Tien Chiu

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What’s around the corner?

I’m debating what to do next, now that the Celtic Braid Coat is done.  I have the book blog well under way, but it’s not a craft project and I’m really not happy unless I’m working with my hands, so I need something more physical to work on.  I have a class in three-dimensional design starting up September 25, so I don’t want to do something too all-consuming.  I see four likely options:

  1. Work on Phoenix Rising.  Attractive since I’ve sunk considerable time and energy into it already, and it’s a really cool idea, but I’m not sure garments are the way of my future, so do I want to continue diving into this or explore new things?
  2. Continue exploring katazome (and other forms of stenciling, screen printing, etc.) on warps.  A subject of great interest to me, but unlikely to produce a finished project any time soon.  I’d like to be working on a Real Project fairly soon, not just another set of samples.
  3. Work my way through some exercises in Finding Your Own Visual Language by Jane Dunnewold, Claire Benn, and Leslie Morgan, with the intent of getting more experience in design, and, well, “finding my own visual language”.
  4. Learn to draw.  (No, really, for real this time.)

The real question, honestly, is whether to take up another Big Project now that the Celtic Braid Coat is done.  I’m not sure I have the emotional energy to manage a project of the size of Phoenix Rising while writing a book AND taking a class on design; it really requires concentrated focus to pull something of such complexity off.  A series of smaller projects might be wiser. (Not that I have ever been known for that type of wisdom!)

Much to consider!

Fortunately, I’ll have plenty of time for consideration.  I’m going on vacation at the end of the week – flying out to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, and visiting with friends and family before going to Complex Weavers Seminars at the end of the week.  I fly home Sunday the 16th.  (Mike and The Fuzz will be holding down the fort in my absence.)

I think the time off will be good; it will give my thoughts time to settle!

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