Unable to scratch

20 October 2014

Eek!!

I seem to have lost my Mojo!

Okay, so I am trying to do a drawing a day (well almost) and while that is satisfing up to a point I don't have any new work on the go. As a result, I have a bit of an itch but I'm struggling to scratch it! Does that make any sense at all?

Perhaps it's because things just feel a little bit disjointed all round. There have been changes in the day job, good changes but still changes, and I think, if I am honest, I feel as if I am treading water at the moment waiting for the next direction to present itself. Since I don't share much about the day job here, because the purpose of this blog wasn't to share the trials and tribulations of the day job but to share a creative life outside of it, that probably doesn't make much sense either. But having written it down, I do feel a bit better and a bit clearer on why the blockage may exist.

But just because my Mojo has disappeared it doesn't mean I'm doing nothing.

In no particular order my activities over last weekend were as follows:-

1.  Quilts delivered - another liaison in a carpark, this time the car park at the Redditch needle Museum. You may remember that I was involved with the 'Dislocation' Contemporary Quilt stand at Festival of Quilts. Since then I have been storing the 44 quilts in a neat stack under one of the tables in my studio. I have also been dispatching and collecting various quilts as they went on separate little journeys. I am pleased to say that the waifs and strays made it back in time to be reassembled in the stack and delivered to Amanda Wright Who is taking them to the court exhibition in Holland.  

2.  Dog walked! Also dog's claws trimmed, which might not seem like much but said dog hates having his toenails cut.  And we found these beauties on our walk, growing on a local allotment. The last hurrah of summer!



3.  More paper beads made. I seem to be quite addicted to the idea of paper beads and if I find scraps of paper that look promising rather than throw them away I am spending a happy hour rolling cylinder beads. I am beginning to assemble quite a collection where are they all tend to be the same shape. One thing I now want to sort out is how to finish them. Some people seem to use UTEE while others dip in a varnish. Any ideas? 






4.  Print blocks made. If you doubt, make a print block! The first I used inspiration from my sketchbook from Spain, the town walls at Avila. The second was just a random shape.





5.   Mono printing using the new wall print block and other print blocks from my collection (I call them blocks, but really they are foam shapes mounted on cardboard).  I used a piece of plastic and acrylic paint mixed with a retarder. I rolled the paints and retarder onto the plastic with the brayer, lifted paint off the surface of the blocks, and then printed onto tissue paper, pulling two prints for each image. I think I now have some potential materials to work with. Perhaps that will get my Mojo back!





Okay, so having written it out it doesn't look so bad! 


11 comments

  1. Looks like your Mojo is pretty busy, just in a different direction. It's a bit like thinking latterally. I'm glad the work change was positive and I'm sure your creativity will soon be buzzing again.

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  2. Love the beads – have you tried acrylic wax? Nightmare trimming the dog’s nails, I know – it’s a 3-man job for us – one to cut, one to hold the Boy tightly, off the floor at about chest height, arms wrapped around all four legs, and one to feed in Parmesan crust after each snip..there must be an easier way!

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    Replies
    1. Acrylic wax? No I haven't, but I've got some. Dip or brush?

      And what is it with whippets and their nails! Daughter No 1s dog, shepherd type, never needs his nails trimmed!

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  3. I know the feeling of losing the creative mojo, but it sounds like you're keeping busy in the studio anyway. Love the beads and print blocks.

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    Replies
    1. If in doubt, do something!! Put the radio on and just do something. Seems to work and at least when you write it all down it feels like you've moved forward.

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  4. Paper beads! You've reminded me that I've always meant to try this, and ones from fabric strips too. And goodness - you just whip out a couple of new stamps while I sit pondering what design to develop for one. Lo mojo or not, you're still moving along. ;-) And believe it or not, yes you are making sense here, even though we may not know all of the backstory.

    Just loved that surprise pop of pink - thanks for sharing that flower.

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    Replies
    1. I just love making stamps. I have quite a collection now. And one or two are getting a bit past it ( they can clog with acrylic paint) so some replacements are needed.

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  5. I haven't visited your blog for some while - life has been hectic! Just realised what I've missed. I love those almost-beads and the print blocks. Also, I think you took part in the Around the World Blog Hop as I've just done today. I will seek out your post which I somehow missed.

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    1. I did!! I did!! Sheila in Idaho invited me to attend, and in turn Iz in Uckfield posted a blog. It was rather fun though I was a bit disappointed that I found it tricky to get others to join in. Perhaps they thought it was a bit too onerous.

      Anyway, you've been away haven't you? I have been following your adventures in France. It looked wonderful and relaxing.

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  6. Seems to me plenty of signs of mojo here! Lots of lovely work. What's that saying 'more than the sum of it's parts' I can see lots of sums, particularly like the printing.

    I think I've used acrylic wax on beads - brush, you don't need much.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Emma, Iv'e got some acrylic wax so I can give it a go. There also seems to be something called Crystal Glaze (keep reading about it) but I have no idea where you can get it.

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