Sunday, March 29, 2015

One Day We'll Never Forget!

I'll never forget this day.  We made our ways to Freedom Tower and the fountains that remember the fallen.

Names are stamped into the panels surrounding both fountains where the twin towers once stood.

Deep into the 9/11 Memorial, we pass through sights and sounds from that day 

Remains of the retaining wall


It looks like an art piece, but it's actually twisted beams from the Towers.
I'll never forget that day!  

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Walk in Their Shoes

We finally were able to visit Ellis Islad while on our time in NYC.  Our last trip here, the government was shut down and all were closed.  Something's it's hard to realize how it was for those who immigrated to US soils, but taking this journey we were able to walk in their shoes for a short while. 

I was happy to see in one section of education area, there was this great photo of a family weaving.



Weaving was given a small portion of  the display area, but it as there!  I can't even fathom the hardships our ancestors endured during those years, but I'm so thankful they did.  




Friday, March 27, 2015

Looking For Creativity!

We are in the "Big Apple"!  And everywhere I look I see sights that can be used to build creativity. Look at the building lines
And see how the shadows fade in and out.



Take this photo with its sharp peaks and angles 


Make it black and white and see something totally different

The streets even give off a sense of design style.
Use the color of the flashing billboards as basis for texture


Even the carpet in our room gets me a thought about quilting lines or weaving patterns
I'm loving this time in The Big Apple

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Design Elements

 
When I'm traveling my eye is constantly looking for design elements everywhere! 
 
How could this design be used in your work?  How about a quilting pattern or a stencil effect as surface design?

Two together make for interesting view

Even the shelves of liquor bottles catch my eye--wonder how I could use this--besides drink it??

I liked the water shadow in the bottle as it sits on the blotter

What lines and reflections! 

Any of these will be noted in my design portfolio for future use--how about you?  Do you look at your surroundings?

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Yarn Bombing!


Have you done any yarn bombing?  I know that photo bombing is popular now but I was happy to come across this yarn bombing in a city community area.  

Here is a great view of the construction and this length of knitting covers an ugly pipe giving it a soften touch.  Of course, I had to touch!  What a super way to brighten the town center.  

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

When Nothing Else Works-----DYE!

 
When one of our weaving friends moved to the West Coast, she had a super sale--sold everything out of her fiber closet that she wasn't taking with her.
 
I bought a few skeins of this gray or is it grey (?) alpaca/wool blend.  Although it is commercial yarn, it had a nice handle and it was good quality.  I didn't much like the color, but it was a bargain--you know how it is with a bargain!  I thought of it for awhile and then decided I could DYE it and it would be useful in one of my knitting projects

So, I skeined it off on my niddy-noddy; tied it securely for the dyepot

I selected a magenta acid dye and went for it--

I think this will be used in one of lace shawl patterns.  The tie strings, which are wool, shows the color of the primary dye.  Overall, I'm pleased!
So, when all else fails, over dye!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Add to the List--What NOT To Say...................


Listing courtesy of  California Arts Council

"why would I buy art when I can download it for free on the Internet"
 "My eight year old could do better than you."
"don't offer 25 dollars for an item that cost more than 200 dollars for material and hours of work to create!"
"How long does this take you to make?" 

What would you add? 

It's Time--

 It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One ye...