Creative Sparks

Julie Coghlan

We exist in a state of lockdown; our meetings are in a virtual world and yet we continue to inspire, encourage and support each other through the ether.

Our restless search for creative sparks has sent us in some surprising directions:  for Julie, the monthly challenges have provided the impetus for change, adopting a more experimental approach.  Gemma has used Instagram to reflect on her early City and Guilds work and find new inspiration in favourite pieces.  Sue has found that participating in on-line workshops has pushed her to try some novel techniques: who knew that a scrunched up piece of paper could become the foundation for new work?  But it is a book that has provided the lightbulb moment for Linda.  She has adopted the mantra of  'just do something' without judgement and without the artificial pressures of briefs, deadlines or commercial viability.  It has, she says, allowed her to be herself. 

By coincidence, I follow contemporary embroiderer Sarah K Benning and she has had a similar epiphany. She describes her experience with startling frankness in her blog SarahKBenning.com Puffy Patchwork Pieces/Some Reflections.