The Cape and the Creative Forest

I realised my blog posts are so far introducing different aspects of myself. 

First we had my interest in the sensory systems, followed by music. Well today I wanted to share my arts practice. Whenever people ask me 'Oh so what kind of art do you do?' I want to reply 'All of it!' The truth is, I love learning new skills and over the years I have tried such a wide breadth of things, that it all intermingles in my brain. For the longest time when I was younger, I thought I had to find one style and do only that forever. But now I truly embrace the journey of a multidisciplinary artist. You never know where a project will take you. What ideas your brain will connect. It’s one of the reasons why I've been drawn to Joanna Grace's work around sensory stories and sensory props, because it is another avenue through which my creative skill set can take flight.

In my studio at the moment is a cape project that I am really excited about! I’ve been inspired to make capes since I came across work by the late Louise Gardiner many moons ago. I made a little progress a couple of years ago, when I put together a mood board and found a pattern. Since then I’ve been gathering up inspiration as I've wandered in my creative practice. I’ve begun to think of this kind of inspiration like gathering acorns. I acquire lots of ideas, burying them throughout my creative forest and then when I’m wandering around, I suddenly think of an acorn I buried and go look for it. Allow me to explain this better through the current project of my cape.

Mood board made in mila notes.

With the development of my sensory workshops being well underway. It felt like now was the time to embark on this project! The creative process began as a calico base. I pinned work to it and debated... is this a patchwork cape? I sat with it for a few days and the answer was no. It was not. Re-bury that acorn for later.

Trialing a patchwork idea with experimental pieces of work.

But then, an acorn of inspiration appeared! I remembered I had some blue fabric a few years ago, as part of my MA in Arts Practice (Arts, Health and Wellbeing) when I had been exploring den making. I still had a sizeable amount and it struck me now, it was perfect for a cape. While piecing it together it gave me Elsa meets Fairy Godmother vibes. A terrific new tree has now grown in my creative forest.

The blue base of the cape.

Now I have this very swish looking cape, that is not hemmed in any way (a problem for future me), but I wanted to give it more of an ocean vibe. Another acorn of inspiration! I considered using free motion embroidery to add fish, in a similar manner to how Amanda McCavour or Meredith Woolnough approach their pieces. I pinned a few elements to it and threw some organza over the top. But this was another no. It seemed like something for another project, time to re-bury that acorn.

Exploring different aquatic textiles on the cape. 

But then, just before bed, another acorn of inspiration struck! I had fabric scraps from my wedding dress. I'd always considered doing a wedding related project with them, but nothing came to mind. Seven years later I still have the scraps carefully stored in a box, now was the time! I initially looked for just the scalloped hem, but then I saw I had more netting leftovers than I realised and then, paired with the organza. Another little acorn idea grew into a beautiful new tree!

The cape continues to evolve!

In fact serendipitously and to come full circle, I realise why acorns have been on my mind today. Before Louise Gardiner passed away, she was working on a project called the 'Cape of Creative Courage' and within that she called out for people to create flying acorns and join her acorn army. I was one such participant and sent my acorn flying to her, with many, many others. Though I can see why Louise Gardiner made so many of these capes, it's a lot of fun and I am excited to see where the acorns in my creative forest lead me.

The flying acorn I stitched to join the Acorn Army.

 

Sources:

Louise Gardiner's Blog and Website

Amanda McCavour's Website

Meredith Woolnough's Website