Part of my not "doing" is because of the time needed to care of my hubby. His health slowly worsens along with this own attitude about himself and what's happening to him body/mind wise. Keeping care of him can be overwhelming some days, but taking that much needed step into my studio at the back of the house does help me wash away all the pressures of the day/nighttime events. And that's one driving source that's prompting me to really get back into the studio as much as possible.
The other part is that I really want to push myself into doing fiber collage work that says something besides "cute and pretty". I want my work to be seen and commented on for it's substantial content and design and of course, purchased to help supplement my passion for fine fabrics.
So, I cleaned up my studio (I always like to work in a clutter free environment), pulled out what I call my morgue (collection of images, techniques and ideas) that I had collected over many years and started sorting through everything...making stacks of ideas I'd like to try, stacks of images that I'd like to collage together, throwing out the ones that I couldn't figure out why I actually took the time to tear out of a magazine or print off the computer or write down and draw...until I had a reasonable amount of new and fresh ideas to begin my quest. I also cleaned out my "pieces that I created a surface design on but never finished off" box...got rid of some ideas that shouldn't have been started in the first place and kept hold of a small amount to re-start, change and finish.....and now I think I can begin a new phase in my art making.
I know I"ll have to interrupt every once in a while to fulfill commission orders and restock the gallery wall, but those pieces of work are a days of interruption only and I can deal with that concept.
And the biggie, keeping up a blog again....an on-going chat to myself about the ups/down and all around of being "me" and keeping my head above the water line. I come from a long line of strong and determined women and I figure I've got at least another twenty-five good years left in me before my eyes, hands and brain give way to the aging process, so I had better get busy and start this new process. Hang on, it's going to be bumping ride, but worth each bump along the way!!!!
