Becky recycles in the mystery sketcher's book

I learned that I like a few boundaries, and when a book doesn't have a theme, I have to work a little harder. It's not bad, but it makes me think. The mystery sketcher had a vibrant geometric tic-tac-toe of patterns that Leigh built upon with likewise embroidery. Betsy collaged  a Degas-like woman covered in keys over a whirling dervish. Where's the common thread???? And so I ended up with a collage of my own that echoed some of their choices. But the real message in it was that  sometimes the best ideas are the ones we've used before. I don't think ANYTHING in the sketchbooks is cheating, but after some discussions with sketchers this weekend, I realized that we all have our internal "rules" we're following. I believe good work can be already-used work, and I made myself do it. Almost every image is one I've drawn for something else at some other time.

Empty Space

I received the The Mystery Sketcher's book two weeks ago, and the art work was a delightful patchwork of designs that I mimicked in this embroidery piece.  Originally, I intended to complete each of the squares with different designs, a way to practice different stitches.  However, I ran out of time, so decided to focus on the four corners, giving myself permission to leave it incomplete.  But then, I decided to look at this piece differently and see the empty spaces as intentional.  I need those empty spaces in my life-unscheduled time for family, friends, and myself-to do with what I want, or to do absolutely nothing at all.

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