#the100dayproject - What ? Why?

Some of you may have heard about #the100dayproject ... What is it?

Every year, thousands of people all around the world commit to 100 days of creating at the same time. Anyone can participate . The idea is simple: choose a creative project, do it every single day for 100 days, and share your process on social media using the hashtag #The100DayProject, connecting with other participants and followers of the project.

This year #the100dayproject started on 13 February and finishes on 24 May , if you count consecutive days. Some participants take up to 2 years to complete 100 days of creating!

The first step is usually to decide on a personal project ... this year, I decided to do something simple and late last year, I purchased a box of 100 pantone colour postcards.

As I am also preparing a much bigger project, based on the "exuberance" of colour, I thought this would be a great way to move gently into the project and practise working with various colour combinations.

What I learnt from previous years of participating in this project is that whatever the project is it needs to be manageable and an easy fit into your lifestyle. This year, I have really simplified and fine tuned my approaches to the project - it has to be a process which

- uses materials which are easily accessible, recycled or found :

- does not take up too much space or time, ( ideally 15-30minutes on a small table)

- needs no financial layout ( only the cost of the postcards - no further purchases )

- results in small artworks which can be used/gifted ( in this case posted to friends)

- will help to develop techniques and skills.

My project #100pantonepostcards2022 is exploring colour through collage and stitch.

Every day, the base is already prepared and I collage small scraps of paper and/or fabric (stitched or not) . I use a simple glue stick and sometimes, some matte medium as my adhesives. My "away from home" kit comprises a small glue stick, a small envelope of fabric and paper scraps, a few postage stamps, a needle and black, white and red thread, scissors, a black felt tipped pen and however many of the postcards I need. What I don't have in my small travel kit, I usually gather wherever I am. For the first 13 days this year, I improvised a lot as I was not at home. I used bits of brochure pages, the back of my airline folder, some chocolate wrappers, and tea bags - there were even a few coloured threads in the bottom of my bag!

I have often been asked WHY I do this or what do I gain from doing this project.

There really isn't a definitive answer to why I do this - I think I am the kind of personality who likes a challenge and likes working in series. I also know that I benefit greatly from regular practice and like to commit to a process of improving my skills ( in bursts, at least) .

I also like the process of recording how I feel about the project in a journal , or as is obvious, in this blog.

As I try to devote 20-30 minutes to a daily art practice , 100 days isn’t too much of a stretch depending on the ‘rules’ I set for myself . One year I combined stitching with walking - about 5k daily and another I wrote a haiku to go with each little pin/brooch . I enjoy the discipline, the accountability, and the opportunity to experiment and practise .

The bonus is the sense of community - about 8000 worldwide making and sharing art for 100 days together . This year these Pantone samples are perfect preparation for a bigger artwork … and I will have arty postcards to send to friends at the end of it - bonus ! I think I said to a friend yesterday, if I get 10 good postcards out of 100 , I'll be happy .

In #the100day project nothing is mandatory- you set your own parameters so I guess all participants ( now over 13,000 in the FB group) each gain something different but share the common sense of creativity, achievement and commitment.

Please follow my #100pantone postcards2022 on Instagram @empress.wu.designs or on Facebook @Empress.Wu.Designs

Fish and Sticks : Art Dolls

This week I've been working on fish and sticks .... The sticks are the message stick art dolls which were very popular, attracting some attention and a few orders at the Wise Women exhibition. Each of the message stick dolls are from the Wise Women series, each with her own personality and message of wisdom, handwritten on a handmade timber tag. I gather the sticks during my walks around my neighbourhood and the tags are made from special bits of timber, some collected by me or my husband or from off cuts gifted to us from another doll making friend whose husband makes bagpipes. These dolls start off very simply with a wrap around a stick, in the general shape of a body. 'Naked" message stick dolls - strips of wadding wrapped around found sticks. Then I usually wrap other layers of fabric, wool, and/or fibres, over which I do some simple embroidery. I sculpt or mould small face masks for these dolls. I really like using "sari ribbon" as w...

Lilly Pilly

Today is Australia Day. I chose a photo of some Lilly Pilly berries as a celebratory image for this national day. Lilly Pilly is a common name for a plant, Syzygium smithii which grows mostly in Eastern Australia, from the northern rain forests of Queensland, throughout NSW to the southern Wilson's Promontory in Victoria. In New Zealand it is called "monkey apple, but other names used in Australia, besides lilly pilly, are Eungella Gum and Coast Satinash. The largest Lilly Pilly recorded was found in Dingo Creek Flora Reserve, near Tenterfield where I once lived. The tree now growing in my garden was once a small seedling which I was gifted when I left Woolgoolga, a small coastal town in northern NSW. Its name is said to come from the Aboriginal word 'weelgoolga' describing the lilly pilly which grows in profusion there. It is probably no surprise that the lilly pilly berries are edible as bush tucker, and make a beautiful jam or jelly. I have even seen re...

Fabric Tags for Tag Tuesday

At Tag Tuesday, this fortnight Sandie is hosting the Steampunk/Mechanical challenge. Although this isn't a theme I usually tackle, Sandie's tags are so fantastic and inspirational that I was motivated to create a tag this afternoon. I had some fabrics on my desk which I discharge dyed last week.and this piece with the addition of a few copper cogs reminded me of " industrial and mechanical" . The way the background fabric was created was by applying bleach gel with a roller over the top of a plastic stencil. The fabric was originally a bluish dark grey cotton, When the bleach had removed the colour, the process was halted with a commercial neutralizing solution called AntiChlor. I have been told that a vinegar solution will also stop the discharge of colour and act as a neutraliser. The metal cogs were stitched on to the fabric by hand. Here are a couple of great resource sites for discharging colour with bleach. - Threads ...

Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

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