Enjoying a creative community……..
I enjoy being part of a creative community, on line and locally. I have friends in this creative community who do all sorts of lovely, creative things with all sorts of raw materials. Cornwall has long been associated as a haven for artists, and my friends are also artists in their own ways.
I enjoy attending workshops, craft fayres and exhibitions. They are very stimulating places to meet inspirational people, get ideas, buy handmade and have a go for yourself. If getting out and about is difficult for you, have a look online at sites like Pinterest, Instagram, Esty, Folksy and Ravelry for a worldwide view of other creative communities happy to share ideas and inspiration. They are all free!
The other day I bought a lovely second hand arm chair which fits me perfectly and is ideal for sitting to knit. (Perfect for when I am full time with Gorgeous Yarns from the end of April!) Well, it’s a nice plum colour, but honestly, a bit dull! So I spoke to a friend who has a soft furnishings company and she came over to have a look….. Well, our time together was fabulous! She brought over a roll of dark orange spotted fabric, that looked lovely with the plum red, I had a piece of orange damask left from another project, and an hour and a half later we had a plan for the chair with new cushions and arm caps, in a creative, individual incarnation. Watch this space! That’s the power of a creative community for you. We sparked ideas off each other and it was great fun.
I have also been enjoying 2 new felted wool pictures. Made by the talented Sue Trembath, she has taken 2 photos I gave her, and created these lovely woolly images which make me smile every time I look at them!
What I’m saying is that you don’t have to just look at your creative craft for ideas and inspiration. Look at the wider creative community of artists and artisans in your area and around the world. When you go on holiday, get that ball of hand spun yarn that tempts you, buy that handmade pot in the colour that inspires you and visit that free gallery to look at art from a new perspective.
If you have time, have a look at the local galleries, workshops, craft events and shows near you and enjoy the inspiration of the creative community.
Bye for now,
Caroline
PS Hope to see you at Stitch St Ives next weekend.
I absolutely love this post! As someone who’s tackling a house renovation single handedly for the first time in over 20yrs, I couldn’t agree more about opening your eyes to the creativity and talents of others. Inspiration is everywhere.