New Beginnings...

I had a blog - edbcrafts for quite a while and, for the most part, I posted regularly on a fairly large range of crafts in which I have long been interested.  It mostly consisted of my own work - fine hand embroidery, quilting etc., that I've long been interested in.

In its latter stages, I recognised that I was running out of ideas.  I had, for want of a better term, dried up, lost interest.

Since I had a lot health issues going on at the time, I couldn't afford to let this get to me, so I shelved the situation until I felt ready to address it.

Well, that time has come.

I've realised that this 'hiatus' coincided with a major shift in my interests, energies and focus.  This, in no way whatsoever, comes from arrogance, but I'd reached the place where I felt I'd learned as much as I wanted to about the crafts I'd chosen.  That's certainly not to say that there was nothing left for me to learn; definitely not the case.  More precisely, I'd come to the point whereby there was nothing more I wanted to spend my time on in that particular craft.  And, of course, I know enough by now to realise that that sentiment could change in any instant.  So my life is still open to those kinds of changes - I consider that healthy.

No; I wanted to broaden my skills.  I had become increasingly interested in art, colour theory, drawing, sketching, art journalling etc.  So I abandoned the blog, rather than convey the sense of fracture, uncertainty and vulnerability that came along with this transition.

After all, I had enough years under my belt to have been able to build a fair level of confidence in my work.  That's not to say I considered myself an expert, by any means, but I was comfortable enough with the quality of my work and my ability to teach others.

The move towards art, then, wiped all that away in a flash: I felt like a kid moving up from elementary to junior school.  So much to learn; all the others in the place who knew much more than I did.  I would never be able to make the leap across that chasm.

So it's been that, for the past year or so, I've immersed myself in all things 'artsy'.  Of course, I've made the classic mistake of surrounding myself with so many of the contemporary supplies (because that would help me become a good artist, right?) that I am totally ashamed.  It's obscene.  I could. however, partially justify my madness by determining that I would MAKE as many stencils and stamps as I possibly could (and I have to say that I'm incredibly proud of them.)  I've enrolled in several online art courses and spent a ridiculous fortune on books.  Please don't get me wrong: while I was doing this, the conscious part of my brain KNEW that this was ridiculous, but it didn't stop me.

Now, however, burrowed within my nest of 'stuff', I really think I'm beginning to process what has been going on in my addled brain.  I've, more or less, stopped buying and vowed that if I can't make something myself, then I'm going to do without it.

Also - another element to this - I heard recently someone reference the difference between 'craft' and 'art'.  That the former always has a functional value and the latter an aesthetic.  I still have some thinking to do about this, but I hope, eventually, I'm going to come to my own resolution between the two that I can incorporate into my projects and with which I'm comfortable.

It's probably fair to say that this venture is going to be both exciting and traumatic for me - in equal measure.  I'm not at all used to sharing my 'art', yet I know it must always be healthy and useful to engage in ventures which promise lessons in humility.  So, we'll see.  I honestly don't think I have any preconceptions, which makes this an adventure in its own right...something probably unusual for my age and state of health.  But I'm more than up for it.

I want to end this by truly opening and baring my soul here.  I would so much welcome words of encouragement - and by that, I mean, specifically, constructive criticism and encouragement.  This feels as if I'm pegging my heart out on a washing line and just waiting to see what happens during the drying process.

I would also very much like to make new friends via this blog.  One thing I've learned during the past year or so, is that there is a wondrous community of like-minded spirits out there - all around the world.  I'd love to get to know more of you.

So, posts/photos to come, periodically.  For some of you who have already come into contact with me during this process, please bear with me, while I catch up with new stuff.

Much to learn, and high hopes.

Blessings, all

Elaine x