Snow remedy

That's it. Every time we get snow from now on, I'll post something that evokes warmth and sun.



pics from misc trips to Oaxaca, Mexico (see them on flickr)



 Take that, Winter.. You are not the boss of me.

Bring Headdress Back

Sometimes I think I live in the wrong century - what happened to wigs, mantillas or hats (and by hats I don't mean just your winter bonnet no matter how cute it is)..  For example what's wrong with this mantilla:



Arabel Lebrusan, Mantilla, via HandEye

 I'll give you that the fact that it's made of silver might make it a bit difficult to wear but I think the look would be so worth the effort..



Mantilla detail

 For softer feel (and the dual purpose of keeping your head warm), what about those hats by Jean Paul Gaultier:

I can hear the pragmatists commenting on the difficulty of getting in the car or riding the subway so I'm looking into turbans.. I love that one but haven't figured out how to make it stand on your head yet, without giving you a headache so I'll keep working on it.

Henry Moore (English, 1898 - 1986) Textile Designs

This week, I'm trying to go back to doodling using pens and pencils instead of thread, and it hasn't been the easiest thing... This textile design by Henry Moore is a good reminder of how fun and playful it should be..



Caterpillar and Insect Wings, 1947 - Serigraphy in 3 colors on rayon, 330 x 650mm



These other two might be less playful yet they are very lose which I envy:



Four Heads, Half Figures and Animal, c. 1946 - Serigraphy in 7 colors on rayon 320 x 720mm





Figures and Symbols, Page from a Design Notebook, 1943 - 203 x 165mm

 See more of Henry Moore's textile designs in this book.

One 9B Pencil = One Drawing

I wish my pencil doodles would come out like that...




Alejandro Almanza Pereda - Out to Lunch - 2008 - one 9B pencil



Kate Tucker Necklace

I'm not too sure what it's made of but I want it..



Kate Tucker via newly discovered fabulous All the Mountains


Her link seems to be down but hopefully tomorrow will be another day..   It's just so inspiring I had to post it - it makes me feel like making jewelry again. Love it..

10 Today!

He's my hero...

Still the most handsome Westie on the planet, and the funniest, bossiest, most playful, you name it...

You have to admit he's pretty darn cute, isn't he??

Isamu Noguchi Worksheets for Sculptures at Moma

1946 Worksheets for Sculptures at Moma last month..

Pencil on cut and pasted graph paper on black paper

The description makes it sound so easy, doesn't it?



detail

And since we're talking about him, here's my favorite lamp design of his:



which can be purchased at the Noguchi Museum shop here.

Emily Barletta - Newest works

I forget how I discovered Emily Barletta but I remember falling in love with this:

I just discovered her recent works and love them just as much:

And those are already morphing into this:

Last 5 images: embroidery on paper

One of the things I admire the most in artists of all medium is their ability to keep reinventing themselves, and she seems so brilliant at it..

See more of Emily's work here and visit her blog there. The last two photos are details of works that are going to be in  Art/Sewn, curated by Ward Mintz, at FiveMyles in Brooklyn in March. Another good reason to get down there...

All images (c) Emily Barletta.

Sacred Hearts

Ok.. those are the closest things I have to Valentine's day... 

So there... All by me - during my last trip to beautiful Oaxaca.

Woodblock Printing in Rajasthan

Oh my, how lovely, lovely, lovely...  One of the many things I want to learn how to do.. and one of the many places I want to go to.. that I know I will go to..

 from West Elm via Once Upon a Tea Time

What Better Day to feature Ghada Amer (Egyptian, born 1963)

 Halleluiah!  The news of Mubarak stepping down makes today a happy day. Amazing..

Here's to the Egyptian people and  a hopefully smooth and peaceful transition.  

Ghada Amer (American, born Egypt, 1963). Red Diagonales, 2000. Acrylic, embroidery, and gel medium on canvas. © Ghada Amer, Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Private collection



ONE NIGHT IN LONDON 2010
Acrylic, embroidery and gel medium on canvas
65 x 50 inches
165.1 x 127 centimeters



D AS IN DRIPS 2010
Acrylic, embroidery and gel medium on canvas
70 x 50 inches
177.8 x 127 centimeters

  

Barbie Loves Ken, Ken Loves Barbie, 1995/2002. Embroidery on cotton. Collection of the artist, courtesy of Gagosian Gallery


All works by Ghada Amer and you can read more about her here.

Mending Antique Quilts

Today I got cabin fever and decided to brave the 12 degree weather we had this morning and head to the studio..  Re-looking at my book on Boros yesterday re-inspired me to stitch so I  finally started mending one of the antique quilts that I dyed a couple of months ago (see here)

That quilt has plenty of holes so I think I have my next few weeks of work planned out..

Boro: Rags and Tatters from the Far North of Japan

I was gifted this beautiful book  a couple of years ago after I finished my teabag panels body of work which was largely inspired by boro textiles (first discovered via the amazing Sri Threads gallery).  It seems the book is already out of print so I thought I'd share some of my favorite  images from the book with the boro lovers out there who didn't get a copy..  I never get tired of looking at them and they are always a source of inspiration:

All photographs (c) Kyoichi Tsuzuki

The publisher is ASPECT Co. and you can contact them at info@aspect.co.jp; if you're enough of you may be they will reprint? ISBN 978-4-7572-1596-2

Would This Make Winter Easier?

Found via Chellis Wilson. More pictures on Hindsvik.com.

I'm assuming they figured out a good heating system...