serendipity

Glass Prairie - French Beaded Flowers

And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
    --  Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

In honor of spring and the flowers slowly unfolding in my garden, I bring you a few
more French beaded flowers from my Glass Prairie collection.  While they aren't
necessarily spring flowers themselves, they raised my spirits during the darkest
of winter days.

Take Risks!

"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."  --  Pablo Picasso

The time is now for me to make the changes I've been planning.  I'm both excited and scared witless.  The workload
to prepare is not for the faint of heart.  While out with a friend this weekend, I found this necklace and knew it was to be
my talisman as I navigate new waters.  

Colorful Cut Paper Art of Jen Stark

"A color is as strong as the impression it creates."  -- Ivan Albright

I recently came across the work of Jen Stark and am mesmerized by the colorful
sculptures, drawings and videos she creates.  She sucks you into her galaxy with
her masterful use of hypnotic color combinations. Just how does she get the paper
to stack in such a manner?  And how does she ship it withoutanything shifting?  
Details, details.   For now, I am just going to enjoy and ponder.

video love :: on handwork and why we need it

 

"Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak."  -- Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

A former student recently reconnected and sent me this lovely video.  I had to share it with you.

The Snow Queen: a study in yarn and paper

Springtime is the land awakening.  The March winds are the morning yawn. 
-- Lewis Grizzard 

Last summer during a blistering heat wave, I made a garment inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's story "The Snow Queen."  The top is knit from Lion Brand's Vanna's Glamour®.  It's a lovely yarn to work and adds this gorgeous shimmer that shifts with the light - perfect for my Snow Queen Dress. Having recently invested in a large die cutter, I decided to put it to the test.  I cut a 100+ cardboard snowflakes which I then embellished.  Naturally, no two snowflakes are the same.  I painted, rubber stamped and colored with pencil and pen. I glued on sequins, wrapped threads and added small sparkling stickers.  The dress became an experiment in how far I could push a mixed media approach.  

it's in the details :: I ♥ Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

I have a love affair for the work of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.  Her work crosses over from fashion to art and adds a dash of whimsy I can't resist.  The bird cage necklace is an example.  Yes, those are live birds in the tube flitting about as the model walks.  The heart headdresses are equally spectacular.  You have to check out the video to see their true beauty with movement.  

Yarn bombing with a charitable twist!

“The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.”  -- Hubert H. Humphrey

The scarves from the yarn bombing of the Addison St. Bridge have all been washed and donated to Murphy Elementary School.  The scarves that were in poor condition due to the rain, high velocity winds and one uncharitable vandal were also washed and then unraveled for the school’s knitting club.  The photo features the principal modeling one of the donated scarves.

CHA Winter 2013 - Let's Cr8te!

"Creativity is intelligence having fun." -- Albert Einstein
 

At a CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) tradeshow there is so much to see, scores of new products to try out, and dozens of fabulous workshops and seminars.  The 2013 winter show was no exception.

MY FIRST VIDEO!! Bombs Away! Yarn Bombings 2012

Squweeeee!  Jumping up and down excited about making my first video.  Animoto makes it super easy to create them. As you may imagine, I'm already scheming about my next one.   

A Garden + Children + Paint = Magic

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist
once we grow up."  --  Pablo Picasso

Can you imagine a more magical place than a garden filled with sunflowers that reach the sky? Every where you look there is a new to explore.  

This fall I've been teaching a children's drawing and painting workshop at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse.  We are ready to begin our culminating mural that will educate visitors to the wonders of this place.  We've studied how leaves come in different shapes and sizes, wondered at the patterns of a butterfly wing and have been awed by a seed sprouting.  

      
  

The joy in teaching comes from watching their excitement as they discover how to use watercolor pencils or see tiny hairs on the surface of a stem.  They are becoming keen observers of their environement and want to share what they are learning.  The mural will be unveiled in February, a perfect time to look forward to spring.  

"This project is supported by a Neighborhood Arts Program grant
 from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events."