After working on something small, detailed and intense I like to give my focus and brain a vacation. One of my favorite ways to do that is something I call recreational patchwork. I started a Fortuny patchwork piece today. I have lots of very small swatches and some longish strips – drapery scraps. It is good daydreamy work. It requires just the right amount of my attention for letting ideas percolate. It’s a peaceful, gentle state.
I work quickly – making strips and then sewing them together – log-cabin-ish I guess. Nothing is planned – I just grab pieces randomly. Nothing is measured, corners aren’t square and seams are less than straight. I bounce between the machine and the ironing board. I love the energy of it, I love the result and it’s such fun to do – to not think or plan and see what turns up – embrace the happenstance, appreciate the happy accidents.
Get the song bird sewing pattern.
It was a welcome shift after working on a trio of 18th century songbirds for one million years. Songbirds are focused and detailed. I want something particular from each of them and I can’t stop until I get it. The prize at the end is I get to photograph them – and that is such fun.
P.S. Checkout the free bird leg tutorial here.
Do you have a special day for the mischievous cats?
Do you know when you’ll be placing g some more artworks for several please? I’m what thing and waiting as I would love to buy one or two. They are so very appealing thank you Pippa (in the UK)
Watching and waiting even (spell check Grrr)!
Love your colorful songbirds – they are apparently listening for worms! Love the postures of the three together!
The beaks on the birds look like whittled bone… tho probably not. Precisely beaks.. Takes a sort of genius to turn these little scraps and worn out stuff into such lovely artful creatures and objects. Always a joy to get a new post.
I love your designs. Happily I have several purchased and of course your free ones.
Just finished your fly pattern…5 of them flying from my ceiling fan!