A bit of ART a day keeps the doctor away
BONUS article including glimpses into my personal (unofficial!) daily sketchbook 💜
Hi there,
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Today is a bonus issue including glimpses into my very personal (and unofficial) sketchbook as a way to invite you into the imperfections of a daily art-habit.
It’s not about what you make. What matters is THAT you make.
I think we’ve all heard a variation of the saying “XXX a day keeps the doctor away” regardless of where we live in the world.
There are loads of things you can exchange with xxx such as;
X = A fruit
X= A hug
X = A hike
And of course, ART. Or like I love to say in my embroidery academy; a STITCH a day keeps the doctor away.
Oh dear, who’s this nerdy embroiderer you may think… and yes you’re correct about me but only so far as thinking that it’s only embroidery at play here.
The number one reason why the thousands of students that have come and gone through the Charles and Elin embroidery Academy, stitch because it makes them feel better (what about you?!).
I don’t think the key is the embroidery or stitch per se, but more so the act of making with our hands. For others it may be drawing knitting, baking or even gardening (or a combination of all!).
An activity that gets you to activate your manual creativity and not just your brain, (which tends to be on overheat-mode for most of us these days anyway), is essential to feel good.
When I taught Charles, my husband, embroidery for the first time soon 8 years ago, he got hooked because it helped him soothe his anxiety and stress that he battled with at the time. The textural and concrete medium of floss and fabric help to ground you in the present.
I truly believe that we’re all made to create things.
The medium is of less importance, but the act of creating something from scratch and be able to not only witness the journey but to also harvest the fruit of our labor (whether it may be actual fruit, fulfilment of completion or whatever), is crucial to find balance and general well-being.
This doesn’t mean that you have to have extended art activities every day… who has time for that?!
Today my daily art practice looks VERY different to what it did when I first became a full time artist 7 years ago (before children).
As a mother of two young toddlers and next to no child care there’s very limited time to make art for longer stretches.
But that makes it even more important to stick to it
And by sticking to it I don’t mean to stick to long hours… I mean to stick to a daily habit of making.
Some days that means to add ONE stitch, draw one line, write one quote, and other days it can mean entire drawings, essays or even sewing a new dress.
As with most things in life, the only way to be certain to lose, is to not do anything at all. To simply pick up your materials brings you a step closer to an artist life than to merely look at them.
My goal with Petronella.art Magazine is to inspire you to get creative with what you have at hand
Even (especially) when you don’t think you have time for it!
Ps. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
Here are direct links to the pages with the first bonus downloads for upgraded readers:
Slow Dream Life drawing collection (including 3 original drawings PLUS 3 embroidery pattern versions)
Summer in Paris (exclusive access to the June pattern of another dreamy café scenery)
Sketchbook glimpses;
Thank you so much for being here!
Elin, xx
I am a lifelong creator. I can’t imagine my life without knitting needles, embroidery floss, pen and paper. I just can’t imagine it! handwork gifts me so much pleasure and calm and pure joy.
I like this article. It made me think. I have a bit of a problem with the word art. It seems too big a word. Or that is my feeling about the word art. I take pictures with my little camera. I crochet. For me it's in the making. Capturing those fleeting moments. Feeling the yarn go through my hands and seeing the fabric grow. That's not what art means to me. I don't know. Maybe I have to think about this a bit more.