i decided to venture down to Brooklyn again, to the Etsy Labs, for a free workshop talk with Antonio Gould, about creating a global brand, yet keeping it at a less-than-corporate level. this of course was just what i needed to start my creative juices flowing. while taking notes, i scribbled down ideas, sketching, looking at the artisans around me, wondering if their minds were as occupied as mine. knowing they were.
[please excuse me. i'm reading a Dan Brown novel at the moment]
after coming home, ideas flowing, i decided to do a post on my inspirations. to compliment this, i will be posting some of my older work. constructive criticism always welcome.
1. FLOWERS
i wish i could scoop them up into my head and create a garden. everything i do i think of flowers, floral, botanical, organic. there's so much life, so much love in it. the colors are abundant and forever glistening.
[photo: hand-woven messenger bag w/ embroidered abstract flowers. hand card-woven strap. double reinforced for structure and stability. approximate labor hours: 80]
2. TEXTURE
anything i can touch, see, taste. fabric especially. brick walls lead to concave metal rails leading into darkness and i wonder what it would look like as a woven tapestry hanging on my wall.
[photo: taken in nyc metro subway station. just look at that concrete. you can see how the gravity plays with it. approximate labor hours: .125]3. GEOMETRY
really i know this is a bit like the opposite of organic but organic can really only make sense if it's paired with geometry.
[photo: i am modeling a cabled hat i knit from yarn dyed with koolaid. this was my first attempt at a cable hat with ear flaps and a pompom top. birdies embroidered also with koolaid dyed yarn. approximate labor hours: 35]4. ABSTRACT FASHION
i know i know, what does this mean? only in vogue.
[photo: fashion project, sophomore year at CCS. inspired by Russian fashion, both old and new. installation included dress with muff, 2 old doors found on parents' farm hinged together to create room, all scrap fabric used during project, an inspiration board, and the word 'RED' in Russian. pronounced, 'kraksnie'. my outfit of my own making as well. hair using felt remnants by Diana Jellinek. approximate labor hours: 100]5. DOT TO DOT
drawing is something i push myself to do. embroidery is drawing with thread, which is much much more exciting than a pencil.
[photo: embroidery on felt. approximate labor hours: .5]some of my favorite projects [felt embroidery aside] are so labor intensive, i find it difficult to duplicate and sell. but they can be inspiration to me. and they are.
7 comments:
My daughter, I am so touched.
Seeing you and the creations in one place fills me up. It's a privilege to witness your expressions, and to hear how your process works.
I'm astonished at the labor hours for each project and glad that you included that, because it's easy to forget or overlook what these expressions cost the creator.
Ooooooohhh, wonderful post. Thank you.
I saw your comment on rauf's blog about wishing you could have a loom. Wouldn't that be grand?
ohhhh a loom. Check this out
http://www.triolas.com/, lots of fiber arts for Leslie. If that doesn't work there are patterns for looms....maybe Don could make one?
Amy
July 13-14
This what it says:
IN ADDITION TO A HOUSE FULL OF ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES AND USEFUL ITEMS... THE OWNER OPERATED A STORE DEDICATED TO THE FIBER ARTS INCLUDING: WEAVING LOOMS, NEEDLE POINT, CROCHET, RUG MAKING AND HAND KNITTING. TONS OF NOS [NEW OLD STOCK] BOXES OF MATCHING YARN AND THREADS. PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WORKS IN THE FIBER ARTS... PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG.
Maybe you'll get a loom for a good price. Amy
Tapestry, Carol King
Loom in NY ?, Very noisy, the neighbours would complain. Dad can make one at home Lesley. Very complicated piece of equipment.
i remember reading about Irish handloom linen industry, wonder if it is still alive.
love the designs, Russian ? Why Russian ?
You should look for sponsors now Lesley. Have you made any portfolio ? If your camera has a date setting please keep it on, every picture of your designs you take must have the date in the frame. Even the pictures on the blog must have dates.
Enjoy the day Lesley, how is the sky today ? if you are taking picture of the fireworks click a second before.
i'm so glad you enjoyed this post, mama. trying to motivate myself to get new ideas has been an effort, but it's part of the process, you know?
i'm sure you know all about labor hours! with your photography, poetry, gardening. it all requires so much time and effort. but that's why we do it, right? our passion. never stops us.
and yeeeeeessssss, a loom. i would love to have a loom. maybe i will really save up for one and get it for my next apartment. [whenever that may be]
thank you for the link, Amy! i've definitely thought about having my dad fabricate a loom for me, but have heard from multiple sources that it's such a complicated process, it's almost better to buy a manufactured one. so many parts and pieces.
it is such a nice thought tho.
maybe i can get a family member to check that out for me! if they're not inundated with Harry Potter movies in the theater. i know i will be. :)
totally missed the fireworks, Rauf! i was so lazy, it was raining, and i had been outside all day, i just curled up and watched a movie instead. can you believe it!
but yes, i'm beginning to wonder if a loom in the city is a good idea. Irish handloom? i'll have to look that up.
Russian....no particular reason, i simply started researching contemporary Russian fashion, comparing it to ancient clothing. quite an interesting combination.
i would love to have a sponsor. it's almost a full-time job looking for a sponsor, yea? writing letters and searching high and low. maybe i can live the artists life i've always dreamed about.
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