Put a bird on it...

Dear K,

Hey! How was your Thursday art day yesterday? I had a random day off so I feel a little more relieved of stress this week. The last few weeks I have been really thinking about fabric. Fabric design, fabric repeats, fabric remnants that I have been collecting for years. What is it about pattern that I love so much? (Note pattern research above) Remember my new goal of pattern design? - This silly, crafty, stitchery has been unfinished - hovering and flying over my studio papers for at least 3 years. (ridiculous) I think I have carted these fabric scraps through 3 different states, its about time that they are put to rest and completed. Think they will look great on our living room sofa.

There is something so wonderful about hand stitching with windows open, drinking iced tea and trying to remember all of the sewing lessons that my Mom and Grandma have given me over the years. Despite their patience, I'm still a horrible seamstress... . . oh well.

Hope you are enjoying a moment of sunshine. Happy Spring!

Love, K.

p.s. Also, the reasoning for the post's title is this HYSTERICAL video from Portlandia. No birds next week!

Dear K,

Don't worry - I'm in! Just busier than the usual busy of a week... Thanks for such a great get away in the woods. Between seeing you, E, and an old friend, I - I am re - art energized!

Love the piles and your vintage watercolor set rescued from a Helen, Ga shop. (I ironed on my jean patches today, a .50 perfect fix!) We'll start the piles talk soon... meanwhile, I'm smack dab in the middle of design land. Above is the wedding invite that I just designed for E + S's October big day.

Next week I'm hoping to have something less design and more crafty goodness. Hope you are having a great weekend.

xoxo, K.

p.s. your "piles" drawing reminded me of this piece by artist, Heather Layton. Something about the layering and colors...

pile studies

K!
Thursday studio time produced first study for piles project. Weekly art-making has begun!
Your turn.
k

following the others

Hey K! We had a wonderful weekend together with E in the North Georgian woods. I'm fired up to get back on our virtual sharing.

I wanted to share some other bloggers (people I know) who post frequent snippets to guide and inspire their personal art practices---a lead, I think, we can follow.

First up: Tailored
http://thetailoredblog.blogspot.com/
Lindsay Chenault Bolton shares her inspiration and observations about hand lettering, typography, design trends in general, and life---referencing imagery she stumbles upon on etsy or other artist/designer sites. She also posts her own work in process--drawings, tracings, and final product shots.

Second: Everyday Artworks
http://katharinelion.blogspot.com/
Katherine Lion started this blog as a way to force herself to make. (Sound familiar?) Her goal is to create one thing a day for a whole year, and she has made it to 183 so far---halfway there!

So...let's quit procrastinating and just do it!

Here's the goal: Once a week, we'll post up something, anything that we are working on artistically (design, craft, planning, research...whatever!). Hold me accountable, and I'll do the same for you.

What d'ya say?

k

Wintry Mix

K,
Your 10x10 looks great! Nice lighting effect on the word-ball. Reminds me of Ann Hamilton's Lineament. I'm sure you know of it, but it's featured in the ART21 series: video clip. Or a critique of it here, touches on some of the same concepts you are working with in your very tactile work.

Welp, not much to report on my end. Winter has officially hit, and we're trying to stay warm and cozy inside.I had a little surprise the other morning, though. The tiny cactus on my window sill opened up the most curious flower---it's really hairy and has the coolest pattern on it. C is sort of afraid of it. ;) I had no idea this little plant had such a big show to reveal.Just working on a few Christmas gifts in the studio these days. Chris and I made this for my brother Scotty--he needs something for his new apartment. His GF is living with him, too. She is a hairdresser, so we thought "Hair Metal" would be fitting for both of them. Okay. This is my last post before the big trip. Hope you have a wonderful break with lots of friend and family time. Love you!

k

P.S. The title of this post is a popular weather phrase used around these parts. Brother says it sounds like a party snack. However, it is not fun at all.

Basel it!

Dear K,

Thanks for your studio, net and home update. Love that you have been slowly stitching together another winter. Perfect for this time of year... we are on opposite production schedules based on our geography, I think. I am slammed in winter and basically stop to a screeching, sweaty halt for the summer... you wind down and cozy up for winter. At least the wheels are spinning! I really love your soft geography... interested to see where it goes. Also love your new mid-century chair (aka "K's guest bed" for the next time I visit) ;)

Here's my update:

Studio: Finished 3 exhibits in 4 weeks... whew. Really looking forward to that holiday break, but full of ideas. I thought I would post pics of my 10x10 installation, "cutting words".

around town: Continued art exhaustion at Art Basel this past weekend. Always full of inspiration and fun fashions. Here are some snippets.

Just a quick post today.

Miss and love, k.

On my mind:

K,
Congrats on all your art busy-ness lately; it's fantastic! I've been in a slow-making, kinda-researching, mostly-nesting sort of period. But a few ideas are planted, getting me pumped for future projects.

In the studio: Working out some details for C's and my collabo, mainly building prototypes and laying out the ground. I'm considering other ways to use this soft geography. Perhaps it will become a set for a tiny film?

On the net: After watching this really cool TV special on the history of Chicago's theaters, I've gained a renewed interest in early 20th century American entertainment. A few weeks ago, C and I visited one of the historical theaters still operating. These old buildings are architecturally inspiring, but more intriguing is the idea of a mass audience (from rich to poor alike) filling these temperature-controlled spaces for hours of varied entertainment. Having the vaudevillian era already in mind (Mabel's), the early movie shows--including a night of live comedy acts, orchestras, and silent films--seem a natural progression for me. And as plans often collide, work life is fueling the fire a bit. I'm researching the history of the moving picture and animation for a class I will teach in January, discovering beautiful hand-drawn and nostalgic framing devices to play on visually (examples at top and bottom of this post).

All of this leads to...well, the wheels are spinning. What better way to get my hands in all sorts of making than recreating this "night at the movies?"

"The Chicago Theater, a film palace, can be described only in superlatives." Check out this 1921 article about the then new theater: http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/ths/th_ar23.shtml
Wow! And just stumbled on these hauntingly powerful photos of abandoned theaters: http://www.michaeljohngrist.com/2009/10/awesome-abandoned-theaters-in-the-usa/

At home: Settling in from the cold outside, I'm baking warm bread, practicing Mandarin, and rearranging things. C and I recently picked up this fabulous chair for our living room. It was a craigslist find. The woman that refurbished it, has a house full of amazing mid-century pieces. You can see some of her past work here: http://www.reformobjects.blogspot.com/Anyway, I've got more to post on recent art/design faves.
Love you!
k