Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Back to Basics - The Go-To Book

***Welcome to my Back to Basics topic which I will blog about on Tuesdays on how I go back to the basics of art quilting to get through creative blocks or slumps***

Most people have that "go to" book that they refer to many many times over their art career.  For me, it's this one:
When I am in a creative slump, I reach for this book.  I try one of the many fabric manipulations out of it.  A sample on a scrap piece of fabric.  
For you it may be a familiar pattern that you have made many times. 
Maybe it's a book that just inspires you with pictures?  The book Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project is one that always inspires me.  Look at these with "new" eyes.  Try to see a detail you never noticed before.  Think about the techniques used and see if it's one you haven't tried before.   
If seeing someone else's work isn't for you, you could try the book The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life by Twyla Tharp.  It's got great motivators to keep you on track to stay out of a slump.
What do you reach for when you have a creative block?  Any books you like to read or patterns you make over and over?

1 comment:

Lynne said...

As a new quilter, I don't know any of those books so thanks for introducing them to me!