The word fear in relation to tapestry design has come up a lot lately both in the Design Solutions course and in my own work. I’m stuck and have been for a long time. I thought I was unstuck, but still I haven’t started. There is a warp on the loom and a room full of dyed yarn waiting, but the final design decision is something I keep walking away from.
Partly I keep having new ideas. Since ideas are endless, this could mean the tapestry never gets started, so at some point I have to just settle on one of them. The rest of it is just some unfounded worry about it not being good enough!
I’ve heard this same expression of fear from students working through the Design Solutions courses this month. (Is there something in the air?) Let’s have a throw-out-fear day. Or maybe we should call it a take-courage day.
Let’s commit to just trying our idea. Once we’ve worked through something enough to make it viable— it is at that, “I think it is okay but could it be better” stage— let’s just try it. What is the worst that could happen? I weave a 6 foot square tapestry that I don’t love? It could happen, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Much more likely is that I will love it.*
Who is with me?
Evening training hike and a rainbow overlooking Fort Collins and Loveland, CO. Rebecca Mezoff
If you need further courage when it comes to tapestry design, Design Solutions for the Artist/Weaver, Season 2 is open for registration again. The course content starts July 5, 2021.
*Current decision is to move forward with a smaller tapestry with the same idea.