today

today's project:  bias knit scarf

I was inspired by a scarf that I saw at a local yarn store.  It was long and skinny with diagonal stripes of different art/novelty yarns in MANY shades of pink.  It was capped off with 1" wide silk ribbon (in ombre pink/white) streamers as fringe.  It was fabulous! 
SO, I went searching on the internet for a pattern or directions on how to knit on the bias (diagonally).  Ravelry.com is a glorious source for patterns of all kinds- I can usually find what I am looking for there.
Although, this time, not so much.  I did not find exactly what I was looking for.  I wanted my "scarf" to be wider that what you would normally think of a "scarf" being... almost a "shawl"- but not a triangle... maybe a "wrap"- but not old-lady-looking...  so I took bits and pieces of other patterns and experimented.
LOVE EXPERIMENTING!!!!... the process of creating is such a joy! It took some tweaking... the first try was not what I wanted.  I adjusted.  And, LOVE the end product!

12 or so, yummy, quality yarns in shades of colors and a variety of textures.  Wool, Cotton, Acrylic.
I am working on an orange/brown/blue/ Autumn Leaves color scheme one right now (the collection of yarns at the top of this post).  You can see a couple of other color groupings here.
 It seems to me it needs a special style name.  "Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dream Scarf" or something of the like.  Help me name it, will you? Post some suggestions.
Happy Knitting!

yippee, quilt show!

I had a ball today at the International Quilt Festival in Houston!!!

So much inspiration!

Some new items on my list to do:
paint flowers on fabric with my new fabric paints then quilt it
make a scarf with felted wool beads at the end
make an art quilt with new hand dyed silk ribbons and embroidery cotton thread
practice machine quilting... got a new table for my sewing machine
use my new "do-dad" to "braid" silk ribbon into a necklace

So, off to play.

The Babette

The Babette blanket.
Such an amazing pattern.
I think it is seen in the crochet community as a crocheter's rite of passage.
I came across the pattern in a search for something completely different- not knowing of its renowned.
I fell for it immediately!
Went on a search for the perfect yarns.
And started crocheting. 

It was my first big project. 
What an initiation!!

Flickr has a group dedicated to the babette blanket! Over 1000 versions of THE babette.

I used a combo of Vanna's yarn and Simply Soft and I Love This Yarn... all easy, not-fancy purchases from Hobby Lobby or Michael's.

This pattern produces a thick, weighty, bucket-of-love blanket!

Love poured into
Time devoted to
Wrapping a loved one into an everyday work of art!

- have a blessed (and creative) day!!

Pin-Interesting!

Pintrest...     http://pinterest.com/everydayartlg/
Ohhh... Yummy.... I can do that.... I want to create that..... THAT is delicious... Inspirational... That blesses me... This make me think of @you!... My ideal house would have one of those... My child would LOVE to do that, or have this, or play with that thing....

Oh yeah... I am addicted... I knew it would happen- and so did LM (you know who you are)!  But it is official.   A new source of inspiration, creative feul has entered my life like a whirlwind!... blowing fabric, thread, beads, scissors, yarn, needles of all kinds all around my house!  ... And boy, does it make my heart sing!

That is just what I plan on doing!
Art of the Everyday variety!

Have a blessed (and creative) day!!
Laura

renewed

given new life

These little beauties found their way to me this Spring at the Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas... a biannual event that brings vendors and collectors/thrifters from far and near to celebrate the art of collecting.

Who knows how they made their way to Round Top?  Someone, Sometime, lovingly crocheted them.  Used them to beautify their silver tea service, or adorn the back of their Queen Anne wingback chair.  But then maybe they got lost at the back of a linen drawer....forgotten for a time.

They called to me and asked to be loved and useful.
Who am I to resist.

I brought them home happily.  Helped them bathe and put on a new spring coat.  And then for the finale of their makeover, linked them together. 

Never to be forgotten again- loved and useful, graceful and romantic.

Love the Artist





Monet  Japanese Bridge

 Of the Art pieces here in this posting, I have a favorite.  An artistic style I just adore.  The others are "ok".


What is your style?

Do you even have one? (not an insult... just asking an introspective question)

Does your personal style define you?  Box you into a corner?  Label you?



Can you appreciate what is outside the realm of your "usual"?  Have you tried?

You've probably heard the saying, "one man's junk is another man's treasure"...  I imagine it is usually said in reference to the value we place on objects.  But what if we spin the statement a bit and consider it in terms of style?   I have to admit, I am not a fan of all things "country"... music, decor, etc... but can I step back and appreciate it in terms of how it speaks into the lives of those who do enjoy the genre?  I need to be able to see its value... to not discount it as unworthy or devoid of anything aesthetic just because it is not in my personal "play list" or on my shelf.

Style and Art are subjective.
They can't please everyone.
You won't love every piece of art in a gallery or every song on the radio... you don't have to.
God has blessed us with His creative talents and asked us to love one another (not necessarily the art the "other one" creates).

So, even though the other three paintings aren't my personal favorite... I know that they have value and meaning, enriching the lives of others.



Edward Hopper- Route6, Eastham



Picasso - Tete d'une Femme Lisant



Frida Kahlo- Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress







my current project...

Creating something with your own hands... sigh... gotta love it!

This is what I am working on right now- for a dear friend and her daughter...

Avery's Bee

why create art?

 Laura Wasilowski is a wonderful quilt artist....

We share more than just a first name.

I connect with and admire her creative, "off-the-beaten-path" aesthetic and sense of humor.

This is what she has to say about making "art".

my $0.02

So, with all of the amazingly creative and inspired bloggers out there, do I think that what I have to say is all that special or will rock your world?

No.

But, God has placed in me an unquenchable desire to create.  He has led me in this direction against my (self-perceived) introverted nature... gently shoving me in ways that stretch and grow me (isn't that just like Him) even when I don't "feel" like being pushed beyond my comfort zone.

Consequently, I am setting out on this adventure anticipating growing pains, but grateful that my heavenly Father sees me as a valued child- worthy of His attention and loving "course corrections".

My intention with this blog is to share what inspires me, what I create, what God is teaching me through it all-  with the hopes that He will use it to His good purposes- inspiring you and bringing you closer to Him.

I will be praying for you.  And I humbly ask that you would be praying for me.

intro to ART101

art  [ahrt]  –noun

1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

ART doesn't have to be a stuffy experience in a hushed fine art museum (although that is definitely a pleasure not to be missed in one's lifetime).  ART is what you make of it... your first pair of knitted (and noticeably uneven) socks... the skillfully painted sunsets of our Lord and Creator… the Fruit Loop and yarn necklace that your preschooler made and insists that you wear – to work… your grandmother’s Tiffany brooch that makes you smile from ear to ear with memories of her.  To me ART is that “thing” that is crafted and made (whether skillfully or not) with your hands that expresses who you are, how you feel, what you are passionate about- “what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance” to YOU.  All this to say, you should experience “art” everyday- something that lifts you up, reminds you that you were made in the image of The Creator,  gives you joy.  Find what that is for you… whether made by your hands or someone else’s … enjoy art everyday.