serendipity

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.  

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.  

Inspiration :: Chalkboard Paint in the Kitchen

My kitchen is in desparate need of a remodel.   I dread the process - all the decisions, the mess, and the expense.  But let's face it, it's time.  The last update was circa 1969 when the previous owner lived here.  The counter is cracked, the floor tiles slide out from underfoot and the plaster walls have a lovely pattern similar to swiss cheese.

Dress to Kilt : Chanel pre-Fall 2013, Knitwear Fabulous

"Doing collections, doing fashion is a non-stop dialogue." -- Karl Lagerfeld

Be still my tartan and fair isle heart!  Karl Lagerfeld's pre-Fall 2013 collection for Chanel is outstanding.  I'm a Lindsay with ties to Clan Lindsay, so maybe I'm genetically programmed to love this look, but really, can you blame me? The layers of knit and wool fabrics are Chicago winter perfect. And all those details...swoon! May I please have that ruff?  And that orange scarf!

Lion Brand Yarn Fashion Show 2013 at CHA

"Unique and different is the next generation of beautiful." -- Taylor Swift

Much to my delight I was invited to the 2013 Lion Brand Yarn fashion show at CHA (the Craft and Hobby Association).  I love their yarns, so I was excited to see what fashion design students from around the world would do with them.  

Illustration Friday - Blog Contributor

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

 

Happy Fall!  So many new projects are in the works.  I am excited to share with you that I am a new blog contributor over at Illustration Friday.  If you haven't swung by this website, you must.  Every week a new prompt is given and artists from around the globe send in their finished ideas based on that prompt.  It's full of oodles of inspiration as there are no limitations on medium, so you could see the same prompt illustrated in graphite, watercolor, collage or even mixed media.  The sky is the limit.  There are also artist interviews, book releases and a new kids section.  Started by Penelope Dullaghan, the website was a way to meet others in the field and further develop her portfolio.  Little did she expect it to become the powerhouse it is today.  

Twenty years of teaching art to children is being brought to you in the form of projects on a twice weekly basis.  I am having a blast covering techniques I haven't explored in years.  Check out my first two posts and sign up over at IF to get blog updates sent direct to your mailbox.   

Let's Go to the Hop! Industrial Chic Blog Hop

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks,
breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook

Greetings!  Welcome to the next stop on the Industrial Chic Blog Hop!  I warn you, I was doubly inspired, so I have two projects to share with you. (A third will be featured after Labor Day!)

Earlier this summer, I received assorted trinkets from Susan Lenart's Industrial Chic™ collection plus some Ice Resin® to incorporate into work in any manner I wished.  Treasure box?  Painting? Shrine?  The large pendant inspired me first with the possibility of framing  bits of paper ephemera from my stash.  And, I loved the thimble! 

Here are the basics to make one of your own:

 Materials:

Pendant from Susan Lenart Kazmer's Industrial Chic™ collection
26" of Beadalon® Professional Series #26 / .018 Stringing Wire in Black
1 Beadalon® medium sized silver toggle
2 #2 Beadalon® crimp tubes
2 silver finish crimp covers
Clear glass Czech beads  (obtained from Shipwreck Beads)
Cut glass Czech beads in powder blue (obtained from Shipwreck Beads)
vintage brass beads  (from my Gam's broken necklace)
vintage 3 cut 11/0 metallic silver beads (gift from a friend)
assorted beaded buttons (a gift from a friend)
4 jump rings
6 inches of ribbon (I used to sell the ribbon when I owned my yarn store 12 years ago.)  

Tools:

flat nose pliers
crimping pliers
wire cutters

Directions:

First, I took apart the pendant by carefully opening the prongs with my flat nose pliers.

I replaced the collage provided with paper from my stash of Victorian replica paper scraps, but I think it would be equally cool with a photo of family.  I put the metal frame and glass top back in place and pushed down the prongs to securely hold everything together.  I readded the grey ribbon and and pendant bail.

The rest was straight forward bead stringing with the pendant at the center and the larger beads interspersed with beaded buttons and 11/0 3-cut vitage beads.  I finished it off with a shimmery, sheer ribbon in the palest of pinks.

The finished result is remarkably light despite the size of the pendant.  I've been wearing it to college meetings all week, receiving many compliments and requests for custom work.  

But like I said, I couldn't stop with one.  I had to make another.  Those sewing bobbins!  Perfect!  I grabbed an old key from the junk drawer.  When I bought the house, I was given a skeleton key to front door at closing.  Seriously? Yep, here in Chicago circa 1999!  When I moved in, I found a tin of them under the stairs, one for every door in the house with plenty of spares.

With my key as charm holder, I added a bobbin and metal tag from the Industrial Chic™ collection, plus my personal bits and bobs, like beads, buttons and even an old French franc.  Ooh, la, la!  C'est magnifique, n'est-ce pas?

I've been having fun following the blog hop and I hope you do too.  Here is the full August line up!

August
10              Barbe St. John                   http://barbesaintjohn.blogspot.com/
11               Cheryl Bodkin Waters    http://blog.artsyfindings.com/
12               Cindi Bisson                       http://fatcatcreations.blogspot.com/
13               Gretchen McHale             http://readingartworks.com/beta/?page_id=964
14               Jenny Barnet Rohrs         http://www.crafttestdummies.com/
15               Kari McNight                      http://backporchartessa.blogspot.com/
16               Me - Lindsay Obermeyer
17               Seth Apter                            http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/
18               Suze Weinberg                   http://suzeweinberg.typepad.com/
19               Tami Bayer                          http://www.tamibayer.com/
20              Theresa Cifali                     http://theresacifali.com/
21              Tracie Stivers Lampe      http://www.radicalrecycks.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?   BlogID=7528
22              Traci Bautista                       http://kollaj.typepad.com 
23              Jen Crossley                          http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/
24              Eileen Hull                             http://www.eileenhull.blogspot.com/
25              Pam Carriker                        http://pamcarriker.com/blog/

And if that isn't enough inspiration for you, check out what these amazing designers did in July!

Ken Oliver                           http://kensworldinprogress.blogspot.com/
Vicki O'Dell                         http://www.vickiodell.com
Cindy Cima Edwards       http://www.cindycima.com/
Elena Lai Etceverry          http://thetravelingprincess.blogspot.com/
Jen Osborne                       http://www.themessynest.com/
Wanda Eas                          http://craftymule.blogspot.com/
Sandy Martin                     http://sweetpeajewelry1.blogspot.com/
Susan Weckesser             http://mysweetearth.blogspot.com/
Tracy Weinzaphel            http://www.tracywburgos.typepad.com/
Terri O                                  http://www.supersimplewithterrio.com/

CHA Summer 2012, Crafty Ideas Galore!

The Possible's slow fuse is lit
By the Imagination.
-- Emily Dickinson

The Craft and Hobby Association's (CHA) 2012 Summer trade show was full of crafty inspiration. This was my 4th show to attend and I finally got smart about it. I scheduled my time so I could fully walk the floor and enjoy as many make 'n takes as possible.  Time to relax and play really helped me to learn more about the materials and see what they could do.

This holiday curmodgeon can't wait to start preparing for Halloween.  Don't you love the owl I made at Floracraft!  You can make one too.

These beaded trantulas  from Blue Moon Beads are craftabulous!

  

I also love the other displays from the DCWV / Blue Moon Bead booth.  This company never fails to dazzle with their displays. I must find a skeleton to bling out for my porch this fall.  The neighborhood kids would flip out.

 

And talk about a freaking clever use for old lace tights and bits of broken chain!

Of course, Halloween isn't the only holiday.  There was plenty Christmas fun too.  This little wire tree with paper cut ornaments is so simple and so cute.  I also like this use of acrylic board and paper.  A great gift tag that doubles as an ornament.

 

The annual Crafty Couture display by the CHA designers group has inspired some fantastic booth displays. Check out the paper and crystal sparkle of this dress!

Here's a detail.  See what I mean?  Incredible!  I also love the Hello Kitty bike.  It is over the top cute, but in a way that works. 

 

I always leave the trade shows utterly exhausted and yet refreshed.  There are so many ideas to consider, new materials and tools to explore that I can't help but ignore my tired feet and head to the studio.

Love: Penguin Book Covers by Jillian Tamaki

"Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket."
 --  Charles Simic

I'm in love with these embroidered illustrations by illustrator Jillian Tamaki for Penguin Classics. They grace recent releases (fall 2011) of Emma, Black Beauty and The Secret Garden.  This last novel was a favorite of my daughter.   I appreciate how Jillian shows not the whole door to the garden, just the keyhole.  

The series has me thinking of my own favorite novels and how I would go about imagining them illustrated and worked in embroidery.  Hmmmm.  

Thank you to Chelsea for turning me to Jillian's gorgeous illustrations and handiwork.