craft show update

reporting back from Craft Happy, Fremont...the show was FUN! a smaller venue and less foot traffic, but a success nonetheless. My magnets were a hit and I received several compliments on the journals I hand embroidered. Our table was fun to design and we also received many kind words on the cuteness of it all. Sylvia had these incredible handmade birds and eggs, which got the attention they deserved with all the awwwwe's and squeals of delight. She had this ingenious idea to make covers for kitchen mixers too and I hope to one day have one of my own.

We also had a last minute art show on our wall. Sylvia came up with the project --we used 3 of each others photographs to make a minimum of 3 pieces of artwork in 24 hours. We titled the show "Limits" to emphasize the limitations we set using these photos as departure points/inspiration. Sylvia is full of great ideas like this and I had to thank her for lighting a spark back into my creative being...This is the first real series of art that I have made since graduation! (that's 2 years and waaaay too long) It was interesting to see how my body tensed up and then loosened as I got further into art making process. It was also interesting to see my color pallet and use of animal imagery were alive and well as they came right back into the creations I made without hesitation.

I am exhausted but elated. I plan to regroup and use the fact that I have plenty of left over stock to set aside craft time for art time.

off to Sonoma tomorrow to celebrate 2 years of happy marriage.

until soon!

x

new inspiration

I am so inspired by Amy Karol, who is the author of the latest book I am devouring, called 'Bend-the-Rules Sewing'. I recently traded sewing books with a friend, after she turned me on to Karol's craft blog, 'Angry Chicken', and was bestowed with this gem of a read. Not only are the projects and tips for sewing just down to earth and fun, but the photographs and illustrations are so beautiful that I am inspired to get cracking on my own work again!

I love how inspiration takes you away out of nowhere. I also love how what inspires me about her work is that she can do it all and it works! She is a painter, designer, seamstress, mother, textile artist, author and just overall a fabulous writer and is quite genuine.

In the midst of all the other projects I have going, I would like to take my time learning to sew, while working on my new series. My new series had it's own moment of inspiration when I was at a cafe and saw an illustrated poster on the wall with flowers and spices.

I love maps. I love diagrams. I use them in my art. This time I want to make the art more personal. Maybe make my own diagrams about my life. I also love to collage and draw or paint on top of it. So somewhere in the 'what I love' category and the 'what inspires me' category I am finding my way back to my practice. this is merely part of my process.

I am itching to get going. Sometimes the inspiration phase needs to be jumped on before it goes away. But I will be looking at art this weekend which will keep it near. then next week while the hubby is off to LA I think I will start the next phase of this process, which is sketching. Not my favorite phase since I tend to be so ahead of myself that I want the art DONE. In an effort to be as present as possible with my process, I think I will just take my time. After all, art does take time. all of life/things take time. It's so hard to live in a society that forgets that time is precious and the difference between something mediocre and something special is taking the time to do it right.