Walking A New Path

Here are some lovely shots of the gorgeous Derwent River at New Norfolk that we took recently on a trip through that area. I am sharing them with you today whilst I share my news.

Some time ago I blogged about having a break from designing and feeling that I needed to follow a different path for awhile and whilst it may not look like I have done that, behind the scenes I have been working on a different path.  

"The Friendship Quilt" was designed and stitched as a Block of the Month for my lovely band of dedicated followers and my FREE Blog design "Up the Garden Path" is nearing completion but other than a few other little design surprises on their way I stopped designing as much as I had done previously.

Why?  Well it's hard to explain .......  I think that when you start doing anything as a job that you previously did as a hobby it takes away some of the joy - I know that a few other designing friends I have discussed this with sometimes feel the same way .......

I decided that I needed to get some of the passion back into my crafting life and follow my heart as an "artist".  The joy of making something from an image in your mind without the constraints of having to either follow a pattern or write one is a "Joyous" experience.  

It's hard to explain but I feel that I needed to let myself be creative again - Not that designing patterns for the joy of others is not creative - I do still love doing that and will continue to do so - But I also needed to do something for me.

Now if you have been a long time follower or have just gotten to know me you will know that I love adore all things shabby.  I am the happiest when I am finding something old and changing it and shabbying it up to give it a new life.  I love using pretty shabby florals mixed up with old clothing or old textiles to make something new, pretty and functional.  

I have been experimenting behind the scenes with a few ideas and took the plunge and applied to exhibit as an "artist" at this year's Tasmanian Craft Fair.

I photographed my ideas and sent them in for submission and crossed my fingers that the examining committee would think that I was unique enough to gain a place at this world renowned art exhibition.

An email arrived last night congratulating me on being chosen as an "artist" for this year's fair.  I am totally over the moon.  It is a new path for me and one that I was afraid to step onto but I am so glad that I took the plunge and decided to give it a go.  

The only downside is that I only have until the end of October to make enough One of A Kind items to fill a booth.  So guess what I will be doing with all of my free time in the next few months?

I can't wait to share some of my ideas with you.

Hugs,

Fee xx