Recording design, preserving embroidered samples, displaying stitched works....books. Be it a ledger, a sketchbook, a cloth book or a story book I appear to be consumed with all things book lately. The image today ....... the first page of a new cloth book, a finished cloth book, my ledger where I am recording design ideas in 'Ledgers, a record of stitch', work in progress for a new paper based artist book, artist books from my 'precious things cabinet' and a new notebook I have treated myself to in order to 'Stitch a Story' in my new class.
I've been thinking a lot about my work recently, where it's going (or not). Am I too flighty? Flitting from one thing to another without any connecting dots? I'm balancing those thoughts where I doubt myself with the teaching apsect of my creative life. Very often, as a teacher, you need to flit from one thing to another to cover all the bases for your students. I get that, I accept that and I am more than happy to continue in that way as my classes, my groups bring me so much joy but outside of that where do I want to be creatively?
Once upon a time it was all about white and wrapping cloths and historical reference. As time has moved on so have I. Colour and pattern are featuring more in my work and although it may not always be obvious to you the historical elements are ever present. Every single stitch I make is worked for both my Nanna's. I think about them every second I have a needle in my hand, that will never change, they are my link to my history, to my memory.
I guess what I am trying to ask myself is where is my consistency? my fingerprint in all this? Truth is I haven't figured that out yet. Self doubt is common when you work in isolation. All I can do is keep doing what I love whilst trying to focus.
Going back to my first utterings on here I think my love for working in book form is obvious. That will be my starting point, the first decision on my list of 'where I am going'. I'm never likely to become a master bookbinder and nor do I want to. I'm an 'embellisher', a 'titivator' so for now I will embellish and titivate book forms, that will be my new direction.