Sculptural Loom Art - Material Musings

 

Come and join us on Material Musings where we look at a selection of Sculptural Looms and woven projects.

We also look at some alternative ways to create the structures with recycled materials, different yarn and ways that I have been able to embellish with jewelry and beading.

We will also look at a variety of projects, and DIY looms for beginners to get started.  Do let me know how you get on this week.

Before You to check out the free resources on:

Using your Fabric to Uplift - Material Musings

 

In Material Musings I look at some of the ways that I use my fabrics and projects both finished and unfinished to lift my spirits or encourage myself.  We know that art heals and encourages and enables you to express yourself when you do not have the words.  I find that even if you are not able to do a creative project then even sitting with your supplies can help.

What are the things that you do when you need to give yourself a lift?

Free Digital Art Papers - Patreon FREE Tier

This month’s free digital papers on my Patreon are inspired by maps, layers, and quiet storytelling. You’re welcome to use them however you like, in an art journal, as collage elements, or simply to just enjoy working with them in your creative activities.

There’s no right or wrong way to use them and you don't need to have completed a project, you can just enjoy seeing how you like working with them, and spend some time playing.

• As an idea for a starting point, you might like to try:choosing one image and use it as a background
• cut out a circle and use it as a focal point on the page
• layer a small section into a journal page in a collage

CHECK OUT THE FREE TIER HERE

If you enjoy working with these papers, my other Patreon Tiers have Digital Art papers available this month as well. You can check out the 7 Day FREE trial and explore the $3 tier for monthly creative invitations, or the check out the $10 tier for guided mixed-media activities.

$3 Tier Paper Kit

What about those Fabric Scraps? Material Musings

 

Welcome to Material Musings, in this episode we are talking about the scraps we often amass in our fabric or paper stash.

I also touch on the broader issues of fast fashion and waste management and the impact on developing countries that deal with the fabric waste of so called 'developed countries' and what impact can we make on a local level.

I share a lot of the projects that used a lot of these scraps and I am looking at many of the ways in which I can make the most of the supplies I currently have. There are time stamps in the description of the video for reference.

Before You Go

Creative Vision Retreat Summit

Art Journals for your Visions and Goals

My lesson airs today for 24 hours

Sign Up HERE

Shopping in your Stash - Material Musings and Creative Retreats

 

Time to go shopping but this time in your own supplies for Material Musings and look at the projects that you have made that might spark your interest again.

Before You Go

The Creative Vision Summit Starts on Tuesday 20th January and is Free to sign up

We have quite a packed 3 days of sessions.  If you can't make it to all of them and would like to go through each of the sessions at a slower calmer pace then consider buying the VIP All Access Pass and you will have all of the summit sessions and bonus resources by each Speaker

Here is a selection of the VIP All Access Pass resources

My VIP Resource is my new course Creative Self Care Kit which is a full course valued at $67 and has over 30 lessons.  It is also a standalone course currently available at the Early Bird Price of $47!

Buy purchasing the VIP Pass you will receive my course and other Speaker resources and additional resources valued at over $1,000 so come and join us and shape 2026 the way you want.

Click her to Register for the Summit for FREE

If you Want to keep the workshops forever? After you register, check out the VIP All-Access Pass — lifetime replays + $688+ in creative bonuses. Use code CREATIVE for 30% off

Walking in your Gifts - Art Journal Page

 

Welcome to the Art Journal page for #secondsaturdayart, I am using some of the elements from our digital downloads (Patreon) along with a photo of Dr Martin Luther King, it is celebrating Martin Luther King day which is later this month.

You can also check out some of the other artists in the blog hop, and while you are there you can take a look at the previous Second Saturday Art that I created which is done is a similar style.

Creative Vision Summit - Coming Soon!! 20th - 22nd January 2026

 

Excited to share that I will be one of the speakers at the Creative Vision Summit

January can sometimes arrive with a lot of pressure - with new habits to form, unfinished goals from the previous year and lots of hastily made promises of tomorrow and the next day - I have done it many a time!

For some people, they enjoy the fast-paced energy. As a creative it can create pressure and cause you to stumble before you have even caught your breath or warmed your muscles up.

But calm isn't "falling behind."  It's often a great place to start, because it is where you can actually think clearly, and at a reasonable pace. 

FREE Creative Vision Summit

Join us and take part in The Creative Vision Summit which coming in January 2026 for 3 days 20th - 22nd January 2026 and is FREE, so you can sign up and enjoy a fresh perspective for 2026. I will be one of the presenters

That's what the HobbyScool Creative Vision Retreat Summit offers - a free, online fresh start that feels steady, grounded, and spacious.

Instead of rushing you into decisions, the summit invites you to:

• Ease into reflection without pressure
• Reconnect with what you want this season to feel like
• Create a vision that unfolds gently, one intentional step at a time

​Choose the kind of year that you want to have and start putting things in place🤩

I'll be teaching Art Journal for Vision and Goals - it is about providing yourself with spaces where you can combine creativity and goal setting and make it more meaningful and I'd love for you to join us.

Creative spaces for our Goals

There are a range of other wonderful sessions for you to check out as well and it is all FREE for the duration of the summit

If your schedule is full, the VIP All-Access Pass is worth a look! There will be lifetime replays + $688+ in bonuses. Use code CREATIVE30 for 30% off. Check it out HERE​

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Learn More about the Summit

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Free Monthly Digital Art Downloads January 2026

The digital downloads are now available for January - available until the end of the month. You can now join us on Patreon as a FREE member with early release and member exclusive posts, behind-the-scenes videos, hints and tips and more, this is a great way to spend some time on yourself and do something creative. You can join us HERE   

Download January’s digital papers for FREE today and the rest of the month on my FREE Patron Tier and use them in your creative projects and art journals. January 2026 papers will be available until the 31st January.

We also have papers released on the paid tiers each month you can check out as well and also see all the benefits that they receive on the different tiers.:

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Creatively Treasured Tier Papers 

Creative Gifts Tier

Creative Talent Tier

I am look forward to creating and connecting with you. Take time to explore what you like doing in your creative journey and begin to make room for yourself. Whatever stage you are at there's always something new to discover and create.

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Wishing you lots of peace, grace, and endless inspiration

​

Amanda xxx

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Reconnect - What Nourishes You? Arts and Wellness Cafe

Welcome to the Arts and Wellness Cafe - Come stay a while and enjoy. The word for the week is reconnect and this word can take a variety of forms which can be explored. 

I have been tempted to eat all the things that I wouldn't normally - like cake.  It always begins with something simple and then there is a slippery slope of indulgence and the consequences that are waiting on the other side.

As we move through different seasons of life, the things we once enjoyed without a second thought can start to affect us differently - we are getting older. 

Our bodies speak more clearly now and the words 'if you can't hear you must feel' whispers, and when we pause long enough to listen, they offer gentle guidance of the consequences of having 'just one more slice'.

There was comfort food, too, bread pudding, cake, and the memories they carry. These foods weren’t just about taste; they were about longing for a time when life was slower, less stress on our then child size shoulders - without a care in the world it seemed.  Food has a way of holding memory, and sometimes we reach for it not out of hunger, but out of a desire to feel held.

But our bodies remember everything - A restless night became a reminder that reconnection isn’t about denial it’s about awareness. About choosing what supports our health and well-being now, not what used to work years ago.

That sense of reconnection continued in the garden. Standing among the trees, listening to birds call and watching plants grow - it is one of my favorite places and brings calm.  I have watched it develop and grow over the years, the garden doesn’t rush, it responds to being tended - daily, gently, consistently. It reflects what happens when we show up for ourselves in small ways over time.

Creativity can be found in these moments too, in the color and shape of leaves, textures waiting to be stitched, or painted. Nature becomes both our inspiration and space of calm

This is your invitation to reconnect creatively - in your mind, body and the spaces that bring you peace, come and join me in the Arts and Wellness Cafe!

Blessings for Christmas and the New Year

Courageous in your Creativity - Get Messy Art Interview

 

I recently did an interview with Claudette from Get Messy Art about my work, creativity, showing up and the messy middle.  Come and join us and join in the conversation!

Before you go - Check out my Free Digital Art papers for December:

Material Musings - Finishing Projects

What creative projects do you have left to complete in your creative space, we think about some of the fabric projects that are crying out to be completed or taken a bit further in their journey.

I share with you some of the things that I am currently working on, and some of the ideas that still need some tender care before they can go out into the world.

For the rest of the month, we shall be focusing on moving the projects on and see where we are at the other end - no pressure!!

Before you go

The FREE papers are now available on my Patreon, You can use them in your art journals and creative projects, along with the digital art papers for the other tiers, check them out HERE

Seasons of Change - Junk Journal Art

 

Check out my previous video for Second Saturday Art! 

This mixed media art journal page is all about fall and the seasons of change. Using recycled paper and various painting techniques.

I bought out my neo colors to add color to the page and applied it loosely

I'm creating an autumn scene in my junk journal and some fun journaling techniques. There are a few artists in the blog hop each month and we take one of the prompts and use it as inspiration for our art that we share.

We will be back for another video for November which will be released on Saturday 8th Nov.  Come and check out The Gathering art journal page. at 11.30 am Saturday.

Would love to know what you are creating in your Art Journal - leave a comment 

Creative Reflecting - Arts and Wellness Cafe

 

Today’s Arts and Wellness Café we take a mindful pit stop to ground ourselves and reflect on our current progress especially around nurturing our creativity and well-being.

What have been your 'words for the year'? And how have you kept them in your focus for the things that you have on your schedule - all the things that we seem to find on our plate or 'to-do' lists.

Continuous learning is important to me and making sure that I keep up-to-date with the latest technology or mixed media technique is something that I include in my 'learning schedule' for the year.

What are the ways in which you reflect on how you have done for the past 10 months and what things are you going to put in place as we bring the year to a close? Join us in the Arts and Wellness Cafe where we can look at how to make the most of the time we have, enrich our lives and be an inspiration to others.

LEARN MORE HERE

Making Zen - Get Your FREE Ticket 27th - 31st November 2025

 

 

What to Do with All Those Scraps? Join Me at Making Zen Online Retreat!

Do you have piles of scrap fabric, loose beads, and leftover threads that you just can’t bring yourself to throw away? You’re not alone! The good news is, I’ll be showing you a fun way to recycle them into something truly magical, a gorgeous stitched creature on canvas - An owl to be exact.

And here’s the best part: this project will be part of the Making Zen Online Retreat, happening 27th–31st October 2025.

LEARN MORE

If you’ve never joined before, Making Zen is a textile/arts focused retreat that brings together nearly 30 talented artists, each offering a unique workshop over five creative filled days. The workshops are free to watch for 24 hours, and is plenty of time to dive in, experiment, and connect with other creatives around the world.

If you don't have your ticket yet, don't worry, it is completely free to sign up on the Making Zen website!  My session will be live for 24 hours, and you’ll also have access to a whole lineup workshops. If you’d like extended access, there’s a VIP Pass available too.

While we’re on the topic, here are just a few reasons why textile activities are so beneficial: 

• Boosts mindfulness – Focusing on textures and stitches calms the mind and reduces stress.
• Enhances creativity – Textiles let you play with colors, patterns, and layers in new and exciting ways.
• Improves fine motor skills – Repetitive actions like stitching and weaving strengthen hand-eye coordination.

So gather up those scraps, save the date, and come stitch with me! I can’t wait to share this beautiful process with you at the retreat.

Sign up for you spot for FREE HERE

Free Digital Art Papers on Patreon - Creative September!

Have you got your Digital Art Papers Yet?

When you join on the FREE tier of my Patreon, you get access to a set of monthly Digital Art Papers.  Here is the current one for the month that you can use in your creative project.  We release the October papers on the 1st October. 

Make sure that you sign up to our FREE Patreon to access the next set of papers and to check the September ones out.

You can access your papers HERE!

Join us for Making Zen - Online Creative Retreat

Making Zen is back on 27th - 31st October 2025 and I am one of 30 teachers

It is a FREE, 5-day online retreat to spark creativity, peace, and connection - wherever you are in the world - with:

- 30 textile artists - check them out
- Beginner-friendly workshops
- Welcoming community of makers
- Dates 27–31 October 2025

My lesson is called Stitched Creatures - we will be taking all of our scrap fabrics - the ones you cannot bear to throw away, beads, slow stitching and a canvas and bringing them together

If you are ready to dive deeper, the VIP Pass is available now with early access to the retreat lessons starting 6 October, ongoing workshop access, and exclusive gifts from all the artists.

I would love you to join us on this fantastic creative activity🤩🤩

You can sign up HERE

Reflective Fabric Adventures - Material Musings

 

Come and join me on Material Musings today as we get reflective over the work we have done on the eco dyeing at the moment.

Unraveled: Finding Balance in the Chaos - Arts and Wellness Cafe

 

Life has a way of unraveling just when we think we have everything under our control. Routines fall apart, and the tidy systems we worked so hard to build can suddenly feel like a tangled mess. But what if “unraveling” isn’t a sign of failure, but an invitation for a change of perspective?

Check out the Video

To unravel is to pause, breathe, and look at the pieces with fresh eyes. It is a time where you can reset or reshape old patterns into something new, something that fits your current situation. We can welcome unraveling as part of the creative process.

In my own practice, I’ve learnt that balance doesn’t come from trying to hold everything together perfectly. It comes from knowing when to let go, when to batch record. Some days it looks like sipping a herbal tea made from plants in my garden.  Other days it’s experimenting or letting stitched work return to nature. It is giving myself permission to rest, knowing that my health and wellbeing will fuel my creativity.

Art reminds us that beauty often comes from the imperfect and the unfinished.

Here are four reflections to think about when things feel unraveled:

1. Pause - Instead of rushing to fix, ask what’s really happening. Is this falling apart, or reshaping itself?
2. Rest as Renewal - Sleep and hydration aren’t luxuries; they’re the foundation for creativity and clarity.
3. Work with Nature - Look to cycles in the natural world. What can you learn from leaves, or seasons about letting go?
4. Find the Message - Your art doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes the “unraveled” pieces carry the most honest stories.

Before You Go....

LEARN MORE

Owl's Art Journal Adventure - Second Saturday Art

Here is a nice little art journal page that I did as part of my collaboration with Second Saturday art.  I thought I would have a play about in my journal What are you working on? 

I thought I might try making this into a stitched piece as well at some point.  There are so many ways that you can present your work, even as a stuffed piece. I have created a small, stitched piece with beads, so a stuffed or stitched one that uses the same colors might look really cute.

Check it out the Owls story at the end of the video.

Get 'Early Release' videos on my Patreon Channel and some Behind the Scenes content.

Playing with Fabric - Having Fun!

 Playing with Fabric and Having Fun

Weekly Material Musings

With September moving fast, things are busy and so exciting  - I am in my fabric element! 

In Fodder School, I’m sharing my fabric lesson as the final teacher for Fodder School 4. All through September, you join me for a month of fabric play and creativity.  We have had so many gorgeous examples of how students have worked on their own fabric - it is wonderful to see how we can have the same instruction and create so many varied outcomes.  You can check them out on my Instagram Highlights

In the first part of the month we dive into ways to work with the fabric.  No experience is needed, just bring your curiosity!  If you’re already comfortable with fabric and mixed media, you’ll have plenty of room to add your own spice to the fodder we make together - in fact it is a must!  we focus on making our fabric fodder and seeing how many different ways we can make marks on the surface with the tools that we have.  I’ll guide you through ways I use my own stamps and stencils on fabric and we make a handmade stamp that you can keep using for future projects.

This month is extra special because I’ve collaborated with Fodder School and ArtFoamies to bring out my very own set of ArtFoamies! I share in a bonus lesson how I use my ArtFoamies on Fabric.   You can also explore my digital stamp sets in my Etsy store if you’d like even more creative tools - I have created a whole series of images that you can use in your creative projects.

ArtFoamies Variations

In the second half of September - which is fast approaching, we’ll take all of the fodder we’ve made and turn them into mini wall hangings, which you can hang as is or put in a frame.  They are also perfect for gifting, or simply adorning your creative space. You will have plenty of extra fabric fodder to keep experimenting in your other projects too - Wendy did a bonus video that shows us how to make a 'Side Kick Journal', which is so calling my name to be made from all of the fabric I have in my stash!  Susanna also shows us how she uses the ArtFoamies she designed in her projects on eco dyed fabric and watercolors.  Some great ideas to play around with.

Sunday Reflections & Material Musings

Sunday Reflections

Sundays are the perfect time to reflect on the week ahead, restore, and refresh your batteries. I’d love for you to join me in Material Musings each week, where I’ll share what fabric projects we’re working on next. It’s a gentle creative space to spark ideas, encourage your own practice, and remind you that making is meant to be joyful and part of your everyday activity.

Wherever you are at in your journey, come and join us and let us stitch, stamp, and play with all that delicious fabric we are sitting on!! 

Digital Art Papers September - Patrons

 

Here are the papers for September's Digital Download on Patreon for the $3 Tier.   If you join us on the $3 Tier you will have access to all the previously posted content which spans 3 years and includes digital and video resources for your creative project.

We have a Free Tier and a set of papers for you to access for the month and a series of exclusive posts and videos on the tier so that you can wet your feet and see how you like it.   

Free Tier Papers 

The aim for the papers are to encourage you to do something creative with what you have and provide you with beautiful imagery that you can play around with.

 

It is very important to find ways in which you can motivate and encourage yourself, especially in those times where you are feeling off or if you want a low energy project or even only have a short time.

The digital downloads are available on Patreon for you to enjoy, why not come and check it out and have a play with the papers.

Find out more HERE