Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Incubating

I'm sorry for being so quiet lately. I'm stuck in one of those incubation stages. Sometimes something wonder gets born from these periods and it all seems worthwhile. However, sometimes nothing new seems to emerge, I go back to whatever I had been working on, and the whole incubation period feels like a colossal waste of time.


I walk around lost in my thoughts, trying to process shapes and lines, Like the ones I see in these old barn structures... but when I try to translate them into cloth I just seem to make a mess. This leads me to eat copious amounts of ice cream and potato chips, and wonder out loud why I don't drink more.


So please bear with me and my lack of blogging, as this is part all a part of my normal process... though I find it the most difficult.

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I do have a bit of stitching from someone else to share with you though...


This lovely piece was created by Kaye Turner of Stitching Life.


She offered it in a blog giveaway, and lucky me... I won! The stitching is beautifully done, and even tough it's intended as a bookmark I think it deserves to be hung on the wall.

You can find more of Kaye's wonderful stitching here

19 comments:

Molly said...

Incubate .... grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment. I just found that definition and I just love it. I'll think of you evolving in your conducive environment while you're gone!

Anonymous said...

Incubation is good, a kind of resting and gathering, in the 'between' times. Thank you for the mention; the little leafkeeper looks very 'at home' with you.

Anonymous said...

Hi Victoria, I so get exactly what you are talking about. It's like a building of some great tension that finally breaks open. Husband stays away from me when I get in those moods. Ice cream and potato chips, get that too. Wild dancing to Stevie Wonder helps me, maybe it will help you too! xox Corrine

connie said...

I am where you are I think. I have too many things rolling around to stop on one.

I hope you can try and enjoy the incubation. Maybe it is the change in seasons that brings these times on?...

We will wait patiently for your return. Take Care.

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

I don't think any time is wasted; even though we don't always see the results clearly, it's all part of the process. Maybe those quiet periods are there so we can enjoy the creative ones even more.
I miss ice cream and potato chips, altough chocolate was my go-to-food.-)

XUE said...

Sometimes, not doing anything for awhile is good. Consider it as you are re-charging yourself. I have much on my list & don't know where to start. Happy day-dreaming then!

Cheryl Arkison said...

My daughters have been singing a song lately that they made up:

You make a chrysalix and then you go to sleep.
(complete with hand gestures)
And when you wake up you are a butterfly! Fly Fly.

I'm not sure why I shared that, but it seemed kind of appropriate.

I think any moment for pause, reflection, and cocooning is valuable to the artist, even if it isn't immediately apparent in the art.

Verte Adélie said...

Hope you don't take that incubation period too badly (apart from the chips-ice cream part), we'll wait for you anyway. Sending you good vibes from Paris!

(The mess you're talking about reminds me so much of the depressingly hideous prototypes I created before the exhibition...)

And what a beautiful stitching, thanks for sharing.

Diane J. Evans said...

You simply must read "Making Pearls," by artist Jeanne Carbonetti -- she speaks of the different periods involved in creating a piece of art, and "incubation" is one of the most important. It will make you feel less as though you're wasting time -- you come to realize that you're doing something very necessary to the process -- and for your soul, as well.

Of course, drinking is good, too . . .

Diane

PioneerValleyGirl said...

Incubation is the perfect word for that part of the process. Those buildings are a wonderful inspiration to be mulling on, however long it takes.

holly k said...

wow...that stitching by Kaye is beautiful! I agree it is one to hang on the wall! ;)

T.Allen said...

Incubate, it's good for the soul. Kaye's work is lovely-off to see more.

Fer said...

At least you can express how you're feeling in words, when I hit a wall I collapse in a heap (like right now!).

I know you'll 'fight on through' this stage and come out a winner - you always do!

dutchcomfort said...

This incubation will eventually prove to be inevitable. You will come back refreshed and give birth to new ideas!

Take care and enjoy the ice cream and the chips!

Hey Harriet said...

Ah so that explains your lack of posts! You couldn't find your keyboard beneath all of the empty chip packets ;) You'll emerge from this stage with fresh ideas just bursting all over the place. Just relax and all will come when the time is right. I expect the time will be smack bang in the middle of shoving down big gobs of icecream. So enjoy the time and don't worry. It will not have been wasted! xo

Hey Harriet said...

I forgot to say how much I like that bookmark! That's so sweet!

Sarah said...

Wow, that prize is lovely. Congrats!

I spend a lot of time incubating, and get lots of ideas, but I only manage to actualize about 1% of them!

I can't wait to see what you come up with next. I really love your work.

Michelle Engel Bencsko said...

A little torture is good for the artist. Let it take you to another level. One day a brilliant idea will being to bud. I have no doubt.

picciolo said...

enjoy your quiet time, although I know that that can be easier aid than done! Lucky you winning that stitching, it is beautiful
: )