Welcoming 2012

Judy Shreve, on her Mountain House Studios website asks a number of interesting questions, which I’ve tried to answer:

Journals: I’ve always used spiral bound commercial ones, that have rarely got pictures in them, because it's the words that have needed to get out, with my left brain in control; "you can't paint, draw, sketch, you're useless, etc" Lying flat, and even bendable backwards (to take up less space) is important. The paper hasn't been important up till now. (LB: why waste money on fancy paper when it's just for writing on! - LB also doesn't like me using my fabric stash, because I might mess it up)

This will change, as one of the things I’d wanted to do last year was book binding, after a trip to Paihia and Pompallier House. I now have more info from Judy Shreve, Judy Wise, and a course on ARTists of the Round Table which is free. Making my own will give me added impetus to use them, I hope.

Being Organised/Stressed/Projects: Yep, I need to be organised - or at least know what I have/don't have, so I don't buy anything I don't need. My problem is I don't write down what I want to do, and 'lose track' of it. Or if I do write it down, I don't understand what I was thinking. I don't work well stressed/under pressure any more. I've just had 9 days off, and it took at least 6 of those to wind down enough to start doing 'stuff'. The whole ‘getting older’ thing has messed with my brain, so I have a greater need to take things slower, with less pressure. While Right Brain still wants to do stuff, Left Brain wants to be told How and What to do.

No, I don't think there's a 12-step programme to cure computer addiction. For me, the interwebz is my connection to the world and people I *want* to talk to. My art and gaming friends are scattered round the globe. Hand-writing is NOT my friend - OOS/RSI in both hands. (Caused by computers)

OnLine-Virtual/Actual Classes: Oh, I would so LOVE to be able to go to REAL art classes on subjects I'm interested in. Which would work if I was interested in 'ordinary' stuff, but I'm not. So - Online ROCKS! Land of Lost Luggage classes are great, Judy Wise's classes have been fantastic, Linda Womack's was also good, but not long enough. Signed up to the A.R.T site - waiting for access, so I can look at the bookbinding.

Studio Mess: Definitely in the eyes of the beholder. Can you find stuff? If yes, then not a mess.

Stitching on Paper: Do you find the needle tends to cut the paper, reducing its structural integrity? Do you use a backing support? I would think embroidery, while beautiful, would cause big problems. Have you tried the multicoloured threads - can't think what they're called at the moment - some of them are truly lovely.

I've just drawn up a mind-web-thingy of what I want to achieve this year - and of what I'm already doing/about to do/want to do ... having regular B12 injections will help me have an active, happy mind, which is key to doing anything. Last year I did 2 part-time papers at College, and got an A- for both. This time, I want A's or A+'s. And most especially, I want to make art, and keep my right brain happy!