.

I made these brooches from book pages - Jane Austen - and sold a couple of them.  Wasn't sure of the what and how etc being my first Book Fair, so didn't go overboard with making.

Also at the Book Fair, I was doodle stitching into book pages, trying to make myself look interesting, and also needed something which didn't need a lot of concentration with people around, something to pick up when it was quiet.

I'd grabbed a chapter from a small book to take with me and a couple of skeins of thread.

Stitching in black.

Completed half of it and decided to do reverse of that already but in white thread.

Actually turned out several people asked about it, and I've had feedback that one lady was inspired to stitch in her own journal notebook.  So good idea to do.

Oh and in case doing any of this kind of work in a book has you screaming..... it did me when I first thought about it.  However, on discovery that charity shop books get passed down the line to other charities, and if not sold eventually they get dumped, plus at one shop I had to fight to buy an old book, as staff deemed it too brown and aged to possibly go out for sale. Learning that, made up my mind. The book gets a new life, repurposed, the charity shop gets some money, and I get to play, 

Here's some more play.

Wooden heart decorated with book page, teeny bit of my stitching on paper,

stencils, paint and a flower.

My friend, Pen, gave me a whole bag of wooden hearts, its about cm in depth.  So decided it was about time to reinvent and give back to her.  So I turned one into this.  I've got a couple more prepped with paper, so will see what they turn into.

Finally our last Embroiderers' Guild meeting of the year, this past Saturday.  Really enjoyable, lovely chatting with people, usual cheating and fun with the quiz.  And we had a quick make.

Really good idea made out of Christmas fabrics, they look very effective as we were shown samples on cards, wall panels, napkin holders, place settings etc.

So there we are - Christmas a week away, and so far I've consumed two mini mince pies and that's it! With all the prep sorted, cards done, presents delivered, parcels posted, I have a whole week to get on with makes needed for Exhibitions in 2016.