DC inspiration: Textile Museum (part 1)

One of the places I was most excited about visiting in Washington, D.C. is pretty much on no one else's must-see list. It is not a monument and although it is a museum I doubt it is all that famous. It was the Textile Museum on the campus of George Washington University. I have long loved fabric and pattern even before I started sewing and quilting. And now that I am a sewer and quilter, well, my interest is even higher.

I had a day to myself while my husband was working (the actual reason behind the trip!) and a stop here was my first destination of the day. I am just going to put it out there that I used a map and got myself there with very little problem. I was rather proud and if you knew my navigational history you would be proud of me too.

At any rate, when I visited they had two big exhibits. One was titled Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora. Diaspora is when people groups move, or are forced to move, from their homeland to somewhere else. A fitting theme for modern times but also one with huge historic connections, especially considering the impact of slavery on the formation of the United States. There was a huge range of experiences represented by the artists but of course all used textiles in their work. So very inspiring! I will share a few of my favorites.

Blood Line by Alice Beasley
Alice Beasley uses a train metaphor to explore her family's story and experience with slavery. The final train car incorporates images of her relatives and includes an image of herself, looking back over the history through the lens of her cell phone. The level of detail in the work is astounding. I am very curious about this style of illustrating using thread and fabric and have been following some artists on Instagram who are doing work. Ms. Beasley's website features a video on the creation of this particular piece. You can also see other examples of her beautiful work on her site.

Sky Prayers – Memory of Sky by Melody Money 
This piece was created in honor of the people of Tibet. It is quite sizable but the intricate, small details make it even more impressive. Tiny triangles of fabric, tiny hand-sewn beads, and even the quilting itself. Just breath-taking. Melody's website shows a full portfolio, including a whole series of Sky Prayers.

Implosion 4 by Beth Barron
This mandala is made entirely of found band-aids. The band-aids are a symbol of wounding and healing and the piece is about finding one's home within oneself after being lost. This falls into the category of strange, never-before-seen modern art that I always appreciate. And it certainly stretches my mind in terms of what can be stitched and sewn.

I am going to post part 2 of my Textile Museum experience tomorrow. This has already gotten quite long and there are a few more things I just can't resist sharing with you!

Renegade Craft Fair – I never saw it before!

One more post about the Renegade Craft Fair and then I am done talking about it. Until I go again. Which, given my spending this time around, might not be for quite a while!

I once thought I should buy myself a piece of art every year for my birthday. Well, I bought 5 at Renegade alone. So, yes, I should rein myself in and actually get things up on the wall! Anyone else out there have pieces waiting to be hung?

So people, here are some totally awesome things that I have never seen the likes of before. I always admire artists who come up with something unique.

Stanley the Stegosaurus by The Plaid Penguin

Dinosaur planters by The Plaid Penguin
So after the fact I had a few people tell me they have seen these before. Since this was my first encounter with them, the fine folks of The Plaid Penguin get credit from me. There is something very perfect about pairing spiky succulents with spiky plastic creatures. Fun!

Terrarium Teardrop Necklace by With Roots

Jewelry by With Roots
It's beautiful and it's alive. People, you know this is right up my alley! I love nature and I really do think moss is beautiful. So how lovely to wear a tiny little terrarium? I wonder if you have to store it in a place where it gets sun? I am thinking my dark closet does not qualify! Ok, just checked on that. They do indeed need some moderate sunlight.

The Night Job by Lisa Swerling

Detail of The Night Job by Lisa Swerling

Lisa Swerling's Glass Cathedrals
These lovely sparkly boxes with teeny tiny figurines posed in moments that make us human are simply magical. So lovely and amazing and dear and sometimes a bit funny. I just loved them. Please take some time to browse this artist's site.

from the artist-in-residence

A few abstract pieces from my 4-year-old sweetie!

notable & quotable

 I came across this quote while reading the newspaper this past weekend:

To exist is to change. To change is to mature. To mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
–Henri Bergson

According to the writer, columnist and rabbi Albert Lewis, Henri Bergson is a French philosopher. I can't say that I've spent much time reading his works, or that of any philosopher, but I did feel a connection with this particular quote. I feel like I am constantly in the process of evaluating myself and my life and determining how I might want to change it. I think the concept of "creating oneself endlessly" might at first sound overwhelming or tiring but I prefer to think of it as hopeful. I think it speaks to the idea that living is about creating the life that you most want to have and creating the person you most want to be.

freedom to decorate

 I just finished reading about, admiring, and absorbing the visual feast presented by the homes featured in the book Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design. The basic premise of the book is that you don't have to be a professional interior designer or know all the "rules" to do a fabulous job decorating. The homes featured were often of people who have a creative bent or profession but I did feel like there was a bit more variety in geography and lifestyle than there were in the book Details (which I wrote about earlier on this blog). I especially noticed there were more households with children featured.

While you might be looking at the book and thinking "my house is not the big" or "not everyone lives in a New York City loft" I think there are still ideas and inspiration that can be applied to your own life. I myself was especially inspired by the items people chose to frame and hang on the wall. Not everything was official "art." Some of it was simple snapshots, art created by their children, and there was even a healthy dose of thrift store finds represented. None of it had matchy matchy frames and it looked great all together on the wall. I am going to have to take a second look next time I go thrifting. I don't often study the framed prints and art at second hand stores. Perhaps I have missed a great treasure!

A shout out to CraftSanity!

 My sister got me the latest issue of CraftSanity Magazine for my birthday! Woo hoo! I could tell what it was so I did not wait until my official birthday to open it. Hope that's ok, sister!

I was so thrilled to finally have an issue in my itching hands. Of course I have a few other projects to tie up before I start anything fresh but man how inspiring it it to read interviews with crafty people and see pictures of gorgeous projects.

I am a super fan of Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, the woman behind the CraftSanity empire (podcast, magazine, etsy shop, blog). I met her once upon an ArtPrize when I registered her to vote. She asked me if I did anything crafty and I kind of stumbled and mumbled something about "scrapbooking, sometimes."

It was a turning point in my artistic life. Why the heck wasn't I doing crafty things? I was certainly interested in them. From then on I have been on a quest to do the things I love to do. That sounds like a simple idea but I think a lot of us actually struggle to make that happen. "Too busy" is often the excuse. Well, if we are too busy to do the things we are passionate about then it is high time to examine what we are too busy doing!

There. There's my rant for the week. Check out CraftSanity for yourself. I think you'll become a super fan too!

fabulous book on creativity

I am reading Creative Is a Verb: If You're Alive, You're Creative by Patti Digh. It was mentioned on one of my favorite blogs, The Artful Parent, and I requested that my local library buy it and here we are now.

It doesn't teach a specific skill as much as it digs into what is holding you back and how you (yes, you, everyone) can be your most free and creative self.

My favorite passage so far:

My "ordinary" is unique to me. But because it is just how I see the world, I discount it, minimize it, believing there must be another, faster, better, more clever, quick, and funny way to see the world. We compare ourselves with others and in that single action, we are lost to our own creative spark, the one that exists outside the world of measurements against others.

 There are also periodic "creative challenges." Like homework! The nerdy student in me loves it. My three-year-old was in the mood to "do some arting" so we got out the recommended index cards and some collage supplies. It was fun for both of us!

If you need a creative reboot or a nudge to discover that you are indeed creative, I would recommend checking this book out.

Thoughts on the sunroom makeover

I am still building my inspiration board for the sunroom. I have found several inspiring rooms in decorating magazines.

 Of course, all my inspirations are large and the sunroom most certainly is not. So where I admire a room with 5 interesting side tables and collections of interesting lamps, I might only have one of each!

I need to decide between one small couch or a pair of overstuffed comfy chairs. I need to decide between neutral furniture (tan) or funky furniture (pink couch anyone?!). I am imagining the tan might be easier to find and reuse long into the future.

I really itching to start the room, perhaps by find the perfect rug or a fabulous funky floral fabric to make some curtains from... I think this is a project that will come together slowly as I find the right pieces. I haven't been searching diligently quite yet.

windowsill wonders

I took some time cleaning and rearranging my windowsill treasures this past weekend. A lovely treat for my eyes.

 Lately, we've been finding these spiky seedballs on our walks. They are lime green when fresh and are falling off of trees. I need to do some research to figure out what kind of trees they are from.

 Seashells from past ocean adventures.

Fossils displayed in water to show off their interesting colors and textures.

black and sand

As a child, I always found these streaks of dark sand quite mysterious. I still think it is beautiful to happen upon. Perhaps someone of more geological knowledge could pinpoint the different type of rock the two shades of sand are derived from?

my favorite place

Lake Michigan!

A long walk along the shore: gentle waves on one side and cool, deeply shaded forest on the other. Such a feeling of calm and of home fills me.

 

design inspiration in a pea pod

Call me a city slicker, but until my green thumb mother-in-law recently gifted us with some fresh peas I don't think I had ever opened up a pea pod and paid attention to what was inside. I am most impressed with the way the peas grow from each side of the pod, carefully spaced apart in such a way that each individual pea has a spot. The way the two halves fit together is genius. What a fabulous design!

a roadside beauty

We were driving through the county admiring the wildflowers growing alongside the road. My three-year-old daughter especially loved the Queen Anne's Lace. "When I am bigger, mom, I will go by the side of the road and pick you some white flowers."

We seized the day and picked them later that evening. Of course I couldn't help but play with the camera. Who says this lovely plant is a weed?

beautiful repurposed birdbath

Still gushing about inspiration from the Ottawa Hills Neighborhood Garden Tour today!

This simple cement birdbath was repurposed as a gorgeous planter! I especially love the use of the dark pebbles around the succulents and cactus. It reminds me a bit of water, which is fitting. I want to add more sculptural elements to my own gardens and this one was very inspiring to me. I especially like that it serves double duty by adding further varieties of plant life to this garden.

raindrops keep falling on my head

We had a series of rainy days a few weeks ago. When I stepped outside to put out the recycling I noticed the silvery beads of water on the lily leaves. I fetched the camera and wandered the yard taking shots – a creative breather. I think the baby must have been miraculously sleeping in her chair instead of on me! I almost think it looks like I staged the drops but I promise I did not!

signs of spring – March edition

Once upon a warm March day, we dragged out the new glider, soaked up the long-missed sunshine, and marveled at little sprouts. Before spring finally arrived we had both snow and a random 85 degree day. I think the spring I so actively long for in March actually arrives in May every year. I will have to try to remember that!

The new bench: a gift from my valentine and my vision for a lovely, relaxing summer rocking my baby on it. My little one digs in the dirt (go girl!). And yes, she is indeed wearing pajamas.

So persistent as they poke through last autumn's oak leaves. It occurs to me that perhaps this is why plants come up in sharp spikes and then later unfurl into leaves. They need that sharpness to get started.

What a lovely and unexpected color when most other sprouts are green.

I heart this heart

A few weekends ago we squeezed in a visit to the Meijer Gardens before closing time.

[My apologies to anyone who gets tired of my posts on the Gardens but a membership means I go there often and the art and nature found there tends to be inspiring to me!]

Anyway, the current sculpture exhibit is showcasing the work of Jim Dine. When I saw some photos of the pieces ahead of time, I found a few of them to be rather odd. But seeing them in person was an entirely different experience. The large scale of these pieces is really an essential part of their impact. That parrot just towers of you!

My favorite has to be this heart though. I love the colors. I love the assembled bits, each with a meaning or story left to be interpreted. And I love the simplicity of sculpting a very recognizable symbol. I think that would be an interesting approach to creating some art of my own – choosing a symbol or image that interests you and exploring all the ways it can be interpreted or expressed.

snow, a cozy fire, and an inspiring design book

 If it must snow yet again, then I suppose I should make the best of it. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon for a glorious 3-hour stretch, I lounged in front of a crackling fire (thank you, husband) and read Pattern by Orla Kiely cover to cover.

The title of the book is apt since it appears Orla considers herself first and foremost a designer of patterns. Over the course of her career she has designed hats, handbags, clothing, furniture, items for the home, notecards, and wallpaper. There are so many applications for fabulous patterns! With chapters titled Life, Inspiration, Colour, Print, Collections, and Home, Orla walks us through her creative journey and her creative process. I love nothing more than being inspired by another creative soul and the book, chock full of lush images and, of course, patterns, was a feast for the eyes.

For the curious, a quick peek at her website will give you a good feel for her style.

nests

I really adored the January cover of On-the-Town magazine. It featured a nest woven from bits of paper upon which children had written statements. The artist is Elaine Tolsma Harlow.

I am rather inspired by nests in general, and all the symbolism they can carry about home and nature and nurturing and safety. It's a visual image I hope to explore further in other art forms some time in the future.

the tulips are blooming

Well, perhaps not right this moment.

These images came from an email forward. They were taken in Holland (as in the European country, not the city in Michigan). Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the photographer so I cannot give him or her proper credit. They don't have much to do with my own art right now except that I found them absolutely stunning. It is kind of relief to drink in this kind of color when the muted days of winter have descended upon us.