Don't Question Your Talent

This is for all you awesome creatives out there and let it be your mantra, "Don't question your talent!". Ever! And never stop doing it. Long ago I bounced aimlessly from one creative hobby to the next. Collage, oil  painting, sketching, machine sewing, jewelry making, rug hooking, ceramics, embroidery, crewel work, gardening, knitting, etc., etc., etc., and then, drum roll please, counted cross stitch. I fell head over heels for this craft and I say craft because that is what it was for me in the beginning. Every minute of my spare time was spent pouring over catalogs and shopping at local needlework shops and craft stores. Like any addiction, "Hi, my name is Debbie and I'm a cross stitch addict", I couldn't get enough of it. When the internet came along, I really was a kid in a candy store, I could shop the world for not only what I knew, but now all the awesome stuff I never knew. The years passed and I never grew bored with it, although my life did make me take breaks from it for, well, life! I learned a lot from other stitchers, from manufacturers, from needlework stores and books. As time passed, my passion went from a blazing fire to a warm glow. I found I no longer just wanted to stitch the patterns and kits I bought but wanted to change them. My attention wasn't so much what new pattern I wanted to buy but how I could customize the one I was working on. What new fibers were out there that would make it more interesting and give it more texture? What kinds of beads were out there and charms and buttons? The next step was to try my hand at designing, using my own colors and imagination. Then it came to how can I integrate all these wonderful embellishments and fibers into my designs and what was the best way to actually make the designs? This is when I realized how much this art helped me evolve into my creativity and still keeps me hungry for more. I never doubted my love for this art and I always enjoyed the ride and that is why I never doubted my talent for it. 

That doesn't mean that it's easy or that I don't second guess myself when it comes to a design or materials or even how to execute them because that is part and parcel of creativity. However, I learned early on that trying to make what I thought would trend with the current wave of design failed me miserably. I never was happy with that work. If I am true to myself and sincere, the work always thrills and satisfies and actually challenges me on some level that makes me grow.

So here is my takeaway. If you are listless and uncertain, listen to that voice that is telling you, hey, this isn't right for me somehow because that is your early warning system to not waste more time on it. Keep yourself open to trying things that spark your interest because that is the only way you will find that perfect fit. Don't think you have to be a pro in 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years because the journey is never predetermined and expertise is ever growing. 

The last thing is to never question your talent. If you truly love something, and you certainly know when you are crazy in love with something, you will be good at it because you then are willing to do the work to keep improving and evolving. That evolution will give you your own voice and signature creativity. Don't think that you aren't good enough or will never be good enough because I guarantee you will. It's the unabated passion that will drive you on and keep you focused and never let you question your talent!

La Petite Fleurs

Got this project back from the framers on Monday and they just wowed me with the great job they did. Of course a photo cannot do this piece justice but it is a good try.

La Petite Fleurs, framed. The photo makes it look
off-white but the mat and frame is a nice bright
white and I'm glad I opted for the custom mat.

Star Maiden

I had to rip the corona stitches out because I just wasn't happy with it. I came up with something different and will get to stitching it up either today or tomorrow. I have learned that when it comes to the quality of my pieces not to settle for less than the very best possible work I can produce.

Until next week, Keep Creating and Stay Safe!

SHARP AND TO THE POINT-SCISSORS AND OTHER MUSINGS

 

The Scissor Squad
I love a good pair of sharp embroidery scissors and although I love all the different styles and decorative effects they have now, I am going to talk about my squad of scissors and why I chose them to be at the ready whenever I stitch.

I have five pairs of scissors handy whenever I stitch, although the fifth pair is kind of a standby of sorts. I have two pairs of Havel's scissors, one is notched and the other has a curved tip. These are the two most important pairs because they both are less prone to accidentally cut stitches that shouldn't be cut. Stitchers know that it takes one little misplaced snip to cause a catastrophe on a project. These are not expensive scissors and easily replaced if they get lost or become dull.

 Next up is a pair of serrated embroidery scissors. Why serrated? Because they are ideal for cutting metallic threads, like the DMC Diamant, Kreinik metallics, and Glissen Gloss Rainbow Filament. This is what they are made for and saves the rest of the squad from getting dull quickly. I'm not sure who made the pair I use, the only mark is it was made in Italy. They are very well made because I have used them for years without any problems and still cut like new.

The next is a small pair of Fiskars that are perfect for cutting out small items such as for applique, snipping those stray bits of material that come loose, and any other miscellaneous jobs that I don't want to use for my mainstay embroidery scissors. Small, sharp and a handy size, in other words perfect all purpose work horse.

Lastly is a pair of Clauss, Titanium, non-stick scissors. These are really great scissors, well-made and very sharp, and I specifically got them for snipping through sticky labels and such. However, I rarely have to cut through sticky labels or glued things, so I just keep them around just in case. I do use them for other things too, but I think they were more of a want than a need purchase. I would probably get more use out of them if I was a paper crafter.

In addition to all these I have a nice pair of travel scissors. These were probably the most expensive of my squad I guess because they are compliant with commercial travel requirements as well as just being good for travel in general. Since these were so pricey though and I don't like to fly, they don't get much use at all, which is good I guess since I would be very upset if I lost them because of the replacement cost.

Large or Small Squad
Do I have scissors in addition to what I have mentioned? Of course I do but very few are decorative. I've got a large and small stork as well as a rooster scissor. The rest are just good utility scissors that can be used for hand stitching, some I don't even have a clue as to their origins, they just appeared in my studio. Maybe they're from the same dimension my needles disappear to! LOL! Although I think it would be cool to have scissors decorated for each holiday or a cute theme, quite honestly I just don't have the room and I would never use them except to maybe take Instagram photos. Besides, I would rather spend my hard earned money on fibers or fabric. Those I would get some use from.

Tweezer Picking
I couldn't let tweezers get left out of this discussion because they are an important tool that is sort of, kind of, in this category. This is strictly a subjective tool because I know so many stitchers that use so many different tweezers and they all work for them. My go to tweezers are a pair that I get in the cosmetic section of just about any store and are a scissor type tweezer. They are easy to hold and grip great, I mean they have to if you are going to pluck your eyebrows with them, right? LOL! I have a pair dedicated for needlework and one for eyebrows and do not interchange them.

Needle News-More to Come-
I received a recent order of DMC #28 Tapestry Needles and being anxious to try them out, soon discovered they wouldn't fit through my Swarovski crystal 2.5mm beads. I tried a package and a half out of 5 and figured that was enough to determine none of them would work. So although these needles are still going to come in handy for a lot of other projects, I am going to look into some #28 John James Tapestry Needles to see if they will work instead. I want to note that the DMC #28 Tapestry Needles work great with the Miyuki 11/0 Delica Beads as will the #26.

I am also going to test the Sullivan's Easy Guide Ball-Tip Needle. I've been curious about whether these are easier to use so it will be interesting to see how they perform. News on this next time.

The Wrap
In the end these are scissors that I have found to work the best for what I make. Like any good artisan, quality tools help put out quality work, so they hold a place of great importance. I recommend having these, or similar, cutting tools for your needlework, out of harms way of children of course, but someplace handy too where you can grab all of them at once. It saves time, which we never have enough of, and headaches, which we don't ever have time for.

Till Next Time-
"I have a profound interest in embroidery, as I have female ancestors on both sides who embroidered their way through great trials."  Emil Ferris, American Writer, Carrtoonist, and Designer

Keep Creating!

Ladybug Lake Update

Here is the latest and greatest pix of Ladybug Lake. I am going to compare the last one with the latest one, which was taken with my little Canon camera.

Taken with my old iPhone

Taken with Canon camera

The Canon pix has the colors right, and there isn't a distortion of the fabric color like the iPhone. Now my iPhone is an old hand me down from my husband, who is more taken with phone technology than I am, so he gets the newer phone and I inherit the old. It's a good working arrangement for the two of us. However, an older technology means that there are discrepancies to be put up with, i.e., the difference in color from the phone camera to a real camera. You can see here too that a bit more progress has been made on the design.

So now with this great upgrade to provide better quality pix, I can feel confident that what I put up on my blog is true to what I am actually seeing, and that is what I want, a better experience for those readers of my blog.

Hopefully the next time I give you an update, I will be at the bottom of the stitching as shown in the pix, and will be starting on the last twenty or so rows beneath it.

In the meantime, I have been experimenting with my Shiva Paintsticks for the next project. I am thinking about painting the background with either the Paintsticks or Jacquard fabric paints to match the stitching, that way I won't have any white background show up. This will take some time to get the fabric ready if I do this, since I have to wash the fabric to get all the sizing out of it so it will take either the oil or acrylic paint and then letting it set up after I paint it. I may even use my Martha Stewart's. I'll have to see how the matching goes. I have also been looking at fibers for it too. So it has been busy here at Pear Blossom Designs, which is okay, because the weather outside has been sweltering. Summer truly is here in Oklahoma.

Stay cool, comfortable and serene until next time.
Debbie

Back In Business!

So very grateful and happy to report that I now have a new computer and I'm loving it! I didn't realize how antiquated my beloved old laptop was until it finally gave up the ghost and I got this new one. I am very excited about what possibilities this will allow me for using today's technology to enhance my blog visitors experience here. Videos, podcasts, better graphics, and those are just the tip of the blogging iceberg!

I'm hoping our computer guru will be able to pull all of my information from my computer, but I'm not entirely optimistic about it. I have programs that I purchased and downloaded from the internet that I may have to work to get back from their sources if Joe (aka known as the computer guru) cannot rescue them for me. Trouble is, I had them for so long and never backed them up (I am beating myself up for that greatly believe me!) and I can't remember the names of them after all this time. So I'll have to search the web for those which will be a lot of time consuming work. UGH! I plan on investing in a back-up hard drive as soon as I can. That is a priority before I put a lot on this new one.  I understand they are pretty cheap these days since we now have the cloud where a lot of people are storing their files. I also am running the risk of losing a lot of my designs which makes me frustrated and sad, but it's my fault and I own that major mistake. Learning a lot these days about lots, even at my age! LOL!

So in the very near future Joe will be receiving my new awesome computer to hopefully install my old stuff on so it may be a week before I am back here again with more news. In the meantime, I have progressed a lot on Ladybug Lake and I will be making announcements soon about what else is cooking at PBD (Pear Blossom Designs). Very excited about some new things I am trying and new design ideas that includes wonderful mixed media items! I have some book recommendations too that I will be sharing in the coming blogs. So lots and lots to look forward too that I hope all of you wonderful visitors will enjoy.

In the meantime I leave you with this quote:

"Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow."
--Carrie Fisher, "Wishful Drinking"