In this week’s Material Musings, I share some of the ways of incorporating fabric into mixed-media artwork. I use natural fibers alongside paper clay to create 3D sculptures and share some of the figures like “Stilt Walker’s Treasure” and “And Still I Rise.” Alongside experimenting with a self-made fibrous pulp,
I also use natural dyes (henna, avocado, tea), and techniques include wax resist, stenciling, and bead embellishments.
It has become increasingly important for me to consider sustainable sourcing for my supplies, and I experiment with techniques and recycling materials either from my own supplies or thrift stores and also revisit unfinished projects for renewed inspiration.
Layering can be a freeing technique in mixed media,
and every layer tells part of the story, and sometimes, we must let go to make
space for something new.
When I am creating, I find sometimes walking
away and coming back with fresh eyes helps inform the direction a piece might
take. When I come back the whole piece
might change and that’s alright. You
come with new information and experience that will add an interesting
perspective to the piece.
What you can try
Start with an existing art piece or a journal
page. You might even want to try an abandoned artwork. Add something to it: paint,
collage, marks, fabric. Then add more. And then cover part of it up or walk
away and work on something else.
It may feel risky to paint over something you
like or are not sure of. But in doing so, you practice trust. You can always take a photo of the
work before you cover it up. You learn that your creativity isn’t limited.
There’s always more to uncover.
Building the layers
Layering builds depth and often what was once buried peeks through unexpectedly and you begin to see the layers. Each addition
becomes part of the whole, even if it disappears from view.
Don’t be afraid to cover, to sand back, to
glue down. Let this page be about transformation.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Creative layering is an invitation to
trust the process.
Letting go of parts you love can lead to
unexpected beauty.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
There are days when creativity feels easy, and days when it doesn’t. On those in-between days, the best thing you can do is simply keep going, maybe even shifting your focus. It is better to do something than nothing at all. That’s today’s encouragement, show up, even if it’s just for five minutes.
Art is not always about inspiration. Often, it’s about persistence, showing up because your creative self deserves it. Consistency is where the magic lives in quiet, steady effort.
What you can Try
You might not feel like making anything today. That’s okay. Keep your practice light and low-pressure. Pick up your journal and scribble a thought. Smear a color across the page. Rip paper and glue it down. Take one small creative action.
When you keep going, you send a message to your inner artist: “I’m here for you.” That kind of trust and nurturing is how practices grow.
Keep a journal for those small actions, a “just-for-today” notebook. These practices honor the peaks and the valleys of creative life.
Your creativity doesn’t need to be perfect or productive, it just needs you to be present.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Creative practice is built on showing up, not perfection.
Five minutes of art counts remember you are filling the creative well.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Limiting your tools or supplies can be one of the most liberating creative decisions. Today’s challenge is to use just one tool, medium, or material and explore everything it can do. I find it is a great way to really understand all the uses of that tool or supply, and it gives you more flexibility and variation in your work.
Check out the Video - if you find limiting yourself to just one to begin with difficult, just reduce the amount you would normally use. In this video I use some paints and stencils to work on the page.
What you can try
Pick one: a watercolor palette, a black marker, a needle and thread, a gel pen, a single color of paint. What happens when you stretch its use across the whole page or several?
With fewer choices, you are able to explore further. Try making different types of marks. Experiment with layering. Use the tool in unexpected ways maybe your pen mimics another supply, or your watercolor develops unusual texture when layered thickly.
This kind of exploration sharpens your understanding of your materials and deepens your relationship to them. You become more resourceful and imaginative.
You might also notice that limiting your choices frees your brain. Instead of worrying about all the variations of color in your acrylic set which can sometimes be 50+, you get to focus on how many different shades and variations you can get from one color.
Bonus idea: use the same tool each day for a week. Observe how your comfort grows. This practice helps you slow down and appreciate simplicity.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Limiting tools can unlock deeper creativity.
Mastery comes from exploration
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Today we are going to look at ‘mark making’ – It is slightly similar to doodling but you are using additional tools, lids, bottle tops or any other recycled or natural materials. It is a good idea to experiment with some of your tools to see what kind of marks you can get. There’s a special kind of freedom in intuitive mark making, you don’t have the pressure of making “art.” It is creative play and expression.
Check out my journal above to see how I create in my journal.
We are not thinking about drawing something specific, but we are going to make marks. Choose a tool: a lid, a stick dipped in ink, a brush, a crayon, a piece of string – whatever you have and start to make marks on the paper. Try other things like using your non-dominant hand or put on music and respond to it with marks on the surface.
These marks don’t need to “be” anything. They can be scribbles, slashes, scratches, dots, or loops. Fill a page - or several.
Intuitive mark making is like your voice before you have the words. It side steps the need to be perfect and you just have fun. You learn to value the moment and express what you have no words for. You can do it anytime and with any supply.
Once you have a moment you can add to your marks, color them in, cut them up and use in collage, or build a library of patterns and textures that you can return to.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Intuitive marks are expressions of energy, not outcome.
The body often knows what the mind hasn’t said yet, let it speak.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important.
A blank page can be intimidating whether in a
journal or a canvas and can often put a stop to your creative flow. There are
many ways in which you can set up your surface to avoid feeling fearful and
jump straight into enjoying your creative process.
I prepare my pages beforehand and the way I do
that is by using up excess paint that I am using in a project on these journal
pages. Over time you build up these
layers without even thinking about it as you are only using up excess
paint. There is no judgement of these
pages as they are just the foundation.
When you are then ready to work on the surface you already have a
stepping stone to work from gorgeous layers of paint or collage, inviting you
to play.
Check out the video of my process for creating backgrounds. If you put 'backgrounds in the search, it will also pull up some of the other videos I have created.
What can you try?
Next time you are working on a piece do not
discard your excess paint, but find another canvas or papers, or art journal
that you can apply the excess to the surface.
If you want to create a background from scratch
you can also start by gathering your favorite materials: paints, old papers,
tissue, glue, stamps, and stencils. Consider using unusual tools—cardboard, a
sponge, or the edge of a credit card. There are no rules here, just layers.
Creating Backgrounds
Begin with paint washes or collage pieces. Let
the layers dry between steps so you can keep building. Add text, stamps, or
rub-on transfers. Try using a braye in the paint, scratching into wet layers, or applying
gesso to tone things down and then reintroducing bold marks.
There’s something meditative about creating
backgrounds. You’re not trying to “finish” a piece—you’re setting a mood. This
frees you up to experiment.
Keep a stack of these pages ready. They’ll
become the foundations for journaling, focal images, affirmations, or quotes.
Think of them as planted seeds—creative soil waiting to bloom.
Sometimes, backgrounds become the main event.
If you love how a page looks, leave it, you could also photocopy the page for
further use.
Let go of needing each page to become
something right away. Let the joy of creating be enough.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Backgrounds create momentum and break
creative blocks.
Every layer you add is a whisper of your
voice.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Gratitude has the power to change our
perspective. When we pause to notice what we’re thankful for, we shift from a lack
mindset to one of appreciation and satisfaction. It is a great idea to start a gratitude
journal where you can list and reflect on what you are grateful for.
A few years ago I created a ‘Gratitude and
Celebration’ Journal and on a regular basis wrote about the things that I was
grateful for and created a journal page with an image. You can check out the video where I do a flip
through.
What can you try?
Create a gratitude page. You might begin with
a list, a sketch, a series of symbols or images that reflect what you’re
grateful for today. Think of the small things that often go unnoticed - your morning cup of tea, a bird’s song, a cool
breeze and so much more.
Use colors, collage and add textures to
express the gratitude, or frame your words with decorative borders, look at
what you have and don’t hold back.
Return to your gratitude pages often. Over
time, they are great reminders that will take you out of a slump on those rough
days.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Gratitude nurtures joy and strengthens
creativity.
Documenting appreciation deepens its
impact.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Words are powerful, the ones we say to
ourselves, or those we allow in from other sources. We can also stumble upon them unexpectedly
and we can look for ways to find those words that speak to our lives. We can challenge ourselves to make a poem or journal
page using found words and cut them out from magazines, books, or even junk
mail.
You can make a start by collecting these words
that speak to you. Don’t overthink it, if you are leafing through a magazine
and come across a word trust your instinct and put it aside to use it in your
journal and that time when you are ready to play.
Check out the video on creating word plaques - you can add these to your art journal pages or creative projects.
What else can you do?
Arrange the words into a sentence or poem. Let the
words surprise you. You may find a theme emerging or it might be something that
your heart wants to say. You can glue them onto a painted background, write
around them, or turn them into mini word plaques.
Found word poetry can also a form of collage,
combining meaning and language. It is a great way to incorporate text into your
art. It is another activity that you can
do to kickstart a mood or inspire you.
This can also be a way to sidestep writer’s
block or deepen your journaling. Found words become journal prompts, and even
affirmations. They remind us that language is everywhere—and that meaning can
be playful.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Found words can give voice to what you
didn’t know you needed to say.
Poetry lives in the unexpected when you
look closely.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
How often do you try something different in
your creative practice? Maybe today is the day to follow a new idea, to use a
supply you’ve ignored, and I know I have quite a few of the supplies that have
been neglected and that need to be rescued.
The fantastic thing about experimenting is
that it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and learning.Can you give yourself the time and space to
experiment on a daily or weekly basis?
What have you been curious about? That ink
that’s still sealed? That stencil you bought but never used? Pick something
that feels unknown and let it guide your creative play.
In this video I experiment with fabric
Where do you start?
Choose four materials you’ve never combined before—perhaps gesso, watercolor,
tissue paper, and stitching. Or try drawing with your non-dominant hand. Or
swap your brushes for sponges, twigs, or old toothbrushes, think outside the
box.
The goal isn’t to make a masterpiece, it is to spark curiosity. You
might discover a favorite texture, or combination of supplies that you want to
try on a bigger scale.
Document what you learned, there are no failures.Every step outside your comfort zone helps
you to become a more confident artist.
·As you will be doing this on a regular basis, why not dedicate a journal
to experiments. Make it a space where you don’t judge yourself. Let it hold
your trials, errors, and surprises.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Every experiment is a teacher - even the
messy ones.
Curiosity is more important judgement - don’t
hold back.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Doodling might seem simple; it is something we often do without really thinking. When I used to have to sit in work meetings, I would have my note pad making marks in the margin. I also found myself doodling if on the phone to a friend - having a pen in your hand and a scrap of paper enables you to not only make the necessary notes for your understanding of what is being said, it can also help you process some of the thoughts that maybe going through your mind using mark-making.
Check out the video below for more examples
Doodling it holds amazing creative power. I now set aside time just to doodle or ‘mark making’ and in each of my art pieces there are aspects of doodling in the work.
What can you Try?
Start today with a pen and paper. Don’t worry about what you’ll draw. Begin with one line, then another. Let your pen dance freely. Make patterns, spirals, simple faces, or abstract textures. Doodling isn’t about the end result—it’s about the process.
Set a timer for five or ten minutes. Let yourself get lost in the motion. You might find that your mind relaxes, and your breathing slows, and you get totally caught up in the process.
Over time, regular doodling builds visual vocabulary. You’ll find motifs emerging that you can later use in larger work. Flowers, dots, arrows, waves—all unique to you.
Try doodling during a phone call or while you are listening to a podcast. Doodle in the margins of your journal. Let it become part of your daily practice. Don’t underestimate the power of something so small – it has a meditative feel about it that you can embrace. Once you have mastered doodling on paper, try other material. Below I doodle with fabric paints and stitching.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Doodling is a mindfulness practice disguised as play.
Tiny repeated acts of creativity build long-term confidence.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Whether you are using fabric or paper Collage can be one of the
most joyful and freeing practices in the creative toolkit and is a great way to
revive yourself if you are feeling off or need a pick me up.You can get yourself moving with your
supplies fairly quickly - you probably have most of them close to hand.You will need some paper ephemera, magazines,
a few paper scraps, a pair of scissors, glue and you can get so much from a
session. (If you are working with fabric then take out your fabric scraps and other supplies. There is no pressure to create a masterpiece, or
expectations for realism. Instead, let your instinct lead and have fun.
I sometimes use
collage as a way to settle myself before starting my work, I will use
it as a filler if I only have a limited amount of creative time, sometimes just laying
paper down on my art journal is all I will have time for. I will dig out some
of my handmade paper and work on a journal page.I also have the option of being more focused
and working on a specific collage piece if I have more time.
Check out the
following video and see one of the ways I approach collage in my art journal.
There are some other Collage Videos for Inspiration, and you can check them out here:
Today, explore collage
and play with some of your supplies. Raid your recycling bin, pull out
magazines, used envelopes, maps, or even receipts. Look for textures and shapes
that intrigue you – and see how they fit together.
Once you have your
pieces, begin arranging them. Don’t glue anything down right away. Instead,
move them around, overlap papers and see what story might be emerging on the
page.
Collage also teaches
us that nothing is wasted. Every scrap has a second story to tell. You can also
use the opportunity to explore visual storytelling. Create a page that feels
like a dream, write between the layers, add figures you have cut out – go with
the flow of the piece and see what you can combine together.Remember to have fun and see where it takes you.Let this page be loose and do not judge. You
don’t need to explain it to anyone not even yourself.
Takeaway Nuggets:
Collage transforms everyday scraps into
artful meaning.
Trusting your intuition opens up wonderful
creative surprises.
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Check out some of the free and paid resources below to enhance your creative journey
Course Platform - there are a variety of FREE courses and resources for you to use in your creative practice.
FREE Tier - Patreon - I have a Free Tier on Patreon that has a selection of early release posts and monthly Digital Download Papers for you to use in your creative projects - Learn More Here
YouTube - Weekly Videos to encourage your creative practice, Slow stitching, art journaling and Artists chats - Learn More Here
Check out Filling the Creative Well which helps you establish your creative practice. In the course Filling the Creative Well, your journal is also a place to answer questions, encourage and motivate you, some days you need a reminder and so filling it with encouraging words so that you can come back to it, especially in those days where you are in a valley is really important. .
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
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