sick as a soggy chip BUT
I've managed to finish a little embroidery piece that was easy to pick up and put down. I started it before going to Puerto Rico. I sewed on the plane, in the airport, by the hotel lake, and finally over the holidays.
I will print out pics and add to my travel journal. It's based on my sketchbook doodle of a hand of fatima I designed and then elaborated on.
How to Keep a Travel Journal
Don't leave home without it
My camera that is, and my embroidery.It was lovely to sit by the pond in San Juan hotel and quietly stitch as the swans wandered by. Alas the trip was far too short, but sweet.
Meanwhile back in Jafabrit's studio, sniffle's abound. I had flu shots, but I haven't escaped a horrid little cold, so it's chicken soup time.
Feliz Navidad
Laguna Del Condado Bay fireworks
Our first night in San Juan we were treated to a fab display of fireworks and live music from our balcony.
Just sitting and looking at all the lights at night and hearing the waves was a treat, even if the visit was short.
Cheers everyone :)
Grumpy Koi in San Juan
Koi at Caribe Hilton San Juan
And Mr.Fibbs said grumpily, "why do you come to the edge of the pond and give me hope when you have NOTHING to feed me?"
There was a wee tropical storm and I was stuck in and around the hotel for the afternoon so I decided to give myself a challenge. Can I find interesting things to photograph stuck in a hotel,Caribe Hilton,in San Juan.
Luckily the
Off to the Land of Cockfights
I admit I was shocked when I saw this last time I visited. The thought of it makes me shiver, arg!
Instead I will leave you with this image as I fly off into the sunshine for a few days.
Playing with Wire
alas my wire face sculpture is nowhere as near as good as Alexander Calder's below, but
I didn't follow the method of using a continuous line drawing to base it on. I was
Embracing Process
Sometimes I really have to remind myself that I'm not in a race, that I don't have to rush onto the next project.
My internet was down for a couple of days and I had no access to bbc radio, we don't have tv, so it was quiet around here. I rather enjoyed the solitude in my studio. I did watch a couple of old Bette Davis movies on DVD, and sketch out ideas for a piece, AND play in my
F is for Faffing
As in Faffing about the studio
while I psych myself up to start my next major embroidery piece. So here I am experimenting with felt flowers for a fun wee project.
My next embroidery piece is going to require quite a bit preparatory drawing and planning. Nothing to share on that front at this point, other than it is a narrative piece.
Water Sparkles
Blow, blow, thou winter wind
E is for Egg Cozy
Yea, I finally finished one for my Etsy Shop.
hand embroidery on tea stained linen
Slowly building up our inventory at our shop, yea! Takes time, especially since we are not rushing making anything just to sell. I had so much fun making a few for myself and a spare one for the shop.
FAF
Mark was so taken with the idea of Free Art Fridays after our radio chat that he created one for
D is for Dull
which is the best description for the grey skies of Ohio today BUT life is not dull, thank goodness.
Besides adding new items to my etsy shop with jafapal Nancy, getting a lovely shout out for my F*ck embroidery at Cauchy's quilt project blog, I spent a few minutes chatting with Mark Lipinski on his Creative Mojo Radio show today about Free Art Fridays. I don't really know when it started or
C is for Colposinquanonia, Crafts and Christmas Stamps
I must be a real BEAUTY then LOL!
Okay NOT, but my C is;)
Hand Embroidery designed by moi
copyright ©2011 Corrine Bayraktaroglu aka Jafabrit All rights
Crafts
wheeeeeeeee!I won Mark Montano's Book The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2 from Craft.You (thanks Margot), and can't wait to play.
Spuggy Christmas Stamps
tweeeeeeet
I now have REAL US Post Office stamps available at Zazzle.
B is for Breakfast, Bullies and Birds Nest Drinks
Breakfast
Every now and again we like to have soft boiled eggs for breakfast; so my egg cups are not just for show. Can't have egg cups without egg cozy's though, so I designed and hand embroidered one for myself.
Muslin, hand embroidery
Bullies
A High School Student gets Threats from the Burzynski Clinic
Dealing with bullies
Legal Guide for Bloggers (US based)
Institute of Bully Free
Subversive Stitch: I didn't think I would do it
but I did.
If you are easily offended then I suggest you do NOT scroll past this picture.
******
*********
*****
I have not been a big fan of using rude language or imagery in my work (although yes I did do that ONE embroidery but), but I was invited to participate in a project involving said word. I enjoyed the challenge of seeing if I could visually create a piece
Getting a BIg Ass and it's not what you THINK!
Wise Owl Says
"Courage is the commitment to begin without the guarantee of success".
It's not just the courage to be judged, or dismissed as an artist, but the courage of facing indifference also. The problem is if we start thinking everything has to successful (whatever that means), how will we keep trying, and growing and striving for that one creative moment that succeeds in ways we
The F Factor
copyright ©2011 Corrine Bayraktaroglu aka Jafabrit All rights Reserved
F is For Facinorous
and that is what I plan to be with this next embroidery project :)
Diwali 2011 Springfield Ohio
We've been going to Diwali now for several years and each year is as wonderful as the last. Happy Diwali.
Clowning Around
I have no idea what possessed me Saturday to buy this ugly 99 Cent little oil painting (circa 1974 signed Dartin)when I was at the charity shop. I hate clowns (even have a blog entry about it back in 2010). No! not scared of them, just never liked them.
I will admit I liked HOW it was painted with buttery loose brushstrokes that get a sense of the figure. Something weird must be going on in
Now I Get It: Edward Gorey
I remember seeing his work on PBS Masterpiece Mystery Theatre years ago and always enjoying the intro as much as the show.
but hadn't quite understood how the egg head I made with Nancy would be so reminiscent of Gorey's work. Then a fan of Gorey's, and a wonderful supporter of studio jafabrit (thank you) told Nancy and I why she wanted to buy our egg.
After doing some
Having a Voice
Makes People Happy
I do it with my art or with guerrilla art, although I can't say my street art is "always" anonymous (that's practically impossible in a small village).
Karla Black's Voice
I really like her comments about what sculpture is to her in this interview. She is a Turner Prize winner and her work will be unveiled at the Batlic Centre of Contemporary Art in my
Mental Vitamins
The Healing Power in the Act of Creating
Neuroscientist Kelly Lambert has shown in her research that "when you knit a sweater or plant a garden,...when you prepare a meal or simply repair a lamp, you are bathing your brain in feel-good chemicals and creating a kind of mental vitamin."
I found this info in great article on EcoSalon that talks about the link between Using Your Hands and
How cool! Amazon top 10 craft books list
Gale and Joan's Craft Activism Book made Amazon's top 10 best craft books list for 2011, wheeeeeeeeee!
Here is a nice review of the book by Bead Nerd, and yes that's our jafagirl peace pole.
photo by Gale Zucker
Shadows and Inspiration
I love walking past this garden, especially when there are beautiful shadows on the gorgeous blue wall.
My fascination with shadows goes back a long way it seems. I remember my first oil painting class with Marie Linnekin and we had to do a still life study. I was fascinated with the shadows and all the other objects seemed to become secondary.
There are a lot of things that
Crafty Pals and Why Inspiration Matters
One of my FAVE long time bloggy pals, Margot Potter, has a new website called Craft.You. It's all about making lemons into really tasty strawberry fizzy lemonade and she sure knows how to do that with a zing and a flair. She has free advice, classes, tips, and interviews, plus she is a FUN read. It's not just about making crafts though, it's also about life crafting.
Why Inspiration Matters
That Elusive Image and FAB fabric markers
I was planning on starting a project yesterday BUT then I got a bee in my bonnet because I couldn't find my photograph that is the inspiration for it. I became like an obsessed demon and for three hours searched my photo files, and the house. Five minutes before I leave the house to go to a meeting I suddenly realize where it might be.
RIGHT NEXT TO THE FLIPPING COMPUTER IN A FOLDER, grrrr!
Inspiration exists, BUT
I haven't seen the movie Modigliani, which some say is awful, but I thought this video clip and music lovely.
Played in my sketchbook last night and there must be some subliminal message about being wooly-minded ;)
However today my Monday Muse is telling me to get off the computer and start laying the groundwork for a painting and an embroidery. The ideas have been fermenting
I am not a speaker
Trust me I just BLITHERED on and I think the salon talk was all over the place eeeeeeeek, BUT it was fun (more about that later) and a LOVELY finish to our Hairy Art Palace Exhibit. Thanks to The Yellow Springs Arts Council and their wonderful volunteers.
Meanwhile I am just working on being as lazy as possible today (although the studio beckons). I have been tossing and turning at night as
Cloud Watching and Jafa's have a new meaning
I love long drives, and cloud watching is one of the things I like to do. I saw this jet shaped cloud on the way to Penn State and had to take a pic (of course). I go nowhere without my camera. As with a lot of things I post about I thought I would do google search on clouds found this: The Cloud Appreciation Society
Oh yea! erm about the jafa's, well it's official, Nancy and I have
rocks that make me drool!!!!!!!!!!
Claudio Bravo Pastel Drawing 1971
Spent a couple of hours at The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State, and what a gem it is. Yes, you read that right, the above is a pastel. I thought it was a photograph at first and was floored when I realized it was a drawing. In the reflection is an Alex Katz aluminum cutout called Anne. I REALLY enjoyed the faculty exhibit, very inspiring, and makes me
They shouldn't get ALL the candy
St. Andrews Parish Churchyard
built in the 12th century
Newgate Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
2011
"Tis now the very witching time of night"
Hamlet's Soliloquy
OCCUPY HALLOWEEN
Craft Activism on CT Style TV show
Craft activism: wtnh.com
To learn more about the book visit the Craft Activism Website
Meanwhile back in Yellow Springs it's Yelloween and I couldn't do a post without including a skull.
cough! cough!
Stencils in Felt
Mr.Plato is taking a rest from reading craft activism and keeping an eye on the police hanging around the Hairy Art Palace exhibit. ahem!
Doing an exhibit can really challenge you to think of the space and how to present your work within it.I came up with the idea of doing my policewoman (based on a photo of my daughter) stencil in felt because I couldn't spray paint it on the gallery
Salon Chat on Craft Activism/Craftivism
Craft activism is a fairly new term and really took off after Betsy Greer joined the two words and coined the word craftivism in 2003. However the act of joining craft and activism has a long history. An example that quickly comes to mind is the Arts and Crafts Movement in which the focus was promoting economic and social reform.
Nancy and I will be at the Yellow Springs Arts Council
Decorations on a Budget: Halloween Table Decoration
This has to be one of the simplest and quickest ways to decorate with very little and been one of my favourites for years.
Got any spare branches?
Paint them black.
Make little felt flowers or cut out paper bats, or pumpkin ornaments and decorate.
Branches from Harry Lauder's Walking Stick Tree
Currently it's part of a display in the "Hairy Art Palace" exhibit, so if you want to
Zombie Doll
Not me ;)
No, it's for the Public Art Box.
We have zombie walk coming up in Yellow Springs and it seemed she needed to join in.
The Art Box is located on Corry Street
Even More New Tattoos by Matt Decker
Beautiful New Piece on Katherine
Super Cool!
This is Awesome! Diamonds and a Heart!
Trying to live the ArtFULL Life, Weird Clouds Over Ohio and sadness in Zanesville
People often think it means being an artist and creative with some medium (well it can be that too), but what does it mean exactly?
I found this lovely site called The Artful Life and here the blog author explains.
I like the idea of doing a goals page like this one in my sketchbook, and I do find I need to kickstart myself. I used the word "trying" in the title because I am facing the post
New Work by Matt Decker
Matt Decker has been kicking butt latley! Check out some of his new work from last week!
Al's got this new piece of the planets in alignment on 2012
Missy is almost finished getting her phoenix! Matt has one last color session to go!
Very cute Owl!
An Oakland Outlaw Derby Girl got this great wing! It's also a cover up!
Today I wish I could smoke :(
"It Sucks"
Not because I miss smoking, but because smoking was a comforting distraction during times of sadness.
Instead I will burn incense.
My sadness is not for me, but for those close to me whose hearts are breaking at the loss of a sister, a friend, a daughter, an aunt, a young woman who is now on a new journey.
RIP Lillian
Taiwan Funeral Rites
Gallery Sitting your Own Exhibit: the good, bad and the ugly
can be a really humbling experience, and a valuable one too. Nancy and I gallery sat the whole day Saturday at our exhibit with a steady flow of visitors.
The bad and the ugly
Here is the humbling part, not everyone is going to like your exhibit or some of your work and some make it very obvious. Some just walk in and out immediately, some display the "sniff" (That "sniff" of derision is
Dogs with Mustaches,Attitude & Indifference
Yep, even Miné (daughter's dog) has mustache envy. I got this lovely card for our jafagirl opening and it made me laugh.
AND
Bailey was totally indifferent, too busy munching on snacks to be impressed with the Dog Art at the exhibit.
Well as they say in Bengali
gugu
I got that from the Quack Project
Black and White Food
That was the theme for our reception table at our exhibit, although I see Nancy snuck in something brown lol! Meg, the arts council intern did a brill job with the faces on the eggs. I am happy to see that my Australian licorice scotty dogs were gobbled up.
THANK YOU
to all those that came to the reception, helped out, arts council volunteers, and especially those who bought
Colourful Snapshots in the Neighbourhood and Mustache Envy
Art Park in Yellow Springs,Ohio
Ah! you noticed, yes! that sneaky little U in colourful and neighbourhood. Well today my bloggy friends I am baking biscuits for the reception tonight and I don't mean these kind.
Here is a fun American to British/British to English translator.
Yea! mustache biscuits done!
I was just told mustaches are a new fad LOL!
There is even a flickr
Doorway to the Hairy Art Palace
It's as jafapal Nancy imagined it, and much thanks to Susan and Talitha for helping put up the drapery. The nose was made in 2008 and hung over a shop in town for nearly three years until a new owner wanted to redecorate the front. In the background Mr.Plato is holding a copy of Craft Activism and keeping an eye on the felt stencil policewoman ;)
Reception is tomorrow, eeeeeeeeeek!
woolly headed, literally
"Hairy Mary"
Yarn decorated mannequin
which is how I'm feeling as I prepare to hang the Hairy Art Palace exhibit on Monday. You know, this is what happens when one becomes obsessed with yarn and glue, and garage sale mannequins. If they are not covered in felt,like mr. plato, they are yarnbombed.
On the Washing Line: Hand Sewn Quilt
Washing line in Northeast of England
It was fun to see a quilt I had so lovingly made by hand back in the 80's for my mother still in use, and still in FAB shape.
There is a story behind this quilt, a story of a young mother in Texas, whose heart ached with homesickness and wanted the comfort of knowing that her mother would touch the quilt and feel that thread of love even in a
Talking about Surprises & Dealing with Naysayers
Swoon: It's about the feeling about surprise in an otherwise dead space.
Saw this on Craftivism Blog and wanted to share.
Swoon's drawing and what she has done with it is amazing. Here is some info about her on Bit Rebels.
Dealing with Naysayers
(not talking about people offering thoughtful critiques and concerns).
I love this quote by Gandhi, "I will not let anyone walk through
Crafting Hell and the German Connection
The Hell of Handicrafts and one of the questions Alex at the Guardian News asks is, "why do women want to embroidery when they could be reading Hegel?" Perhaps instead it's because we are listening to Hegel wink! wink! Fun article! and her 10 rules for happier handicrafters made me laugh. I like rule number one.
My own crafting hell is why on earth did I suggest to jafapal nancy we
Angel of the North and Sting
taken sept 2011
Angel of the North by Antony Gormley
It took a long time for locals to like this now famous landmark known locally by some as "rusty reg or rusty rita". There's something VERY comforting going back home and seeing it. I suppose not unlike New Yorkers who know they're home when they see the Statue of Liberty.
It's Sting's 60th birthday today, and since he's another
What is Craft Activism?
"The term craftivism was coined by Betsy Greer in 2003.
Mark brought up some great questions about what is Craft Activism on his radio show Creative Mojo 9-28-2011 podcast. The first one was how do the artists' in Joan and Gale's book fit it?
To be honest Nancy and I didn't think about doing knit bombing consciously as an activist statement (here is how it started) and I never really
Creative Mojo Radio Interview
Will be a guest on Mark Lipinski's Radio Show today. Mark is interviewing Joan Tapper and Gale Zucker about their book Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How you Can Join In.
and
wheeeeeeeee! the jafagirls are honored to be included in the book.
I sometimes forget just how much Nancy and I have done, and then I'm reminded to update
Street Stickers: Bunny at the Tyne
At the Tyne Bridge (Gateshead side) near The Sage (or known by locals as "the slug") and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (used to be a working flour mill when I was a kid). It can be seen in a small part of the film "Get Carter" with Michael Caine. It was filmed when I was still living there, and a cousin of mine played an extra in the Oxford dance hall scene.
and here is a
Eldon Square and the birds continue to sing.
photo by jafabrit
Eldon Square War Memorial
Newcastle upon Tyne Sept 2011
Panoramic view used with permission
© newcastlephotos.blogspot.com/
I LOVED spending a little time in Eldon Square, brought back so many happy memories.
Found this 1930'/40's postcard. Click on link here for more info.
As the site states, the statue "figure represents St.George slaying the
Tattoos of the Day!
Nate's chest text piece was done completely with a shader!
A brother and sister going off to college get commemorative tattoos
before leaving the nest!
Tattoo of the day!
Brianna is awesome! She came in with a picture of a painting that hung in her mothers house. Matt turned it into a grey work masterpiece! She also drove all the way from L.A.
Thanks, Brianna!
First Tattoos after the remodel!
Jeff came into the shop with the lyon head and Matt added the rest
The feather is a new piece added to a sleeve in progress
The Final Push!
Work In Progress
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)
