Tag Archives: functional textile art

When I’m at a loss for inspiration, I sometimes go to my ‘starts’ and ‘maybes’ for something to continue. This is a piece of fabric that I do recall using for soaking up unused paint, with no intentional design.

Now I call it ‘confusion’ because only after it was complete did I see that it could have been a pink Peony. I stared at that blob and couldn’t see anything but a blob. Still, I felt like doing some hand stitching so for a few evenings, I poked the needle loaded with pearle cotton in and out to emphasize the lines that I did see.

Still not happy, of course, another day I felt like machine stitching so I did my ‘go to’ stitched grid. Well, at least it makes the hand stitching less vulnerable. Plus, it is now stitched to a firm stabilizer. I find the grid-stitching mindless and relaxing, maybe that’s why I do it.

I was compelled to add another line to the design. Here I am thinking……….but it’s not what I did.

After adding borders with a vintage madras plaid, I pulled out a piece of fabric that apparently I colored with the blue at the same time. I used it to make handles.

Here is the finished bag. A pouch? A little purse? Just think ‘Peony’!

One of a kind and available here in my Art2Carry Etsy Shop.

The story of an aimless creation. Many  – if not most – original creations come about this way. Some work out better. I wish I had stayed in ‘think mode’ awhile. That’s why we sit and stare into space. We creators are busier than we look, believe me.