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Textile “Out-takes”

by Filed Under: Art & Design, Handmade 3 Comments

Today I’m sharing a Textile “Out-takes”  for an art piece I have been commissioned to make. This client really loves my weaving’s but since I don’t currently have a loom set up I had to come up with an alternate idea.  Below I’ve used a neutral cotton thread and threaded it through a reed to space it evenly the full width of my finished piece.

Next, I’ve painted the “warp” with dyes to match the decor and colors that my clients have requested.  This process is similar to warp painted ikat which is usually done after a warp has been threaded onto a loom but before it’s been woven.  In this case, I wasn’t working with a loom so I threaded the reed and secured it to a surface and painted the threads without tension.  This allowed for a painterly effect but wouldn’t be ideal for very precise image/color placement.

These “fringe” will become one layer in the finished piece.

Below are layers of block printed and metallic silk organza and hand painted cotton toile fabric (back layer) that will go behind the fringe. The finished piece will have 4-5 “layers” of textiles.

I haven’t decided if I will be using the blue layer and I have a couple other tricks up my sleeve but in all, I’m pleased with my progress and soon, it will be finished and ready to present to my client!

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Daily Gratitude Journal and Morning Pages

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

About 2 years ago I started a Daily Gratitude Journal and Morning Pages as I was reading The Artist Way.  After I had filled the journal below I incorporated the practice of recording at least a few things I’m grateful for into my daily “morning pages” journal.

Daily Gratitude Journal and Morning Pages

This practice has helped keep me grounded through a year that has been filled with un-anticipated highs and lows.  Starting every day by realizing and giving voice to the things that I am grateful for really puts life in perspective.  Some days it’s a lot easier than others but just forcing yourself to take a little time to reflect on what you are grateful for is such a wonderful practice.

So, on this Thanksgiving day when we American’s traditionally stop to give thanks; I’d like to share some of the things I am truly grateful for.

~My family who are all in good health and are finding happiness and prosperity in ways that constantly amaze me.

~Challenging myself to learn new things and get started on some of those things I’ve always wanted to do.

~The love of my husband and three furry fuzzy sweet kitties.

~Reconnecting with old friends (this year was my 20 year HS reunion!) in unexpected ways.  Finding new friends in unexpected places.

~The opportunity to start my own business!

~Understanding that I am not defined by my career, my education, the way I dress or any other solitary thing.

~Knowing that each stage of life is only a chapter in “the book of  life”.

~Time reflect and get to know myself again.

~Sharing the appreciation of local farms & food with others.  I’m truly grateful for the farmers who work so hard to bring us this food.  I’ll be feasting with my family upon a local meal this Thanksgiving.

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Doing what you do best!

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Productivity, Wellness & Mindset 1 Comment

Doing what you do best means you will get to do what you are talented at, what you love and what you are passionate about.  But we also have to do things that we are not so good at to grow.

I recently had a discussion with someone about freelance work, being an entrepreneur and trying to determine how to navigate a world that is new to you.

For many creative people the whole experience of navigating the business world can be intimidating and frustrating but please persevere!

I find myself constantly comparing my successes with other people “in my field” and this makes me feel I am constantly falling short.  Right now it is easier than ever to create a self-made “identity” through websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc. but I am finding through my real life interactions with “online” people that it’s the those that are true to themselves and authentic who seem to create a buzz.

When you venture out into the world (ww) are you creating an authentic identity that reflects you?  If so you will begin to draw the type of people you want to work with towards you.  This will allow you to continue to do whatever it is that you do best!

Doing what you do best!Birds Fly, Flowers Bloom, Cheetahs Run…what is it that you do best?  What is it you love to do?  Go out there and do more of it!Save

Are you an Idea or Process person?

by Filed Under: Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

For some people, creativity is fueled by ideas and for others, it’s all about the process.

Idea or ProcessI definitely fall into the later category of creative.

When I get stuck and I have a vague idea of something all I really have to do to get ideas back in the flow is pick up the materials. By engaging int the process of research, experiment, play and writing or sketching out my ideas, they become more concrete and really take form.

When I am creating something, whether it is a garden design, a photograph, a textile design or a craft it really comes down to process. Take the photo above, I remember assembling all the flowers, all the teal vases, arranging them in just the way I wanted them to be, down to the fallen petals. It might not be a perfect technical or composition, but it speaks to me and may inspire something more later.

It is the process that I enjoy, it’s the process that keeps me making. It’s the process that keeps me interested and marks the time I have spent in a way that feels satisfying to me.

I often begin a project, not sure where I am headed but I don’t have to visualize the end piece to begin working. This in itself can be scary for me and I’ve often been stuck for fear that I would never be able to finish something when I don’t know what “it” will end up being.  This is when I need to remember that I am a process person, not necessarily an idea person (or I should say that my ideas aren’t always as strong as my process).

When I graduated from college I had to put together a portfolio of work but before the portfolio could be assembled I had to decide what my portfolio was going to represent. I choose to skirt the edge of two types of portfolio’s with part being geared towards “industry” and pattern/woven design and the other part was geared towards studio design which encompasses creating the design AND the product. What I really wanted to do was to focus on the Studio portfolio but what I ended up doing was creating a portfolio that would get me a job in the real world. In doing this, I had to sacrifice part of the process stage of creation.

Now, I have a bit more luxury to enjoy the process and not worry about the outcome. I don’t have the pressure of school or clients when I’m creating my art. What this means is that I can have great ideas or so-so ideas but it’s my follow through that will bring these ideas into reality.

When I’m working on an organizing project I am directly involved in the process of creating systems and I usually get to witness their outcome. This was missing for me for many years in my creative career and it’s part of what I love most about organizing projects. 

I was separate from the outcome of the product I designed for almost 10 years. As a CAD textile designer I rarely got to see my designs implemented. Seeing the outcome is a huge part of the process for me. Being so involved in the process of organizing, being hands on and seeing the direct results is a bit part of what I love. I am there to witness the outcome, success or failure (or somewhere in between).

As a textile designer I loved collaborating in the idea stage with the designers (and I think many of them are idea people) and I took ideas and made them work in real life spaces with size and technical limitations.  These limitations were a part of the process that in the end was quite satisfying. I’m grateful that I still have the opportunity to collaborate with every client I work with. Whether my clients can visualize the ideal outcome or not, I’m there to make sure the process works and I try to make it fun along the way!

Are you an Idea or Process person?

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Welcome Autumn~Goodbye Summer

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Happy~Sad. Mixed emotions as we Welcome Autumn and say Goodbye to Summer

Happy~ I love fall and with the extremely high temps this summer I have already been enjoying the cool evenings and lower humidity.  As I post this though summer is not letting go with temps in the 90’s and high humidity.

There are so many great events in the fall.  I have a lot of personal reasons to love fall such as our wedding anniversary in October and my birthday and Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) in November.

I LOVE the changing leaves and colors of fall, the fall veggie harvests (winter squash, greens, apples, pumpkins etc), Halloween costumes and decorations and warm days and cool nights perfect for campfires.

The practice of nesting inevitably rolls around for me as well at this time of the year.  It makes me want to cook soup and bake and fill the house with the smells of apples and cinnamon.  I also love to get cozy with a good book or a new knitting project, which for some reason I never am motivated to do in the summer (knit that is).


Sad~Oh how I will miss the long warm relaxing days of summer with the sounds of crickets and birds chirping and the flicker of firefly’s.  I will miss the beach and the pool and fireworks and days that last forever.

I’ll miss the bounty of summer veggies and especially fruits such as peaches, nectarines, melons, plums and berries.  I’ve done a good bit of food preservation this summer to extend the season into the fall and winter.  I just love to pull out some roasted peppers, canned peaches or frozen cherry tomatoes in the dead of winter and taste the sunshine of summer again.

I’ll miss gardens and flowers and being able to sit outside on the deck as I journal each morning or dine al fresco with friends.  Summer is a time of celebrating friendships, relaxation and fun.  It’s a time to recharge your batteries and store up reserves for the long cold months ahead.  As a last hurrah to summer and a great way to welcome in the Autumn we are going  camping this weekend at the beach.  I’m wishing for a weekend that brings the best of both seasons together.

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4 Simple Goals

by Filed Under: Organize, Productivity, Systems & Techniques Leave a Comment

Here are the 4 Simple Goals I want to accomplish by the end of the year.  This comes to you by way of the A Beautiful Mess blog and there are lots of participants. The idea here is to pick goals that are not results oriented and that are simple and will bring you more joy by doing them. A good way to check in with your goals is to ask yourself how they make you feel. Do you have that slightly uncomfortable but excited feeling or does it seem simple enough that you know you can succeed?

1.   Update my software skill set (increase my Photoshop knowledge and start to learn Illustrator).

2.   Start sewing and knitting again.  I haven’t really done either over the past few months.

3.  Organize and start a new collaborative project with artist and designer friends.

4.  Finish organizing and setting up a new office space (to share with hubby) and storage space.

Bonus:  Continue to increase my physical strength.  I recently started lifting weights again and it feels great so I want to continue this.

I’ve chosen goals that are realistic, actionable, that I can be held accountable and that are simple and fun. I’ve also tryied to balance these 4 simple goals by choosing goals that meet a variety of my interests including, creative, intellectual, physical, home/relationship etc.

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Exciting Craft events, coming soon!

by Filed Under: Art, Handmade, Inspiration & Education 2 Comments

Literally!  If you live in the DC Metro area there are some exciting craft events coming soon.

First, on October 2nd is the 7th year of Crafty Bastards in Adams Morgan.  I am not sure I will be able to attend this year but I’ve enjoyed all the vendors in the past several years.  Here are a few shots from some of my favorite vendors over the  last couple of years. 
The Small Object

Carlybird Weaves

Biggs and Featherbelle

In addition to great vendors there are always some fun DIY craft projects to get your hands on as well as music, b-boy battles and other great entertainment.

The second event coming to DC in October is the “Crafting A Nation” conference at the Smithsonian American Art museum.  This event is FREE and it’s in conjunction with American Craft Week 2010.  There is a great lineup of speakers and discussion panels and this event will be going on over 2 days so you can attend one or both days.  If you can’t make it to the conference check the website out for events in your state.  This event runs October 1-10 and there seems to be something going on in practically every state.

The last event I’m going to mention is the Sugarloaf Craft Festival at the MD State Fairgrounds on October 1st-2nd and the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on October 8th-9th.  This festival is always fun for me to attend (even though I won’t be going this year) because I grew up in the area and have attending this event many times and I have fond memories of dreaming of becoming a crafter one day.  Dreams can come true!

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Passion and Purpose

by Filed Under: Inspiration & Education, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

Without it life can be so hum drum!  I am a very passionate person but I’ve learned over the years to channel passion in creative ways rather than let it be overwhelming.  I feel

I feel passion in the seat of my belly and sometimes it is a physically overwhelming feeling.  I think that in order to do something really well you have to have passion and purpose about what you are doing.

In order to do something really well, you have to have passion and purpose about what you are doing.

When I am not feeling passionate about a project, a design, a piece of artwork etc…I try and take the time to find that passion again by looking at it differently or by stepping away for awhile.  Sometimes it takes looking to another area of my life I feel passionate about, like cooking and eating good food, spending time with a friend, dancing or taking a walk outdoors with my camera.  When I allow myself this time to redirect and find that spark then I can return with a purposeful intent to complete what I have started.

Finding passion in something or about something isn’t always the same as feeling you are doing something purposeful.   Having a purpose in life, in your career choices, in your relationships, through giving or volunteering with others, that’s what drives us to keep doing something even when we have lost that moment of passion.  Passion is fleeting, purpose is permanent.  I strive to live a life doing things I am passionate about while feeling they are contributing to a deeper purpose.

How do you find your passionate drive and do you know your purpose?

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Sheer joyful color!

by Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Photography 2 Comments

Yesterday I was cleaning up a bit in the kitchen and prepping some veggies and as I cut off the top of the yellow bell pepper and set it down I was captured by its sheer joyful color and form!

I went to get my camera and came back to the kitchen and noticed the yellow sunflowers that I’d been meaning to take some photo’s of and then they were in a lovely teal vase (I collect teal pottery and ceramics) and then there were those yellow cherry tomatoes sitting inside the berry bowl by Bridgman Pottery!

sheer joyful color

All this yellow and teal together, a favorite color combination of mine (especially if you throw in a little red also).

For the next 30 or so minutes I just let myself be caught up in the beauty of the moment of sheer joyful color!


I loved the total spontaneity of this photo shoot, not planned just joyful.  How can you not think joyful thoughts when looking at the warm golden tones of sunflowers and the golden veggies of late summer harvests.!

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Out with the Old~Inviting in the new

by Filed Under: Art & Design, Wellness & Mindset 3 Comments

Lately my mind is on de-cluttering, purging and making space for new things in life. Out with the old!

My husband and I spent the last week going from room to room gathering things that we no longer needed, loved or wanted. We decided we wanted to try something different and gathered all of these items together to head to a local flea market! Our community has a regular flea market (does yours?) and they make it pretty easy to show up just once or on a regular basis.  We’ve had plenty of garage and yard sales but thought we would give this a try. There are a lot of flea market regulars and certainly a guaranteed amount of foot traffic that you may or may not get at a yard sale. Anything is worth a try when you want to get rid of a lot of stuff at once (say for an upcoming move?)!

On Saturday morning we headed out very early in order to go to a flea market and sell a bunch of stuff that’s taking up too much space in our lives. This included clothing, tools, home goods from the kitchen to linens, gardening supplies  and more. Basically, anything you would sell at a yard sale. We have a 10′ pop up tent, which I highly recommend for any outdoor affair.

We had made a decision that whatever didn’t sell wasn’t coming back into the house. At the end of the day, I was left with only a few boxes of items to donate.  The weather was mostly beautiful (a little am mist)! It was fun to interact with other vendors and a challenge to not be tempted, as I was, to bring something new (to you) home.  I got the two antique games below because I love the charming images on them!  I also found a couple small hand stitched textiles. All in all, much more went out than came back!

out with the oldMaking room for “new” can mean a lot of different things but in my case I am not trying so much to make room for physical things as much as new ideas and inspiration.  Another area of my life that I am doing this is in the exploration of old design sketches and concepts I’ve completed to some degree over the last 10 years.  I am really enjoying bringing these designs beyond concepts and sketches and into fully rendered ideas.

Moving through old stuff and ideas can help us to release them and move forward and create space for new creativity!

You can not “hoard” your own ideas, they must be released in order for the new creative ideas to move through you, the same can be said for our stuff!

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