Heather K Powers

Friday Field Trip::Textile Museum Green

July 15, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Museums & Galleries Leave a Comment

I saved a few field trips up for you for my time away. I hope they keep you coming back and you find them just a little interesting. Back in June (which was not that long ago, boy time is flying this year!) I went to see the Green exhibit at The Textile Museum. If you have been following my blog over the last couple years or if you happened to read my old blog you know that the Textile museum is probably my favorite museum. It is a little hidden jem in DC, not far from Dupont and nestled in a row of Embassy housing. I love going there and upon arriving at the street of the museum I feel transported to a more serene place, it’s almost gentile and reminds me a bit of Savannah or Charleston. In the midst of the city here is this small treasure that’s quite and peaceful. I wish that more people knew about the museum but I’m also glad that for now it stands in a hidden corner of the city.

The current exhibit is all about Green: The Color and the Cause:: re-purposing of materials (textiles) for textile art. For someone who is a huge fan of the museum you might think I’d follow the rules but I’m a bit of a rule breaker when it comes to taking photo’s…so here are a few. I don’t have a lot of details but the online catalog is quite extensive and you can find additional information about the artists and the cause here. These are just to whet your appetite…Enjoy:)

I do apologize, some of these photo’s are not the greatest but that’s what happens when you are sneaking around behind the back of the guards trying to get a few shots. I hope these peak enough interest for you to visit the online catalog or better yet, the show in person. There were a tremendous number of contemporary entries and a slide show that shows the work of all of these talented textile artists.

Friday Field Trip::Pile of Craft Roundup

July 8, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Art & Design, Handmade, Inspiration & Education 1 Comment

I’m currently on my way to my biggest field trip of the year! I’ll be at Penland School of Craft for the next two weeks so postings will be spare in my absence. I can’t wait to participate in The Art of Fiber Collage with instructor Jason Pollen! I’ve shared bits and pieces about this upcoming excitement but honestly, this is something I’ve wanted to do for over 10 years. Since I now have the flexibility being self-employed I took the opportunity back in early spring to apply for a scholarship and YES, I got one! I’ve been super busy over the last week or so preparing for this “Camp”. The list of supplies is lengthy and I’ve been challenged to remain very organized in my preparation! Even though I typically am very organized about travel, this trip requires many extra supplies including art and craft and some borderline camping type supplies. Laundry facilities will also be limited so I’m having to pack more clothes than I normally would for a two-week trip. Lists, lists and checking my lists…The last remaining item for me to decide on is my sewing machine which was listed as a item that is suggested but not necessary. I guess if I can fit it in the car then it goes!

While I’m away I’ve prepared a few posts and in the spirit of Field trips I’ll leave you with some favorite items from vendors I saw when I helped my friend Betz White with her booth at the Pile of Craft show in Baltimore.

Pile of Craft Roundup

I love when craft crosses over into organizing, these re-purposed denim & fabric buckets fit the bill for anything from yarn to makeup or mail sorting.

The “neighbor’s” on one side had these adorable figurines. On the other side of Betz was Volta Organics. The photo I snapped wasn’t so hot but do check out their products. I fell in love with the Vanilla and Pepper scrub (they were brilliant to put a sample of this in one of the bathrooms at the show!).

Across the way from us were these beautiful Japanese print and sewn textiles from Namoo. Again, these HUGE paper clips are another crafty way to get yourself organized. What a great way to keep papers sorted by category!

The worn but beautiful architecture in this old church is a charming setting for the show.

I didn’t catch the name of these two vendors but I love the “scrabble” coasters and leg plant ID “tags”.

Gorgeous threads from re-purposed goods made by Malagueta fall into my wishlist category.

I crafting in motion and several booths including Hello Craft and Carlybird Weaves had demo’s set up.

And finally a few familiar finds including Claire McDermott’s recycled skateboard accessories and jewelry. There were some brilliant repurposed and recycled items at the show, I love seeing this category evolve and become more sophisticated.

One last thing we did before we left the show was step into the photo booth of Annaeka Photography and get a little goofy. What a blast to have an old school photo booth right at the show! We accidentally walked away without picking up our photo’s and Anna was super sweet to send them to me right away, thanks Anna!!

I’ll see you back here with a full report of my field trip to NC in a few weeks.

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Wednesday Wellness::Confronting Risk and Fearlessness

June 29, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Wellness & Mindset 2 Comments

Confronting risk and fearlessness takes a good bit of courage and practice!

I’ve been taking on a lot of “new” lately which requires a healthy dose of fearlessness. I’ve always thought of myself as pretty adaptable to change, but in the last several years the fear of risk has caused me serious pause (paralysis even) at times.

Somewhere along the lines in my corporate design job and suburban lifestyle I got a little too comfortable (in my opinion).

Then the unthinkable happened (loosing my job). This was the thing I was most afraid of (but secretly wished for as well!). Afterwards I decided not to rush myself into anything which was a good choice in hindsight but…

I spent the better part of last year practically paralized by fear of the unknown.

I was unwilling to make a decision about what I wanted to do next because I was so afraid of not doing it perfectly, failing, not being happy with my new choices, not pleasing those around me etc…I’m sure you can probably relate right? I can’t say I was exactly aware that I was paralized by fear but somewhere along the lines when I decided I’d had enough and set my intention on Clarity things slowly began to change for me. I started to move towards risk and allow a little bit of fearlessness to creep into my routines.

Confronting Risk and Fearlessness

What I’m coming to realize now is that it’s healthy and rewarding to invite risk into your life but the consequences may totally upset your balance for awhile. I’m learning to live within this new state of unknown. It is not always easy, sometimes I feel like I can’t get a deep breath, sometimes I am just exhausted and sometimes I need a day with a book or time at the pool to totally recharge and feel that deeper sense of calm inside me.

The big risk of deciding to start my own business in a field that I was formerly almost unfamiliar with didn’t feel so much like a leap off a cliff but now that I’m falling (into grace) I can look up and see how far I’ve come and that I have my parachute attached. Somewhere inside myself I know how to do this, it came so much easier when I was younger but I’m learning to take on risk and to be more fearless by taking baby steps each day.

I’m taking more risks in my art, trying new techniques and approaches and being less judgmental of my own work.

I’m pushing myself to talk about my business in front of strangers on a regular weekly basis!

I am changing my dietary habits to reflect changes in my body (I’ve gone almost totally gluten free).

I’m re-trying things I use to love doing but somewhere along the lines stopped doing (swimming, tennis, bike riding).

I’m attending ART Camp (this is a bucket list item).

I’m growing food for myself (in a community garden plot).

I’m letting my grip on money become a little less rigid. It will be there when I need it but I also need to enjoy the present, not in an extravagant way but I’m also no longer going to deprive myself of certain things-BALANCE.

That last word, that’s what it’s all about. Striking a new balance between risk and easy…

What are you afraid of, what risks would you take if you knew you would not fail? Living in fear is not living well!

Loving & Embracing Change

April 21, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Photography, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Have you ever really pondered how embracing change works?

If you want something in your life to change, you have to change your actions right? I’ve announced here that things are changing as I shift over to my new business face for this blog.

It’s scary, it’s exciting, it’s fun…I LOVE CHANGE! Loving & Embracing Change

Loving & Embracing Change comes rather easily for me. But I realize that’s not the case for everyone.

I use to live by this motto and seek out ways to invite change into my life but somewhere along the lines as I got older and more settled into the comfortable life I’ve created, I’ve also become a little afraid of change.

That’s sad right? I’m looking back and saying to myself, HOW, WHERE AND WHEN did this happen? I don’t like it and I’m going back to Loving & Embracing Change!

Part of why I think I’ve been drawn to my new calling as an Organizer that it’s all about helping people through a process of change. I’m fascinated by what the a catalyst for change are in peoples lives. It seems so often that people don’t change something until they HAVE TO. Why is that? By being more aware can we invite and embrace change? This may be a lot easier for some people’s personalities, astrological signs or nature but I’m convinced that it can become easier to embrace change by practicing it regularly and in small ways, working our way to more “risky” changes.

I’ve always been the kind of person who invites change into my daily life, ask my husband, ask my friends…I re-arrange furniture, artwork and re-organize closets at the drop of a hat. Then I sit back and observe how one change is the catalyst for another. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of making a change to consider creating change proactively rather than reacting to something.

We can invite creative action and can embrace the kind of change that is rewarding and lasting.

Allowing things to change as you react to “stuff” happening in your life isn’t a bad way to go either but if you can decide consciously in action and create an intention for your change then you will shift the change from reactive to creative. Now that’s the kind of change I want to encourage!

This process is so amazing to watch; once you have laid the ground work you can sit back and let the dominoes follow the new pattern you have laid out!

What is a catalyst for change in your life? Is it reactive or creative?

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef at the Smithsonian

April 1, 2011 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Inspiration & Education, Museums & Galleries 2 Comments

Today’s post is going to be short on words and heavy on photo’s. “To briefly summarize The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef (HCCR) is a project of the Institute For Figuring (IFF), a Los Angeles based non-profit educational organization whose mission is to develop creative new ways to engage the public with science, mathematics and the technical arts.”- IFF & HCCR Hyperbolic geometry is creatively modeled by the forms created through crochet.

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is a woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world.” by Christine Wertheim and Margaret Wertheim

Demonstrations of crochet are on display during exhibit hours.

This ongoing project has had over 10 exhibits worldwide with one of the most recent and current exhibits on view now at the Sant Ocean Hall, Focus Gallery, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History with contributions from over 850 participants who collaborated in crochet and assembling this coral reef. Another exhibit also currently on view is The Bleached Reef at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (NYC, NY). Each coral reef exhibit is a unique installation with different contributing artist and different themes.

Crochet Coral Reef at Smithsonian

If you or your kids are fans of the spectacular wonders of the underwater world I would highly recommend you take a visit. One of the fascinating things about the exhibit is the unique materials that individual contributors used. The majority was certainly various types of yarn but I also spotted recycled plastic bags, wire, beads, VHS and cassette tape, plastic zip ties and various other materials. I’m sure you could make a game of “I SPY” at the exhibit to identify more variety of materials.

I loved the way they arranged this exhibit in colors that spanned the rainbow. It seemed that every color and perhaps color combination were represented. The forms range from super realistic replicas of coral formations to shapes that are beyond the wildest imagination and look to be straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.

Crochet Coral Reef at the Smithsonian

While we are on the subject of coral reefs I recently got to see the short film “The Coral Gardener”. The purpose of this exhibit and the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef is to educate and bring awareness to the world’s disappearing reefs. Did you know that coral can be propagated like a plant and cuttings can be taken and “rooted” to replant the reef? This award winning short film shows how scientists and volunteers in Fiji are doing this. If you get a chance to see it, it’s a truly a sign of hope for the worlds reefs. I hope you will get a chance to view one of these spectacular exhibits yourself!