Its very interesting what people say about this idea of a photo of where they do their thing. It seems to be always apologetic. “its only a tiny room….there’s no beautiful sunlight…..its very untidy…..its only the dining room table and then I pack it away….’

Begs the question…is that what we are looking for when we long to gaze into the inner sanctum? Of course a stream of sunlight is the classical symbol of inspiration but we all know that inspiration for each of us is something different and very personal. Looking into someone’s creative space is not looking into their brain or through their eyes but maybe its the closest we are going to get.

I love the thought of entering something in the Royal Melbourne Shoe. Its so Melbourne, historical, big country townish. I bet a lot of bitching and fighting goes on. Do I want to get involved in all of that? Do I have to? Isn’t it the point sort of? getting along with everyone, rubbing up against people causing friction and then resolving it? I’m in the situation at the moment where I work pretty much on my own. I have ‘colleagues’ like the Squirt and other marketers but we work along side not with, which is quite different. There is a lot of cameraderie in the market scene. But I think this set is definitely older and wiser. For instance when I was taking these photos some of the crafters were a bit stroppy when I said I might blog about it. Some were really interested and happy. It takes all kinds? Well no matter where you go you have to deal with people and they with you.

These photos are full of promise and excitement because I happen to know that Nicky hasn’t ‘done anything’ for a long time, but has recently rented this space and has evidently made a start. When she sent this to me she said that her creative space is not a sun drenched place of enlightenment but a concrete corner in Nth Melb, full of monotone clay. No colours, only texture and shape. But the sun is shining for Nicky in this place. I think from a sewing point of view it must be nice to be able to narrow it down like that. Deal with texture and shape first and then deal with colour. Is that how it works?