Piecing things together: I’ve had all these bits of artist practice lying around for ages, some for years. Tiny little pieces. Like fragments of ideas of bigger pieces or tiny flickers of art. Passing moments, or floating creative thoughts suspended in time….Squished in piles at the bottom of my sewing trolley.

I had these thoughts in my notes ‘‘You can make several different things, bringing them together in a rainbow of slow stitch like all the little ones I have. I could put them together on a soft piece of blanket or felt, that would be nice… or calico for now….. then something else later.’’ This is exciting.

Onwards I went looking at all the tiny things and placed them down into separate patches. Matching the ‘types’ together.

As you can see there were mini weaves- part of something else thats going on, samples and examples. Trials and different fabrics. Seeing if my ideas in my head work in reality.

Then the fluro squares, cut to try the log cabin effect in the slow stitch book I bought.

Tiny facets of triangles from left over scraps from my chakra bowls. Scraps from scraps. This was part of a bigger piece and I cut them down to size for the patch- stain glass satin pinks and cotton spots, ribbons and tapes.

I placed it all out then tacked the bits on and realised that this was really helpful to be able to continue with this little experiment I had set myself for my break. Portable unfinished art that easily fits in a bag for travelling around.

Something I hadn’t considered before as I most usually use my machine for freehand machine embroidery however the hand stitch thing is growing.

It enables the need to feed my fingers and palms the work my brain needs to settle itself. Like yoga feeds the need for potential rest and digest. Both support me to flow and activate the para- sympathetic nervous system or the ‘relaxation response’ as mentioned in the book ‘Slow Stitch’ by Claire Wellesley- Smith. Or in relation to the sacral chakra- pleasure, desire, touch, the senses and the way our senses relate to the world. To taste the sweetness of life.

More on the patches at a later date. O the endlessness of creativity is mind blowing.

Big love Cass

Day 5 of the Artist Practice: Preparing the patches

CASSANDRA WHITFIELD