tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283900520232568722024-03-14T11:53:34.613-04:008 that createTextile and mixed media artists share their work, inspiration, and more.jane dávilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01154488051571156643noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-40962582627914454252015-02-06T13:01:00.002-05:002015-02-06T13:01:42.314-05:00winter textures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have been thoroughly snowed in and iced over here in the New York tri-state area. Some of my outdoor Christmas decorations are now staying probably till the end of March as I would need a sledge hammer to get them out any earlier....<br />
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Despite the severe weather now, I love winter and am always photographing all the stunning scenery that nature provides us. And even though my usual art fodder is architecture, nature still inspires me and if nothing else gives me a reason to play around in one of my favorite mediums - Photoshop.<br />
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The following photos were all taken on the fly with my phone and then played with in Photoshop. I can't even begin to keep track of all the different filters, saturations, transformations and layers that these photos have gone through. But I can tell you that I had fun playing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVx5g4nSgbT21kabujGSRcSjTD9t7LrkdkL5WP95hZENULxXEl4gaWWZnwahpmmbZnvAfkWJhXaN2cOArHwVUP9EUTlXayXYNaQS59VzMRL6aJZn44gF80aNiW1Qcg7ZOJDJ8_t1ry_4/s1600/Aikens.IcyLichen.before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVx5g4nSgbT21kabujGSRcSjTD9t7LrkdkL5WP95hZENULxXEl4gaWWZnwahpmmbZnvAfkWJhXaN2cOArHwVUP9EUTlXayXYNaQS59VzMRL6aJZn44gF80aNiW1Qcg7ZOJDJ8_t1ry_4/s1600/Aikens.IcyLichen.before.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icy lichen before the snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfk5U0ZbA6env59xdlb7oiZA2DnnzSy8KYeKmCoGXNMcZ6dyisOPyFJzGyKsR3bfI2Z-IIX699JZB80da_g_zGD7SL2CN9XYFyoY9EpJQvqLCC55I-KiJgE6jXRwGcK4jy56pP0hjVBg/s1600/Aikens.IcyLichen.after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfk5U0ZbA6env59xdlb7oiZA2DnnzSy8KYeKmCoGXNMcZ6dyisOPyFJzGyKsR3bfI2Z-IIX699JZB80da_g_zGD7SL2CN9XYFyoY9EpJQvqLCC55I-KiJgE6jXRwGcK4jy56pP0hjVBg/s1600/Aikens.IcyLichen.after.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icy lichen after I was done with it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGPG4jYJqJM2GszB30kMwBXhm3boCMZzPjnWmhidhj1WfCZnC_d96t20ZYTpI-lsapMrnWuzHYMqCOcJfz1TavjHV6C_1IVfu-kDqUxu9E3CcUsWthipqWs_AXgdjmH9B4qBfATlty1s/s1600/Aikens.SnowyTriangles.before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGPG4jYJqJM2GszB30kMwBXhm3boCMZzPjnWmhidhj1WfCZnC_d96t20ZYTpI-lsapMrnWuzHYMqCOcJfz1TavjHV6C_1IVfu-kDqUxu9E3CcUsWthipqWs_AXgdjmH9B4qBfATlty1s/s1600/Aikens.SnowyTriangles.before.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snow patterns on outdoor furniture</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe3pZHeuwSIPbtiKkDkX8SNpg24MXJF25bB1EMtw0IbP974oBGZ9yL8jKweDNklWkWKUAu82oVAoa_ItO2M5vBvcBktsANU42Gnx7Sj6QW9143zIs59BOiL6diBAguWV6IS7w-xzn-QI/s1600/Aikens.SnowyTriangles.after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe3pZHeuwSIPbtiKkDkX8SNpg24MXJF25bB1EMtw0IbP974oBGZ9yL8jKweDNklWkWKUAu82oVAoa_ItO2M5vBvcBktsANU42Gnx7Sj6QW9143zIs59BOiL6diBAguWV6IS7w-xzn-QI/s1600/Aikens.SnowyTriangles.after.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snow patterns photoshopped</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB8QiCWVxjQrKFHt7n68i52DhNLEozyrQwRsH7IaGPVWq1iFXh4kPToSEKkzWiHu8KJ8GCTkY_70Xe9fnXOUpvzoiYO8yHYZyr8Du_XGAKCBhNfwX1M7Y4-sLvim_EgdH1xOFdFnt4sY/s1600/Aikens.Trees.before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzB8QiCWVxjQrKFHt7n68i52DhNLEozyrQwRsH7IaGPVWq1iFXh4kPToSEKkzWiHu8KJ8GCTkY_70Xe9fnXOUpvzoiYO8yHYZyr8Du_XGAKCBhNfwX1M7Y4-sLvim_EgdH1xOFdFnt4sY/s1600/Aikens.Trees.before.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful snow capped trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNbJm-_W7yhyphenhypheng-0_XAsRuusHpH85u0Ib_Ojb0WXp-gc9HtIf4dmYobSiLuCn4kHRq_Syd0fGJkujz8vZ-AbUdvwtdvaS7-GMAkPzpMOmua2huk3yYcVPE6ERp8LCMykHRm1RZL9Qb9oc/s1600/Aikens.Trees.after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNbJm-_W7yhyphenhypheng-0_XAsRuusHpH85u0Ib_Ojb0WXp-gc9HtIf4dmYobSiLuCn4kHRq_Syd0fGJkujz8vZ-AbUdvwtdvaS7-GMAkPzpMOmua2huk3yYcVPE6ERp8LCMykHRm1RZL9Qb9oc/s1600/Aikens.Trees.after.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snow capped trees digitized</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLW0QhWO-vF6LG8TOGc-BwN-emMRrUieYyNHczyPUPU3V0PawSMKE5jGERuW93Bd6AnLe-8ddpj99XEDLM0sNQ_ddQrti04cR9Xmzaa8uPz81fByhnysEnUxjA58zFMlkrENwcknyygZM/s1600/Aikens.Icicles.before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLW0QhWO-vF6LG8TOGc-BwN-emMRrUieYyNHczyPUPU3V0PawSMKE5jGERuW93Bd6AnLe-8ddpj99XEDLM0sNQ_ddQrti04cR9Xmzaa8uPz81fByhnysEnUxjA58zFMlkrENwcknyygZM/s1600/Aikens.Icicles.before.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icicles into snow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19PizaOS9PMkUliFbMPec0KtoBNMODIwG1IUxFiNh8VQhVelARsVMoeMJEinb9Es1WIF0qN_l_Yg8Wd6VnOLZEMSRUqeTH0QcB90JPtQVxjlTEsb8OzfkXpzsENQ-MlSl3mmpPSCmblo/s1600/Aikens.Icicles.after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19PizaOS9PMkUliFbMPec0KtoBNMODIwG1IUxFiNh8VQhVelARsVMoeMJEinb9Es1WIF0qN_l_Yg8Wd6VnOLZEMSRUqeTH0QcB90JPtQVxjlTEsb8OzfkXpzsENQ-MlSl3mmpPSCmblo/s1600/Aikens.Icicles.after.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">icicles maximized</td></tr>
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So what should I do with these now? The thinking cap is on. Perhaps one day you might recognize one of these in my future artwork. Or not.<br />
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PS in March I'll be teaching a Photoshop based 5 day <a href="http://www.fiberartworkshops.com/fiber-art-workshop-instructors/NatalyaAikens.htm">workshop</a> at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. Come play with me!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-80170051775079440762014-11-25T12:53:00.001-05:002014-11-25T12:53:36.054-05:00On CritiqueI was thinking about critique the other night. The art center I belong to has a monthly crit group and I decided I should participate. But what to bring?<br />
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I am working on a large quilt for my Security Blanket series. I hesitate to bring it for several reasons. The first is because I am adding some appliquéd shapes and I don't want them to get crumpled or misplaced in transit. The second and more important reason is that I feel like this piece is far enough along that I am committed to it for good or bad. There is no turning back. I'm not proud or happy that I feel that way about this piece (I recognize that it's not a position of growth), but I do.<br />
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I could bring a few drawings from the life drawing sessions I attend. But those are never really meant to be finished artworks, just exercises, so what would the point be? Of course, I could probably get some insight on avenues to explore in future drawing sessions, so maybe I should bring my sketches one of these days.<br />
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I decided to bring a collection of hankies I am altering for my Army Wife series. I feel pretty solid about the basic premise, but I'm not sure how best to present them. The crit group could help me with that, and the hankies are not so far along that if there was input that could potentially change other aspects I wouldn't be able to implement it. The other artists at the session did indeed have some great ideas about how to present this work, and confirmed that I was on the right track. Next month I promise myself that I'll bring something meatier to crit!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/15860458401" title="Momento of an absent loved one by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Momento of an absent loved one" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7473/15860458401_14f6ab7149.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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All this agonizing over what to bring reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend a while ago about critiques and Show and Tell in general. It is often difficult to share work in a forum where people might question it. That questioning is often taken personally. My answer to my friend's query how I dealt with criticism was that art school taught me to develop a thick skin, not take it so personally, and to take what was helpful and ignore the rest. She asked what our art school critique sessions were like.<br />
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To tell the truth, I can't remember. I remember the lessons I took away from them, but I don't remember the format or my feelings at the time. I think it was pretty simple. Put your work up on the wall (everyone's at once if I remember correctly), and then one by one we explained what it meant. These were design classes for the most part, so there was usually a list of "client" needs we were to have addressed. Then the instructor and students talked about what in each work addressed those needs and what wasn't so effective. There were what-if questions too about color and compositional choices and type faces and the like. I don't remember ever being completely crushed by anyone's comments. Disappointed maybe, but never crushed. And there was almost always something that could be changed or applied to the next assignment. Maybe it was because we were all relatively equal -- similar ages, at the same place in school, all good enough to have been accepted into the school in the first place, etc. Maybe quilt guilds and art quilt groups are too varied in experiences to be comfortable places for hearing opinions (and it is all subjective opinion) on one's work.<br />
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As uncomfortable as they can be, I think critiques are important for growth. I think they can be effective even if it's as simple as a group of friends one is comfortable with, or if it's a more formal setting. And let's not forget the self critique. Is my work good enough? Am I relevant? What can I change to make the work better? Eternal questions, I know. But critique can help me find an answer, at least temporarily.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-19990728118756136952014-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-28T08:00:08.602-04:00Heading to Houston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1KQxGO8dqMwaFTdBPoNL5980MOKnCmfbiFpc-MR23mNwpsg6719GZ-yp3pp8vpW6xMMJmyTOQr8Lm5UrpLa1lEwsRDe66uzBg8YJekEVJzMKIS2APjS67QIJytQyxnGMP89f0cauiM8I/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1KQxGO8dqMwaFTdBPoNL5980MOKnCmfbiFpc-MR23mNwpsg6719GZ-yp3pp8vpW6xMMJmyTOQr8Lm5UrpLa1lEwsRDe66uzBg8YJekEVJzMKIS2APjS67QIJytQyxnGMP89f0cauiM8I/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm heading off to Houston tomorrow for the annual Quilt Festival.<br />
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I have mixed feelings about where I belong in this show.<br />
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It is predominantly a traditional quilt show, and the majority of attendees appear to be looking for quilts recognizable for use on a bed, and they're looking for fabrics, threads, patterns, and gadgets that they may not have seen at their local quilt shops. That's not to say that art quilts are not represented. SAQA always has a large exhibit space and at least one more special exhibit has art quilts for inspiration. But it's a quilt show, and that's very different than a museum or gallery show. That's not a bad thing, it's just that as I personally see my work fitting in to more of the latter, I wonder why I'm so attracted to the former.<br />
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As I move beyond just looking at the exhibits to hoping to have work in them, or maybe even to finding other textile-related ways to share my talents, I see many of my peers gravitating less towards the Festival, but to the Quilt Market where new fabrics and other products are introduced to shop owners and the like. It seems more and more to me that's where the real networking and opportunities happen. But I don't think it's where networking for textile art exhibits like I imagine for my work happens.<br />
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So what am I looking forward to this weekend? Inspiration! I love a good quilt. I love to see what people do with fabric. This year I have a quilt in the annual Dinner@8 exhibit. That's reason enough to go, as I like to see my work "in situ." I thoroughly enjoyed the year the Twelve by Twelve group I belonged to had an exhibit (photo above). It was great to see our work together and it was fantastic to get to know these internet friends in real life! I'm looking forward to the socializing. I get to spend time with a good friend and experience the show with her. I also enjoy meeting other enthusiasts who I may only know from our mutual blog reading or work admired in other shows. Shows like this one in Houston are also a good chance to volunteer for the organizations we benefit from. I always spend some time at the SAQA table where I not only get to meet other SAQA members, but I get to share it's benefits with potential new members or simply those who admire the variety in SAQA's exhibits.<br />
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Even though a quilt show may not be the best venue for my own work, I hope to return energized about textiles in general. And I hope to have made some new connections because you never know what might lead to something interesting.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-47449208109268421352014-10-19T23:16:00.001-04:002014-10-19T23:19:25.165-04:00Experiments in MinimalismI just finished up a class in Minimalism/Reductive art. It is quite fascinating and much more difficult than it looks. You can find minimalism in all forms of art expression from traditional painting to contemporary film, video and music.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmeeGoRKsHpUlmQg9wFCOWsfaLOUZoiw6SG_VHaVMxLyEpIh9UNmyfatyn4XA_rhnTpVpczO-9MnA5NBKl6vOxhyphenhyphenLifr8OK6sVe65Kcv-haaCxE54FtPihr5g5QkXpUraGGvhLvNvMaQ/s1600/kettle-art-(1-of-2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmeeGoRKsHpUlmQg9wFCOWsfaLOUZoiw6SG_VHaVMxLyEpIh9UNmyfatyn4XA_rhnTpVpczO-9MnA5NBKl6vOxhyphenhyphenLifr8OK6sVe65Kcv-haaCxE54FtPihr5g5QkXpUraGGvhLvNvMaQ/s1600/kettle-art-(1-of-2).jpg" height="107" width="400" /></a></div>
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5 Red Squares by Liz Kettle</div>
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Minimalism began as a reaction to abstract expressionism. Basically a bunch of artists got together and wrote out the manifesto or rule book for Minimalism. These artists, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin and <span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Sol LeWitt among others decided that they wanted to create an art movement that embraced an absence of expression and create art that was </span><span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">objective, </span><span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">non-referential, and kept the hand of the artist to an absolute minimum. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">The characteristics of Minimalism include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">1. Simplicity of form</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">2. use of monochromatic palette or primary colors</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">3. an emphasis on pure shape</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">4. removal of any appearance of composition</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">5. keeping true to the materials and often employing industrial materials or mass produced supplies rather than 'art' materials.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">We had lots of great discussion in class if true Minimalist art is even possible to achieve. We all worked hard to question where the fine line was between abstract and minimalism. At what point was there that one thing too much. Everyone in the class produced great work from a variety of mediums including a couple videos. We all felt that the most difficult part was to create something minimalist while avoiding boring! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Circular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
If you would like to learn more there is a great abstract on Minimalism <a href="http://understandingminimalism.com/introduction-to-minimal-art/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I have a lot more ideas for exploring minimalism in stitch. Do you like it? Hate it? Want to try it? Let me know.<br />
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<i>"A shape, a volume, a color, a surface is something itself. It shouldn't be concealed as part of a fairly different whole.</i>"<br />
Donald Judd<br />
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<br />Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-63983909891259526022014-09-04T10:37:00.000-04:002014-09-04T10:37:13.955-04:00Small Wonders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our Exhibit is ready to be seen! Please join us for the opening reception on Sunday, September 7th from 1 to 4PM at the <a href="http://www.etuifiberarts.com/gallery-news.html">Etui Fiber Art Gallery</a> in Larchmont, NY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's the official invitation:</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Diminutive bugs and birds, petite scale, delicate details of line and
stitch – all in tiny treasures on view at Etui Gallery during the month of
September, 2014. Eight artists brought together by a love of fabric and stitch
show o<span class="textexposedshow">ff their varied approaches to mixed media textiles
in this exhibit of small works. Layers of machine and hand stitching intimately
render buildings and homes both in Natalya Aikens’ works, which incorporate recycled
ephemera, and in Kristin La Flamme’s fabric collages. Benedicte Caneill’s work
incorporates impeccably sewn pieces of her monoprinted fabrics to create
dancing compositions of color and line. Jane Davila and Gloria Hansen turn
their focus on small-scale flora and fauna with an eye to graphic simplicity
and macro photography respectively. Carol Sloan, Liz Kettle, and Beryl Taylor
round out the collection with tantalizing layers of intriguing fabrics,
delicate paper, painted textures, wee stitches, and tiny details that draw the
viewer in for a closer look.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="textexposedshow">Here are a few photos to entice you to come see them in person!</span></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="textexposedshow"> </span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntGzUpPHBp8-a2Z2nnDaOhXW_UprgWEGcFiPwsl4BqXLovQEc9DdKP4hy9M8I44UrNHkNKLG6Fu24kD9WBKI02HRHWx_gMkVuTAkcDtiCUy4Yl7AwY6L4emVhyT3y3uOmZzGtG3IruX8/s1600/IMG_7319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntGzUpPHBp8-a2Z2nnDaOhXW_UprgWEGcFiPwsl4BqXLovQEc9DdKP4hy9M8I44UrNHkNKLG6Fu24kD9WBKI02HRHWx_gMkVuTAkcDtiCUy4Yl7AwY6L4emVhyT3y3uOmZzGtG3IruX8/s1600/IMG_7319.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front facing wall with art by Jane, Benedicte and Gloria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOXEXb3YrfPjfh2Fz1NJM2EEo_LO_5tzMKepuRa5yfQbpfv_bsZHUFaiAKox6dy9kTtf1SNLQORTqE-3zUfcdgGYr5oTlwieYkVSY5fwrYpGom0LuVk4ANx9hxpuFt81JzP5F_ThaVzA/s1600/IMG_7321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOXEXb3YrfPjfh2Fz1NJM2EEo_LO_5tzMKepuRa5yfQbpfv_bsZHUFaiAKox6dy9kTtf1SNLQORTqE-3zUfcdgGYr5oTlwieYkVSY5fwrYpGom0LuVk4ANx9hxpuFt81JzP5F_ThaVzA/s1600/IMG_7321.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small wonders by Kristin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ZH56gCmIWUtEoeXE1su-8G1Gv2o5RdPqMSsPGXekHtb6meeZ5sfQcqsHh3y8R8u0yMJD8h44bnG1lFp84eeX8FK8Lvo7ztDAfSIzC56-MOFG0H4R1DVP8zqdVBfPYcY6sNc_wCnwLE/s1600/IMG_7325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7ZH56gCmIWUtEoeXE1su-8G1Gv2o5RdPqMSsPGXekHtb6meeZ5sfQcqsHh3y8R8u0yMJD8h44bnG1lFp84eeX8FK8Lvo7ztDAfSIzC56-MOFG0H4R1DVP8zqdVBfPYcY6sNc_wCnwLE/s1600/IMG_7325.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corner view with work by Gloria, Benedicte, Liz and Natalya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZng6mknHX6gWJsN5KB-YGvI6fn7-X6dUw9apVx2K9Xqum3DPNYAqxMI7RBmwI-hszoZGqI3gUnPudDtKyqBb_vGqeDkQDHmGQAEM31eMuJiA5clBgQCRaCs6UX0Y9EEd1CLmZ477HJNM/s1600/IMG_7331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZng6mknHX6gWJsN5KB-YGvI6fn7-X6dUw9apVx2K9Xqum3DPNYAqxMI7RBmwI-hszoZGqI3gUnPudDtKyqBb_vGqeDkQDHmGQAEM31eMuJiA5clBgQCRaCs6UX0Y9EEd1CLmZ477HJNM/s1600/IMG_7331.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloria's butterflies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhwZ_KIiJQG08y2-FUH3juojYPMoX9p9ag_ocbpGxEEvxGVq1UiUKMWvz3wlnSCt4cb9OD0VW7pF0df_8ZysC_0KMrqwjlHZlZrIL7D313AUmkXveYUf4n7V6Hukq5ohEJbyijn8mgSQ/s1600/IMG_7333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhwZ_KIiJQG08y2-FUH3juojYPMoX9p9ag_ocbpGxEEvxGVq1UiUKMWvz3wlnSCt4cb9OD0VW7pF0df_8ZysC_0KMrqwjlHZlZrIL7D313AUmkXveYUf4n7V6Hukq5ohEJbyijn8mgSQ/s1600/IMG_7333.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benedicte and Liz's work</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p2JrxtfsjlK_4D6zDoXF69OFOhAXwmMcra1Zu_lwBRCDb6fHYsy7cqvirjqrP0Ug-FMIgbRIwzNkpD5-jwZCkMDdwDeA-StLQaWU5FO1hyphenhyphenmSZyGBX2uZt3M8n-pTV-E8xtpmY8qxgds/s1600/IMG_7336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8p2JrxtfsjlK_4D6zDoXF69OFOhAXwmMcra1Zu_lwBRCDb6fHYsy7cqvirjqrP0Ug-FMIgbRIwzNkpD5-jwZCkMDdwDeA-StLQaWU5FO1hyphenhyphenmSZyGBX2uZt3M8n-pTV-E8xtpmY8qxgds/s1600/IMG_7336.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main wall with work by Liz, Natalya, Carol, Beryl and Kristin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFjOK4pE5MpHxcfKa-uEpQY5Wzq8Olhs4icW3PwxcUzKnmYRFGpdoANYzjxsS3HYSvHBliC9HoiMOfWHJaanhi2KJCgacPR13jJp9PFtoDuOUtlpRtkGrj3P5D9Bi9h2KYp-_tYQ1oyo/s1600/IMG_7338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFjOK4pE5MpHxcfKa-uEpQY5Wzq8Olhs4icW3PwxcUzKnmYRFGpdoANYzjxsS3HYSvHBliC9HoiMOfWHJaanhi2KJCgacPR13jJp9PFtoDuOUtlpRtkGrj3P5D9Bi9h2KYp-_tYQ1oyo/s1600/IMG_7338.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A restful spot with work by Kristin, Natalya and Carol</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-88513407656613448212014-09-01T21:43:00.001-04:002014-09-01T21:43:26.039-04:00<b><i><strike></strike></i></b><br />
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Beryl here, well it seems such a while since I posted last, been traveling !<br />
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At the moment I am doing some new work with stencils. I'm working with stenciling on sheers mainly silk organza which has been dyed,layering stencils on the top and spreading modeling paste with a spatula over the stencil and leaving to dry. When dry I either machine or hand stitch around image. These small pieces are part of a much larger piece which has yet to be assembled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GVxFztCT2N4eDkhxrPYdbTK-gJ2Qj_Etu34q_B-fvRNzgOoWaQODEam0g5x0jya9IvwGVB8y2_gXypWTgUZqgX3KaZt_8s9FXrZrLSWeERu_S3GikECku8tysul82JKmee6ofvfxZDiE/s1600/IMG_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GVxFztCT2N4eDkhxrPYdbTK-gJ2Qj_Etu34q_B-fvRNzgOoWaQODEam0g5x0jya9IvwGVB8y2_gXypWTgUZqgX3KaZt_8s9FXrZrLSWeERu_S3GikECku8tysul82JKmee6ofvfxZDiE/s1600/IMG_0090.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I'm traveling to Florence and Venice at the end of the month so I'm sure I'm come back with tons of photos and inspiration.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82yHBY2cWZcO2OcZGA5PuYZAOZ_elxu_aAjf5AHjKl4JOdLeu88NjnWAA_Z0XQzFIa8KuNLan0K02WGCx8Ihum_J3QOEYaiBRl4n5WXeoUue3XEcOAKz3NcCUaexBo-xDJ7aVAS4fbE7d/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82yHBY2cWZcO2OcZGA5PuYZAOZ_elxu_aAjf5AHjKl4JOdLeu88NjnWAA_Z0XQzFIa8KuNLan0K02WGCx8Ihum_J3QOEYaiBRl4n5WXeoUue3XEcOAKz3NcCUaexBo-xDJ7aVAS4fbE7d/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
BERYL TAYLORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948040276007878460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-75332323269992436442014-08-25T21:52:00.001-04:002014-08-26T09:24:58.441-04:00Portfolios<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/5039929486" title="Portfolio Books by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Portfolio Books" height="266" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4124/5039929486_f7f3f7cdb9_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Smart phones and tablets have made it much easier for us fiber artists and art quilters to show people what it is that we create, rather than relying on imaginations that too quickly jump to underwater basket weaving and grandma's feed-sack quilts. I have photos of my work on my phone and am all too happy to pull up a picture when anyone shows any amount of curiosity. But my phone is small. So, I've taken to bringing along portfolio books whenever I think I might be in a situation where someone might want to see my work.<br />
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One of the best things about these books is that I can make one for each series of my work, or the different facets of my work. I don't have to worry about confusing my fabric collages with my bed quilts. I can choose to show one portfolio or the other, depending on the audience. My dad complained yesterday that he has to scroll through my blog to show his friends my work when they come to visit, so today I made a brag book that has all my recent work.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/5039929836" title="Portfolio Books by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Portfolio Books" height="266" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4144/5039929836_57f0de23ca_z.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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There are many ways to create these books. I have a Mac computer and it's set so that all my photos download directly into iPhoto. So, I've found it very easy to choose one of iPhoto's project templates, plug in the photos, write descriptions, upload it all to Apple, and expect a shiny book to arrive at my door in about a week. Other online printers and photo services also have similar templates, or you can design your own solution from scratch. The books that I order from Apple are best in small quantities, but I really like the elegant template, quality printing and absolute ease of creation.<br />
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Last week I was in Oregon and attended a <a href="http://hapgallery.com/" target="_blank">reception at a gallery</a> where one of my Army Wife aprons was part of a group show. I shared my Army Wife portfolio with the curator, and she asked if the gallery could keep the portfolio for the duration of the show. Of course! It will be a great ambassador for my series. I also showed two other portfolios at lunch during a <a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/?p=3921" target="_blank">quilt show in Portland</a> as everyone sitting at our table was introducing themselves and describing what each of us does. Handy portfolios are now as much a part of my art business as my business cards are.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-81179438032794945622014-08-16T11:13:00.000-04:002014-08-20T19:29:03.741-04:00The Art of Fine CraftLiz here today. Anyone else wondering where the summer went? I wanted to sit in the sun this morning with my coffee and a good read so I picked up the June/July 2014 issue of American Craft. In it discovered a great article titled<i> Hot Glue & Staples </i>by Bruce Metcalf. He questions whether craftsmanship even matters to the contemporary art world. Mr Metcalf and I both agree that it should!<br />
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Mr. Metcalf gives us 4 standards to which we can look at art (our own or others) to help us determine which is art and which is not.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKbyBmUPpyhW-OHHKaX_pZKBvj1rR0Y_iOg62f7z3-7DkUNnfnWdotAI3qJH6GlIlXPY_8j5YcgFTQwIBUNfdHKcT-iBTG8g4J-Na5UZZOXN5O9ENeYEtTNKqnq0fO7Uag2VReQ5c828/s1600/Al-B-thinking-about-art-(1-of-1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKbyBmUPpyhW-OHHKaX_pZKBvj1rR0Y_iOg62f7z3-7DkUNnfnWdotAI3qJH6GlIlXPY_8j5YcgFTQwIBUNfdHKcT-iBTG8g4J-Na5UZZOXN5O9ENeYEtTNKqnq0fO7Uag2VReQ5c828/s1600/Al-B-thinking-about-art-(1-of-1).jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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Al B thinking about the next step</div>
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The first is that good art demands careful thinking. Metcalf holds that clear, interesting ideas and a compelling concept are key to good art. Bad ideas abound and they result in bad art. "Good concepts require careful work. In other words, there is a craft to thinking, a way of thinking carefully, as opposed to being sloppy and stupid".<br />
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Second, 'The artist must know his field'. I see so many examples of failure in this arena in the mixed media world. Someone who knows her field is so often copied by those who don't know the materials, techniques and tools. They create something that on the surface is similar but doesn't have the soul of the first artist. Then they run out to teach it. This makes me crazy! The unwitting student doesn't get the real meat of the field and is left not knowing much more than how to copy. I won't get on my soapbox even though it is tempting...<br />
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The third standard is that 'the artist must be able to translate the idea into a visual experience'. Art is and always has been about communication. This is where the artist must continually circle back to the concept from the first standard and work through their knowledge of the second standard to determine how to express the essence of their idea. Does the form they envision communicate the idea clearly, uniquely, and in a compelling way? I think this is often done intuitively as the artist goes through this dance back and forth through concept/idea and material constraints instinctively.<br />
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Fourth, 'the last component is exercising control over composition'. How do you arrange the elements of the idea, remove or add distractions to make something interesting without losing the concept or idea of the art? While the basic principals of design and composition may seem so old school, you can't make great art without understanding them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyOWHbsnZFBV9bnAt-cGXwWrANxrSGwFQtOZRKU6RyXFktkpav44FFtLaIQIlMvmSPdXV2RgvWLv7LTV3pDKyU6My-CEshHqbnHr_iCt_BLF-my_AXjEKe0rIEiUjJE8AU5cwKdtRrlw/s1600/Untitled+abstract+weaving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyOWHbsnZFBV9bnAt-cGXwWrANxrSGwFQtOZRKU6RyXFktkpav44FFtLaIQIlMvmSPdXV2RgvWLv7LTV3pDKyU6My-CEshHqbnHr_iCt_BLF-my_AXjEKe0rIEiUjJE8AU5cwKdtRrlw/s1600/Untitled+abstract+weaving.JPG" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
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I agree with these 4 standards. I have never written down my process but it follows these 4 standards pretty closely. Generally I spend more time in the thinking stages because they guide the production stages. Of course the many years I spent learning my field and time spent studying in other fields to add in what is useful to me, help make the execution stage fairly straight forward and often relatively easy. Not that I don't struggle with parts and nothing ever gets birthed without going through an extended ugly stage!<br />
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What do you think of Mr Metcalf's 4 standards? Does it resonate or leave a sour taste in your mouth? Leave me a comment below.<br />
You can read more about Bruce Metcalf and see his beautiful jewelry on his <a href="http://www.brucemetcalf.com/blog/" target="_blank">blog</a> and website.<br />
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<br />Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-19135619661909640382014-07-20T11:16:00.001-04:002014-07-20T11:18:03.188-04:00Pushing Boundaries<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Pushing Boundaries</div>
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I have just passed the one year anniversary of my move
to a professional studio space so of course I am thinking about what has happened
over the past year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1zaK6EI5G2L8PdFzvn_QU1tkG3d9VAFGMFQX5VRgmzI6LGPH22er9SjTAqYNgNHLnhjcwTY1FhY1Yb6mfSba4O7AIJQEM7H8SRa5RH8W3qWYAAS9ZE7GjDi77OET745JKArLiJUu4L8/s1600/Untitled+abstract+weaving.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1zaK6EI5G2L8PdFzvn_QU1tkG3d9VAFGMFQX5VRgmzI6LGPH22er9SjTAqYNgNHLnhjcwTY1FhY1Yb6mfSba4O7AIJQEM7H8SRa5RH8W3qWYAAS9ZE7GjDi77OET745JKArLiJUu4L8/s1600/Untitled+abstract+weaving.JPG" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
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First of all, I absolutely love having my studio in a busy
arts center. I do get interruptions occasionally but I also get amazing inspiration, support
and encouragement. I have learned so much about art and the creative process by
hanging out with a wide variety of artists including oil and acrylic painters,
photographers, jewelers, potters and even a few knitters. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the biggest growth opportunities this last year is because <a href="http://cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com/" target="_blank">Cottonwood Center for the Arts </a>hosts themed exhibits 6-8 times
a year. Each exhibit challenges me to learn more about art history and theory.
I try to enter as many as possible and even though I don’t always get in the
show I learn so much that it really doesn’t matter. I was more than thrilled to
be accepted into the abstract and postmodern exhibits this spring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD07orZHcGvXz0nVM_TX0EkzcI3-HRqtQGwW_mLVonp9VJdsFaex-fKlWmGaIn1Lz2aVxP6sPS4GRwGjtnyigOjY6fmOsAVu62U8TrfHxkBYIIJbjnyr80LA313zN287xZ8EurOVcuJ2E/s1600/A----(1-of-1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD07orZHcGvXz0nVM_TX0EkzcI3-HRqtQGwW_mLVonp9VJdsFaex-fKlWmGaIn1Lz2aVxP6sPS4GRwGjtnyigOjY6fmOsAVu62U8TrfHxkBYIIJbjnyr80LA313zN287xZ8EurOVcuJ2E/s1600/A----(1-of-1).jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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This piece<i>, Does it Matter?</i> was accepted into the Postmodern show. I and many of the other artists at Cottonwood spent considerable time discussing exactly what is Postmodern art. It is still confusing but I was thrilled to have one of my pieces get in. Competition for these exhibits is pretty intense. During the show I had quite a few great conversations with viewers about my piece and the question it asks. Great fun. I didn't have good photo lighting for this piece. The background is flat black like a chalkboard. <br />
<br />
<br />
As you can see my work is changing! I still love collage but am moving away from it to a more abstract expression. I have been working very small; 4" square and 8" square but I just ordered a canvas that is 2' x 8' for a whole cloth piece I have been working on. Being part of a thriving art center has encouraged me to push at the boundaries of my textile art. I can't wait to see where I go next!</div>
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Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-57315794067487943602014-07-04T09:25:00.001-04:002014-07-04T09:25:20.579-04:00swooning..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you heard of the artist named Swoon? She is not to be missed. Natalya here to tell you about <a href="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/swoon/">Swoon's exhibit</a> at the <a href="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/home.php">Brooklyn Museum</a>. It was a spur of a moment visit, I only had my iPhone to take pictures with and I took a gazillion. No worries, it was painful, but I edited them down to just a few...<br />
<br />
You do have until August 24th to go see this for yourself, but in case that doesn't fit into your summer schedule, here's a brief review and many links. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swoon_%28artist%29">Caledonia Dance Curry</a> is quite an accomplished artist who started with traditional training (she attended my Alma Mater <a href="https://www.pratt.edu/">Pratt Institute</a>), but after graduating was very discouraged with the gallery system and became a street artist. She has managed to fashion an amazing career from that start and is now an artist with exhibits all over the world. She known for her installations and this is her latest at the Brooklyn Museum.<br />
<br />
I had never seen her installations before, just have heard about her and seen a bit about her in a documentary film <a href="http://www.ourcitydreams.com/">Our City Dreams</a>. Needless to say that I was completely overwhelmed by what I saw and I'm sure Kristin can confirm that my jaw was on the ground. The scale of this installation is immense and cannot be expressed in these photos. Do see the videos in the links above to get a sense of the scale.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3keBxffw2BUucNF3QQHJRZuhtLWZXGGPehIqsPG38ogh5fWGdt89unY-EzkhywZBsWjwuZNU4lOKhZxZbum8sWjiy2OARwiRH7A7XqNH_zetKLMC4DWX4d-0o-RtXqqaU2kH6KEPiFQ/s1600/IMG_7475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3keBxffw2BUucNF3QQHJRZuhtLWZXGGPehIqsPG38ogh5fWGdt89unY-EzkhywZBsWjwuZNU4lOKhZxZbum8sWjiy2OARwiRH7A7XqNH_zetKLMC4DWX4d-0o-RtXqqaU2kH6KEPiFQ/s1600/IMG_7475.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">plastic drop cloth (my heart fluttered). Swoon used the drop cloths that protected the walls during the installation in the installation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuLxL4bfRoQXWx6pfmNReZ6BXVBOC0gJgv2MlCDcis0rby_kBkn0YeI8IGO9YMj6f_zVk1v-ZHGvo6oa9B4PqC6s1i6TH3_QhrznxJzcqXOe7CeDS5V27RVMuVHreyRy045eVbQ5gm64/s1600/IMG_7477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuLxL4bfRoQXWx6pfmNReZ6BXVBOC0gJgv2MlCDcis0rby_kBkn0YeI8IGO9YMj6f_zVk1v-ZHGvo6oa9B4PqC6s1i6TH3_QhrznxJzcqXOe7CeDS5V27RVMuVHreyRy045eVbQ5gm64/s1600/IMG_7477.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gigantic tree draped in cloth and lacy cut outs for leaves is at the center and made for very dramatic shadows</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfhbW7tUpCgLMXOO37f-8KBWewCBDtSltYfqHagYuyNyHACky58UMmrLC6s5tkBAgXdpDGOo019oEyG7iaiRMAg8hXjFHeI96mZIhvMEO0thTYRp4sDzkVtpuXVQC28fOc0fNciWug24/s1600/IMG_7481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfhbW7tUpCgLMXOO37f-8KBWewCBDtSltYfqHagYuyNyHACky58UMmrLC6s5tkBAgXdpDGOo019oEyG7iaiRMAg8hXjFHeI96mZIhvMEO0thTYRp4sDzkVtpuXVQC28fOc0fNciWug24/s1600/IMG_7481.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cardboard tubes in a beehive like hut</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPSgmFY0O0ufKrPuVmOam_CbKEcdTdwQdwnYdkrInlYKecftfNE8TImhn9Ny1DPz90u6MLbtn8tkgKE3FUS1pGRIMJZ5X-nnjk3l6LRbM2JxjdPPoV78BZOeTGGBd6rFWebUzQAlWyc/s1600/IMG_7489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPSgmFY0O0ufKrPuVmOam_CbKEcdTdwQdwnYdkrInlYKecftfNE8TImhn9Ny1DPz90u6MLbtn8tkgKE3FUS1pGRIMJZ5X-nnjk3l6LRbM2JxjdPPoV78BZOeTGGBd6rFWebUzQAlWyc/s1600/IMG_7489.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a collage of larger than life prints of her beautiful drawings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXii9Is14tVziTqJG5T1w5Y37kDie0syZsf-6T29BxCmNgEk5nxrLfHnRnHZFq28M1J2yb9wIGNDhJDFdxXqoy3EfYQjFl3xz-OZvsvzTGjkYwH5g7fRk1nPJQYnraZUJ2VJSwnj_cefE/s1600/IMG_7493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXii9Is14tVziTqJG5T1w5Y37kDie0syZsf-6T29BxCmNgEk5nxrLfHnRnHZFq28M1J2yb9wIGNDhJDFdxXqoy3EfYQjFl3xz-OZvsvzTGjkYwH5g7fRk1nPJQYnraZUJ2VJSwnj_cefE/s1600/IMG_7493.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">delicate cut outs are draped on the floor where they curve and produce wonderful shadows</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEblZ9A6A0bgFUg2tIMYCUjEgtciJHBPHxonIi9PP8yOFBPuR0P0kE-SHoeDXaFAfeJ7pbvRI_byVH7LG6TADqRJCtjhsndnh7VwKkt0yBtpPzSc_WZWnYn1kfoAMivC4Gf1Egy6YVF4/s1600/IMG_7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEblZ9A6A0bgFUg2tIMYCUjEgtciJHBPHxonIi9PP8yOFBPuR0P0kE-SHoeDXaFAfeJ7pbvRI_byVH7LG6TADqRJCtjhsndnh7VwKkt0yBtpPzSc_WZWnYn1kfoAMivC4Gf1Egy6YVF4/s1600/IMG_7500.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here are the tree roots, so you can see the fabric</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWd9KL89NOMYU6o0dUhI1WA8dm2rdyST8KhDOoMcVWk7XddFEIcxvp_dMRYy9kzRmzxRpazeyFblcupNbHDlJ7xPq5IMP8M7YwycBwZUVwWWAk1l2Mz0nGOKp9GLpJiYWvA0488lfatA/s1600/IMG_7516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWd9KL89NOMYU6o0dUhI1WA8dm2rdyST8KhDOoMcVWk7XddFEIcxvp_dMRYy9kzRmzxRpazeyFblcupNbHDlJ7xPq5IMP8M7YwycBwZUVwWWAk1l2Mz0nGOKp9GLpJiYWvA0488lfatA/s1600/IMG_7516.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more amazing drawings</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2x-dSIjGLr2hXf-YBrat9wM5JC76gOlNVVGBoSrLv0IDWrspn0gqW0qJfMkwVaeSY0QhUhrkAqX7aNpckuJv4A6_ZjhGTD_IQhUgQfSFZCIEeuGNIOMMisa1IiIHgA3qxIzDmQFETWo/s1600/IMG_7521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2x-dSIjGLr2hXf-YBrat9wM5JC76gOlNVVGBoSrLv0IDWrspn0gqW0qJfMkwVaeSY0QhUhrkAqX7aNpckuJv4A6_ZjhGTD_IQhUgQfSFZCIEeuGNIOMMisa1IiIHgA3qxIzDmQFETWo/s1600/IMG_7521.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two large handmade boats are part of the installation (made from scraps), but I was fascinated by the lace sails and the shadows they made</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BS7oTHSIoXjOBsmzcPOPVIj7gM_q9LF7pmuN2lmvwxgtlFKzyi8lOdDO0M6Mks1vR9ASUVyR6cNhJp69NajiCMjqvIv6yuvQKt8YcPmJ1UQzvgdc1l-hkx220J3MbxG7j12z1KH2FxY/s1600/IMG_7526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BS7oTHSIoXjOBsmzcPOPVIj7gM_q9LF7pmuN2lmvwxgtlFKzyi8lOdDO0M6Mks1vR9ASUVyR6cNhJp69NajiCMjqvIv6yuvQKt8YcPmJ1UQzvgdc1l-hkx220J3MbxG7j12z1KH2FxY/s1600/IMG_7526.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my kind of whimsical </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYUuosIT8eCqVQeKicDtHouSDU4xHA0shZ4xGid1lL8A460aEQRCHCMY4UCNVlDWdokLDgDFoDR01ZPq8OLkJVQ1GscJHSAu0c2DLRTZEoDbkXGv9R8HsifVU44aeS86bBvp8Qtv6O0o/s1600/IMG_7542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYUuosIT8eCqVQeKicDtHouSDU4xHA0shZ4xGid1lL8A460aEQRCHCMY4UCNVlDWdokLDgDFoDR01ZPq8OLkJVQ1GscJHSAu0c2DLRTZEoDbkXGv9R8HsifVU44aeS86bBvp8Qtv6O0o/s1600/IMG_7542.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is a top portion of one of the boats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34CxBN9MqdoqxvsC0ood7nA1aJ6GIbp8y6iVjQxxOfJdgmGrU-LR859ppRrm2sBGXLQVDzaeO2DzZqP919J9NEfSz2NOyfVOAarLcqYRpn8LGY-KTsqIxuCpv_0rCfzs_gk5Wq9hcfLk/s1600/IMG_7554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34CxBN9MqdoqxvsC0ood7nA1aJ6GIbp8y6iVjQxxOfJdgmGrU-LR859ppRrm2sBGXLQVDzaeO2DzZqP919J9NEfSz2NOyfVOAarLcqYRpn8LGY-KTsqIxuCpv_0rCfzs_gk5Wq9hcfLk/s1600/IMG_7554.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lacy cut outs cover many walls and backs of large figures</td></tr>
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Hope you do get to see this exhibit, it's worth the trip! And happy Independence Day USA!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-66448997137198227302014-06-25T23:27:00.000-04:002014-06-25T23:27:02.264-04:00Friends and InspirationIt's <a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/musings" target="_blank">Kristin</a> again. <br />I have completed 11 painted and stitched canvases from the Service Star quilt in the previous post here! The curious can find them on my <a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/?p=3812" target="_blank">blog</a>. I am happy to report that I feel no regret at painting and cutting up a decade's worth of work.<br />
<br />I am also happy to report that I had the opportunity to visit friend and fellow 8 That Create artist, Natalya, last weekend. We had a great time in NYC with two of three from a special circle of friends.<br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbbz7nhkljOMJ7LpEGnJaM7PvOoNcGGIccouICK7QcOFEep93FeqxhRL6JtKE6CU_1LiFMpAFM0s6d8APr9f9CE8CGyu_FkXHBm_3V3h6xnpNDOfnnuACoXIAGmILddtuKgeVQEwr0gUt/s1600/Art+Posse+in+NY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbbz7nhkljOMJ7LpEGnJaM7PvOoNcGGIccouICK7QcOFEep93FeqxhRL6JtKE6CU_1LiFMpAFM0s6d8APr9f9CE8CGyu_FkXHBm_3V3h6xnpNDOfnnuACoXIAGmILddtuKgeVQEwr0gUt/s1600/Art+Posse+in+NY.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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We spent the better part of two days together seeing art and soaking it in. This is our posse on B<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">roadway, posting on one of Chakaia Booker's Rubber Sentinels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my favorite exhibits (Natalya will post about the other, was <a href="http://cargocollective.com/lizkueneke/The-Urban-Fabric-El-Tejido-Urbano" target="_blank">The Urban Fabric</a>, by Liz Kueneke at <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;">The Hudson Guild.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25px;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DbPLZbKD9G5YWzUNY8FXm_gYXn3gzxGwXa76qgf-Hglevo79SyE0KVRHS7zaHecOcqj-iTlKCxaGCQrfUx3Nd3kQ_lMrOtZIqoKnKNPbwDU2L96u_v0_V6KewyjOmBdU2npbIk41uwtq/s1600/Urban+Fiber+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DbPLZbKD9G5YWzUNY8FXm_gYXn3gzxGwXa76qgf-Hglevo79SyE0KVRHS7zaHecOcqj-iTlKCxaGCQrfUx3Nd3kQ_lMrOtZIqoKnKNPbwDU2L96u_v0_V6KewyjOmBdU2npbIk41uwtq/s1600/Urban+Fiber+1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Kueneke embroidered city maps on fabric and then invited the city’s inhabitants to stitch on the maps in response to several questions, such as “what is the heart of the city?” and “what is a negative place in the city.” The embroideries were accompanied by legends explaining the symbols used, and photos and videos of participants telling their stories. The large scale made it relatively easy to "read" the maps, but it also allows the viewer to walk through them and therefore feel more connected to the city and the project.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgTtn7asbevmJ0H2T6ddrrV09WatqpTSZ9mlXYkQIclfk23zJBnSwauuiDGVK35VEnjUGuaaUUHuGW9it14HINAb33EhGEoD0P4K2CQnrIJX-pcnRX1mtJDF21Nc75O01lmBW7kmufGV/s1600/Urban+Fiber+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgTtn7asbevmJ0H2T6ddrrV09WatqpTSZ9mlXYkQIclfk23zJBnSwauuiDGVK35VEnjUGuaaUUHuGW9it14HINAb33EhGEoD0P4K2CQnrIJX-pcnRX1mtJDF21Nc75O01lmBW7kmufGV/s1600/Urban+Fiber+2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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The embroidered maps themselves are meticulous and attractive, and create a neutral backdrop for the rougher participant additions. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">It was interesting to see that in some cities, the loves, hates, and interesting bits were scattered overall, and in other cities, they were clustered in specific spots. The maps are beautiful in and of themselves, but the viewers’ responses on them add a wonderful depth. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapelFlr6avQ79arQmP2yhdA9q9B0uoMdYQ2bjO9AZbe4OQDR4zqTK_fzJOXFGlQ8JaI0_AuQbHmiYb_rrCcHzHzC7Timv2NznvUQselK5GDcVXsTyz8In81K5PRGf8xX9qJ_OMD0JBUnr/s1600/UrbanFiber+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapelFlr6avQ79arQmP2yhdA9q9B0uoMdYQ2bjO9AZbe4OQDR4zqTK_fzJOXFGlQ8JaI0_AuQbHmiYb_rrCcHzHzC7Timv2NznvUQselK5GDcVXsTyz8In81K5PRGf8xX9qJ_OMD0JBUnr/s1600/UrbanFiber+3.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 25px;">Even the backs of the embroideries are intriguing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">I'm so glad we took the time to seek out this exhibit. I found the work to be well conceived and beautiful. It was all thought provoking and excellent fodder for further conversations and curiosity.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Of course, it didn't hurt that I was there with friends who were also inspired, and that our conversations veered into our own explorations and experiences and our own personal maps. We may work alone in our studios, but to also come together and commiserate with, encourage, and support each other is just as important to our work as the lone, introspective time. I am glad to have found such a group.</span></span></span></div>
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Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-12451349325847930922014-05-27T11:13:00.003-04:002014-05-27T11:13:45.420-04:00Drastic Measures<a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/" target="_blank">Kristin</a> today.<br />
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One of the art lessons that has made a lasting impression with me was an experience my dad had when he was in art school. He told me that after laboriously drawing the day's model, the instructor had all the students erase their work, turn it upside down, and start again. The moral of the story is not to think that your work is ever too precious for improvement.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/5728668449" title="Service Flag by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Service Flag" height="640" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3509/5728668449_a717622281_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
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I have been working on this quilt on and (mostly off) for over a decade. The whole tale is <a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/?p=3807" target="_blank">on my blog</a> today. It had changed in meaning for me, and I have tried to bring it up to date. After much laboring, I have come to the realization that it is just not working, and I have to take drastic, art school type, measures.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/8565437366" title="Service Star WIP (detail) by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Service Star WIP (detail)" height="427" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8565437366_4a91e7e20c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Sometimes (probably more often than we are willing to admit) there comes a point where something just can't be fixed and it has to be tossed or completely reimagined. I decided for the latter and painted my heirloom quilt and then cut it up. I plan to stitch some bolder designs over the panels and mount them on canvas as wall decor. It still may not work, but at least I will have been bold and tried; besides, it's not like the original project was going anywhere anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/14096545298" title="Untitled by Kristin L, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="640" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14096545298_6821f8569d_z.jpg" width="478" /></a><br />
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Interestingly, I just read an article on <a href="http://raggedclothcafe.com/2014/04/18/youre-freer-if-you-know-you-cant-save-anything-by-olga-norris-a-couple-of-days-early/" target="_blank">Ragged Cloth Cafe</a> this morning about creativity and fugitive artwork. It's worth checking out.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-48604513504199523882014-05-23T17:08:00.002-04:002014-05-23T17:08:26.594-04:00Articles on Making Stuff<a href="http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/">Carol</a> writing today.<br />
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A few months ago, I received word that two of the article proposals I had turned in to Interweave had been accepted for the <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/cloth-paper-scissors-pages-vol-5?a=cpe140519&mid=492304&rid=730220">newest Pages magazine</a>.<br />
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Imagine my delight when I saw the publication for the first time and my artwork was on the cover!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbp7gjzBW8L3B3L-xi5Ioj4RmTGKiLhlIRfBia4rh413PHTuNvncXn4wmY6loNdqlIdFEfzyTHRAxm-ljUk4qPm0sdh9uyIE6nudzSpzYy1a0Dmj4ib86BrtM6nyCIgBbdHRS2L4JNrkT/s1600/PAGES5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbp7gjzBW8L3B3L-xi5Ioj4RmTGKiLhlIRfBia4rh413PHTuNvncXn4wmY6loNdqlIdFEfzyTHRAxm-ljUk4qPm0sdh9uyIE6nudzSpzYy1a0Dmj4ib86BrtM6nyCIgBbdHRS2L4JNrkT/s1600/PAGES5.jpg" /></a></div>
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I wrote an article about creating artful niches for miniature books.<br />
It is a really fun project that is not that difficult to create.<br />
The carving and painting portion is my favorite part! And, if you mess up, it's very easy to "erase" that area and start over.<br />
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I also wrote an article about creating a triptych out of canvas, plaster and molding paste.<br />
Add a few lines from a poem, some of your favorite natural items and you have wonderfully textured piece to sit on a shelf or a desktop.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63JRAeWxKW7WjV-Qiy9LBU0tnTdgxg_3QLGoTA39fvqRXKTx57IN80mNxcMkkhjlP-2Wed_RFZYnLrU7zreRdOQDphI-sJxWXogr47EkNJlJn9LOpEfBc7ShxggDh0fiSgp3HWjs4mMa/s1600/Forest+Symphony+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63JRAeWxKW7WjV-Qiy9LBU0tnTdgxg_3QLGoTA39fvqRXKTx57IN80mNxcMkkhjlP-2Wed_RFZYnLrU7zreRdOQDphI-sJxWXogr47EkNJlJn9LOpEfBc7ShxggDh0fiSgp3HWjs4mMa/s1600/Forest+Symphony+2.JPG" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Forest Symphony"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BM_XFVY-rIvZopbEmSh0R7sbGMwzl24ut-fd1MS_9oYrhyIbTvO28rj5gLeGY1LwvEKGJpf_QDAaLD6yI1JR5UHQKDb1iAP5jjqk9L_f4kT14jeLgph3CM_cDRt8frb05GshIyDXZwmK/s1600/Forest+Symphony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BM_XFVY-rIvZopbEmSh0R7sbGMwzl24ut-fd1MS_9oYrhyIbTvO28rj5gLeGY1LwvEKGJpf_QDAaLD6yI1JR5UHQKDb1iAP5jjqk9L_f4kT14jeLgph3CM_cDRt8frb05GshIyDXZwmK/s1600/Forest+Symphony.JPG" height="274" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back side of<br />"Forest Symphony"</td></tr>
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Pop over to <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/cloth-paper-scissors-pages-vol-5?a=cpe140519&mid=492304&rid=730220">this site</a> and purchase your own copy of the Pages magazine.<br />
This is the fifth edition and I have all of them. They really are chock full of wonderful projects.<br />
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<br />Carol Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430969173208142377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-26337510275567197402014-05-02T11:34:00.000-04:002014-05-02T11:34:38.425-04:00playing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With plastic in my case. Hi, Natalya here to declare that I have fallen into a deep dark hole that is called experimentation. What if I try this? What if I now do this? What if.......<br />
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You would think that after playing around with a material for a while, let's say a year, you run out of the "what if's". Not true in my case. At least not with the recycled plastic shopping bags. Or dryer sheets for that matter. Here are few detail shots of my recent experiments:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5eT81-UpSezpH5uv-DJqOi74rE9Pz1ZpEDeX4O8pc30O27b-Za5XwVZLg0R0oUIP1uq7y3hnL_krgo9wkjMsXgB2-vTqBkrY7lPbGnc90uG8JN9KK8M4qDNsWiYpLsxWzN0V48s5a8s/s1600/Aikens.blkwht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5eT81-UpSezpH5uv-DJqOi74rE9Pz1ZpEDeX4O8pc30O27b-Za5XwVZLg0R0oUIP1uq7y3hnL_krgo9wkjMsXgB2-vTqBkrY7lPbGnc90uG8JN9KK8M4qDNsWiYpLsxWzN0V48s5a8s/s1600/Aikens.blkwht.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">layered with packing material batting, stitched and painted with acrylics</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KVOzgucJkgXrG85ZBH3yXmyZJbjUdmZcHKZrExL552m45MVVPAi1dHt0dMFOPYa-5DM0Oo3ppW6iQSxoU_PwD0uXAY768OV6vOae6X80hMGt6cTMUOzB_fvBEBOnQAT-jZGdcCHKMBs/s1600/Aikens.dryersheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KVOzgucJkgXrG85ZBH3yXmyZJbjUdmZcHKZrExL552m45MVVPAi1dHt0dMFOPYa-5DM0Oo3ppW6iQSxoU_PwD0uXAY768OV6vOae6X80hMGt6cTMUOzB_fvBEBOnQAT-jZGdcCHKMBs/s1600/Aikens.dryersheet.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dryer sheet painted with gesso</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t4SXQRxA90xpbzz4id0FwswFu11cxDECIS1RLTPvhicXC4mmXwTsUp5Al0r0VBnLqxKce6xsExHK3UZNGFJREgzobxU0e0aM3Jj7u6ZxTW0OyJ_-wSY5CCbpSEJlz5-U_4nve6tUiRo/s1600/Aikens.fireescape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t4SXQRxA90xpbzz4id0FwswFu11cxDECIS1RLTPvhicXC4mmXwTsUp5Al0r0VBnLqxKce6xsExHK3UZNGFJREgzobxU0e0aM3Jj7u6ZxTW0OyJ_-wSY5CCbpSEJlz5-U_4nve6tUiRo/s1600/Aikens.fireescape.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">plastic drop cloth, drawn on and stitched</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgODzBXV72KvPcyqGDMviGCt0VbhX92zyBPFir6TF3Lnsez7BVvtMwOxVx0AAx3SOx9IKuG37tzSdw0E29zB_W0_qO06YEjhp3Egsm2GEF1AWwI3DDJaY1uahjkzonvodQdH1eXBx34XQ/s1600/Aikens.plasticstitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgODzBXV72KvPcyqGDMviGCt0VbhX92zyBPFir6TF3Lnsez7BVvtMwOxVx0AAx3SOx9IKuG37tzSdw0E29zB_W0_qO06YEjhp3Egsm2GEF1AWwI3DDJaY1uahjkzonvodQdH1eXBx34XQ/s1600/Aikens.plasticstitch.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">translucent plastics layered and machine stitched</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbApnJHBUZVgqfJL6hKhHSh44zfosykTC_1HWdQiQTG6OgVDhPi3pK2QoH-1SrRDMtBpzsJD58oiUDxnxehuI-aIc5UtrwVdzPuINOGcBzHd24Q7SEGswryrUFXER6dNd5BUyNbT-06Q/s1600/Aikens.Seal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbApnJHBUZVgqfJL6hKhHSh44zfosykTC_1HWdQiQTG6OgVDhPi3pK2QoH-1SrRDMtBpzsJD58oiUDxnxehuI-aIc5UtrwVdzPuINOGcBzHd24Q7SEGswryrUFXER6dNd5BUyNbT-06Q/s1600/Aikens.Seal.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">layered, stitched and sponge painted with acrylics</td></tr>
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It's a good thing that there are some deadlines looming, as they make me finish my experiments and draw conclusions. But the experimenting goes on even with the deadlines, it's so much fun I can't help myself. I must find out what if.....<br />
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What are you experimenting with?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-79976315033374649822014-04-18T12:29:00.000-04:002014-04-18T12:29:32.130-04:00Texture Inspiration EverywhereLiz Kettle here today:<br />
I have been on the road teaching and enjoying my newest grandson so I have been away from my studio a lot the last two months. When I am traveling I love to gather inspiration photos. And the photos I take most often are of textures.<br />
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Photos can be snapped while I am at the park playing with the grand-kids or walking in a new town. I am used to getting <i>that look</i> from strangers when I am taking close up photos of bricks or mulch. <br />
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I file these in a special texture photo file so when I am looking for lines, shapes or texture for stitch inspiration I can find it easily.<br />
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Today I am sharing an assortment of inspiration photos from my last two trips. <br />
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The first batch is from the playground:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YU06o359pGb6eWsTGrZvcxuMGAXjNTQeEf3M9CV_bPX9wZsVffI6M_LEsYZAUk4BXW-jdFX8ADLGjm5HX1caJlntT7WIq8ISzp4fEO8G1awkySUGSKU8NZXHV9NQw77ynb53A74JAoc/s1600/playground-textures-(1-of-4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YU06o359pGb6eWsTGrZvcxuMGAXjNTQeEf3M9CV_bPX9wZsVffI6M_LEsYZAUk4BXW-jdFX8ADLGjm5HX1caJlntT7WIq8ISzp4fEO8G1awkySUGSKU8NZXHV9NQw77ynb53A74JAoc/s1600/playground-textures-(1-of-4).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6V5zk2T9dgzEN5wg13_TkMFAixoZRsGm942Aqm6rXFAoA6dUvATik1JyxdB4Q1REnERx3YaNL4yOR4sfPG9hZEVTITCj4uDYZuRDmCCLd76n1Mp3YX4Y69HQXPEyYUrjo6U0QhyphenhyphenvzzE/s1600/playground-textures-(2-of-4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6V5zk2T9dgzEN5wg13_TkMFAixoZRsGm942Aqm6rXFAoA6dUvATik1JyxdB4Q1REnERx3YaNL4yOR4sfPG9hZEVTITCj4uDYZuRDmCCLd76n1Mp3YX4Y69HQXPEyYUrjo6U0QhyphenhyphenvzzE/s1600/playground-textures-(2-of-4).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Inspiring lines from shadows<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmLivmf7YYtlt2c8To9O4RpXkiK5mz-69nsJdKdbpa1XvWHiaKpD6s5AuqSX_8FwpVQQ0Ejbl-HUMz_Q2j65uGLqB7f6aHGzU5nh4it_4UVcHjr5A2eyKo_KnWWsof9aDSMw211vvNH0/s1600/playground-textures-(3-of-4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmLivmf7YYtlt2c8To9O4RpXkiK5mz-69nsJdKdbpa1XvWHiaKpD6s5AuqSX_8FwpVQQ0Ejbl-HUMz_Q2j65uGLqB7f6aHGzU5nh4it_4UVcHjr5A2eyKo_KnWWsof9aDSMw211vvNH0/s1600/playground-textures-(3-of-4).jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
I love the interplay of lines on the railings<br />
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I can see this done in free form stitching in shades of cream and brown or in wild colors!<br />
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The photos below are from the Elms hotel in Excelsior Springs MO where I taught for <a href="http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/" target="_blank">Art and Soul</a>. Lines, swirls and textures...they all make me want to run to the machine. <br />
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Who could resist all the beautiful lines on this antique cash register? </div>
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What do you do to keep the inspiration flowing when you can't get into the studio?<br />
Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-74990979310327495302014-03-28T08:00:00.000-04:002014-03-28T08:00:10.313-04:00MIA Post<a href="http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/">Carol</a> here, back after falling down the winter's rabbit hole.<br />
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I've been working on a few new things but mostly resting up, reading and drinking hot tea (and coffee).<br />
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One of the things that I do in the warmer weather is to rust fabric and different fibers so that I have plenty to play with in the cooler months.<br />
I've been playing around with creating collages out of bits and pieces of rusted and naturally dyed fabric.<br />
I do a compulsive amount of hand stitching on them in the evening when my husband and I sit together. I have to have something in my hands or I go crazy.<br />
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I thought I would share a photo of one of the most beautiful pieces of rust fabric I have ever had the pleasure of unrolling in my rust bin.<br />
The photo really does not do it justice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like a sunset, doesn't it?</td></tr>
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I don't think I can bear to cut this piece up.<br />
So it will stay on my design wall for now.<br />
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I'll close with a couple of close-ups of a new collage I am stitching on.<br />
I'm almost ready to call it quits on this one.<br />
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I still haven't decided what to do with it when I do finish the hand stitching.<br />
I'll try to remember to do a follow up post.<br />
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<br />Carol Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430969173208142377noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-7017143772913712922014-03-25T06:00:00.000-04:002014-03-25T06:00:09.646-04:00Art Quilt Elements Reception<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94014149@N00/13382365753/" title="Art Quilt Elements 2014 by Umzavi, on Flickr"><img alt="Art Quilt Elements 2014" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/13382365753_806a2591fb.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://kristinlaflamme.com/?p=3685" target="_blank">Kristin</a> here. I had the great pleasure to attend the opening reception of <a href="http://artquiltelements.org/" target="_blank">Art Quilt Elements</a> at the Wayne Art Center in PA this last weekend. I blogged about the weekend on my blog (click on my name to go there), and in the next post on my blog, about my impressions and the juror's talk.<br />
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Being one of the preeminent art quilt shows, lots of the artists were there. I always enjoy putting names and artwork together with faces and personalities. There are a few people I keep seeing over and over, like Betty Busby who seems to show up to all the events even though she lives halfway across the country in New Mexico. I spent a lot of time with fellow Virginia artist Julia Pfaff, who I had met previously in North Carolina at a PAQA South/SAQA event. And there are all the new faces to meet.<br />
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It seemed like there were a lot of New Yorkers there, and I was pleasantly surprised to meet our very own Benedicte live and in person! I don't know if readers can tell from her blog posts, but Benedicte is bubbly and funny and personable and an absolute pleasure to meet. It was fantastic to see her work in person too. It glows just as much as when viewed on a computer screen.<br />
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Of course, seeing anyone's work in person is the main reason to go to exhibits in the first place. I've decided that opening receptions, while not mandatory, are really worth it if it's possible to attend. No need to fly around the world, but if it's near a friend or an easy drive or train ride, it should be done. There's no substitute for seeing the art in the cloth, it's an opportunity to get to meet other (often like-minded) artists, there's a positive buzz that is very validating for an artist, and you never know when someone will be there with a winning certificate or check to hand to you!Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-37142356215440794682014-03-04T20:49:00.001-05:002014-03-04T20:49:47.097-05:00Beryl here, sorry I keep disappearing ! I thought I'd talk a bit about Indian wood blocks stamps as I'm working with them so much at the moment.<br />
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I first came across these stamps in the nineties while doing my City & Guilds embroidery course, they were either very small and intricate or else very large and quite damaged as they had been used for fabric printing in India. Still, if I couldn't use them for art work they made lovely pieces for the coffee table !<br />
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I've since come to know a company called Colouricious based in the UK who deal directly with these artistic carpenters in India, Jamie the owner of Colouricious discusses designs and these guys carve them. As these stamps have become so popular it is providing much needed work and has put twenty nine families back to work. ( I'm impressed Jamie )<br />
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As you can imagine I am now getting a huge collection of these stamps ( this is just one box. )<br />
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I've used the leaf stamp on Tyvek, machine stitched around the image then made a stencil from the same stamp and used 3D puff paint through the stencil.<br />
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Flower stamp used on Gelli printed fabric with machine stitching around image.<br />
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Final image,messy work table !<br />
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<br />BERYL TAYLORhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948040276007878460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-50083675605537786762014-02-25T07:00:00.000-05:002014-02-25T07:00:03.488-05:00Unconventional VenuesThis is what I did on Monday. I mounted my drawings and matted them, framed some, added hanging hardware, and put identification labels on the back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSdv6YM-9A_1TY7cwXLITKbpPm-AuyYb_6p3PEcb9vFh5f1kdsyD0_BbduUo9hhTNLtGcv99opV3DRVTt1dVAehoyews4Uk4IOi51hgir4xfjvrNvvq18pOoObsbm1qFdQejrZE0rz9LS/s1600/Drawings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSdv6YM-9A_1TY7cwXLITKbpPm-AuyYb_6p3PEcb9vFh5f1kdsyD0_BbduUo9hhTNLtGcv99opV3DRVTt1dVAehoyews4Uk4IOi51hgir4xfjvrNvvq18pOoObsbm1qFdQejrZE0rz9LS/s1600/Drawings.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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These drawings are destined for a show at our local fine lingerie shop. They like to intersperse the lacy bits with fine art and feature a different artist every month or two. When you think about it, lingerie and nudes actually pair quite nicely. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwp1Crwvak_mw0cY9ukuVq0GZpFWJErWCxZe0Z17ZwoHF0OlvSjVZED8mXQSzd1XJ1ZM8d684ODWUcnr2vidSSAFztMLKY8oOiDkWXWtzXTV4RoHy918_Nz0sE9vMVjLwERAtpvlGAmIB/s1600/Aprons+NIH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwp1Crwvak_mw0cY9ukuVq0GZpFWJErWCxZe0Z17ZwoHF0OlvSjVZED8mXQSzd1XJ1ZM8d684ODWUcnr2vidSSAFztMLKY8oOiDkWXWtzXTV4RoHy918_Nz0sE9vMVjLwERAtpvlGAmIB/s1600/Aprons+NIH.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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I also have two textile pieces in a display case at the National Institutes of Health. They have a full time curator who makes sure the walls are filled with high quality, diverse art, both permanent and changing, for patients and visitors to enjoy.<br />
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Next month I am also taking my Army Wife series on the road. I will display two quilts and six aprons at a fancy luncheon for the spouses of high ranking officers in all branches of the military. The keynote speaker for this year's luncheon is the author of Army Wives, so my artwork will be a good compliment.<br />
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I'm not sure what to expect in sales or other doors opening in these unconventional venues. So far nothing has panned out from the NIH, but at least the work is in public and not under my bed. The lingerie shop has sales potential, which would be great. I don't expect any sales of the artwork at the luncheon, but I do think I'll have an appreciate audience who would not otherwise see their stories in artwork. I'll be bringing catalogs and card sets though, so I hope to be able to sell some of those to remind viewers of my work.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-86765311264438999682014-02-23T19:13:00.001-05:002014-02-23T19:13:06.403-05:00To Title or Not to Title <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEsoxHEDX5T6H2lEO7c3xlC44KMXgyWYKUG3nQ9GC7TRtvbjuBQ2Xcr1XdHPuyMjTayA9yCmUSu8kUP99E4bU1smcB7qFQ2GIXtUc8wqlNudQCa7skYvP_c7m7sLwGqqJVl9cCex31fU/s1600/mark-making-(10-of-11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEsoxHEDX5T6H2lEO7c3xlC44KMXgyWYKUG3nQ9GC7TRtvbjuBQ2Xcr1XdHPuyMjTayA9yCmUSu8kUP99E4bU1smcB7qFQ2GIXtUc8wqlNudQCa7skYvP_c7m7sLwGqqJVl9cCex31fU/s1600/mark-making-(10-of-11).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Liz Kettle on the blog today.<br />
As some of my new work becomes more abstract I am re-thinking the need and use of titles. While most of my work is still narrative and based in story some of my newer pieces aren't. I am at a loss as to how to title them.<br />
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As usual, when I start wondering about something I started doing some research on titles and found some fun stuff like this <a href="http://noemata.net/pa/titlegen/" target="_blank">Abstract Art Titlegenerator. </a>Now, one could have a lot of fun and waste days here!<br />
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I also learned that naming art is a rather recent development. Renaissance painters did not title their work. Pieces were referred to under general categories such as the artist, the patron, or the subject. While mid 17th century artist may have started naming their paintings, it seems that art dealers and galleries may be the real instigators of the trend toward titles. They need to keep track of art and sell it after all. Names certainly help with that. <br />
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Obviously some work can simply be titled factually as with landscapes/urban-scapes, people, pets, and still life work. However in abstract work titles just don't usually leap out.<br />
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On one hand titles make it easier to identify a specific piece of work and to refer to it when writing. Titles can be practical when exhibiting your work, getting the right information with the right piece, ensuring catalog descriptions are accurate and may cause a second look from a viewer after they read the title as they try to understand the meaning of the piece. This is especially true if you use mysterious or sentimental and symbolic titles. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHs7m7Z4oG0Uea9OOwQNxlIA_TnQ8nsOOEdMrI-MqSkw50wWddO4NlRSKePjTamp27PAiFbTR_DurLENlPlQGNHlyLaOoKAy5JJrtf0xBJxpggheTYtoeXoHwkViMlU8TtFg05plR5ho/s1600/small-abstract-black-and-white-(1-of-1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHs7m7Z4oG0Uea9OOwQNxlIA_TnQ8nsOOEdMrI-MqSkw50wWddO4NlRSKePjTamp27PAiFbTR_DurLENlPlQGNHlyLaOoKAy5JJrtf0xBJxpggheTYtoeXoHwkViMlU8TtFg05plR5ho/s1600/small-abstract-black-and-white-(1-of-1).jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
On the other hand, titles can imply specific meaning or suggest what the artist was thinking and attempting to communicate in their work. But, is that not
simply telling the viewer what to see, feel and think? Does that leave enough room for the viewer to find their own meaning in the art?<br />
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One can identify a series and use numbers like Thread #298 I suppose. Is that better than simply untitled? Or I suppose I could name it Untitled Thread #298. Each piece has a meaning for me but that meaning may not be something anyone else would ever care about. <br />
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What are your thoughts on titles?<br />
Do you want to understand what the artist was thinking or exploring?<br />
Would you prefer to just enter each piece of art with no title to influence your thinking?<br />
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Liz <br />
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Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-28041865128825559712014-01-30T09:26:00.001-05:002014-01-30T09:26:14.253-05:00The Learning Curve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZurBMhaFvGzwoUmIw8uNnS80A-0IqiV1mAExZeg9IndXu8Cf0L_hpPm8IRA2Z6Nmto86wvmcrudQlJQdL39S27Vx4fwVRV1ZvLoc5ctwM9X-UaxVQGkzvQ-1rRUEbyD2E-6hkL2vh4KiW/s1600/Woven+envelopes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZurBMhaFvGzwoUmIw8uNnS80A-0IqiV1mAExZeg9IndXu8Cf0L_hpPm8IRA2Z6Nmto86wvmcrudQlJQdL39S27Vx4fwVRV1ZvLoc5ctwM9X-UaxVQGkzvQ-1rRUEbyD2E-6hkL2vh4KiW/s1600/Woven+envelopes.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kristinlaflamme.com/musings" target="_blank">Kristin</a> here. Wouldn't it be great if each time we had an idea we were able to execute it perfectly; just as imagined? Yeah, it doesn't usually work that way, especially if the process is not with one's usual medium.<br />
I was recently invited to participate in a group show at the art center to which I belong. All the works are to be in paper. The artist who invited me was inspired by my Army Wife show, so i thought it would be a good idea to continue somewhat in that vein. Everyone there "knows" me for my aprons, so I wanted to make a paper apron. In my head it's an apron woven out of security envelopes in a businessy type of pattern (houndstooth in this case). More paper would be used to make a lace-like border and accordion folded and fanned ties. It looks great in my head! But after hours and hours and days and days of cutting strips, glueing, and weaving, I realized that I had made many mistakes in the weaving, and each time I tried to fix one, it exacerbated another. Also, the weaving was not lying as flat and clean as I wanted.<br />
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These are problems that could be fixed by starting over. If I made several pieces I could work out the kinks. Practice makes perfect. However, this has a deadline, and it is not the only project I'm working on. Nor is it the only one with a deadline. I realized that I was spinning my wheels trying to make this work straight out of the gate. My time would be better spent saying no to this particular invitation, and getting back to my usual work.<br />
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It's frustrating to turn my back on something, but I hope to return to it when I have more time to trouble shoot and refine my process. I'm afraid it's also easy to stay with what one knows in order to avoid just this conundrum. How easy it is to stick with the nice safe process and materials we are already familiar with. I'm excited about my cloth projects though. I don't want them to suffer because I spent too much time trying something new. So it's a delicate balance between staying on the path we know and finding the place and time to branch out. When I've finished the art quilts in progress now, I will return to this paper idea. Plastic bags are calling to me as well. I'll miss this paper deadline, but I'll make some other art quilt ones. All in due time.Kristin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955546754675680404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-29871347166457413642014-01-28T21:48:00.000-05:002014-01-28T21:54:06.073-05:00Closed Doors vs Open Ones<a href="http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/">Carol</a> here.<br />
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I don't know about all of you but after I have a big push to reach deadlines, I have to take a break.<br />
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Literally I have nothing to offer.<br />
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I just completed two articles for the same publication (with only two weeks to write them both) (my own schedule blocked me into that corner) and I am so very wrung out.<br />
I feel like I couldn't come up with one bit of inspiration at the moment.<br />
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But I still crave the daily creative activity that I am used to.<br />
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<i>What is a girl to do?</i><br />
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I read for a couple of days or at least until my vision was blurred.<br />
Then I watched a couple of good movies followed by a couple of really bad ones.<br />
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But I couldn't sit still much longer and not<i> do something</i>.<br />
What I really wanted to do was draw or work in my art journal.<br />
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I don't know if you can really call one of the handmade books that I write/draw/collage in an "art journal" but I guess that's the best description at the moment.<br />
Sometimes it feels like an "art" journal but other times it feels more like a regular journal.<br />
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It's a huge book that I made in a workshop that I took a few years ago.<br />
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I certainly learned my lesson there about making Big Books.<br />
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I prefer the smaller ones that I can complete easily or the "theme" book that I can carry on trips with me.<br />
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I have a "Colorado" book that I work in while I am visiting friends and teaching there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATocKnUNKdgmYXiZ5ab7iJzSm5vYKhnC36VS9epnYdTBOnsFtvP0SfaMM5oalwdmebtrsiZojRXGn1yCabIg43VJnQ2R1GDk7tlMMMSky0qm8YQALDMzDDZ3837nbQv3QyWhRQV7ty-e9/s1600/colorado+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATocKnUNKdgmYXiZ5ab7iJzSm5vYKhnC36VS9epnYdTBOnsFtvP0SfaMM5oalwdmebtrsiZojRXGn1yCabIg43VJnQ2R1GDk7tlMMMSky0qm8YQALDMzDDZ3837nbQv3QyWhRQV7ty-e9/s1600/colorado+book.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
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I also have a "Charleston" book that I carry when my husband and I venture to The Holy City.<br />
I used a printed copy of a rich beautiful painting by Robert Henri called "The Green Fan (Girl of Toledo, Spain)" that is owned by Gibbs Art Museum in Charleston, SC<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIkVR56YPIkKfqbgFRoiiem7sufZPI9LfGkHciz5uw5bmTM200pM0LbCekWRK7YZeZ1AGL5lbNOb5_GwzmjRy0Pvir1lP79ZN7MRew6Ox0c462JwAWChW_vcsmIVg5HMoldTsK4as9NE8/s1600/charleston+book+front+cu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIkVR56YPIkKfqbgFRoiiem7sufZPI9LfGkHciz5uw5bmTM200pM0LbCekWRK7YZeZ1AGL5lbNOb5_GwzmjRy0Pvir1lP79ZN7MRew6Ox0c462JwAWChW_vcsmIVg5HMoldTsK4as9NE8/s1600/charleston+book+front+cu1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite paintings. <br />
She stands 41 inches tall<br />
and commands any room that she is in.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzORu-Vo7V6WEMDdxBeRrxeZ62ONQzyX8SwqqD9KPVQ6Z4MX5-0niihnzEgfLAeovXvdqdbR3HGeIefJpeGp7WHgb-1JJKD8hrc9dNoB9UOAuBOEkqzuVCzJh7FBhVI_yrcA6oSNLxNKC/s1600/charleston+book+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzORu-Vo7V6WEMDdxBeRrxeZ62ONQzyX8SwqqD9KPVQ6Z4MX5-0niihnzEgfLAeovXvdqdbR3HGeIefJpeGp7WHgb-1JJKD8hrc9dNoB9UOAuBOEkqzuVCzJh7FBhVI_yrcA6oSNLxNKC/s1600/charleston+book+front.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Charleston Book (aka Book of the Holy City).<br />
"The Green Fan (Girl of Toledo, Spain)"<br />
Robert Henri</td></tr>
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Having a book like that makes it really simple to decide what to carry with me when I travel.<br />
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But back to the Big Book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh3jW3XV9ZEGCKPrODf9xBCK5KUhIM85uSdnsf8Wz_C8pGNm8_wmVBn1vNSqTIrsVMoEzEyb8iKWSHpfYG3rm5i1_SIKs2OJDqzUfIrS1hdqHtzvCN5px5__hZtg2T3C4kK-453BP_RWJ/s1600/book+signatures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsh3jW3XV9ZEGCKPrODf9xBCK5KUhIM85uSdnsf8Wz_C8pGNm8_wmVBn1vNSqTIrsVMoEzEyb8iKWSHpfYG3rm5i1_SIKs2OJDqzUfIrS1hdqHtzvCN5px5__hZtg2T3C4kK-453BP_RWJ/s1600/book+signatures.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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She is almost six inches thick, holds a lot of pages and even more words and drawings.<br />
Lots of room for random mark making.<br />
I turn to her pages when I have that desire to draw (or write) and have no idea or concern for the outcome.<br />
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I opened her up yesterday morning, grabbed a couple of pens and set to work (while watching one of those bad movies).<br />
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Here's a sampling of the pages that I marked up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCx5Z4G4ItcvfZCSgPXq0noanOudzJ6y02W1rqDwXAhF3Hy-mOkLEzJI0sNSoJpDHdUrL9EfSvfeuaA8gV5dN5cgrpjP0IQf_PfnxWp8AvIaf02N4Sui4B6PoZZHHNFzyTt5CLuKAdjEQ/s1600/big+book+owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCx5Z4G4ItcvfZCSgPXq0noanOudzJ6y02W1rqDwXAhF3Hy-mOkLEzJI0sNSoJpDHdUrL9EfSvfeuaA8gV5dN5cgrpjP0IQf_PfnxWp8AvIaf02N4Sui4B6PoZZHHNFzyTt5CLuKAdjEQ/s1600/big+book+owl.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colorful owl that started out as a curved doodle.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiE0StIV1uXCJNvTZAYQLex88t6vwJJqe9Ssv_BUBgj6-IxVVCFoag1i6oOuS1TorVigPEMnUvfGpP1pwZHq41-PG45RKLHL7nx2SAVJWdEP6lRkwijF0d0q4HDEDHejcjjgtCOz1-MKs/s1600/big+book+page2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiE0StIV1uXCJNvTZAYQLex88t6vwJJqe9Ssv_BUBgj6-IxVVCFoag1i6oOuS1TorVigPEMnUvfGpP1pwZHq41-PG45RKLHL7nx2SAVJWdEP6lRkwijF0d0q4HDEDHejcjjgtCOz1-MKs/s1600/big+book+page2.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had stitched a doily/sun shape into my page <br />
before I stitched the signature into my book.<br />
Yesterday I journaled deep, dark secrets on the page.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVRmQ8Ti0YPzKUkslpAMjKMY7ZpS9c4kDBvqyGOVmm3PXZNfg3QM4_zqAMaGY54cwLciNs-fb0ZcLFMEJSRhzEmg1qbGd5LP05zmBUBcI-apL7oDzYDst6q3GKOc11ehQ22Sg9Vk86O_n/s1600/big+book+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVRmQ8Ti0YPzKUkslpAMjKMY7ZpS9c4kDBvqyGOVmm3PXZNfg3QM4_zqAMaGY54cwLciNs-fb0ZcLFMEJSRhzEmg1qbGd5LP05zmBUBcI-apL7oDzYDst6q3GKOc11ehQ22Sg9Vk86O_n/s1600/big+book+page.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, more secrets.<br />
I'd have to kill you if you read them.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibrC35WItpCaNQ68ti07cTQeQLjhDTr-e8yvXjn1hA0Eoyg4s6-1WFYARJI9-MyUjyAMlkV-ceub0Cv5gO-jJ9Im_r9VlnOiYLiq49bXxqq6VMvM3opL7bc1uxYYOd1NdYnVwVTAtjJay/s1600/book+color+doodle+cu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibrC35WItpCaNQ68ti07cTQeQLjhDTr-e8yvXjn1hA0Eoyg4s6-1WFYARJI9-MyUjyAMlkV-ceub0Cv5gO-jJ9Im_r9VlnOiYLiq49bXxqq6VMvM3opL7bc1uxYYOd1NdYnVwVTAtjJay/s1600/book+color+doodle+cu.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ideas for simple, yet engaging journal doodles.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3h4DOdc0iVcvCBEye7zlTtW6N7F3QUOFfPCxmnZZ3UlDc2UcWLtpc_imOQq0tAJM3S1jfhkamyPG8y2Y-aTscELpbQfdFnNEi4S7Z05Fb3ge9ZEp5M21bdd4rQ8OpqAbVxMOI9qyeYK5/s1600/book+color+doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3h4DOdc0iVcvCBEye7zlTtW6N7F3QUOFfPCxmnZZ3UlDc2UcWLtpc_imOQq0tAJM3S1jfhkamyPG8y2Y-aTscELpbQfdFnNEi4S7Z05Fb3ge9ZEp5M21bdd4rQ8OpqAbVxMOI9qyeYK5/s1600/book+color+doodle.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the progression in this page.<br />
I love adding the tiny details to finish the doodle drawings up.<br />
I'll go back in later and add journaling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIHB-mz_KyG7dUv3tKh39rMhzZ5JC2hyphenhyphenCsul-7e97sgQ9Hd53vDMc-weFgJcAkVwxXlUd16ImCBLbIymThaR_2qyUUVr4cevif1vG3U-hzSYw1EeE-P6DQBhoZreRrQih4FpdJLrWqPVv/s1600/book+doodles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIHB-mz_KyG7dUv3tKh39rMhzZ5JC2hyphenhyphenCsul-7e97sgQ9Hd53vDMc-weFgJcAkVwxXlUd16ImCBLbIymThaR_2qyUUVr4cevif1vG3U-hzSYw1EeE-P6DQBhoZreRrQih4FpdJLrWqPVv/s1600/book+doodles.jpg" height="279" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also add in single pages with ideas for thermofax screens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs2b_l98VsSyfGFvVTcNkyuRgH9BykkX97g7QX7nlD5FX7T6AWHNHq18vc6lG4zhZ_4TWtQqk-7R5aR2t967k93rp8ZIOhpaC1vPjZXSuotIXOZQC58TSwt3J3pENTMi6XmDz6Ba6KFUi/s1600/book+journal+doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs2b_l98VsSyfGFvVTcNkyuRgH9BykkX97g7QX7nlD5FX7T6AWHNHq18vc6lG4zhZ_4TWtQqk-7R5aR2t967k93rp8ZIOhpaC1vPjZXSuotIXOZQC58TSwt3J3pENTMi6XmDz6Ba6KFUi/s1600/book+journal+doodle.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More blurring to make you wonder why I have<br />
so many deep dark secrets.<br />
Most of it is aimless pondering of a bored woman.<br />
Like this one -<br />
"We never consider death before it considers us"<br />
What?<br />
"Dead men do tell tales albeit quietly".<br />
I am a fountain (a deep one) of thoughts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
So you can see that I have an expanse of fertile ground on which to practice my trade.<br />
In other words- I have a big ass book that I draw and write in.<br />
<br />
The Muse may be out at the moment but at least I left the door open for her.<br />
<br />
Do you find that you close the door completely or do you leave the door open for ideas to flow back in?<br />
<br />
You gotta leave room for the entry of creative ideas.<br />
You also need to spend time with these ideas every day.<br />
If you keep showing up and opening that door, they will show show up as well.<br />
<br />
<br />Carol Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430969173208142377noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-5994663388817263242014-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:002014-01-17T05:00:08.861-05:00Fallen Prey to Comparison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X38aFoNddITXIA3spK4oMyf_XooLDqYxPe79eI45caapg27lZl53_78R6KRoeCMSzvdgmO8-QpXMa8zIx5zOrPrvxFXkZbPtARDrR88H0d7ThfWh8MMsDe3SNtT8HkNQ3-HRQIuhtMk/s1600/vision-board-map-(1-of-1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X38aFoNddITXIA3spK4oMyf_XooLDqYxPe79eI45caapg27lZl53_78R6KRoeCMSzvdgmO8-QpXMa8zIx5zOrPrvxFXkZbPtARDrR88H0d7ThfWh8MMsDe3SNtT8HkNQ3-HRQIuhtMk/s1600/vision-board-map-(1-of-1).jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Liz here today sharing how yet again I have fallen victim to that nasty disease 'comparing'. <br />
<br />
My friend Jill Berry invited me to create a map of 2014 for a fun project she called <i>Mapping 2014 Artfully.</i> I thought it would be a fun way to plan out my year but once I started seeing the maps other artists were posting I decided that I couldn't possibly post mine! Mine was hardly artful. It is a vision board map...a bunch of words and pictures cut and pasted to a big board. Though I took great care to paste well so it wasn't too lumpy and wrinkled! It certainly couldn't hold it's head up high compared to all those other beautiful artful maps everyone else was producing. My work isn't as good or as pretty as theirs! Those other artists are more talented than me, nicer than me and probably prettier than me too. I bet their studios are always clean and they even have a clean house too! <br />
<br />
I decided I would quietly slink off into the night and say I was just too busy to finish the project. OR maybe I could paint over parts of my map and make it prettier. Yeah, I tried that but, I just couldn't change my map. It is meaningful and just right for me so I would go back to plan A...slink quietly off into the night.<br />
<br />
Then I realized a couple of days ago that this map is a collage and aren't I a collage artist?<br />
<br />
Duh!Of course I chose collage to express my goals and dreams.<br />
<br />
I also realized that this map fits my way of being in the world. There are no straight line progressions from here to there, no detailed schedules, charts or plans. That is not my experience in the world....although I am trying to plan more and work from a base of <a href="http://textileevolution.com/index.php/our-journey/entry/what-s-the-word" target="_blank">intention</a> this year. <br />
<br />
My map is different from everyone else's map. My art is different from everyone else's art and my life is different from everyone else's life. My map for 2014 fits me and that is what matters. I love looking at my map to remind myself of where I am going. <br />
<br />
Maybe my style of map will fit you too and give you permission to create your own unique map of 2014. <br />
<br />
Lesson learned (yet again) about comparing myself to others. <br />
<br />
You can see everyone's maps on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/jkberry/mapping-2014-artfully/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> or follow the links from <a href="http://personal-geographies.com/2014/01/13/maps-of-2014/" target="_blank">Jill Berry's blog</a>.<br />
<br />
Join me on <a href="http://textileevolution.com/" target="_blank">Textile Evolution</a> to read about my Stitch Journeys and play in our free book studies!<br />
<br />
<br />Liz Kettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360212531864372742noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-8376327427714548672014-01-03T12:12:00.001-05:002014-01-03T12:12:04.726-05:00fooled myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Happy New Year! There is nothing like starting the new year with a realization that I have managed to fool myself yet again.. Natalya here and here's the story:<br />
<br />
Back in 2007, inspired by <a href="http://www.jeannewilliamson.com/weekly_quilts.html">Jeanne Williamson</a> I started a weekly <a href="http://www.artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/journal%20quilts">journaling project</a> in which I explored different techniques, experimented with recycled materials and generally didn't give myself any rules except for size. I kept this going for two years and then got bored and decided to do a daily <a href="http://www.artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/journal%20sketches">sketch journal</a>. Sketching turned into experimenting with collage and painting and printing and doodling all on the pages of the said journal. Then in 2010 I got all fancy and did monthly <a href="http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/diptych">diptychs</a> based on my sketches from the year before. The following year I embarked on a very ambitious project of <a href="http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/2011/01/journaling-2011.html">daily journaling</a> on fabric. I had it all figured out: monthly prompts, experiments, binding into monthly books and then....I fizzled out and <a href="http://www.artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/journals">quit</a>. Yup, quit. I thought that was the end of my journaling. Got it all out of my system, no need for more.<br />
<br />
What I didn't even realize was that I hadn't really quit, I had just changed my media. You see, back in the beginning of 2009 I started something silly and frivolous on my blog called <a href="http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday?updated-max=2009-10-21T14:19:00-04:00&max-results=20&start=100&by-date=false">Wordless Wednesdays</a>. It was really just blog fodder for when I couldn't think of anything else to blog about. I copied the idea from a bunch of other bloggers, sort of fell into a trend. Without even realizing it became a habit. Somewhere in 2012 the Wordless Wednesdays became more and more architecture based, only natural as my artwork was concentrating more and more on architecture. And they became not so wordless too somehow... In <a href="http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday%202013">2013</a> I gave myself a real challenge of making Wordless Wednesday an experiment in Photoshop using photos of NYC only. <br />
<br />
So call me slow...but it was only this week as I planned out my Wordless Wednesday challenge for <a href="http://artbynatalya.blogspot.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday%202014">2014</a> that I realized that I had never quit journaling! I just changed my journaling media... Isn't hindsight great?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImyCTnny9fHh4MJU4OllVpwSyYLUOtqvsQQXuyx9YBLhyphenhyphenn1Z-DqjaWU2R6B-nfPTgJs14_mleU70qedIvbLR1wz4JlaAkHo6lZz1Y4NV44dvgtsezk9NIJurtMYg2PQHE9fIljNV0Bhc/s1600/Aikens%3F2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImyCTnny9fHh4MJU4OllVpwSyYLUOtqvsQQXuyx9YBLhyphenhyphenn1Z-DqjaWU2R6B-nfPTgJs14_mleU70qedIvbLR1wz4JlaAkHo6lZz1Y4NV44dvgtsezk9NIJurtMYg2PQHE9fIljNV0Bhc/s400/Aikens%3F2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So what's your journaling story? Weekly, monthly, everyday? Textile, paper or computer? And how has it morphed over time?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328390052023256872.post-2045754559623283872013-12-27T07:00:00.000-05:002013-12-27T07:00:09.410-05:00Providing Space For PossibilityI've been thinking a lot about that lately.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://carolbsloan.blogspot.com/">Carol</a> here, opening a discussion on how we can open up a space for possibility.<br />
<br />
I am smack dab in the middle of a <b>huge</b> purge and reorganization of my home.<br />
<br />
It started out innocently enough with me wanting to clean out my studio.<br />
It was cluttered, packed with useless ("I might need that one day") items that are easily accessible.<br />
<br />
Why keep all of these things in my studio when I can pick them up locally for a few coins when I need them?<br />
I understand that I need some of them in front of me for inspiration but I was/am sick to death of a packed, cluttered work space!<br />
When I am in the middle of a project (or two), my work table is always cluttered - but with purpose.<br />
And that type of clutter is easily dealt with after a project is completed.<br />
<br />It's the ever present clutter that haunts me.<br />
<br />
I truly believe that it inhibits creativity and restricts inner vision.<br />
<br />
In short, it cripples my ability to bring concrete form to my creative voice.<br />
<br />
With all of that in mind, I began the arduous task of picking through decades of "precious" items.<br />
Some of them were easy enough to part with. They no longer fit my idea of suitable art supplies (to me anyway), my color preferences changed or I was no longer interested in completing that particular project.<br />
<br />
But what I did notice was that the longer I worked at cleaning out my space, the easier it got to toss the items to the "throw away" or "donate" pile.<br />
And, when that happened, I felt that a weight had been lifted off of me. I could really feel my spirits lifting.<br />
<br />
I believe that I was opening up space for something new, something fresh in my life.<br />
<br />
I didn't want to allow the past, in the form of clutter, to hamper future possibilities.<br />
<br />
The action of purging the studio fueled a passion to do the same thing throughout my home.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, the pain that I feel is an odd comfort.<br />
It tells me that I am doing a good thing, that I am putting in the important work it takes to create not only a physical space that invites creativity and inspiration but I am also creating that same space within myself.<br />
<br />
I did not plan on this being a New Year's resolution. It just happened to be this time of the year.<br />
<br />
If I was one to make resolutions, I'd resolve to continue to simplify my life, my home and attitude.<br />
For they have become much too cluttered.<br />
<br />
I hope that you all continue to invite inspiration into your life.<br />
A good place to start is to create a space for it - open yourself up to possibility.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Carol Sloanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15430969173208142377noreply@blogger.com4