Friday, November 13, 2015

Retreat!!! Off the Wall Friday



Don't you love it when you have a good idea?  Yeah. . . me too!!!   

My latest idea came to me while I was brainstorming on how to shove myself out of a creative slump.  Well, creative slump is really a misnomer.  It was actually a productivity slump.  sighhhh, yes, its true . . . I got lazy and I had the hardest time jump starting myself  back to my productive self!  





My idea?  I rented my friend's studio for a long weekend and gave myself a mini sewing retreat!  I schlepped all my stuff over there and sewed 10 hours a day.  Now I know what you're thinking . . . doesn't she have her own studio?

 Well yes, but it does come complete with all the familiar distractions.  At Sandy's studio, it only had distractions designed for her; for me, there was only pure sewing.

And boy did I sew.  I wanted to get the next idea in series started.  Now the series is on curves, but after I designed this one, I think I'm going to have to rename the series since this one is very linear.  But still you can see its part of the series.  I started the retreat with designing it - thinking that I would make big pieces and gradate the colors.  What I ended up doing was playing with color and value again since - well - I love playing with color and value.


You wouldn't know it from me getting only a quarter done - but there is a ton of piecing in this.  I really like where its going.

So What have been up to creatively?

10 comments:

Jenny K. Lyon said...

What a great idea! I've thought about driving an hour away and taking all my stuff with me but I just haven't done it yet. Glad you did it!

The Inside Stori said...


Good to have you back!!!!

Laura McGrath said...

I've also had trouble focusing lately, too many projects in the works and none are calling me to finish them.

Lynda said...

Great idea and love what you are doing! I've been distracted with workers here putting in heating and air in my dye studio! Getting everything ready for my local class this weekend. Feeling inspired and hoping to get lots done next week.

Julierose said...

Is your "linear Idea" on paper or cloth? what a fabulous original piece you'll have...love it Hugs, Julierose

Julie Bagamary said...

Fabulous idea! Looking good!

Shannon said...

Glad you pushed through the unproductiveness! I've fallen into that lately- after a period when I was legitimately too busy to get anything done in my studio, I now have some time but am having a hard time just getting to it! thanks for the motivation!

Unknown said...

Glad to see you back. Missed seeing what you and everyone else was doing.

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

I think a mini quilt retreat is a FABULOUS idea! The distractions at home are overwhelming sometimes and getting away for hours of sewing would be so productive. Great idea. :)

Kathi said...

I understand the productivity slump.
It's all about the process for me but all I've been doing is processing for months!