Around the World Blog Hop

I've been tagged by Anne @ Play Crafts to join in the Around the World Blog Hop. If this is your first time seeing an Around the World whistle stop, the idea is that you answer a few questions about your creative work and processes, then you pass the baton on to a few people. There's no end to the hopping. If you've got a bit of time, you can follow the chain back to the beginning, working from Anne's Around the World stop.

What am I working on?  
We live in a one bedroom apartment that could easily become cluttered. While it is tempting to make new quilts all the time, the reality is that we don't need them. With that in mind, I've been focussing on smaller projects since our move to Melbourne - cushions, potholders and welcome mats. Theoretically, I'm working on patterns for my online shop. The reality is that I'm moving slowly with that process as I lost a bit of momentum.

This weekend, I've had my head in the clouds. You could almost say that I've been on Cloud9. I'm working on a free tutorial for you for a soon-to-be released fabric collection. I'm really happy with how it's coming together. In fact, I'm nearly finished, but I need to wait until closer to launch date to hit the "post" button. I feel bad for being a bit cryptic, but the good news is that you'll get a free squeal-worthy tutorial by the end of next week.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
The other day, my husband and I were at a pub discussing our dog personas. I likened him to a golden retriever or a lab - loyal, playful, liked by everyone and always hungry.

He looked me squarely in the eye and said, "You are one of those little furry dogs that can jump four feet in the air. You know...  an attacking fluff ball."  I knew even before he answered that I'd be some sort of feisty, yippee tiny dog with a bark much bigger than its bite; but I hadn't expected to be compared to a pomeranian. I suppose it fits though. I make my presence known. I'm loud and not afraid let you know what I think.

My craft and my writing are much the same. Color is the defining factor of work. I often work with secondary and tertiary colors. I like them big and bold with high contrast that screams look at me. I can work soft, but often that's not my choice. I use greys and black in the background to amplify my color choices. I embrace off-kilter, asymmetric designs and things that fall off the edge of the page like an open-ended question. These elements aren't necessarily unique to me, but they are a key feature in my creative style.

I take inspiration from things I see around me, so I'm often influenced by the work of others.  As a graphic designer in a former life doing cocktail menus for a liquor distributor and ad layout for a makeup company, I learned how to work within brand guidelines yet still make projects your own. Some of my best projects have been when I've used patterns from others and put my own spin on it.

My spin on Anna Maria Horner's Feather Bed pattern.

I'm not sure that my style differs from others, but after six years of sewing it has become well-developed.

Why do I write/create what I do? 
When I was young, I did a lot of kitsch craft with my mom. We went to a ceramics studio once a week where I painted grey kittens and ash-colored seals. Our home was decorated in string art, macrame and counted cross-stitch. It was brown and orange with layers of wood through out. 

Those few short sentences above are exactly why I write and why I make. When I started answering this question, my first thoughts took me on an unexpected walk down memory lane. Suddenly my old home was rich in my mind and words began painting a picture. I felt filled with warmth and wrapped with love. 

I had to stop myself to refocus on the question at hand and suddenly the answer was clear. I write and I make things because the creative process stirs me. It triggers an emotional response - and not always a pleasant one.  When I'm making things, I feel six years old and safe again. When I write, I recall the past and marry it to the now. When I put my projects and words out there for others to see, I feel both brave and vulnerable. I write and I create because the process makes me feel.

How does my writing/creating process work?
I'm not sure that my creative process neatly breaks down into little steps. I'm also not sure if the materials lead the project or if the projects lead the materials.  Many years ago, I sold fabric and used to 'shop' in my stash. I had far too many prints and choices which left me overwhelmed. These days my stash is smaller and I enjoy it just as much. Consequently, I may spend hours in a fabric store and come home with very little.

What I do bring home though, I love and continue to love in the months and years that follow. I pull out my fabric and my yarn - making piles, taking photographs and waiting for inspiration to hit.

Photography isn't just a step in my creative process or a byproduct of the work. I enjoy photographing materials as much, perhaps more so, than sewing them. Unfortunately, the frequency which I share these photographs has slowed down. I'm kicking myself about that now. A friend once told me she thought it was crass when bloggers post what they buy. I hope by now though readers realize my photos aren't about what I have; they are about what I love.

I'm not sure that I can compartmentalize the rest of the my creative process enough to say much more. In short: I make things I like inspired by things I know, then I write about it.

Hop along
To keep the Around the World hop rolling, I'm tagging both Carmel @ Solomon Sewing and Stacey @ StaceyInStitches.  I write and create best in solitude, but you need goto friends to bounce ideas off of - a sounding board for creativity and more importantly a sounding board for life. Through Facebook, I've found this with both of them. I suspect they'll have very different answers than I do which is what makes this hop fascinating.

happy crafting, make good stuff  --amy badskirt