adventures in art & design
Art
Lisa Leonard Birthday Giveaway!
Aug 19th
Leave it to a fabulous lady to offer a fabulous giveaway on her birthday!
Stop by Lisa’s blog and wish her a Happy Birthday AND enter her fabulous GIVEAWAY!
Thrifty Baskets and Outer Banks Art
Aug 12th
We’re just getting back from our family vacation in Nags Head, NC! We had a blast hanging out on the beach and touring around nearby Ocracoke Island and Manteo. We love these little islands because they offer a wide variety of local artists’ work.
One of our favorite places to stop is the Kill Devil Hills Cooperative Gallery and Studios right in Nags Head. KDH Coop is an artist run cooperative featuring a wide variety of artwork from local artists. There’s even studio space upstairs where you can often see the artists at work!
Another great place to check out is the Pea Island Art Gallery on the Outer Banks. They carry a wide variety of local artists work as well in various medium, which I really enjoy.
I’d love to still be hanging out on the beach and spending my afternoons pouring over the awesome artwork. Unfortunately, we had to return to reality. And since we’ve been away for a while and still have family visiting, I haven’t had much time for thrifting. (sigh) BUT… I do have a few treasures to share with you that I’ve been saving up!
We picked up these beautiful baskets at an estate sale a couple weeks back. I still haven’t decided where they’ll live or whether or not I should paint or stain them. I think they’ll look nice in our master bedroom once that’s redone this Fall.
We always try checking out the estate sales on Sundays because that’s usually when they’ll cut the prices by at least 50%. So, yep, I got these lovely baskets for $4 instead of $8!!!
We also picked up this gorgeous basket at another estate sale in downtown Richmond, VA. The tag said it’s a rice basket but I couldn’t find a good reference online anywhere. This too was 50% on a Sunday afternoon. I believe the original price of $36. Right now she’s hanging out in our office which is in the midst of a redo so we’ll have to see if she stays or moves to the basement’s entertainment area.
So I’m off to spend time with family we have in town from Nebraska that we haven’t seen for 8 years!!! Soon life will be back to “normal” but for now I’m soaking up this special time with family! I hope you’re enjoying your summer too!
Sharing this post at…
Leigh’s Thrifty Thursday
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Stop by and check out all the amazing projects!
Glass Act-Choices In Handcrafted Glass Chandeliers
Jul 21st
I came across this amazing kitchen design by Pitsou Kedem in Architectural Digest yesterday. My eyes were instantly drawn to that magnificent glass chandelier hanging over the dining area. (Sorry, I couldn’t find a close-up of it.) It’s constructed of interlocking glass loops and exquisitely handcrafted. Seeing this article inspired me to research other handcrafted glass chandeliers.
This piece is a Suzanne Guttman Glass creation. The delicate hanging mechanism and minimal metalwork allow the glass to stand out.
In contrast, in this piece by Elizabeth Lyons of Lyons Glass the metalwork plays an important role as the armature, tying the piece together. The metallic of the steel and glass are simply grand on this small piece.
This gorgeous opalescent and clear glass chandelier from Red Fern Glass is simply stunning. Oh how I wish I had the space for such a piece.
So here’s hoping you find inspiration today, even in the seemingly small places!
Sunflower
Jul 17th
Over the years I have developed an eye for black and white photography, however, being half of Artisticblend is really making me explore different aspects of photography.
While at the local South of the James Farmers Market, we passed by these sunflowers. Their color really caught my eye. I felt this was a perfect opportunity to try out some color play. So we bought the sunflowers and took them home. I created a little studio set up with my new lights and fabricated backdrop. I was hoping to get a clean white background with bold crisp color of the flowers popping out at the viewer. I got the bold crisp flowers, but the background was a little less then clean white.
So,I found out I have a lot to learn. I played around with the images in color for an hour, but no matter what I did to it I could not get it to look like the image in my head. The entire series was shot…no pun intended 
Bound and determined to not let the shoot be a complete disaster, I reverted back to my old ways. Ahhh…black and white…my comfort zone. I took my favorite picture out of the series and started playing with it. In minutes I was able to get an image I’m happy with.
Even though this shoot did not turn out as desired I refuse to give up. I already have ideas of what to do next…just need more flowers!
Bobblehead Bowl Makeover
Jul 6th
This little guy was sitting on the shelf at Goodwill looking all lonely. I thought he was just too darn cute to leave there. He’s got a bobblehead and ears! Too funny. But just a little dull of a paint job.
Meet Mr. Jake! He’s one of our three rescues and a very important member of our blended family. I thought just maybe Mr. Jake could be my inspiration for a makeover of the bobbleheaded bowl.
Here he is, Mr. Jake, the Bobbleheaded Bowl! What do you think?!
Things may be a little quiet around here for the rest of the week. We heading to Massachusetts to pick up my beautiful step-daughters and then heading for New York City for a few days!!! Have a wonderful week and keep the creative juices flowin’!
I’m linking to these parties! Check out some other bloggers and their amazing work!
and
Three or More Tuesday at The Gypsy’s Corner
Happy 4th of July!
Jul 4th
Artisticblend would like to wish you a Happy 4th of July! We hope that you are taking a well deserved break from your to do lists and just enjoying the day.
Woven Scarves
Mar 31st
Ok. So I really stink at regularly blogging. Sorry. School is keeping me super busy and I have to admit that I’m quite ok with that. I love my classes and my instructors. It just isn’t leaving much time for anything else these days. So…I thought I’d share some photos of a couple scarves from my weaving class!
- Fish Patterned Painted Warp
This scarf is done in plain weave with a painted warp based on the pattern of a fish’s scales I found in a photograph (sorry, I don’t know the name of the fish). I painted the warp yarns (that run vertically on the loom) before the scarf was woven. The fringe is just twisted, which goes nicely with my fish theme. Very nautical.
- Woven Shibori
This scarf is what’s called woven shibori. I got the pattern from Catharine Ellis‘ book “Woven Shibori” and the pattern is called Monk’s Belt. Great book by the way.
- Woven Shibori Scarf Detail
Its a very simple weave structure, which works great for me because I’m not the greatest weaver! I really enjoyed the weaving process with this scarf as well as the dyeing. You just never know what you’re going to get with the varies shibori patterns and the dyes. It is always a surprise!
Well, back to the studio for me. More weaving and dyeing along with a bit of quilting and lampworking.
Progress
Mar 4th
So once again I’ve been away from my blog for too, too long. But for good reason. Well… at least I think so.
I’ve been spending a lot of time at school in studios-one of the three I’m occupying this semester. Weaving. Surface Design. And Glass. And I LOVE them all. Well, as long as I don’t have to do a double weave? Then its all good!
This is the loom I’ve been working on for the past couple semesters. We’ve been doing lots of samples, which has been great and really opened my mind the the possibilities…..endless!
I’ve also spent a lot of time in the lampworking studio watching demos from our instructor, Emilio Santini. AMAZING I tell ya!
I feel so extremely blessed to be where I am right now, taking the classes I’m taking, and learning from such talented folks! Awesome.
So that means, unfortunately, that I haven’t had much time for making things beyond class projects. But hopefully soon I’ll have a better handle on school and family life.
Be blessed!
What To Do When It Snows….AGAIN!
Feb 8th
So this is the view from my back deck on Saturday morning. More snow! This is the 3rd snowstorm to hit VA this winter. Craziness I tell ya!
And, of course because we aren’t use to getting this much snow around here, EVERYTHING pretty much shuts down and we are stuck at home.
So what does one do when stuck in the house for DAYS!?
We make things we’ve been meaning to try but just haven’t had (made) the time for!
I made this scarf from two thrifted t-shirts I picked up for $1.00 each. I attended a workshop over the summer doing reverse applique and then I found this tutorial over at Joy Beadworks. I love being thrify and I also love doing embroidery! It turned out really cute.
Then I played with synthetic fabric and a flame to create this adorable flower pin. I came across this tutorial at Transient Expression and had to give it a try! I used a vintage clip on earring for the center. The polyester fabric is a sheer drapery panel I picked up at the thrift store. I think it came out really GREAT! I WILL be making more!
Gee, who knew being stuck inside for a couple days could be so productive! Hmmmm…..maybe it should snow more often?! Ummmmm….I don’t know if I could handle that.
I hope you are having fun creating too!
Have a blessed day!
Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things
Jan 24th
- Virginia Commonwealth University-Fine Arts Building
This past Tuesday I started my Senior year at VCU! That means that this building will be my home-away-from-home for the next five months. And believe me, I will be spending A LOT of time here not only attending the four classes I’m taking this semester, but also putting in lots of hours working on projects in the various studios. I’m very excited about my classes this semester.
I’m taking a new course offered for the first time this semester called Intermediate Seminar. This lecture class is described in the syllabus as class where “we will talk (a lot) about all of your curiosities…and we will look hard at how other designers, makers, and artists have utilized their curiosities in their work. We will read articles, write down our thoughts, feelings, theories and our wild conjectures (and read them aloud in class).” And then at the end of the semester we’ll be required to give a presentation meant to “articulate our individual curiosities”. Yikes. Both exciting and scary for me. I’m not a get-up-and-talk-in-front-of-people-person! But hopefully by the end of the semester I’ll be ready!
In addition to this lecture class I’m taking three studios: Fabric Design II, Pattern Weaving and Lampworking II. Fabric Design II continues our exploration into various printing and dyeing techniques as well as fabric piecing and construction. Yes! Quilting! I can’t wait to put my new sewing machine to good use! Woohoo! Oh, and we also had to select a “theme” for the semester-something that our work would revolve around. I chose to continue exploring ocean life so you’ll be seeing a lot of octopi, squid, jellyfish, etc. in my work this semester.
Pattern Weaving is going to be great too. And of course our professor has us diving right in! We’re already working on our first project, called “Green”-either as a color and/or from an environmental awareness perspective. We’re also dressing our looms for our first samples. I’m honestly amazed at how comfortable I’m feeling in the weaving studio considering that I felt like I was all thumbs last semester! LOL I pray that comfort continues!
And then there’s Lampworking II. In this class we’ll be building on the skills we learned in part one but we are also free to choose the direction of our work. If we want to explore sculptural work, jewelry construction, etc., we are able to! Now, I just need to choose! I’m thinking about working with images on glass. I’d like to incorporate some of my husband’s photographs into my work!
Oh, and then on top of this course load, I found out Tuesday that I got an internship at the Virginia Center for Architecture helping with Education and Program Development!!! I’m really looking forward to it. I have a passion for non-profits, especially in the area of education and program development. And Architecture!? Oh yes! I’m hoping to get the opportunity to attend a few lectures and learn A LOT from the wonderful people there. I’m so freakin’ blessed! God is just too good!
Now, I just hope I can keep my sanity through it all and still produce good work, learning and growing all the way!
I’m going to try my hardest to post, at least weekly, about school and things going on with projects, lectures, shows, etc. I hope you’ll stop by!
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