Procrastinating or is it thinking time?

I found the start of this blog post in my Facebook memories!  I wrote it in 2010

My name is Bernice and I am not a naturally tidy person. There I've said it. That said there comes a time when I haven't put things away and I end up with just enough room to put a 12"x12" piece of paper on a table designed to seat 8 people!!! So I determined to tidy up the space which could be called a craft room or a studio but was built to be a dining room. I have a kitchen as well but that's only because it came with the rest of the house. 

I started yesterday. I had read an article about how to overcome procrastination and the author said two interesting points in amongst several good points. One: break the task down into smaller parts and two: say what you are going to do out loud. So flies on the wall have heard me say: "I am going to put all the papers away", "I am going to sort out this cupboard", "I am going to find the dining room table" etc. Actually I'm hoping there weren't any flies, although I did find some cobwebs. Perhaps the spiders ate the flies. (Cue for a song here!)

Back in the real world of 2025, nothing much has changed.  I still manage to procrastinate particularly regarding decluttering my house.

However I have a lovely friend who loves sorting stuff out.  Which is just as well as I'm the sort of person who starts clearing and then really wishes I hadn't and loses interest.  My friend however keeps me going.

This is just one cupboard in the study.  Fortunately my husband put in a new shelf for me.

 

 

Which was immediately filled with bags containing sketchbooks and works in progress.

 

 

We then cleared the top shelf and the floor and now it looks like this.

At the same time we have been sorting out all the materials that were part of the church studio.  We had 8 iKea tray units to clear and have successfully done that.  However there are a lot of boxes  waiting to be taken to various people and places.

I hope you find a friend who can help you sort and declutter.

Thanks for being here today
Bernice

Time to talk again

Today, Thursday 6th February is Time to Talk day.  This is a day particularly set aside to think about mental health.

This is what the Time to Talk website says: Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. It’s a day for friends, families, communities and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives. Time to Talk Day is taking place 6 February 2025 and is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Co-op and delivered by See Me with SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), Inspire and Time to Change Wales. We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health.

I have written about mental health at different times: in 2018, in 2019, in 2020 and in 2024.  There are probably other posts but that will do for now.

 
Recently I have been researching Kintsugi. In particular, I'm interested in the philosophy that by repairing something broken with the gold, it can make the piece more beautiful than it was originally.  I think this feeds into my textile work on Identity.

Whatever you may think of AI, I have found it particularly useful for doing research.  I've been using Claude.ai and in about 18 minutes I can get around 18 months of research.  Amazing.  So I asked Claude about the human need to be seen, recognised and valued.  This is part and parcel of our identity and the lack of 'being seen' can often be a root of depression.

I got all sorts of information about psychological and social aspects and then I asked Claude about being seen through creative expression.  So much was found, but I'll just share this bit:

The Paradox of Creative Expression:

- Many artists create from a private, even lonely space, yet their work serves to connect them with others

- The act of creating can be healing in itself, even before sharing with an audience

- Some find it easier to be "seen" through their art than in direct personal interactions

- Creative work can serve as both a shield and a window - protecting while revealing

Impact on the creator:

- Developing a unique creative voice helps strengthen sense of identity

- The process of creation often leads to deeper self-understanding

- Receiving recognition for creative work validates both the art and the artist's experience

- Creating alongside others (in workshops, classes, collaborations) provides community and mutual recognition

The Risk and Reward:

Sharing creative work requires courage - it's an act of trust to put one's inner world on display. But this vulnerability often resonates deeply with others who recognize pieces of themselves in the work, creating meaningful connections and the profound experience of being truly seen.

Then I asked about Textile Art and Textile Artists in particular.  I was given so much to read through - too much to share here.  Try asking Claude yourself.

However it convinced me that creative expression can be a source of healing particularly for mental health issues.

I will continue to investigate identity and find ways of expressing this through my textiles and mixed media pieces.

Watch this space!

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Captivity Collage

I love the online courses that Fibre Arts Take Two produce with a variety of different tutors.  They are well worth the money.

Especially if you actually get on and do them!!!!  At the beginning of the year I had one new one unstarted, two part way through - so unfinished, and one that I thought I had finished but it seems not.  Although upon further investigation it turned out that 10 new videos have been added.

The new course was The Art of Abstract Collage: Mastering Composition.  Bearing in mind that my word for the year is [focus], I applied myself to the course.  I focussed on watching all the videos and did some but not all of the suggested activities.

The bonus module was about using your own memories in a collage.  As regular readers know I have been working for the last several months on the theme of Captivity, Freedom and Identity.  So this seemed a good theme for a set of collages.

I prepped four 20cm square canvases and printed black and white photographs from Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney; Port Arthur, Tasmania and Fremantle Prison onto Rice Paper.  These are all convict sites we have visited in Australia over the years.

Using my stash of painted papers I worked on all four canvases at the same time.  I am really pleased with the results.  I am hoping they will part of the 'Expressions' Exhibition at the Redditch Needle Museum - Forge Mill - from 19th March to 27th April.

Now to focus on one of the other FATT courses either Visual Narratives with Sally Tyrie or Embrace the Journey with Wen Redmond.  Choices! Choices!

Whichever I choose, I probably need to go back to the beginning and rewatch the videos.

Thanks for being here today
Bernice