"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Saturday 6 January 2018

Taking things slowly ...

A new year, a new start and I am very pleased to be back posting here on my page again.  This year is all about having fun and being happy.  Creating beautiful things and exploring new ways of working and expression.  Being thankful for the smallest of blessings every day, taking things slowly and achieving personal goals.


I have a brand new project that I will be working on with my sister Evelyn.  We chose a collage project for this year.  Fifty weeks of collage prompts from Randel Plowman's Collage Workbook.  Each week we will be exploring composition, colour, new collage techniques and themes, some of which will be out of my comfort zone I'm sure!  But that is a good thing.  I must push myself. 

Please note - I won't be sharing the techniques here just the finished collages and a note about what prompt I am following.  If you wish, you can purchase the book or sign up for Randel Plowman's Online Collage Workshop which starts on 13th January 2018.  Randel Plowman's Online Collage Workshop.


Week 1 - was all about gathering the required materials for collage, spreading out on my desk and pushing pieces around until they speak to me.  I quickly sorted the pieces into piles of type of material, colour or theme ready to use.  Then the challenge was to work quickly, creating five collages in less than five minutes each.

Once I started, I was very surprised to find how nostalgic I felt about the pieces.  Random things came together to create new stories.  A mix of childhood memories and future plans; places I have visited or would like to visit; older and current experiences; vintage and contemporary thoughts.


My collages this week have winter colours or a winter theme.  I used some beautiful images and scraps of paper that my friend "Lawendula" sent me.  Some of you may know her for hosting the paper swap collaborations.  My dear friend FM sends me a winter parcel from Germany and I send her a spring/summer parcel from Cornwall.  It was a joy to use some of these special pieces.


In observation, all of my collages have special meaning here.  The first one "blissfully happy" has a snowy wrapper from some chocolate and ginger mince pies given to me by friend Sue, some of my own artwork on fabric and paper and a vintage tapestry wool wrapper.


The reindeers are special.  They remind me of a small Bambi figurine I bought for my Mum when I was very small.  I used my first pocket money to buy it and she still has it, bless her!


All of my collages are 5 x 5 inches worked on heavy sketchbook paper and professionally pressed.
I think I will build up a bit of a collection of them before finally deciding how best to present them.


Other things this year ... I will finish up the Surface Treatment Workshop but not to any deadline.  I'm already on my third sketchbook with that project.  In 2017, I filled five Seawhites sketchbooks, in all, with textiles, paintings, drawings, collages and samples.

I will slowly get back to my textile work and paintings.  I have many projects on the go and, perhaps, this year will be more about picking up and working on a variety of projects, finishing off eventually but to no timescale or deadline.  I want just to be happy in the moment, in the doing and creating.  I expect there may be some new hearts this year too, as I have new ideas for them and they are calling.

Yes, a slow year, I think.  Slow and productive.  More slow stitching, small projects and whatever takes my fancy!  Sending love x


12 comments:

martha brown said...

I love these collages. I have this book as well.... somewhere. Maybe this will be the year that I actually look through it :)
Happy New Year!
~martha xox

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Happy new year wishes to you Carolyn - and to your family. I was happy to see a post pop up from you because I've been thinking of you often and wondering how you were. Your plans for the year to come sound like they're just right for you. Blessings my friend!

Evelyn said...

Great collages - it's going to be a fun creative project. Here's to being creatively productive this year with no deadlines or pressure - just having fun doing fabulous art....

Erica said...

Wishing a happy and blessed year for you and yours Carolyn. I am loving your collages and looking forward to your posts for this year. I envy your plan for 2018. I would so love to just play with textiles but have to finish a quilt for a grand daughter's 5th birthday in May. I keep procrastinating - not like me, especially as the quilt is 'sort of' my design. I also have to finish knitting a beanie for my oldest grandson. My oldest son and family are off to Canada to live and leave NZ early in February. It will be SOOOO cold when they arrive. I will miss them awfully.
Maybe once past May I shall be able to just create! In the meantime...

Gina said...

They are beautiful Carolyn. I'm hoping to take things more slowly and actually finish things off this year. Although finishing things just seems to stimulate new ideas! Wishing you a happy and peaceful new year x

Christine Harding said...

How nice to see you back again! Sometimes taking things slowly and enjoying the moment and the process of making is all one needs. I like the collages, they look so unified and everything hangs together - when I try anything like this it just looks a mess!

Lynette (NZ) said...

So good to see you back. Happy 2018 - I think SLOW is a lovely way to start. The collages are charming. xo

Lynn Holland said...

Happy new year to you dear Carolyn. It’s amazing how many are taking the same view on 2018.
I hope it’s a gentle and inspiring year for you
Much love
Lynn xxx

Indianna said...

Happy New Year Carolyn. Here's to a creative year. Your collages are very beautiful so looking forward to how they develop through the rest of the year x

daisy said...

Happy New Year Carolyn. Five visually interesting collages. What a great way to start the year. Thank you for sharing them. I am looking forward to following your collage adventure with Evelyn throughout 2018. You are both so talented xx

AppleApricot Wen said...

Hello dear Carolyn, I love how personal these collages are, reading about your treasured memories too. I wish you a wonderful 2018, may it be filled with lots of love, peace, and joy. Hugs xx, Wen of AppleApricot

Anonymous said...

Sweet winter, makes me want it to stay around. Winter is a special time for me, the cold is exhilerating and these images make me smile. xox