I'M STRUGGLING WITH MY ART THESE DAYS

Over the past few months, I started several blog posts, but none seemed to stick. I also worked on a few art pieces, yet most didn't feel right, somehow. Well, one did, yet I've been unable to re-capture how I felt when I made it. 

It feels like I'm in a transition period. And I think I have been in transition for several months. 

When we hit a creative slump or feel disconnected from our artistic practice, it's often a sign that something is shifting. We may be preparing to evolve in our work, even if we're not consciously aware or ready for it. We need to find patience to wait for it to be revealed. It won't be budged, but must unfold at its own speed. That was certainly true during a significant slump I experienced about 7 or 8 years ago. 

"Humble", a mixed media piece I feel may be the direction I need to be going in

In the meantime, it's so important to continue creating, to just play and explore. Sitting with whatever feelings come up, and following what feels right in the moment. Then stopping when it no longer feels right. It's not about finishing pieces right now (although sometimes we have deadlines), rather it's a time of experimenting, of letting things percolate. 

Looking back over the last 5 or 6 months, I've been busy with creative activities, even if I haven't produced a lot of finished work. I've started a few pieces and finished just a few. I've attended inspiring exhibitions, like the Woven Histories textile exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada, a friend's first solo show, which was impressive and thoughtfully focused on her theme, and the Kingston Fibre Artist's annual show with my BFF. I joined the Ottawa Gatineau Printmakers Connection and have just put a third print into one of their shows. Through it all I've continued to develop and teach my workshops and am sensing those techniques may be part of what's to come next.

Interestingly, I notice I haven't been taking as many photos lately. Perhaps I have gathered enough reference material for now. 

I've also noticed that a technique I started using 5 or 6 years ago and that once felt deeply aligned with my artistic voice, doesn't quite seem to fit anymore. I'm not sure I'm ready to give it up. Perhaps I'm needing to combine this whatever new direction is emerging.

There’s a lot of uncertainty, but I’m leaning into it. Summer is here, and it feels like a good time to slow down, to play, and to let new discoveries find me

I teach my students about the importance of exploration and creative play, and experiencing these slower phases myself helps me better understand what they will be feeling as they strive to find their own artistic voices.

As I look back at my best art pieces and sense where I may be headed, a few things are becoming clearer:

• My strongest pieces tend to be monochrome with high contrast.

• My mixed media work feels like my truest expression.

• Wabi-Sabi has long been a core influence—am I still holding onto that, or is it evolving?

• Zen-like and Contemporary Classical music supports my creative process.

• Themes of memory and the past, especially through textiles, keep surfacing.

• Moving forward, I want to focus on choosing one strong focal element per piece. The background matters too—whether it’s canvas, wood, tin ceiling tile, or something else—it needs to resonate with both subject and theme.

So for now, I’m giving myself permission to be in this in-between place. To follow curiosity, stay present, and trust that clarity will arrive in its own time.

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Guest Post: Getting Past the Hump in a Creative Practice

KINTSUGI, A METAPHOR FOR LIFE

Are you familiar with Kintsugi, the Japanese art of “golden joinery”? This ancient practice involves repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer, highlighting the mend instead of trying to hide it, and turning it into something beautiful.

Each piece of Kintsugi is unique. When an object is broken, it doesn't mean it's the end, rather it is a new beginning. It can be healed and becomes stronger even as it remains imperfect. This philosophy teaches us that change, though often difficult, is an opportunity for growth. We highlight the crack lines, not concealing them. They become a part of the object and its history.

Kintsugi is a metaphor for our own lives, reminding us that nothing is permanent or perfect. Our struggles ultimately help make us stronger and more resilient, adding to our depth and beauty. Our best qualities are shaped by our experiences.

As the saying goes, "The only constant is change". Yet we have a hard time dealing with change. We grieve when life takes an unexpected turn, longing for things to return to the way they were. But that is not possible - rather a new normal must emerge. It takes time and patience, and a willingness to embrace the broken parts, and put them back together in a new way.

The last two years of my life have been defined by change. A long-term relationship ended—amicably, but still a significant shift. I sold my home and relocated across the city. My teaching career expanded, bringing new opportunities but also new uncertainties. One of the most daunting experiences was stepping into a short-term teaching position at a local university. Though I had taught one-day workshops before, this was an ongoing six-week course, and my nerves were heightened by the fact that I had never attended university myself. The course was part of a Lifelong Learning Program, meaning my students were mostly over 50 and grades weren’t involved. Still, the experience was unfamiliar and slightly intimidating. But through it all, I adapted, learned, and grew. 

Gelli print on fabric

My creative activities have been front and centre, helping me navigate the changes I have been experiencing these last two years. The philosophy of Kintsugi has also become the basis for the workshops I give - letting go of the need for perfection, embracing uncertainty and change - through my gelli printing workshops, Artsy Mending and others. 

Now in my 60s, I see many women facing significant life changes. Menopause, children leaving or returning home, retirement, a spouse retiring, downsizing, health issues are all common themes. We may also experience the loss of parents and good friends, confronting our own mortality along the way. 

Just as Kintsugi is an art for repair, creative activities help us navigate change and stress. Whether it’s painting, cooking, gardening, decorating, sewing, photography, journaling, or even mending—every act of creation is an act of healing. Creativity allows us to process emotions, find calm, and embrace transformation. 

A "Kintsugi-style" fix for an old plate - I used gelli prints and fabric to make this fibre art piece.

 See related post below about art I made from a broken saucer....

Like Kintsugi, creative activities encourage us to:

• release repressed emotions
• find peace and calm in the process
• find acceptance to move past the pre-damaged state
• problem-solve
• embrace change
• honour and be kind to ourselves
• select a different path
• embrace our cracks, imperfections, wounds, scars, grief, struggles, fears
• become stronger
• seek simplicity
• rebuild into something whole again

  

And of course there are a few additional benefits to participating in creative activities, encouraging us to:

• slow down and stop rushing through our lives
• live in the moment, helping to find balance
• slow down our breath, breathing deeper into the diaphragm
• may experience meditation benefits - slipping into a flow state where we forget our worries and stresses

Perfection is not the goal. What matters is embracing our imperfections and finding beauty in the process. Our cracks do not diminish our worth, but define our uniqueness. Life, like art, is about transformation. By embracing change, we become stronger, more resilient, and whole. 

To see my upcoming workshops, visit https://www.needleartsonpaper.com/

Related posts:

A broken saucer ... repurposed ...

Artistic - or Visible - Mending

A CREATIVE TAKE ON RIPPED JEANS

Last fall, I had the pleasure of teaching an Artsy Mending six-week workshop as part of Carleton University’s Lifelong Learning Program. My students—15 incredible women, all over the age of 50—came together to learn the art of visible mending.

What struck me most was how many of them brought in a pair of ripped jeans to repair, whether their own or a loved one’s. While none wanted to hide the rips completely, their goal was clear: cover exposed skin (or underwear!), stop the rip from growing, and create an artistic, personal touch. This meant colourful fabric patches, embroidery, and tapping into their creativity. I was truly impressed by their ingenuity, especially considering that most had little to no prior stitching experience.

This sparked fascinating discussions about ripped jeans as a fashion statement.

From Necessity to Fashion Trend

Many of these women had lived through the 1960s, a time of self-expression and rebellion. However, they were not embracing today's fashion of ripped jeans. Faded, yes, but not ripped. 

Historically, ripped jeans were a sign of hard work and low wages. Before the 1970s, people who wore ripped jeans did so out of necessity. Farmers, miners, and factory workers often wore their denim until it was threadbare. Torn jeans were not a fashion statement; they were simply worn out.

The trend began to shift in the 1970s with the punk rock movement, where intentional rips symbolized non-conforming and rebellion. By the 1980s, high-end designers started incorporating distressed denim into their collections, making it a mainstream fashion trend.

Why are ripped jeans still popular today, especially among younger generations?

During a visit with my BFF to a thrift shop this week we came upon some ripped jean shorts. Here are a couple of photos of what we saw. And I did end up buying one pair just so I could mend them as a sample for my upcoming Artsy Mending class this spring.

Some reasons include:

• They add an edgy look to an outfit.
• They can be dressed up or down.
• Allowing one to express their individuality and self-expression.
• They have a nostalgic appeal.
• A worn-in look is trendy, and comfortable.
• The rise of sustainable fashion encourages keeping clothing for longer, reducing waste, and embracing visible mending. This is especially of interest to younger generations.

The Rise of Visible Mending

With growing awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion, there’s a movement toward repairing rather than discarding clothing. Libraries and book stores have a number of books available on visible mending. And Levi Strauss Canada, for example, actively promotes keeping jeans for as long as possible by adding patches, repurposing them into bags or wraps, and donating them them to thrift shops instead of throwing them away.

While some may not embrace the ripped jeans trend, there’s no denying the creativity behind mending and repurposing them. My students took this challenge to heart, creating wonderful, one-of-a-kind repairs that celebrated both their personal style and sustainability.

Below are some of the beautiful mends on jeans my students were creating during the workshop. You'll note one opted to keep the white strands, one just the frays around the rip, and the other covered completely. In fact, I think one may have been just to add interest to the jeans, and not to cover a tear. 

Have you tried visible mending? I’d love to hear your thoughts or see your creative repairs!

Related post:

Artistic - or Visible - Mending

ARTIST RESIDENCY - THE ENSO CIRCLE

I've just finished a 12 week artist residency with a group called The Enso Circle. This unique program, led by two talented artists in Texas, brought together eight artists—five from the U.S. and three from Canada. Each week we met on Zoom to discuss our goals, progress, and explore topics like photographing our work, writing artist statements, pricing and more. An online platform allowed us to share work, post photos, ask for feedback, share resources and thoughts and, most importantly, support each other throughout the 3 month journey. 

From the start, the residency challenged us to think deeply about our vision. As part of the application process, I outlined what I hoped to accomplish during the 3 months. Once accepted, we refined these goals, focusing not only on our art and recording our ideas and thoughts through sketchbooks and notebooks, but also on self-care to sustain our creative momentum.

I began in earnest to meet my goals, determined to stick to my plan, producing a piece I called Reflections (pictured below), using my usual sew and slash technique, and another I called Grounding. By week 3, however, I realized I should slow down a bit and not just produce work, but also experiment more. I think I was starting to sense I needed to venture a bit out of my comfort zone. 

Reflections - the first piece I created during the residency, and based on a photo of the movement of the reflections of the water in a river near me

, 

One long-standing goal I had that was not originally part of my vision for this residency, was to explore making vessels. I had made a few in the past, but hadn’t dedicated much time to studying their structures. During the residency, I allowed myself to side-track and create a couple of vessels, a detour that proved meaningful, and aligned with my overall theme.

One of my new vessels.
During its creation, I sought and receive wonderful input and insights
from The Enso Circle community

Goals, many of us discovered, often evolve. Paying attention to what captivates us in the moment can be just as important as following a set plan. Inspired by this realization, I created two pieces—one a large-scale work, fulfilling a desire to a tackle bigger project, and another using Tyvek, a material I’d worked with in the past but hadn’t fully explored. Both fit seamlessly within my theme.

Layers of fabric and heat-distressed organza and Tyvek,
based on the reflections of water in a river

Letting Go, my large scale piece, with 5 layers of linens and laces. 

Throughout this residency, I was also teaching gelli printing on paper. My own direction for this medium took a new turn with much experimentation on fabric, then enhancing with stitching and other embellishments Although not part of my plan these too contributed to my residency goals.

A gelli print on fabric, with stitching added

Midway through the residency, I returned to my signature sew-and-slash technique, creating a series of 7”x7” monochromatic samples which could potentially become part of a larger piece. I pushed myself to take these to the next level, venturing beyond my comfort zone while staying true to my artistic voice.

While I did not follow the exact map I had originally created, I have realized that was okay. The Enso Circle encourages us to adapt and experiment, listening to our voice, and elevate our work in ways we would not have otherwise pursued. The constant support and inspiration in this group kept each of us motivated and open to new possibilities. 

This experience has been a gift, challenging me to stop playing it safe and pursue more meaningful goals, and with an energy I had not felt for several months. The residency - and the community we built together - reminded me that the creative process is as much about exploration and growth as it is about achieving set objectives. And for that, I’m immensely grateful.

One wonderful benefit of the residency was the production of a catalogue of some of the work of The Enso Circle residents from this fall, which can be viewed here:   https://www.theensocircle.com/

Enjoy.

ARTISTIC - OR VISIBLE - MENDING

I’m currently leading a 6-week Artsy Mending workshop as part of Carleton University’s Lifelong Learning Program.

Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, this workshop celebrates imperfections by highlighting mends instead of hiding them—turning flaws into features. It's an artful way to give clothing a second life and creatively alter the rips, tears and stains, all while reducing waste and keeping textiles out of landfills.

We're exploring techniques such as embroidery stitches, patches, beading, needle felting, painting, and even using Inktense pencils on fabric. For clothing that is beyond repair, we're purposing usable parts into our mends.  

But this workshop has turned into so much more than just a mending class.

From the very first week, I've seen sharing, chatting, a social side in this little community. They are inspiring each other with their mends, ideas, and resources. We discuss mending styles around the world, the Slow Stitching Movement, textile waste, and how stitching - and creativity in general - benefits our health and wellness.

We meet for 2 hours on Thursday afternoons, and as of today have completed 4 of the 6 weeks.  The bonding has been wonderful. I'm delighted they are interested in continuing this journey beyond the workshop, with plans for regular mending socials after the holidays.

And they have noticed the benefits of slowing down and working with stitch, how it enhances our wellness, leads to reflection, mindfulness, while embracing sustainability.

We meet for two hours every Thursday afternoon, and as of today, we’ve completed four of the six weeks. The bonding among participants has been incredible. I'm thrilled that they’re eager to continue this journey beyond the workshop, with plans for regular mending socials after the holidays.

These gatherings won’t just be about fixing clothing and textiles —they’ll be an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the meditative process of stitching, and nurture friendships, much like a "knit night." Many participants have already noticed how mending enhances their well-being, promotes mindfulness, and fosters a deeper connection to sustainability.

I’m excited to see where this leads—building a broader mending network, hosting more socials, and continuing to celebrate the art of making something beautiful from imperfections.

I'm also offering a 3 evening class in Kanata through the Ottawa School of Art next February. Information and registration information is available here.

Below are photos of some of the wonderful mends and samplers being worked on in our class this week:

A HAPPINESS GARDEN

I stumbled across a “Happiness Garden” while away this past weekend, a garden of rocks many painted with words of positivity. The garden was created by the local Rotary Club, offering an invitation to relax and enjoy. It certainly made my day and brought a smile to my face.

What a wonderful project and so needed these days. Creating such a garden, even just a small one, is a great endeavour for students, seniors, community and other groups, With a minimal amount of work and cost and a healthy dose of creativity, this kind of project connects people, promotes positivity, offers beautification and improved sense of place. Skill building, community enhancement, and healing are other benefits we see through such projects.

I saw many painted rocks around mail boxes during our Covid-19 lockdowns, offering up a daily smile. Thank you to all who take on these initiatives, bringing a bit of happiness to our daily lives.

 

COMMUNITY ART PROJECT

Community arts projects provide opportunities to connect with others, create, learn and play. That was my goal from a project on the weekend, where we made fabric twine to add to an outdoor fibre art installation at the Arbor Gallery in Vankleek Hill, Ontario. 

But mostly it was about enjoying a couple of hours of slowing down, just breathing, feeling the tactile nature of the fabric while working with our hands.  Chatting, making new friends, and enjoying a beautiful September day. 

What are some keys from such projects? Making sure it is accessible to all. Offering alternatives and being flexible. There were no rules for this project - everyone was able to add their own voice to the project, as they decided on colours, style and how to hang on the installation.

All in all, a great success. Thanks to all who participated.

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#communityartsproject hashtag#OntarioCultureDays hashtag#fabrictwine hashtag#fibreart hashtag#artforhealth hashtag#artistherapeutic hashtag#outdoorfibreart hashtag#fibreartinstallation hashtag#artinstallation

RE-WORKING OUR WORK - FEBRUARY 2024

"Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things." Ray Bradbury

I had written an entire blog post for this month, then decided I wasn't happy with it.

How often do we decide we're not happy with our art or writings or whatever, then re-work it. Or maybe just live with it for a while before deciding on a fix. Or worse, realizing the last few steps need to be undone, like when we discover a problem with knitting or sewing and have to unpick dozens of stitches. Ugh!

And yet these are a normal part of the creative process. A writer is not done after doing just a first draft. It can take many edits before the author is satisfied with what they have written. That's what happened with my blog post. I'm not deleting it, but it will need to sit for a while before I decide what needs to be changed or removed or added. I don't know what it will look like or morph into - or if I will end up eventually deleting it. I know I can't force the post to happen. I just have to sit with it for a while longer. 

Which brings me to art we made years ago. You know, those pieces we liked (or not) at the time, but have now outgrown them. They may have been hidden away for a time. Maybe there are some unfinished ones. I don't like to just throw them out. So I've taken to having a good look to see if I can update them or maybe embellish. 

Two years ago I cut an older piece of art into strips and wove them together, adding in other materials and embellishments. I was delighted with the new piece (below) and included it as part of a gallery show by my Fibre 15 group. The original piece was neither a success nor a fail, but rather was created as a possible background for future art. By re-working, we can breath new life and possibilities into our art. 

"Woven Stories" Shown at Art Pontiac's Stone School Gallery in 2022

Another piece I cut up (below) to use as ATCs (artist trading cards). There is enough left to cut several more ATCs for an upcoming swap in July, and to which I will add some stitching and embellishments to complete them. 

Old textile art being cut up for use in artist trading cards

As I sort through lots of older art pieces and as I'm moving in a couple of months, I'm deciding which art and supplies to keep, which to purge, what I will probably never use again, what to give away, and what has potential to re-work into new art.

Until next month,

Anne

Related posts:

Broken Saucer Leads to Creative Discoveries

Artist Trading Cards: Deceptively Creative for Problem Solving Skills

DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE - JANUARY 2024

"...do something every day that you have never done before. This may be as small as having tea instead of coffee in the morning, or going somewhere you have never been".

What Would You Do If There was Nothing You Had To Do, 

Practices to Create Your Life the Way You Want it to Be. 

By Winslow Eliot

I spent the last days of 2023 and the first couple of weeks of 2024 house and cat sitting, something I had never done before. I've looked after oodles of times, but never while staying in someone else's home. My 2 little charges were the most affectionate cats I have ever met, wanting to cuddle and be on my lap (and happy to take over my yoga mat lol).  It was also some me time,  stitching and working on a new piece of fibre art, and some planning for the year. 

I brought a few projects to work on, including one hand-sewing and mounting mushroom-like fabric pieces onto a piece of barnboard, based on the photo here of mushrooms on tree bark. I have lots of lace I wanted to use for the edges of the mushrooms, and old upholstery samples I thought would be suitable for the main part. 

This type of three dimensional effect was not one I had tried before. My challenge was deciding how to mount the fabric mushrooms onto the wood. I made some with wire mesh between layers, and others without, not being sure how well they would attach to the wood background. After assembling the mushrooms I added a small crease at the back side and glued this crease onto the barnboard, then used a staple gun to further secure the mushrooms. This seemed to work out well. I quickly discovered the larger mushrooms definitely need the wire mesh. And a couple of pieces that I forgot to glue down first didn't stay on the wood very well, so I had to remove the staples and glue down first before stapling again. 

I also added liquid stabilizer to the lacey parts as they needed the added structure. I think this fibre art piece is now done and I am sitting with it for a few more days to decide if it needs more or not. I have a few extra mushrooms on standby just in case.

Mushroom Fibre Art

Detail of the mushroom art

I also have had my homework for the creative arts therapy class I'm taking, preparing the next set of assignments for submission. And stitching is underway on this gelli printed piece - stitching on paper is a favourite technique. I've been adding dark stitches to enhance the feathers, and hope to have this done in time for the class I'm teaching at the Ottawa School of Art Orleans campus on February 15th. 

Gelli Print of feathers - with some stitching added - in progress

Walks in nature were also on my agenda. I had hoped for some snowshoeing time, but with a green Christmas and New Year's, it was not to be (until a major storm yesterday that brought 20+ cm of snow). But we take what is given to us and I instead enjoyed some walks in nature even though it was cold.

Until next month, 

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Awe and Wonder

AWE AND WONDER - DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER -

"Awe can literally stop you in your tracks, and it induces significant physical effects. You might shiver. Your pulse quickens. You might feel a warmth in the chest and tears in your eyes brought on by awe's influence."

From Your Brain on Art, How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Finding the Wow and Awe

For me nature offers up that sense of awe, the "wow" escaping my lips when I spot magical lichens or unusual plants or curious patterns or shadows. Music can have an awe effect on me too - pieces that reach the depth of my emotions, bringing on a shiver or goosebumps as I immerse myself in the rhythm and and sounds. 

With winter almost upon us here, that for me means more time to create. I have a list of art pieces I'd like to make, mostly based on my two trips for an art retreat the last 2 summers where we were immersed in nature. Here are just a few of the scenes of awe I came across and which I'd like to now turn into fibre art.

This last photo was fun to take, as I was using a new macro lens that simply clips onto a smart phone. Who knew one could take such good pictures with a little clip-on lens. My only challenge was choosing which photo turned out best. 

Music and my Creative Arts Therapy Classes

I'm not only enjoying the online class I started last month but am also realizing just how useful the activities are and how much the arts can benefit us in so many ways. This month includes activities using music and experiencing how it can boost our emotions and mood, and enhance creative expression and focus. 

Do you have a playlist you listen to when creating? My playlist when I'm making art typically includes Native American flute music and artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Adele, and Cat Stevens. And through this class I've now tried several other artists and music genres, and yes even silence, experiencing the effects of each on my art-making. I'd love to know what music sparks your creativity - please let me know. 

Using AI for Workshop Descriptions

One of my goals for 2024 is to develop a series of mini workshops on artsy mending and fixes for clothing and textiles that are torn or discoloured, and also to offer more gelli printing workshops. Now I'm not the greatest at putting together descriptive promotions and I never thought I'd give AI a try, but when I saw an opportunity to have it write my workshop descriptions, I decided to give it a whirl. . 

I was pleasantly surprised. It took the words I fed into it and came up with some creative paragraphs. Some fixups were definitely needed but the copy was better than I could have hoped. I've now done a few using AI, and perhaps they will help with my own creative writing skills. 

Image Transfers Workshop Using the Gelli Plate

I taught a workshop earlier this month on image transfers using the gelli plate, experimenting with 4 different methods. It was a small class which I prefer as I can give so much more attention to everyone.

And what a creative group and with good results by all with a bit of practice. I will be running this class again on February 29, 2024, at the Ottawa School of Art Orleans Campus. Registration is available at https://registration.artottawa.ca/course/detail/10786. I'm also offering a general class on the gelli plate on February 15: https://registration.artottawa.ca/course/detail/10785

Here are a few of the images my students achieved. My goal is to ensure they can start to achieve success in my classes and start to find that sense of awe as they see the potential in  these techniques. 

Until next month,

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