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Hi Reader,
I have arthritis in my hands, especially in my right hand, which is the one I do everything with. It hurts most when I grip things tightly. And guess what I grip tightly? Pens, pencils, needles, and knives. Pretty much everything I use in the studio every day.
I noticed it earlier this year when I tried to hand-piece a quilt for the 100 Day Project. Then in October I thought I’d give the Inktober Zentangle challenge a go. Nope. After one weekend of tangling, my thumb and forefinger were killing me.
So for the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to loosen my grip a little when I write or make things. And it’s made me realize I do the same thing with my artwork. I get an idea in my head of how a project should turn out, and if it turns out differently, I’m quick to call it a failure.
I wonder if my aching hand is teaching me to loosen my grip on the picture in my head as well as the needle in my hand. And I can think of a few places outside the studio where I do this, too.
What would happen if we all let things unfold a little before deciding how they ought to turn out?
November in the Club
The days may be getting shorter and darker, but things are blooming in the Handmade Book Club! 🌸
This month, we're welcoming back Artist in Residence Shawn Sheehy, who's teaching us how to create a beautiful Pop-Up Cottage Flowers book.
Our members are already putting their own creative spins on the project, including Buffy Greer, who used scans of her Gelli prints to create these gorgeous, colorful blooms.
Want to bring a little flower power into your creative space? Join the Handmade Book Club and make your own pop-up garden with us!
Tip of the Week
Let curled paper relax.
If decorative paper has been stored rolled or tightly packed, let it rest flat under light weight before using it. Flatter paper is easier to measure, cut, glue, and fold accurately.
Book of the Week
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This week's Book of the Week was created by Ann Hatch, and we love how it's just bursting with color! 🌷
Complete with bright blooms, textured backgrounds, and a few little garden visitors, we especially adore the bees, butterflies, and ladybugs tucked into the pages.
There are so many fun details to discover! Beautiful work, Ann. Thanks for sharing a little bit of spring with us!
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Ali Shares
Warmly,
Ali & the VPD Team
