Inspired

I am inspired by:

The natural colors of linen and natural fibers http://mci.blogs.marieclaireidees.com.

They remind me of a quiet morning on a winter's day and yet the crisp coolness we seek on a hot summer's day.  I have been living in my condo for two years and never did anything to personalize it - decorate it.  I have just been living in it, filling it to the rafters and now overwhelmed by the lack of space, too much stuff and just uninspiring to be in.  So, new year, new plans and new hope.  1st order of business - wreck and order - weed the garden of my groaning shelves, drawers, closets and cabinets.  2nd order of business - review my idea board I started last year for decorating the house.

Greys, neutral cool and warm colors keep showing up as my palette with hints of bright colors. I also like dark colors - rich and creamy.  I have an eclectic nature in that I love vintage and modern together.  I love the mix of shabby chic with Parisian urban styling.  I like mercury-like glass, china, sliver and pewter, dark woods and black painted furniture.  Yep, eclectic.    Now, how to achieve all this...on a shoe string?  DIY - most definitely on painting and crafting soft furnishings.

 

 

All of this will take some time and probably the whole year to complete but it will be a work in progress - an artistic endeavor and hopefully I will love it.  I am the worst about making decisions about colors on my walls.  I know what I want but will it look good?  Friends say - "You won't know until you get it up there and heck you paint over it if you don't like it."  Keep your fingers crossed.

 

Winter Images from Northern California

Coastal Northern California can be very beautiful during the winter - even without snow. The mornings are often veiled in fog or mist. The sun rises in icy pink on a cadet blue sky. The moon shrouded in clouds - very quiet and mystical.

Trying my hand at photography this year, too. :)

Getting the ball rolling!

So, my goal this year is to revive up the 'creative life'. That means not just doing art but also being creative in every aspect of my life - putting the 'J' back into Joy! Sewing is one of my creative talents that I actually enjoy once I get a project going. I started the year off with a quickie project:

I was invited to a 1930's Lounge party on New Year's day. What to wear? So, the week before the event I pulled out some fabric I found at Joanne's - yes, Joanne Fabrics had this period-like print! I then used the Decade of Style pattern for 1930 Kitchenette Pajamas. It went together rather well and was a hit at the party. I felt really comfortable and it was fun to wear. The party, itself, was delightful - everyone was dressed in 20's to early 40's lounge wear - food and 'beverages' abounded! Amazing how energetic folks were after New Year celebrations that went into the wee hours of the morning!

On my sewing list this January I am to make an 18th century traveling outfit for a day by the sea on Feb 6. I belong to a fabulous group called Les Societe des Lumieres and we engage in 18th century events and learning about the social history. Our first event this year is to go to the Pelican Inn (a replica 18th century coaching inn) at Muir Beach for nuncheon and tea.

Prior to that I need to make a 1940's day dress for the Art Deco Society's Membership Appreciation Party on January 24th. As a member of the board of the ADSC, I want to look vintage - well, since I am 54 (in a few days) so I guess I am pretty vintage already...smile

Art has been happening as well. I am really excited about the renewed energy I seem to have found where I can balance my work, social and creative life with the mundane domestic routine thrown in there. I therefore hope to post more this year.

As things come up I will post and look forward to your comments and notes. Thanks.

Happy Holidays

Hello. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas day. For us Bay Area Californians we are having a chilly, crips and clear Christmas day. Cheers to you all.
I have not been very 'artistic' these past months. Most of my attention was on the school play in which I costumed 20 actors with proper costumes for Mid Summer's Night Dream. It was a success but everything went to hell in a handbasket in my house and everywhere. So, I almost have everything put back in order just in time for Christmas.

I am keeping Christmas simple this year. Very few gifts - more about experiences is my approach now. So, I cooked Christmas eve dinner for my parents and one of my brothers who is up visiting. I use a combination of recipes from 18th century Virginia, Martha Stewart and other favorite modern chefs. It was fun to plan, and make it all and for the most part it all turned out well. Hurrah.

So, Merry Christmas - enjoy the family or extended family. And best wishes into the new year.

Tiny art, big learning curve!

ATC's - Top left: Spider; Top right: Batty flight
Bottom left: Comfort me with apples; Bottom right": Black & White

ATC's are a wonderful way to play without the scary expanse of a large canvas or format. The ATC's above were part of a group that I began a week or so ago where I played with different bits and pieces and techniques within a small space. I just wanted to 'do' something and I wasn't ready to dive into a huge long term project. So, I got cracking on these 2.5" x 3.5" canvases (actually chip board).

ATC's - Top left: Water Fall; Top Right: AutumnToile
Bottom: Lady of the house

These little pictures were fun to do since I didn't have an agenda or expected outcome. I could just explore, play and make it up as I go. I used paint, images and bits and bobs. During the process I tried to think about color, texture, and composition. How did I succeed in these areas?

Nature has many surprises!

So when you look at this image (above) what do you see? A ghost? A swirl of spiritual mist appearing real and solid only to elude your grasp? Well, nature can surprise you. I was holding one half of a mussel shell - while zoning out in front of the tube (when I should have been doing something creative - sigh) and I turned it over to see revealed this image! I found this shell on my walks along the beach and harbor near my home. I have had this item for months and never noticed until my mind was quiet, not really listening to the video I have seen 100 times - and bang there it was a ghost's imprint - could it be the imprint of the soul of the mollusk left behind?

This is what the whole shell looks like.

So, how does this inspire me? Well, if nature gave me the gift of creativity and then this little ghost has a reminded me of this. So, though I don't have anything to show for my effort yet, I actually turned the boob tube off and pulled out the art supplies that I recently and neatly reorganized so I could find them and got cracking. I just played - no agenda - just played all afternoon. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon in California and I just played.

Nature keeps it real for me. Nature keeps me looking, smelling, tasting, feeling and listen. Food for art and thought is right there everyday - enjoy it.

Art in Food? Food as Art?

Not exactly an artistic endeavor but a creative one? When I limit myself to just posting about art, in its 2 dimensional form, the results are inconsistent posting. As I continued my daily agonizing over not having done anything creative (art) and equally not posting, it came to me that I could be posting about any creative process I go through on a daily basis. When the art of collage or drawing or painting won't manifest itself on demand what else do I do that is fun, playful and creative in a different way?

Thinking, thinking, thinking...slap on forehead - PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD! I tried a recipe from a book - Andrew Schloss www.amazon.com/Homemade-Hurry-Shortcut-Recipes-Delicious/dp/081184899X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253829985&sr=1-5
I used a banana and chutney - A. Schloss asked for Grey's chutney but I picked up an Apple-cranberry chutney from Trader Joe's. This red jellied goodness supported my autumnal mood. Anyway, you mix melted butter with the chutney and spread it on split bananas and run it under the broiler till bubbly and browning. I served it with French Vanilla ice-cream putting an a la mode spin on it. My autumnal plates from Martha Stewart and ooo...la...la!

So, what was creative about that? Well, taking a recipe and tweaking it with my own tastes might be considered minimally creative. Ah, but the photo! The photo was to record my endeavor before the ice melted and it all went pass my taste buds. The question is, how to make food look appetizing in a photo to get those salivary glands going and get someone to want to try the recipe out. I am not a photographer by training - completely an amateur but it was fun. I took about 10 pics with my latest toy - iPhone - and this was the best before, as I said, the ice cream melted. Playing with my food - Love it!

P.S. Oh, the book is fabulous - get it as it is worth it for cooking fresh food with little trouble.