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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-02-2005, 09:12 AM (1 of 4)
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We all need motivation and inspiration to start a quilt. Here are some good ideas from a lady who lives right here in Nova Scotia. Her name is Valerie Hearder, she travels and teaches quilting all over the world. These are her tips. Creative Block Busters Tips to get creative juices flowing. Creative thinking may simply be the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing things the way they have always been done. Rudolf Flesch - Educator Make quickies, tiny collage compositions, to loosen up your creative response before settling into a big project. This is a potent way to jump start ideas. Allow yourself down time, to day dream, stare at your fabric - ideas need incubation time. Solitude. Often a luxury, but an essential ingredient for being creative. It may mean a small adjustments to your routine or you may have to fight like hell to get it - either way you have to have it. Enter a competition or arrange a solo exhibition. Nothing like a deadline to motivate creative production and stretch creative vision. Explore new materials. Creativity is a child of challenge - keep courting the unknown and move out of the safety zone. Physical exercise is vital - it balances mind and body and keeps one grounded and clear headed. Don't take on a challenge that you really dislike in the hopes that it will be good for you - it may breed resentment and that's not good for creative juice. Don't worry about success or failure - just do the work because it needs to be expressed wether it's a great piece or not. It becomes a vital stepping stone to more interesting work. Self improvement, stress management and inner work is all part of letting go of blocks to the creative flow. This is an ongoing process. Experiment with different block buster techniques and find ones that work for you - for example: meditation or 5 minutes of relaxation and deep breathing does wonders to clear the mind and get you focused on creative work. http://valeriehearder.com She also has a quarterly newsletter you can sign up for. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Magot
Date: 09-03-2005, 01:41 PM (2 of 4)
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Actually Mary, I find that the challenges you run on here are a source of breaking out of the mould for me. The Christmas stocking challenge, for example, was an eye opener. I made my portrait of Mary and her child by sticking crescent shaped pieces of material onto calico to make a collage and free motion sewing over the top of the fabric to give it depth and texture. It really turned into a piece of textile art and I was so proud of how it turned out. I would never have tried it though without the spur on from the site. Similarly the "make something with lace" competition encouraged me to have a go at pattern drafting and embellishment - again something that I have not tried before. I am hoping to try a new way of quilting in the mini quilt competition so even if I don't get it finished I will be glad to have be challenged to try something new. So thanks. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-03-2005, 03:20 PM (3 of 4)
Ditto on those thoughts from me, also, Miss Mary... I do miss the brainstorming I did for new ideas when I still worked for a living, I must admit.. I have been getting more active with the different groups at my church, and as I get to know them better, I feel more free to risk brainstorming with them.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: MaryW
Date: 09-04-2005, 10:14 AM (4 of 4)
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That's nice to hear girls. I'm glad you are starting to find your own style.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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