Hello all, I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer despite the high temperatures in so many places. I have been fortunate with the house here on the mountain. Since it is built into the mountain the downstairs maintains a nice cool temperature even on the hottest of days. It’s like built-in air conditioning without the cost! Though I think we pay for it in the winter.
I am steadily working on my new collection but I must admit it has been hard. Though I had high aspirations of working on design ideas when I was on my trip to the US, that was not the case. But I don’t regret this. I enjoyed every minute of my trip and all the people that I was able to visit. Then when I arrived home I was sure I would be right back at it but jet lag reared its ugly head and I wasn’t functioning for a good two weeks if not more. When I finally had a clear head I hit on another problem. My muse had left the building. I could not come up with one good idea so I spent the last month frittering my time away on a bunch of disconnected pieces.
Finally, I feel like I have a theme going and ideas are starting to arrive. Of course, as soon as this happens I have to leave again. A week away in Bretagne to go to our dear friends’ wedding. It’s true that I am looking forward to seeing them and attending the wedding but once again I am off course. I am not sure how to solve this problem. Each time I leave, when I return it seems to take forever to find my place again. I told myself that I would release four collections this year. Right now I think I will be lucky to get three done. I know there is no way to do four. Who knows, there might only be two.
All of this to say…I am sorry for any delay. I am here. I am working daily to make new pieces. This is a whole new way of working for me so I guess it will take time for me to find my groove. Does anyone else have this problem when they go away?
I have been experimenting quite a bit the last few days. The final vestiges of my jetlag seem to be falling by the wayside and I feel my mind opening up and beginning to be creative again. I brought home a treasure trove of fun stuff to play with. New paints, micas, tools and mediums. Much fuel for a creative fire!
I have been tossing a few ideas around for my new collection. I had planned on fleshing it out more when I was on my trip but vacations really are another world aren’t they? I completely just let it all go and so I came home with not many more ideas than I left with. Loss of sleep further deterred me but finally, I am making some headway.
I learned a new technique this vacation from a dear friend. She makes awesome pieces and let me play with her tools. This dotting technique is just lovely in how it works up. It is a bit tricker than I expected and I am having to really work to get it right. I am pretty happy with the last few things I did though. I know I have to get more even and exact with those tiny little pinprick dots but I am working on it,
I also had a try at mixing my own paint! I bought some lovely pearlescent mica pigments and mixed this wonderful pearl white and gold paint myself. Although I am still not happy with my tiny dots I am getting the fluidity down and the dots are smoother. I have to wait for a few things before I can finish this experiment but I am happy with what I have made up so far.
What do you think of this method? Do you like it?
I have been experimenting quite a bit the last few days. The final vestiges of my jetlag seem to be falling by the wayside and I feel my mind opening up and beginning to be creative again. I brought home a treasure trove of fun stuff to play with. New paints, micas, tools and mediums. Much fuel for a creative fire!
I have been tossing a few ideas around for my new collection. I had planned on fleshing it out more when I was on my trip but vacations really are another world aren't they? I completely just let it all go and so I came home with not many more ideas than I left with. Loss of sleep further deterred me but finally, I am making some headway.
I learned a new technique this vacation from a dear friend. She makes awesome pieces and let me play with her tools. This dotting technique is just lovely in how it works up. It is a bit tricker than I expected and I am having to really work to get it right. I am pretty happy with the last few things I did though. I know I have to get more even and exact with those tiny little pinprick dots but I am working on it,
I also had a try at mixing my own paint! I bought some lovely pearlescent mica pigments and mixed this wonderful pearl white and gold paint myself. Although I am still not happy with my tiny dots I am getting the fluidity down and the dots are smoother. I have to wait for a few things before I can finish this experiment but I am happy with what I have made up so far.
What do you think of this method? Do you like it?