Sewing, Challenges and Creativity ....

Something I've sewn

A little patchwork sewing pouch. .... 'It's a bit textiley, Mum'..... which I think is Rosie speak for it's granny-ish old fashioned traditional looking. I'm wondering whether to make a tutorial out of it. It's quite easy to alter it's looks by either using one fabric and binding the edges or do a little bit of strip piecing more Denyse Schmidt style. Ummmmh, I can't decide. A quick tour inside the pouch reveals .... ta da!

(Maybe that's getting a bit too excited!) It has a couple of pockets for small sewing scissors, seam ripper for those reverse engineering moments and enough room for some threads. It also has a small pin cushion for a few pins and needle maybe, just the thing to put inside your bag if you go out sewing with a group or sew with friends.

First there was one and then there were two...

This/these little pincushion(s) is something I'm working on.....he's/they are not quite right yet. I've been trying to make a pyramid shaped pincushion out of a rectangular piece of fabric and at the same time ...... get the triangular piece of patchwork at the front.... I don't know why this is a current obsession but it's been amusing me as a little sewing 'problem', inbetween everything else that goes in life.

This is something I want to do,

You're looking quizzical.... it's a pile of scarves. Some are from around the house but most of them I bought from the Age Concern shop. I want to take part in this challenge which involves using scarves to come up with a bag. There are a few different patterns and textures in the scarves I found and fingers crossed I'll be able to come up with something amazing ( :) ) to meet the challenge.

I came across The Purse project via this blog and Indigo Blue has already entered two bags in this particular challenge. ' The Purse Project' is a treasure trove of links to other bag/purse orientated blogs, tutorials and Flickr sites. So, whether you wish to join in or not there's absolutely loads of stuff to go look at and read.

What I like about this, is that it isn't a competition. There are no winners or losers, it is just what it says it is - it's a challenge and challenges are fun. They require you to do something a little different , to work with something different, to extend yourself beyond your comfort zone perhaps. That has to be good for anyone's creativity doesn't it?

On the subject of creativity, this is something I'm reading ....

It's about a woman ... Twyla Tharp, the author and her insights into 'creativity'. Creativity is something which fascinates me. She asks questions such as, do some people really just have a gift for being creative? Is it in their DNA? So, true creativity can only truly belong to a fortunate few ? Or, is creativity something that can learned and developed by a change in approach, through self-knowledge and understanding. I've not read enough to pass on any real insight yet but it strikes me is that she is an extremely 'self-knowing' individual which seems to give her an enviable amount of self-confidence in her personal 'creativity' skills. Backed up I have to say by her personal successes in her career.

I like this page;

She's a choreographer, so for her it's the terror of the white room, for others of us that equates to the 'white page', the 'blank screen' the uncut fabric.... remember writing those first words on a clean white page in a new book at school ? ... The blank computer screen when you know you need to get a report typed up. It's a fascinting read and if I find the answer to being more creative .... I'll let you know.

I'm trying out the exercises as I go.. so this weeks goal is to cut out multi-tasking... I can only do this in school hours you understand. The children just don't seem to get the idea that preparing tea, helping with homework, finding exercise books is something of a distraction in my new quest for creativity ... but then that's family life... it's real and it's very precious.

Speak again soon...

Comments

[Ruth]

The scarf challenge looks great, look forward to seeing what you make! Best of luck with the creative habbit, havent read the book, but love the 'white room' page too. R

[Lace hearts]

It sounds like you've had lots of snow: we still have lots lying around, but is now raining!
I like your sewing pouch - yes, please, a tute would be good. And I can't wait to see how the scarves turn into a bag. I daren't look at that link, or I'll be on the pooter the rest of the day. LOL

[Vonnie]

I'd be seriously grateful for a tutorial, that's a really cute little case. You should whip some up on etsy!

[Kitty]

Lovely makes there Julia ... I especially like the little pyramid pin cushions. I loved Andrea's 'scarf bags' so look forward to seeing yours. Off to check out those bags/purses now ... wish I could make brilliant bags! x

[JuliaB]

Lovely sewing pouch! and I don't think too 'textily' .. Creativity - is something that is unique to everyone and how they express themselves. For some this might be crafting as we know it, sewing, knitting, making things ... for some it might just be the flair they use when doing their normal jobs, even if it's in an office, or on a construction site - anything. Some forms of creativity are less tangible, some say the creativity of one's soul - or the soul of any living thing, from a person, to an animal, a plant, or rock, pebble or grain of sand, is expressed simply by the way that thing looks. In other words, creativity is everywhere and in everything. Yes in the genes, but also in the spirit. xx

[x vInTaGe VioLeT x]

i like the little sewing pouch but i would prefer something more modern in the fabric design ,saying that though i think it'd look great in a floral liberty print too. i carry my sewing about in an old christmas card box! so i think a tutorial would be great!
my kids are my best critics!

[Andrea]

OOhh that top scarf looks interesting. Cirlces and bold colours! I have come to a bit of a stand still as I have run out of scarves. Qiuck off the the charity shop everyone! I have enjoyed this challenge for the very reasons you have put in your post.