Ready to move on

I watch the Olympics. I watch it all. I talked about it last week in my blog. And it was certainly the case this week. I am fascinated and in awe of all the talent out there. The commitment. The strength of these athletes to perform at their peak even when not at their peak. With injuries, pain … they still don’t give up.

So although I am no athlete, I don’t have that passion for sports (other than watching), I will take inspiration from the athlete’s commitment and put it to my own work. I have taken a few weeks off from creating much after coming back from the Pacific International Quilt Festival. And now, I have plans.

Plans that include – among other things – some admin work: improve my website by creating a gallery (finally!). Improving my blogging to reach more people. keep on top of the paperwork and all the stuff that is not a lot of fun but necessary to the business side of things.

Plans that include a lot of new stuff coming soon. I will keep that under wraps for now. There’s a lot of prep work to be done before launching a new product – be it a course, a kit, a class. Work that includes creating patterns, writing instructions, maybe shooting a short video. Kits to prepare, cutting fabric, putting supplies together. It’s mostly fun but still work.

When I mention that I have taken some time off from creating, that doesn’t mean that stuff hasn’t been happening in my studio. Just because I didn’t cut any fabric. This week, two videos were created, papers were flying here and there while creating work to illustrate exercises for videos on composition. While doing that, I’m reminded once again how much I enjoy my magazines and looking for specific papers to use in small collages. It’s a small thing, but it gives me so much joy.

Why am I telling you all this that doesn’t seem to make much sense? I am not sure. I think sometimes I need to write things down to make them fit into my own thoughts. Writing my seemingly scattered thoughts down clarifies them and gives them shape. It makes me understand that everything takes time. Whether it’s preparing to run a marathon, or improving my website, patience is a virtue. Commitment to keep going even when you are wondering why you are doing this or that. Why do you keep going?

And the main reason is that I have a passion. And that passion feeds my soul. I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t cutting papers, glueing, creating with fabric. Using colour to brighten my world. Putting pieces together that fit a pattern in my mind. Thinking of new techniques to try in my work to achieve the results I want. That’s my commitment. To me. To my art.

I am off to tear some papers up and glue them in some type of composition. Off to have a good time and enjoy my visit with Serafina the cat – at home for a week. Right now, she’s sitting on top of a pile of unfinished work :) Awwww …

Until I write again, keep creating, being patient, and using colour to brighten your world.

Ana