Joy To The World

It's the season of joy and in the spirit of passing some on, look at one of my favorite artists:  Joy Saville. Favorite because her medium is fabric and she does a provocative job bringing the elements of texture and color together in ways I find breathtaking.

Look at this one titled EVENT HORIZON:

And this titled REGENERATION:

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness."  --John Keats

Purely speculation on my part but I think I'll be singing "Joy To The World" as I rustle up some projects this winter.

Felt So Good!

I looked around the living room earlier and here's what I saw:

 

It felt so, so uninspired. 

 There are a couple good elements:  a neutral (though not beige) sofa with a triptych on the wall by Joy Saville. a large architectural cabinet turned coffee table (yes you can rest your feet on it) and vaulted ceilings.   I love color and I like texture and I am smart enough to know that to feel at home and comfortable there have to be elements which scream:  "Take me.  I'm yours!".  I need throw pillows and quick as I noticed the seasons were a-changin' here near the Pacific Ocean I went on the hunt for inspiration and ideas.

Yes I can do these.  Primitive.  Basic.  A few layers and some hand stitching and I'll have something unique.

What's more I can do these in vibrant colors and various textures.  First step is finding the right felt pieces and designing some different scenes.  And here's some inspiration by Alexandra Ferguson.

It felt good to get that off my chest.

It's only speculation, but I think I'll have some splashes of blue, red and golden before the new year rolls in.


04/15/13 Update.

So here are a couple pillows I've made:

And then there are these:

 

Bebe Gallini (That's Be - Be- Gaaa - Lee - Knee)

And while we're talking about arts and creative juices check out The Shops at Oak Street Mill in Cornelius, NC.  Make your way through Bebe Gallini's

You could be sitting pretty in this number:

 

Purely speculating of course, but this has all the earmarks of a comfy addition to the nursery!

Sew Cool!

I've followed Deborah Hartwick of Heartwell Designs for some time.  I keep hoping she'll turn up on Pinterest or Etsy but hasn't so far.

I've collected a few of her things.  Understated.  Small.  A little nod to my folk art past.  And I've managed to tuck a few things away for my own children to enjoy at a later date.  (Much later, I hope).  Now and again I'll run across her things in a gallery (think:  Whistling Swan in Davidson, North Carolina)

I'm only speculating but I think this primitive pincushion needs a place in my sewing room.

Pinterest.  Now let me see what it's all about.

I've got a settee that's been sitting in my garage since I stripped the finish and removed the old upholstery.  I discovered it was filled with horse hair!  After carefully removing all the horse hair and tacks eager to get my project finished I stalled wondering what fabric to use and how I should finish up the wood.  That was a year ago.  I just couldn't seem to get my creative juices a-flowin'. 

So I did it.  I signed up for Pinterst and started my first page...err...board right here.  

Keep posted and see where we go.

I'm only speculating but I think I'm pinned!