It's been a while...

Well, yet again, it's been a while since I wrote.

What have I been up to I hear you ask?

Well let me tell you:

In January, I joined The Arts and Crafts Emporium.
A team of Artists, who collectively sell their Artwork, once a month, based on a Theme, creating 'One off' and 'Bespoke' items, which link or are inspired by the theme.  Some Months sell out well, but if the artist does not sell that month, they have usually learned loads, been able to challenge their creative juices, sell elsewhere and have had a lot of fun developing their new piece.

The first Theme I joined in was Fibonacci.  

Now to tell you the truth, this theme scared the living daylights out of me, as maths is not my strong point.  But once I got my head around it, I realised that the spiral was used in dance, and so inspiration kicked in and I created this Ballerina Canvas, using a mix of Free Machine and Hand Embroidery.

Fibonacci is a series of numbers which creates a spiral
1,2,3,5,8 etc

'Four Seasons' Spring

'Four Seasons' Summer

 Next was 'Four Seasons'.
By this time, I was knee high in Commissions, and only had time to create 2 Seasons, Spring and Summer.
These, I thoroughly enjoyed making.

They are still available here:

Michelle Corbin Design

'Under the Waves'

Developing new techniques, was something I was keen to do, with inspiration from ACE, so here I tried a technique I had played with previously, but never really created anything with.  

I decided to take advantage, a Coral Inspired bowl developed.  

With the use of Water Soluble Fabric, this bowl, was created purely by interlocking the threads using a Free Machine Embroidery Technique.  The bowls were very well received I'm happy to report.

A Poem I created to accompany my Mermaid Embroidery

Ace, has been an incredible experience for me.  I have been inspired, developed new techniques, and learned so much from my peers.

It has really encouraged me to develop my work further, and not to be scared of trying something new.

It has also helped me to enhance my Commission Work and be more inventive with my designs, and I hope that it shows in my recent work.

Words Of Wisdom

If you have been tempted to try a new skill, but your self doubt has stopped you, I would like to encourage you to ignore it and GO for it!!!  What have you got to lose?  

It might not work the first time, hell, most things don't, but practising and practising will help it to become great.  Ignore self doubt, ignore those people who don't believe you can do it, and prove them all wrong.  If it is something you want bad enough, you'll do it.  

You CAN do it.  Give it a try, and most of all - ENJOY!

I'm so happy I joined Ace, as it has given me the chance to ignore my self doubt and be a little more adventurous. 

Please join us on Facebook for our next theme 'Rainbows and Butterflies'

Here's a sneak peek of my Work in Progress

Thank you for reading.  If you have any comments, I's love to hear them, perhaps, you have tried something new and would like to share your experience?

Happy Stitching (and painting and drawing and knitting and baking and designing and.......)

Much Love

Michelle

xxx