While researching and geometric paper folding project for my building and design students, I found this wonderful artist, Peter Callesen. He does the most unbelievable paper cuts. Each one is made using and single sheet of paper. I use blocks and Legos and other items for the class (middle school), but I love showing them how to create in three dimensions with simple items, such as paper. The images speak for themselves, more here.
This will be a little short post today. We are here on the East Coast getting ready for a tropical storm. I have been working with a lot of different types of fabric and various coloring and sewing techniques. I really love texture, I am always trying a look of mixed color and tone on tone but with stitching, embroidery applique to enhance the look of base fabric. Here are some of the colors I am starting with in the dye house. I will be cutting and stitching these hand dyed silk fabrics to a background fabric of linen or heavy raw silk.
Base fabric
Some textures here
I have been so busy with studio an design and back to teaching that I missed a thanks to Jan at Scoutie Girl for adding my mini link. She is a fabric and bag designer with a great indie designer support blog.
There are some big changes coming for me this fall and I now have to make some studio decisions. It is crazy but I always seem to work better under pressure. I can see what I need to do and will have to get this space together in the next few weeks. I have been playing with space and lighting and here are some partially done sections of the dye/paint part of the studio. What a mess, but I am so looking forward to having all my working space together in one place, instead of boxes in three locations. Although this sure looks like a big mess right now.
I just received the latest issue of Selvedge Magazine and as always it offered the perfect inspiration for me at this time. I had collected my color ideas for the fall designs and it was surprising that the cover was just what I have had in my head and all the threads and swatches on my design boards. It is such a great magazine and even though it is expensive, I have given up a lot of other mags to be able to get this one and it is always worth the cost.
What books or magazines or other things inspire you?
It is very interesting to see many television shows that are so stylish. From the clothing to the sets designs there is inspiration galore. For some reason I been watching more commercial TV this summer than usual, I just have it on as background noise while working late at night. I have seen a little bit of everything from "Gossip Girl," "Lipstick Jungle," to the great dancer's costumes on "So You Think You Can Dance" the programs are so commercial with "designer" brands and the shows are a little to night time soap opera for me, but I think it is a great opportunity for creative independent interior and fashion designers and sewers to be inspired. I do miss watching "Project Runway" but it is nice to look at the designs on line after and not be influenced by personality from the show. I am influenced by clothing to create my interior design accessories, mens wear fabrics are currently important for the fall.
