12x12x12 Reveal Starts Tomorrow!

Here's the experiment I did to jump start my creativity... Well maybe it was my productivity that needed a jump start. Ideas were not lacking, but studio time and creating "more than just ideas" that's where the benefit came in. Also there is a freedom that comes with creating for the sake of creating, things I wouldn't have tried knowing it was a piece for a show or a gift for a friend. From those leaps of faith in my creativity came some pieces that I am very pleased with.

I challenged myself to make 12 mini art quilts, 12" by 12" in 12 days.  I decided that meant all the way thru the quilting step, but that edge treatment (basically binding, but not specifically what traditional quilters call bindings), labels and sleeves were unnecessary.  As I worked I realized that the binding can be a design element and that it made them more complete.  On day 13, I'm looking at my design wall and all are done with just 2 quilts whose edge treatments are not yet done.

I gave myself some "rules", biggest and best was to be "self directed", I haven't shown or talked about these. Even with my husband, I told him until a piece was finished I didn't want any indication of what he thought. I have been talking with him about how I am blown away by what I've done. To which he gives his "Amy, you do good work" comment. I almost feel like he is channeling Tim Gunn in his stoic positivity. I imagine him saying "carry on" as he walks out of the studio. Starting on day 10, I put all the quilts on the design wall - that's when I realized the magnitude of this experiment. I tried so many techniques that I had been itching to do, came up with some new ideas and used some fabrics I had altered previously. My reveal posts will share what's new, what's old and any tips I picked up from this adventure.

Rather than flood you with all of them, at once, I'll give you time to take each one in and experience it like I did. Thanks for joining me on this adventure.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.

- Aristotle

To get a great idea, come up with lots of them.

- Thomas Edison

Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.

- Pablo Picasso

Creativity is about wild talent as much as it's about productivity.  To find new ideas that work, you need to try a lot that don't.  It's a pure numbers game.

- Robert Sutton