paint party Friday Spring Faces

I've been having the best time painting on paper again, with the Sketchbook Revival course (by Karen Abend) and learned it's important for me to keep my supplies out in view, right by the computer.

I went back through before the videos would be cut off, and painted a little portrait of each teacher with their page in my sketchbook. I took notes on their techniques, tried the exercises, and now can remember what they looked like.

This teacher was working in acrylics, which I've not done on paper (fabric paint is acrylic) and I didn't follow her technique but while I watched, I painted little flowers from memory.

Very "4-year old" versions, but I got to mix watercolor paints and see them blend on the paper, which was very fun.

Apparently I like to watch paint dry, lol


I also went to my art quilt group this week, and the nice women were very complimentary about my paintings, especially the little houses by Tamara LaPorte.

One person came over yesterday to try it with me, and I was reminded that teaching what you know helps teach yourself at the same time.




Not only was I lucky enough to have a playmate for the afternoon, but in sharing my knowledge, it firmed up in my mind and hands, just how to do something. A good teacher makes sure the student feels confident and safe to try something new. When she asked how to correct an aspect of her drawing, I was careful to make suggestions, letting her know it was her work.

We learn as we do.
Do you agree?  I think watching is good, but doing teaches me more.
For instance, a slight angle change on a face's nose, or space between eyes makes an enormous difference in a gesture or attitude. I love how these four came out!!
The blond at the top left, was done, then, uh oh, I went back and thought to add a little to her eyes, and got too heavy a line.
What can you do but keep going then? I darkened the lines over both eyes, and voila! she had cats eye liner on, and she had a smirk, and she had attitude! She might be my favorite now!

I'm often insecure in hairdos too, but I just boldly squiggled the top right woman and love! her hair.

It's intriguing to me what makes a person look male or female... so I did the bottom one as a man, and I think he looks like a man. The stray mark on the chin while sketching became a dimple, not that I started out with that.
It's the doing that teaches.
When I first tried to paint faces on paper, my teacher-friend started with face shape, dividing it into quadrants with straight lines, lots of rules. I hated it and they all came out weird. This teacher started with three straight dashes, two for eyes, one lower and in the middle as the tip of a nose.
She led me to the fun of drawing a face.
She also went on to collage and drip paint, and alter the image into a mixed media version that looked too busy and frightening to me. But...

The thing about learning is, we can take what we need from a teacher, and after learning a skill we can tweak it for ourselves to make our own art.

Learn, then make.
One morning I was listening to another talk by Brenne Brown,
 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-JXOnFOXQk)
this time on how to overcome criticism as a creative person. I loved it and began painting as she talked. After all my supplies were right there...

I just used colors in order, from my little travel paint kit by KOI. smearing them according to how I felt. Brenne said, as creative people we are vulnerable to the critiques. She cautioned against saying "I don't care what people think" as we all know we're hard wired to fit into social networks, and we do care at some level.
The trick is to invite the critic, either real or inside us, in and have them sit in a side row, and to make our art anyway. Even if the inner critic says this is stupid, or like a 4 year old, or no one will like it, or worse, not respect us, sit them in a row so you mentally have control over them, but make your art anyway.
Then share it.
Making and sharing art that comes from our core, can make us feel vulnerable but that very
vulnerability is what makes us special.
Linking to
all seasons

Pink Saturday!
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

when music, or art, transports you

How can a song presented by a group unknown to me but famous individually, create such a place in my heart?

Music....

Listen to the Silk Road Ensemble with YoYo Ma

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uymTSOYYYC0

I was introduced to this group by Tom the Back roads traveler, who's posts of beautiful entrancing photos and commentary each week, lifts me up from the mundane. He seems to create a mood with each post, by showing common views of life in America that one might miss if they are hurrying by.

He has introduced me to some mighty fine musicians too. Thank you Tom.

How is it, that a group of people, all very accomplished in their own way, could come together and create a piece of performance art that brings me to tears?

This work is powerful, and haunting.

What causes a person to love art?
What touches our hearts, and brings all our senses to a place of softness?

It's not someone bragging they are the best although I suspect the musicians in this group are each the best in their field. There is something about a musician who is so into their instrument that they lose themselves in the moment.

I spoke to a friend this week, who is seeking that feeling in her art. The moment when you are in the studio, and thinking and planning and take out your materials, then you are transported to someplace that feels like time stops. You are into the moment of creation and that's all that matters.

All artists know what I am saying about that glorious feeling of being lost in the process.

You can't find a roadmap there, you can't force it.
Like so much that is truly transporting, it just happens while you allow it.

The words to this song according to one interpretation are:

Jia Chen 8 months ago (edited)

Anyone interested in the lyrics: Way to home, way to home; my way to home; quiet, quiet and my quiet my way home; it's not a long way in front of me, while door is open to me; I bear no agony (stress) and I don't have to wait long any more; mom is expecting me; dad is also anticipating; when I think of the reunion; I am filled with love..... The Chinese lyrics is a lot more beautiful than my translation


Ahhhhh, now I know that these words spoken in Chinese somehow made themselves understood to  my heart. I long for a home, a safe place, a place to thrive.

I am not alone in feeling like I've never fit in. I was adopted into a family who had no idea who I was inside, and tried to bully and change me to fit into their way of thinking. It was no home for sissies, and no home for a tender-hearted spirit such as me.  I often wondered what life would be like, if someone recognized my value as a person. My childhood home was not a safe place. My workplaces were not safe for women when I was younger either. Sometimes even quilting groups are not safe places for someone with a need to express themselves artistically.

I strive to make each of my  homes,  my safe place, and it's important to me. Peace and acceptance are hard to find, and must be watered daily with nurturing, they must be allowed to thrive.

There is so much to be gained by sharing art culturally.

Because Tom shared the group with us, and I researched them finding this song, I have been lifted to a soft place today. I hope you enjoy the music too.

Please find Tom's post for more beauty HERE

Bravery and celebration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBbyglq37E&list=RDS4F4SbGtqL4&index=6

Artists put themselves, their interpretations, into whatever medium they use.

Aretha Franklin was like no other and is an inspiration to me to bravely put self expression into life.

We may spend our days being afraid of what people think of us. We may not even be aware of what we truly feel or think about things. We could be hampered by self doubt or have been beaten down by abuse or circumstances, into hiding who we really are.

Let's think about it today.
Who are we?

We are all unique and are the only ones who bring our set of history, beliefs, talents, fears, desires, passions, etc to life. We have a unique mix of intelligence, of abilities, and a unique way of seeing the world, we just forget that.

We are at once different and alike.

It's our responsibility to bring our unique selves to the party. And our responsibility to accept the unique offerings of other people as well.

In the day to day world of survival, we sometimes push aside our offerings to the world.

Do you want to celebrate your offerings or hide them?

I am older, I have lived over half a life time, sometimes hiding, sometimes sharing, but have learned that it is important to remember who you are and what you have to offer the world.

The ultimate bravery is showing the world who you truly are. 

Ten different people can sing a song, and it should  sound different with each interpretation, while the underlying notes are the same. The structure is the same for all of us, but the interpretation is different. Different is okay, and brings richness to life if we can resist the urge to feel threatened by it.

Will we celebrate our difference or hide it?

Some people are judgemental of differences, and I wonder does that come from fear or hate, does hate come from fear at it's base?

Imagine all of us free to interpret life our way  and being accepted for our individuality.

 Imagine viewing others with interest, and acceptance.

Imagine being free enough to enjoy the unique expression of others.

This kind of celebration of spirit cannot thrive in an atmosphere of of fear, distrust, anger, and hatred.
Do the people you listen to, the people who lead countries, believe each of us has an offering and a way of contributing to the whole? Are they comfortable enough to allow others to be their best selves? Are we being our best self?

Will we be brave enough to sing a song our own way?

linking to
all seasons

Just because... a movie review, flowers and love

I would like to review a movie I just watched. I highly recommend it to all as a beautiful film.
 The title is "Paris can wait" 

This movie is in no hurry to reveal itself. It takes you on a journey, watching two people who discover themselves as they reveal themselves. They learn who they are by seeing it through the eyes of their companions.

It's a story of life, and choices. Beautifully illustrated with photos. Art photos. And food, art, architecture of France, history, textiles, beautiful language. It's an art film, written and directed by an older woman, a woman of a certain age. One of the Coppola's, Eleanor, who  in her 70's she decided to direct her first film.

Imagine deciding to do this, to gather other women in a crew, to have the vision, to be courageous enough to ask for collaboration among the cast and crew while defining her vision. And telling her story.

As far as a complete story with a predictable ending, it is more like real life. Leaving questions that are difficult to answer... un-answered.
Leaving it to your desires as to the outcome.
At one point the male lead says to the female lead about her photos... something like... you do not show it all, you allow me to imagine the rest!

This is art to me.
 The collaboration between viewer and maker.
The maker taking the viewer along for the ride on their creative air currents, but the viewer fills in the blanks so that the art becomes personal. Lovely.

And to me it is a love story. It explores love in new ways. There is the love between long time married people, and the spark that can happen at any time between two strangers. Whether fulfilled or not, is not the point to love... it's the spark and the moment, the shared moment.

The poignancy of such a moment reminded me of my husband and of moments before I met him. It reminded me I have also lived and loved. To me, love has nothing to do with youth or appearance, it has everything to do with the unseen that attracts you to take the risk to care about someone. When you love someone, they become beautiful in your eyes, because you see them.

I thought about my dear husband. He understood early that he wanted a happy wife more than he wanted the income she would bring in. He gave up financial security to allow me to finally rest  and become me. I had worked so long at a job that required much giving and little reward. I was tired and he said, not in words but in deeds, "rest with me, I'll shoulder the burden and together we will explore life. Learn who you are and see what you can be, and do it with me at your side"

We are not wealthy nor do we live in grand homes or drive new cars. We don't vacation in France as this woman in the movie. We live daily lives sometimes of excitement and most times of survival. But the love shared between us, that started in a flash at a contra dance, continues.

Like this movie it is an experience of the senses, and there is no one on earth I'd rather go through this life with than my husband. He might not be led to tears at the end of this movie like I was, but he brings me flowers, and he cooks for me when my nerves hurt, and provides for me... and "my dog". He has integrity and kindness. And he is beautiful.
Happy Valentine's to all because love is universal. Not limited to a person or a moment, but universal.

Abstract possibilities

I have decided to work on my nature abstracts during the color challenge this year at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
Remember the aqua piece?
I really love it. Right now I love it more than the Red one I'm still fussing with. Too much red actually but I have a specific goal in mind for these quilts. Anyway...
When I got stuck on the RED piece I pulled out some embellishments and scattered these dragonflies over the aqua piece. 
Pretty 
Lends it depth doesn't it? And focus? 
Then I found this

A quilted three layer scrap from my palm leaves quilt.

LOVE it!

so I played with the possibility of it going with the abstracts.

Oh, and Improv is a technique, a way of working. Abstract is more of a noun, the finished style.
Abstraction is a verb, a way of seeing the world.


So I tried it on this

What do you think? Kind of changes it from water to a mountain landscape now. Do I like the idea of ocean or mountains??? Hmmmmm

It's all wrong on here, and although the colors were pretty on the red piece, it was distracting.

Speaking of the red piece,

 I sewed the center sections and didn't have length enough to piece in the sidewalk across so I had to mix in a bit.
This setting was pleasing to me, but

Mr. Not Afraid of Color said it was too Christmas-y to him.

Blink, blink... really?

Now I've auditioned approx. a hundred other reds and patterns including this...

Which has a sparkle of glitter. I could do some straight line hand quilting with thick threads.
Or mix these two

I believe I want to engage the borders in some way, and this elongates the width. Can you believe this is nearly square? I don't love squares as shapes but these abstracts are what they are.

So I am enjoying the process now.

As I have "just done the work"
meaning going in the studio with the intent to sew, I am seeing a cohesive grouping develop.

 A sort of style.

I used to do whimsy most of the time. I still love to laugh at my art (or WITH my art) but I am growing.

The RSC has taken me out of my comfort zone. I like to work in colors of the season. Red would have felt much better in February, and Aqua this month as soft spring colors are all around us.

That being said




Each abstract work teaches me about art:
1. what I like
2. how to achieve a look
3. how colors interact
4. principles of design and their impact
5. the balance of "follow your heart" intuition and the principles of design (line, balance, color, etc) After all...

fridge art

linking to among others
http://www.conniekresin
http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/
 

Thanksgiving Travels and Theodore's brother

available at Nat. Gallery of Art or see it HERE  by Danielle Krysa

On Thanksgiving our wee family of two decided to visit a couple of museums in Washington.
We are relatively close and they are open for our enjoyment 364 days a year. Thank you for culture!!

I loved the cover of this book! My inner critic is loud and obnoxious. And a blowhard! And doesn't stick to the facts!  It says rude things that are just not true and will interrupt my art journey if I give it the time of day.
Sometimes one needs to show this sort the door so they leave.
Back to our afternoon spent together and looking at art. It's so enlightening to look at things differently. We started after lunch, found a terrific parking place right here!

We went into one of my favorite places (National Art) to see this exhibit.

Drawings for Paintings.
No photography allowed, so no pictures of this exhibit,  I'm sorry to say. Lots of pictures tho!









It was interesting for me, since I like to draw but my critic is mean about them.
I like to paint too.

I make fabric art more often, and have made it from my own drawings at times.
Loosely designed from drawings.

Mostly I draw, then wonder how it would look when painted, then wonder how it would look when quilted.
If I enjoyed needlepoint or pottery I'd wonder how it would look in those mediums. (media?)
I loved seeing sketches by famous artists, and the paintings next to them.

Like me, they felt free to change the drawings when painting. The smallest gesture change made the entire tone of the painting change. Small changes can change things including art.

The drawings were often elementary, dot for nose, scribbles, overlapping sets of hands. Like mine!

Let's consider one painter generally accepted as one of the greats. V. Van Gogh

Hello my talented friend!

Very exciting for an artist to see actual paintings in person that we grew up seeing in print.

A person like me wants to get close, to see brush strokes, how paint is mixed to create line and shadow.

About this one. I noticed the green in his face, the mixing of blue and yellow, reddish brown and white.
The intense brush strokes creating lines I might create with quilting.

Look at the background. Bold strokes. Note the shadows. The intensity of eyes. The crooked nose, shown as it looked to him. A nose someone more ego driven might have straightened in painting. The changing of facts might make a person feel better but honesty is better really. I love the brush strokes on his face too.
I wish I could have seen him at work, making choices, mixing color.

I've had students ask if they could come to my studio to watch me work. My inner critic responded no! Why would you?

They must have admired my work and wanted to learn how I approached choice making. My inner critic is obnoxious. It stopped  communication and we all missed out.

Van Gogh made this painting only a year or so later...

I suspect he was tormented by inner critics. He was tormented with strong feelings for sure. I wonder if he chose nature for his paintings so that he could feel calmer. Again I looked at brush strokes. Each painter handles a brush differently, some blend more than others. This is done with thickened paint really showing the determined strokes of a brush loaded with paint and left very dimensional lines

Bold. Paint tells the story.
 Anger? Determination? Self expression certainly.

Changes of direction leading the eye to go horizontally, then vertically. Color mixed on the brush for shadows. It seems like he allowed for what we might think of as improv. Quick decisions.

This kind of work would require freedom, not returning time and again to "undo" or "redo"

Not attempting perfection.
Laughing at perfection!
Capturing a moment, a light, the wind, ...organic earth.

How did he deal with his inner critic? He was tormented for sure. He felt strongly no doubt. I would have wanted to watch him work too.

 Enthused after seeing so much stimulating art, I used the medium at my disposal, my camera.
I interpreted the moment with this spousie. Using reflection, interrupted line, late afternoon lighting, changing angles I tried to capture a moment.
The fountains and trees are vertical. the mirrored sculpture has lines of metal, inside we are vertical. Inside is also another mirrored sculpture reflection. As are the other people. As is the same sky reflected from the mirrors.
Line on line, intersecting. Muted palette. many subjects within other subjects it reminds me of Escher a bit.

I love the image and while I made the decision to content, angle, subject I made the decisions quickly. I decided what to include, what to exclude, where to stand, when to take the picture. And did it quickly to outrun the critic.

The inner critic could cause me to miss a moment.

We enjoyed the late afternoon light as it drifted away. We walked along the lovely mall toward one of my favorite museums, American History. I have always, from childhood, loved history. I have always wanted to see how people actually lived. Watched them work, sort of.

We were nearing closing time of 5:30. The employees at the entrance were within their rights to be snarly but they were jolly! They engaged me in conversation and made me laugh. I felt in on the joke! One of the group! I belonged there even though we went through security with only 20 minutes to look around.

That's a moving sculpture outside the building. It slowly rotated, eternity, glistening in spots, shadows in spots. Always moving. Always impossibly balanced. Reflecting us in a tiny part of itself. More mirrors.
It's a time for reflection on who we want to be in America. Who we want to show to the world.

each of these following pictures are seen from an artist's perspective.
I include certain subjects. I choose the lighting and placement that you see. You would certainly shoot it differently if at all.

I purposely centered one of our National monuments. One to the man who stood up for freedom and representation. A government that tried to represent all it's citizens. Isn't it glorious? It is to me. I wish I could have watched the founding fathers work.
Enjoy our capitol as evening deepens...

Be Natural Not Normal

You never know where you'll find a change of mind...
Our recent three day trip to the beach gave us a break from routine. I found two little home stores that were full of inspiration.
Would you just look at those round happy faces?!
If they don't make you smile... think about this sentiment:

check out that giraffe wearing a tiara!

Be Natural not Normal
 I want that to be my motto for a while! Or life! 
Adolescents strive to fit in with peers, which is probably an old survival instinct. We separate from parents and pretend to be original while doing  what our friends do.

 I expect some people never outgrow that as well, hoping to find a place to fit into the world. 
That's natural too but carried to an extreme we could lose our unique selves. 

Flowers are natural. 

These flowers are so interesting because they show the maker in them. I recognize them as flowers, but the whimsical aspect shown is from an artist sharing themselves and their view of the world. 

It's really why we make art. 
Self expression. 



Sensing life in some way, visually for instance, and interpreting it from within oneself. 
This little lady doesn't scare me, she intrigues me.

 She says, "don't judge me on looks! I have a baby here, who looks different, like I do. So what?!!"  
Many people will judge a woman's value based on looks, and it makes me furious. 
Okay, it's just a whimsical doll, and I am aware some people don't find Halloween as enjoyable as I do.
 I can only be me, and...
Be natural, not normal

warts and all. 
LeeAnna


 

Crossing lines... Excellence over Perfection

on not being perfect.

Jasmine of quiltkisses. said she might like the look of less perfect machine quilting.
I couldn't agree more, so all the judges out there, look away now.

some quilting on "Reaching...."

It's like seeing brush strokes on old paintings,  like plaster walls with dappled paint,  like rough hewn antique furniture with some dents and signs of having been made by hand. For me, free motion quilting is better when you see the maker in the movement.

I am not a fan of a BSR...or perfection. It's too far removed from the maker's exuberance.
Perfection is just so sterile, cold, machine-made.

There is something about  texture.
 Something about the connection with a maker.

 I have always, from early childhood been in love with making things. My favorite tool is my hands. I love seeing the maker in a finished piece.
Think about it, when you see an actual Monet painting, he touched it. You see where he did. 

My friend Annie commented on my free flowers quilted into Reaching. She asked if I remembered ( in the 80's ) we were told free motion quilting lines were not to cross each other? It was a rule.

Well, here's a little story of connections.
I married in the early 90's, quit social work, moved to MD with my new husband and joined a quilt guild. I had been quilting for a long time in FL and didn't know guilds existed. The first show I entered was a little quilt called "my favorite things". I just had a good time quilting motifs, and swirls and whatever my eyes wanted to see, my heart wanted to feel.

They must not have seen the value in it, as they hung the small piece near the floor in the back.

A woman who would become my friend,  Mary,  came and found me at the show. She said she just loved the rule-breaking, line crossing quilting in my free form quilt. She and I went on to form a 20 plus year friendship that continues despite her move across the country.

Like most of my quilts, that quilt is personal and tells my story. It's the kind of quilt I like to make.  I just didn't care what was acceptable in the quilt world... my style and vision were more important to my work. All my quilts are well constructed, they lay flat, have fairly regular stitches, and I try to follow the guidelines of good design.

I believe one can achieve good workmanship in one's chosen medium, as well as being original and working from your heart. I also believe

Perfection is over rated.

  Excellence is more important than perfection.
 Guidelines are more important than rules.
Individuality should shine through. Originality gives the viewer a peek into your personality.
Any artist should strive for excellence in their chosen medium, but perfection??  nah. 

For more posts on this series of Creativity Roadblocks--Overcoming them CLICK HERE

What will you make this year? (Goals and machines)

Happy New Year to you all!

Do you have any sewing  goals for this year? Did you actually write them down so you don't forget?
Anyone put finish a few UFO's on their goal list?

I have spent several days in the studio, moving things around to sort and see what I have, and clear out some space for three quilt deadlines. I need to figure out how to get back on the exhibit entry circuit this year and take a class on how to use my new SLR camera for entry pictures. I also want to draw more, not to impress but to learn scale and shading. I want to use my books, do more beading, finish some started projects and start more. I want to look through my old quilting magazines and clear off the dining room table. (post on my magazine obsession click here!)

As if that will ever happen.

For me, there is a balance between cleaning up and putting things away, which gives me clarity and space to work... but...the other side of that is forgetting what I have and possibly not remembering where I stored it.

 I have many other goals as well. I finally bought a featherweight so I need/want to learn about the care and feeding of it, and use it to sew some scrap projects  in bee. Under the tree this year were two important black cases...

 One holds the SLR digital camera I need to take a class on digital photography. Hopefully that will lead to understanding of how to take a great picture for quilt show entries. The other case held this...

A 1951 centenial Singer featherweight.
I have wanted this machine for years, toying with the idea of getting a red one, but when a local woman approached our bee with the desire to sell her two I went over to see this one. It needs a tiny bit of adjustment, possibly a new belt and a bit of oil but it is so cool!! I am thrilled.
Now I must allow myself to use it. One of my goals is to learn the care and feeding from my hive mate Lynn and then start a sewin'

Each year I choose a word to explore for that year.
 Last year was ( enjoy another monk photo from last year)   ENJOY

Awe, here's my happy monk, the one who stayed on the mantle all year to remind me to enjoy the moments between the pain. This year he's joined by this year's Snowbaby. I try to get one each year, and didn't display them all this year but this one needed buying.
The gesture of love, the holding of the sweet bear close, the connection between them... had to have it.
Because
This year my word is connection, a verb or connections a noun and goal. 

When a person chooses ( or often a word chooses them)  a word to focus on for a year, it is surprising all that comes up.
 The universe kicked my butt when I chose RELEASE. I won't try to explain all I had to release that year but it wasn't easy. It was good, not easy. 

So this year I hope to explore connections in all forms, connecting to friends, myself, my work, my long term goals, the Earth and my spirituality, and not least of which my husband and poodle. I sure hope those of you here will consider being a part of my process this year!! I have made fantastic friends here. Friendships that can grow and blossom. 
A short story... we went contra dancing New Year's Eve.

  We met contra dancing in Tampa and have danced together in the greater DC area since we moved here about 20 years ago. We have gotten to know many people at these friendly dances but only a few that we see outside of the dances themselves. This year, during a break I bravely approached one of the couples we really like and told her about my word, and that I would love to set up a dinner date with them this year. I feared she would come up with excuses to keep a distance like so many people here do... but she didn't! She said, great! We'd love to. 

It's a start! 

I have written down goals in several categories. One of my goals is to start a link party of my own this year and I sure hope you will come share that with me. I spent the morning developing a quilt to use as the image for the link button!! It's really cool and I'm excited about it. 

What have you been up to and have you set any goals for yourself and quilting??
Thanks for reading and please stay in touch y'all!

Love, LeeAnna
linking to 15 sewing goals  as well as my other faves listed on links page

On fear of following directions

 A friend of mine just had a realization. The discussion was about people who buy and buy supplies to make quilts/art and never use them. Ever.
Now, we all do that occasionally but some people make a science of it.

My friend realized it was more enjoyable to hunt and gather all the supplies for a project,  than to make the project. These are projects in magazines or books. She attributes this to a fear of failure.

 She made me think of this issue in a new way... first of all, that gathering thing is fun, in and of itself. It's like jazzing your imagination. And there are endorphins released during shopping, you know.

Second, of course there is the possibility of failure when you are doing what someone else did, taught, demonstrated, suggested, wrote about.

 It's only when you are doing your own thing, that there is little risk of  failure  as no one know what you were trying to achieve.  (let's not think about  the times a  finished piece doesn't come out like it did in your head, smirk)  If for some reason you don't like a finished project, you can choose to see it as another artistic learning experience, not a failure.

I'm an old dancer, and the rule was if you forgot choreography,  just keep dancing and most people wouldn't know you'd messed up. (This doesn't count if you're a guy and were supposed to catch the prima ballerina mid-leap)

Anyway, there is less chance of failure if you are doing your own thing, than when following directions, which I find increasingly hard to do anyway.Know what I mean??
LeeAnna
playing with scraps, because there is no failure in a scrap!