Paralyzed by the Blank Page
Plus - a happy bear, a prize-winning quilt, and a cute pig with a huge, kissable snout
Did you know that every time I sit down to draw I’m completely paralyzed? I stare at the paper (or screen) and think, “I have no idea how to draw.”
Every. Single. Time.
It’s ridiculous! I’m a professional artist! I’ve drawn for applique and embroidery patterns, for fabric designs, for prints and for fun!
Sitting down to draw should not be a thing that induces panic, but here I am.
Every. Single. Time.
It’s not just me. The author of several very successful books once told me that every time she starts a new book she’s convinced that she can’t do it again. That her previous books were somehow an accident.
An artist friend once told me that sometimes the white page is so intimidating that he’ll smear some charcoal dust on it to “scuff it up a little” so he feels like he can paint on it.
The thing I’ve learned is that (for me) it takes a little shove to get over that initial paralysis. A little extra energy. And sometimes I just don’t have that energy.
Then what do I do?
Well, I can always pull out my phone and scroll for an eternity. But that never feels very good.
I can skip the creative work and procrastinate by cleaning my house. Ha ha ha! If you read last week’s Sunny Pages you know that never happens.
I can give myself a break and acknowledge that the drawing isn’t happening right now, but I can still do something creative. Preferably something where I’ve already got a running start.
That’s what I did with the free wallpaper for March. The cute little piggie who greeted you at the top of this newsletter started as the Padgett Pig applique pattern, newly rendered in my favorite cut paper collage technique.
(Paid subscribers got a printable version of that cute pig in four different sizes, plus a PNG with a transparent background so they can drop in any background they like. You can upgrade to paid and find those downloadable files - plus a few other goodies - in the archives.)
Sometimes I use this same idea - starting with something already there - with a stitching project.
I just finished a new quilt. Yay!
For this kind of project I don’t do any applique. I order two yards of one of my fabric designs printed on organic cotton sateen, layer it with batting and two yards of coordinated backing, and then do big stitch quilting around each shape.
Easy peasy!
(Some people say it’s a “waste of time and effort” to hand quilt a cheater quilt. To them I say, “Pfui! It’s my fabric, my thread, my hands, my time. I can do whatever I want.”)
This, to me, is as relaxing as coloring. In fact, I think of it as coloring in slow motion. With a needle and thread, of course. 😁
I don’t need to make any decisions so there’s zero pressure. I just choose a thread color that matches the shape I’m outlining, and then it’s endless running stitches - the easiest stitch there is. I love the little sound the eye of the needle makes when it pops through the fabric, followed by the soft hiss of the thread as I pull it through. I love the feel of the fabric and thread in my hands, and the play of light on the surface. No thinking, just enjoying the moment and the repetition of thousands of stitches, filling the surface of the fabric with texture. It’s as close as I get to meditation.
Want to give it a try?
This is the fabric I used, but any large scale print will work. I’ve done the same thing with this fabric, and I have several other “cheater” prints here.
My favorite batting is Warm & Natural. I wrote a review of it here.
There’s a video here showing how I do Big Stitch Quilting.
I really like using Sulky Petites 12 wt. thread for this kind of stitching. It comes in loads of great colors, doesn’t need separating, and comes on neat and tidy little spools. I review the thread here.
After you stitch the entire surface, you just need to bind your quilt. There’s a video showing my favorite method here.
Happy stitching!
If you know someone who’d like to read this, please share! 🥰
How I’m Spending My Time
At Work. . .
A new month means a new pattern in the Funny Faces Quilt Block of the Month Club!
Meet Beckham Bear.
You can join the club here. Use the discount code SILLY to get the first month free.
Coming next week - Cassidy Cow!
Behind the Scenes. . .
This Thai Green Lentil Curry Soup is one of my favorites. It comes together quickly with mostly pantry ingredients (except the fresh cilantro) and it’s perfect for a chilly, rainy day.
Oldies but Goodies - and SALE
See the oldies but goodies (and what’s on sale!) from week ten of the year here. My favorite this week is very timely - a tutorial showing how to give your bunnies ears that stand up - but are still soft.
Perfect for Easter sewing projects! 🥰
Sale
The Week 10 archives post has a mix of tutorials, free patterns, and patterns for sale – and it really is fun seeing a progression over time. Use the discount code 10PIGGIES for 20% off any patterns linked to in the post.
Four patterns are on sale this week. Find links to each pattern in that archive post.
Partner Sale - Spoonflower has 40% off all fat quarters through midnight tonight.
Awesomeness from the Community
Congratulations to Denise! She won a ribbon for her gorgeous quilt made with the Woodland Critters pattern! (You can see Denise with her quilt - and her prize! - here.)
Head over to the Shiny Happy People group on Facebook to see what people are making with my patterns—and to ask questions and share photos of your own projects. It’s my favorite place on the internet!
I hope you have a fabulous week!
Best,
Wendi
PS Nastasya Shulyak’s little felted creatures make me smile every time. Read a short article about her here.
Hello Wendi, I like what you wrote about the quilt you hand stitched. I really want to learn big stitching although I most likely am doing that now only because of my eyesight. I'm legally blind, but still have enough center of vision to be able to sew. so glad I can refer back to your references, in this post you just made in regards to doing big stitching, right choices, and fabric and so forth. I have a few of your patterns already and I'm in the process of waiting for new lenses for my glasses to be remade the first pair of lenses were wrong. It's so aggravating I can't do any sewing at this point. But when I can I sure will take a look at the few patterns I have and get started. Or maybe start a big STICTH quilt. Either way I'm glad to have joined your site. Thank You for all the effort you put into all of the posts .
I signed up for your classes a long time ago but don't know how to access them. I would like to see them.