inspiration

i have noticed a change in my pottery

already

something happened

i am not sure what

but today

these forms were emerging

as i would center the clay

i would decide what type of vessel

it would become

i now am learning

the basic skills

start with a cylinder

and allow it to change

i see pottery everyday

but not the way i saw it in this

this is clary

she is so friendly

an example of her beautiful work

there are so few images available online

she says she is not connected

in a way that artists

today have to be

to make a living

yet she still manages to do it

when i last went to her studio

in ely, ia

she mentioned that students

today wouldn't want a

teacher like her

i beg to differ

pottery is a slow art form

you cant rush it

clary is a calming energy

she describes pottery

with a unique beauty

it's no wonder she creates

such beautiful pieces

a pbs documentary

clary illian: a year in the life

i havent even seen the whole thing yet

and i cant wait

literally on the edge of my seat

right now

who inspires me...

tonight i sat and watched videos

of warren mackenzie

throwing on a wheel

i tend to question

every decisions

i've ever made

my mind is always running

when i am throwing

on the wheel

i am challenged to let go

of my thoughts

and to just let the clay

move between my fingers

i am choosing to live in a way

that doesn't come easily

for me

because it's a direction

in which

i've always wanted

to go

to share with you a piece

of what i strive to do,

here is a video of

warren mackenzie

master potter

and someone who

inspires me

inspirations...

marion bolognesi

new york artist

watercolors

so much expression

such accuracy

gabriel moreno

illustrator, engraver and painter

madrid

art in a commercial venue

...beautiful...

inspirations...

xia xiaowan

from Beijing

3-dimensional art

on multiple layers of glass

they are just wild

i cant imagine creating this

it's amazing

you can see the classical influence of da Vinci

the musculature

close detail to anatomy

visceral

you can almost hear them screaming

"human being humanity"

-Xia Xiaowan

read the article here on dont panic online magazine

sunday funday

Johnny Flynn - The Wrote and the Writ // A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

"never apologize for showing feeling

when you do so,

you apologize for the truth."

-benjamin disraeli

inspirations...

ever since i laid eyes on this beautiful red dress i wanted to get married in it, or at least celebrate my marriage in it. we are going to elope and get married outside somewhere. woods. water. dirt. not conducive to this garment. this is meant to be seen by the masses. now i just have to figure out how to make it. i have a pretty good idea of how to construct it. i have no idea what kind of fabric to use or where i am going to get it. so the search begins...

christien meindertsma

today i found myself trying to explain the brilliance that represents one amazing woman. it's as hard as pronouncing her name correctly. so here is my attempt to share something beautiful with you and a few of my favorites...



this is amazing

christien meindertsma is a dutch multi-media artist and designer. she has exhibitions all over the world and has won many awards in graphic design including best living product and sustainable product from sonoma woon. her work includes a book mapping the journey of a pig after its death. it's very interesting to see how many strange and unexpected applications the by-products of a slaughtered pig can be traced to. i love that she is interested in sustainability and the environment. this video explains the book and what it entails. it's a bit long, over ten minutes but well worth it if you are interested in where our products come from and what they are made of.

TEDxAmsterdam: Christien Meindertsma from TEDxAmsterdam on Vimeo.

i also admire her for her knitting. she takes the wool from an individual sheep and turns it into a one sheep sweater.

she knits these rugs that aren't like your usual rugs...





giant yarn + giant needles = gigantic cable knit rugs.





i want one of these floor poofs for my home...maybe some day...

this is a sustainable sheep ranch in idaho where the yarn for the one sheep sweaters and the giant rugs comes from. lava lake ranch is concerned with land conservation and habitat restoration. sounds fantastic.

designs for a living world is a project by the nature conservancy. christien meindertsma's created a patch-work rug where each section is made of an individual sheep's wool. thus creating a "flock" rug.

chris gregory

kinda strange....but awesome no?

Chris Gregory is a graphic designer and illustrator who does a number of things, one of which is illustrate for daytrotter (music blog out of Rock Island, IL.) On a quest for more information and illustrations by this silly man, I found some really neat stuff. His art ranges from websites, music posters, clay, wedding invites and album art. My favorite would be his art directed at children. (I have a soft spot for kids.)

His blog is worth giving a read. I have found a random assortment of brilliance. My hyperlink is not working so please go to this site cgregori.com/blog if you are interested.

Here is a taste of what appealed to my inner rat....

Three amazing women...

Three women who bring inspiration to my life in so many ways.



Laura Marling......

A 19 year old folk singer/song writer from England with a killer voice and strong, emotional songs. The more I listen the more I love. Her first album just arrived on my doorstep this very day! Her second album is due for release in March.............








Lisa Hannigan......

An irish singer with one of the most beautiful voices you will hear. She started with Damien Rice and the two of them were magic. Her first solo album after the much gossiped about separation from the aforementioned lead man is Sea Sew. This album has provided some pleasant theme music to my life lately and will continue.....



Dick Mack's is across the street from the church

The church is across the street from Dick Mack's








Shara Worden.....


With a voice that could raise the dead and shake the earth to its core, Shara Worden takes the cake. I first heard her as a back up singer for sufjan stevens (insert smile) and the queen on the Hazards Of Love album by The Decemberists. Her band is My Brightest Diamond with two albums out. Give both of these a genuine chance, they are beautiful and can stir a wide variety of emotions. Beyond the vocals her style is unique and amazing too!

Love for Nygårds Anna...

This scandinavian designer has some of the most beautiful clothes I have ever seen. I love how delicate and cozy they look. They are down-home-country-girl and yet very feminine at the same time!

I want one of these huge, chunky knit sweater dresses for my very own. Oh, only in my dreams....for now. Maybe I will make my way over her way next year and hunt one down!

Fisher(wo)man's Hat

It stated with a Vogue magazine, some models wearing oversized coats and my older sister coveting their hat. The simple rib knit hat with a fold over brim evoked visions of Paul's Discount mercantile shop on the South side of town. This however was no Carhartt. It was fashionably simple and a chance for my sister to actually enjoy wearing a knitted item made by me. So I searched thinking how simple could this be? There must be thousands of patterns for a rib knit hat right? No. I spent more time searching for a pattern then it took to complete the hat. So without further ado.....



Fisher(wo)man's Hat

I used 2 skeins Araucania Azapa yarn
3.5 sts/in. on US size 10-16" circular needles
45% Merino Wool, 30% Alpaca, 15% Silk, 10% Donegal
I used two strands at the same time to make it extra chunky on the recommended needle size
You will need US size 10.5 DPNs or a second circular needle for binding off

CO 70 sts (it appears so small until you wear it a couple times and it stretches!)
Join in the round making sure not to twist!
Place a marker at the beginning of the round

For an added texture I ribbed as follows: (ktbl (through back of look), p1)* Rep from* until end of round
You can do a simple (K1 P1) instead of ktbl. I think it gives the outside rib a bit of a twist and makes it look almost braided (as you can see here the top part is different from the inside which shows when folded.)



The hat will be very long before you bind off. You want to be able to fold it over and have it still fit on your head. I knit until it was at least 10 inches in length. When you can fold it and put it on your head while still having 70 sts on your circulars you can begin binding off. BE CAREFUL when trying it on! If it is not long enough your sts can come off the needles. (When ktbl it is harder to pick up sts that have come off the needle because they are twisted.)





To close:
1st row: K2tog on the K sts of the rib pattern connecting the K and P together (if you Ktbl: k2tog through back of sts.)
Next 2 rows: Continue to K2tog. You will need to switch to the DPNs or use 2 circulars.
If you have a single st at the end of these rows, knit one.

When you have roughly 9 sts remaining, keep sts on needles and cut the yarn leaving a long tail (10"). Using a yarn needle sew the tail through the remaining sts on the needles. After you have the tail through all the sts run it through the first st again (just for good measure.) Pull the tail through the center of the hole at the top towards the inside of the hat. Pull it tightly. Remove your needles and pull it again. Turn the hat inside out and tie a knot. Sew in the ends.





The hat can be worn folded over for extra warmth or loose for a bulkier look. Make it short for a beanie. Very comfortable and quick to make.!