The Work Behind the Work

The past two weeks have been very busy… and yet when I look around the studio, there aren’t many finished pieces to show for it. Some, but not a lot. A huge mess of boxes and pieces and bits and bobs and stuff everywhere …

Weeks like these remind me that a lot of creative work happens quietly, behind the scenes. It’s not always the kind of work that produces something new to photograph or share, but it is still an important part of the process.

Most of my time was spent preparing kits and products that will be heading to the upcoming AQS shows in April. Putting together kits always takes longer than one might think. Each one is a bit like a small puzzle: making sure the right fabrics are included, checking that the instructions are there, and adding all the little pieces that make the project come together. I like to take my time with this part of the process so nothing gets overlooked.

There has also been a lot of thinking going on. Pulling fabrics, imagining new samples, and deciding what I want to sew next. That quiet planning stage is part of the creative process too, even if it doesn’t look very productive from the outside.

The good news is that I did manage to make three bags to use as samples, and I’m very happy with how they turned out. I enjoyed working with the linen so much that I decided to prepare some kits to go along with them.

I wouldn’t call myself a bag maker, but every time I make one I learn something new. There are already a few details I know I’ll approach differently the next time around — which is often how making works. Each piece teaches you something for the next.

I thought I’d share a few photos of the samples with you. Here’s the first bag: blue linen with a small printed panel. The panel has been printed from one of my original monoprints which I made into a pocket.

As you can see, I am holding the bag from the acrylic rods, as it does not stand on its own. I learned that I should have used double layers of interfacing (or a different stiffer interfacing). I am still really happy with the way it tuned out.

Second bag: using beige linen this time and two of my embellished rocks as pockets. Same issue here – double layers of interfacing or a stiffer interfacing for next one. These two linen bags are made with my last pieces of IKEA linen, and I am so sad that they stopped selling this fabric.

Third bag: canvas this time and as the fabric is so much stiffer, one layer of interfacing worked well. I used some rocks from the new rock panel kit (coming soon to my website) for the rocks. The other side has one more embellished rock for a pocket. This one has an inside pocket too! You can never have too many pockets.

On a different note, I’m happy to share that I have finally found a way to resume shipping to the US. It took a bit of figuring out, but everything is sorted now. I know many of my US customers have been waiting patiently, and I’m very glad to be able to offer that option again.

Sometimes the work we do in the studio is not immediately visible, but these quieter weeks of planning and preparation are what make everything else possible.

And at the end of these busy days, the highlight is often the moment when I finally turn off the computer, switch off the studio light, and head downstairs for a bit of food, some quiet time, and a bit of relaxing stitching.

And if you’ve been following along on IG and/or FB, here are the two pieces I finished for the Circle Challenge I joined this year. Versions 1 and 2 – warm and cool colours. Both on pieces of vintage linen from napkins.

Thanks for reading. Until I write again, I’m off to dream of more samples to make,

Ana