problem solving

I was thinking this morning about the nebulous and strange process that is getting inspiration for embroideries. So how does it happen? Where do my ideas come from?

Usually my inspiration comes through having a problem to solve. It could be as simple as the fact that I need to make an embroidered lampshade for my new niece. Or it could be that I have a class coming up and need a new project to teach. Each year I need a new Christmas decoration design.

Sometimes I see a gorgeous thread and want to find a way to use it. Something about the colours or feel of the thread may just spark a gem of an idea, such as “Oooh, that would be perfect for Hardanger embroidery.” Which then means I have a new problem to solve: wanting to design a Hardanger embroidery with that particular thread in mind.

So I guess that mostly its about problem solving – working within a set framework to come up with the best solution possible. The framework may be an embroidery style, or a length of time in which I need to get the project done.

So let’s go through my ideas for my niece’s lampshade.

• I purchased a lampshade from my local shops. It already has a shade on it, but I will remove this an re-cover it with my own embroidered fabric. Shape of lamp decided.
• I asked my sister what colours she’d like me to use and she showed me some other decorations from my niece’s room that she’d like to match. Colourscheme solved.
• In my mind it was a given that I’d do it in shadow embroidery, because I find this an effective style of embroidery for lampshades. Embroidery technique decided.
• I considered motifs and as I have just recently completed a curtain in shadow work featuring butterflies, I liked the idea of reusing butterflies. Motifs settled upon, though not actually designed yet. I’ll probably use much simplified butterfly designs than were on the curtain because the curtain was much larger than the lampshade and therefore could be much more detailed.

Of course, all this is without having even done anything much other than think, so a lot could change during the actual process of making! But these are my starting points.

By the way, I apologise for my lack of post yesterday. I wasn’t very well, and its very hard to write something interesting and useful while you’re asleep! 🙂