backyard flowers

hmmm, could they actually be a source of inspiration for a print or woven design? maybe, i mean they are a little more like wildflowers, we haven't been taking care of them as much as we used to because my mom and her financee have been "redoing and rearranging" the house inside and out, trying to give it a makeover. apparently we are putting in a small coy pond, which would be nice, but i think it's too small for the fish. anyway, i'd thought i would share some pictures of the "nice" flowers in our backyard.

sweet: bazaar style

Vintage, kitsch, fashion, art, design, eclectic, etc. bazaar style is all about mixing it up. Selina Lake and Joanna Simmons's book on the subject Bazaar Style: Decorating with Market and Vintage Finds is all about setting your imagination free and relaxing in your own home. the book features amazing photographs by Debi Treloar.

Inspiration: Tricia Guild

these pictures are from the book, Tricia Guild: Inspiration and are just the tip of the iceberg. tricia guild is a textile designer and her book is full of excellent pictures and great ideas for projects and designs.

to make you smile

Little Tidbits: Winsor McCay and "Little Nemo"

i was in love with the movie Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland when i was younger, and i still have fond memories of watching it at my dad's with my sister, and having nightmares of the "nightmare king." in may i was told by a friend that the movie was based off a turn-of-the-century comic that was illustrated beautifully by Winsor McCay. after doing a little visual research i was totally surprised and fell even more in love with the story and with McCay's amazing illustrations.

i really enjoyed designing my children's wear print in the fall semester and i think that McCay's illustrations are definitely a unique and refreshing source of inspiration for an old fashioned-ish children's print. i could really see myself doing a print inspired by these in the near future.

artist spotlight: olafur eliasson

ok, so actually i would have to say that olafur eliasson is probably my favorite icelandic artist, well really icelandic-danish. i was instantly drawn to him when i first learned of him a few months ago, his experimentation with light, and his work with phenomenology. eliasson really creates complex optical illusions using simple instruments like water, light, mirrors, dirt, etc. his work is truly an experience and i really hope i get a chance to see his work soon.

the new sensorium, the new me

so, for the past couple of days i have been thinking... and thinking hard. i've been rather lazy for the past month which could have to do with the fact that my boyfriend of five years and i are no longer together, that i do not have a car, and that i still do not have a steady job because the economy is brutal and the world hates me. i don't know if it is because i just started volunteering in the costume and textile dept. at the pma that i suddenly realized that i should be devoting my summer to developing my artistic skill and adding to my portfolio, which has - let's just face it - not happened at all so far. Or maybe it has just been my sudden re-emergence into the world of textile design blogs that i let sit in the back of my brain. Whatever it is that has woken me up from my laziness, it made me think of what i need to do.

i need to loose weight. i need to eat healthier. i need find my retainer because my teeth are creating a gap again, and while i'm at it, i need to whiten my teeth too. i need to reawaken my creativeness and start documenting everything around me so i have constant inspiration and ideas. i need to start sketching again. i need to get the rest of my things out of my boyfriend's apartment. i need to start really painting and creating prints like i said i would, for my portfolio. i need to experiment with the jacquard dyes i bought, soon - like i said i would. i need to clean out my pile of junk, old design projects from freshman year, and consolidate my art supplies in the basement. i need to spin yarn again, i miss it. i need to starting working on my fellowship for iceland. i need to get financial aid and loans ready for this year. i need to keep busy. i need a car. i need a job. i need an apartment in the city so i can be close to school in the school year. i need to re-work this blog. i need to tell a certain someone how i feel. i need to realize a lot of things- especially about myself -one of them being that i can not experience life the way i am living it now. i need to tell myself that this is not just a wish list, but that it will all be checked-off by the end of the summer if i really want it to.

ahhh, ok. so, yes i have been thinking a lot since thursday, (these things being only a few) and i would like to start fresh and get motivated again to start working on my portfolio or just polishing my skill. i have a lot of things that i want to try and keep up with and hopefully i can handle it. the summer really seems to drag you down and keep you away from doing anything remotely productive. in the near future i am most likely going to begin posting more frequently again and the content of future posts will be of a higher quality and better understanding - hopefully. so, wish me luck and you shall see me again soon.

-K