Fly Agaric Mushroom Experiments



Side-view of Fairy-ring 2



After the Blockwork exhibition I had time to think about where to go next, and I am not done exploring the comically otherworldly crocheted fairy rings. After a few days hunched over the hooks I had a couple of dozen new mushrooms to try out the new plan, and here it is: 




Fairy-ring 2 (beginning) 

 



The start of Fairy-ring 2. The mushrooms are numerous, larger and denser packed. Hopefully this will mean that they are not as 'lost' in the rug as I found the mushrooms in Fairy-ring 1 (2009-2010) to be. Inversely, with the new mushroom design I hope that I can still retain the complexity of the 'grass' patterns that I have in Fairy-ring 1. 



The start of rug, and materials (that pile of green strips).







Fairy-ring 1 (complete) and Fairy-ring 2.









It is also half the size of Fairy-ring 1, so I can work a bit quicker and have more time for some experiments in rugging. I will post new developments as they arise, but it won't get made with me just sitting here, blogging about it.

Things to do when dealing with critics.

So far, I have been very fortunate. People may have been laughing at my works in the car on the way home after an exhibition, but I have been spared the brunt of a published negative review, so far, I think. Criticism has been delivered during the formation of ideas and final assessment pieces as I went through uni, and although it sometimes would bring me to tears, I like to think I have grown, and can take some criticism on the chin now, even if as it's being delivered it feels like a slap to the face.
I was led to this reviewers site through that fantastic bitchy craft blog, Regretsy. The story goes, Big Al reviewed a book, pretty positively even. Typos and grammatical errors make me furious.

Two stars, sad face :(.  Putting ourselves out there as creative people is scary, and difficult when something you have worked so hard on is rejected, but let me tell you about the day I learned how to deal with a published criticism (yesterday).

You may feel you were treated unfairly and need to say your piece, but vent to your mum, your partner, your dog!

Posting contradicting reviews on a critics' site! Classy. Do it some more!

And then there is this:

 Descending into madness here:

And here:

Lastly,

And that's the time I learned how to respond to criticism. To see the full public relations nightmare unfold, it is here.