In the Mood for a Mood Board

During this somewhat 'blah' stage of embroidery I currently find myself in, I have been playing about with various things to just to keep my hand in stitching and crafting in general. Not to do anything would not for me feel entirely right. 

This relaxed attitude is helping, and I do feel relatively calm about the situation I find myself in, and this weekend in particular I've been feeling pretty darn relaxed. The somewhat forced resting of my feet having had some dealing with this as originally I had hoped to get over to the Farnham Malting's monthly craft market, which has been on my list of things to do since I moved here. But my feet have been awfully swollen lately, think balloon animals and you get the picture. So lots of elevating (except now, where I appear to be sitting cross legged...oops) my legs have been the order of the day.

Bringing this eventually round to my opening title about being in the mood for a mood board.

Earlier this week, in the evenings, I had the sudden urge to rip through all the countless craft magazines I’ve collected that in reality I have either never looked back at since purchasing (sorry Mollie Makes) or have had for a while (Selvedge, Embroidery, Pretty Nostalgic). Where I have been buying lots of quilting magazines, I’ve had to make room for them, and anyway it’s good to have a clear out. I didn’t want to just sling them out, I went through them with the goal in mind to take out projects that I or my friends might want to have a go at, things that I inspired me or loved, and what might be nice to get for the flat. If anything didn’t fall into those three piles, it was to be recycled.

But then what to do with them? It would be easy to file them away for another day, but if I did that I'll just end up forgetting and just slinging them out. 

Well a nice little pile will eventually be winging its way to someone I know will appreciate the patterns, and the rest were mood board and or sketchbook material. In my study /guest bedroom I have two noticeboards one tiny and the other A1 sized. Mostly used at that the time as a bit of a dumping ground of random stuff. Things that I liked to photographs and notes. But never really referenced and rarely changed. 

So yesterday I sat on my floor, cut out the images neatly (stickler for straight lines), I placed, pinned and stuck the images onto the boards. I was focused on colour grouping, and textures..to themes. 

The smaller of the two noticeboards is by my computer, and if I flick to my immediate right I can see it. It has on it things that really in my mind at the moment, maps, quilts, bugs, flowers. Things that I feel are going to come back into my work again...not sure how or where but can feel an inkling. 

Then my massive board, which is just behind me, has larger images, work that I love, styles, finishes and techniques. 

I'm looking forward to adding to it as I go, and hopefully add things that aren't postcards and magazine images to it. Bit of real texture is what it needs. 

Now I know there are numerous ways in which you can create your own mood board, from pocket sized (sketchbooks) to digital (pinterest). Whilst I am a lover of things digital because the things you can find in mere seconds are utterly amazing, I still like immediate visual. I love coming across things either in print, stuff I've doodled and found objects. It's easy, way to easy to get overwhelmed with Pinterest, sometimes I think there is such as a thing as too much inspiration. It's time I think to get back to the basics, stumbling across one thing or a collection, that makes you mind focus. Yes, there are lots of little images on my boards, and yes I have two, but they are in away they have a connection to one another. A central theme, and even colour. 

So now that I have these boards doing what I wanted them when I first got them, I have to wonder why it took me so long to get them like they are now. 

I love them now, love looking at them.

So my questions to you are this; do you have a mood board or whatever you like to call it, what medium do you use to create it, and do you think it helps or hinders you creatively?

Adventure Continues....

Saturday's adventure: This was the first of the days of me hitting the museums in DC, starting at the National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History and National Gallery of Art (West & East buildings). It was a really good way to spend the day. 

The American History Museum was one I have always wanted to hit, but the thing I found was that it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Perhaps they were too high? But I certainly found it was lacking something, and was a little tired around the edges. There were few highlights, and the displays weren't very flattering to the pieces. For instances the Ruby coloured slippers one of the major highlights was in a clear box in an area no bigger than my bedroom. Even Kermit the frog looked a little drab. Perhaps it was the choice of wall colouring but white would have been more appropriate it would at least set the pieces off better than they did. I know as they are fabric that certain lights are appropriate but the wall colour could have at least helped with that. Drab beige never did anyone any good let alone textile pieces. 

I didn't stay long I stopped in the shop and headed off to the Natural History, which thank god was so much better. It was bright and the exhibits were well laid out the highlights been the under the sea and the gemstone exhibits. Whilst it was extremely busy, it was a Saturday and clearly the place to take the kids it was fine and easy to get round. Though the shops sucked but that's okay I didn't need any more magnets....

GIANT squid

Now where the Natural History appealed to my inner child the Art Museums warmed to my creative self. Man it certainly lived up to my expectations. The displays were as good if not better than the National Gallery back in London. The special exhibitions were particularly of interest to me finding an artist I want to learn more about John Taylor Arms. Amazing artist and draughtsman. 

Now this museum isn't just one its two in one. With an East and West wing connected by a spectacular corridor which is nicknamed the Star Trek tunnel by someone I know, it's a light show. Though I admit I was somewhat tired by the time I got to this part of the Museum which houses the modern art collection. But still it was a pretty sight.

Watson & the Shark - this only means something to me and one other person who I have a running joke with them about it. 

Giant Mobile! I wonder if this would fit in my flat.....

Star Trek tunnel - Pretty changing light show

That concluded the day for Saturday, something tells me I did something in the evening but at this second of writing this post (in the departure lounge at Dulles) I can't remember!

Spontaneity

One quick doodle can lead to one quick bit of stitching.

I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I do.

Thoroughly enjoyed this spontaneous spot of stitching.