Armstrong Industry Journal

The Final Rant

Just when I thought the whole studio fire, insurance, contractors, inspectors extravaganza was coming to and end, the insurance adjuster come back to me with some totally outrageous reasons for not closing my claim and paying the final amount.  All I can say is that huge companies have a hold over everything we do and we are left almost powerless to do anything about it.  They can drag this out for as long as they want, while I am losing money from my business as each day goes by.

Now that this rant is over, I want to say that i will be closing this blog in a few weeks, as a way forward to new a better things.  Please continue to visit The Red Thread Studio for the relaunch of my new business.

Thanks for all the support, Angelia

To the Beach

We are taking a little holiday this weekend.  Off to visit MeMa, and some relaxing beach time.  It has been a long time since, we have went away to just be, no agenda or pressure and not even any traffic where we are going.  

In the next few weeks I will have many new things to bring to my on line world, a new launch is coming.

Kacey Carneal Suffolk Arts

We have a great show opening in Downtown Suffolk this Friday.  In Celebrations of "Minds Wide Open:  Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts"  the Suffolk Center is presenting Kacey Carneal a Woman and Her Art.  Kacey is a wonderful Folk Painter from rural Virginia and her work in included in the archives of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. Opening is June 11, 6-8pm., the show will be on display through August 27, 2010.   Come early and visit some of the other local art venues, including Shooting Star Gallery, Red Thread Studio, and the Suffolk Museum.  Stay late for dinner at one of our local restaurants, Primo 116, great sushi at Sushi AKA, Barron's Pub, or Amici's.  You can find more information about local happenings here.

 

"My Friends Have Made the Story of My Life" by Kacey Carneal

Sex in the City Style and Fashion

I did not get to post last week, but things got in the way.  Since I have been working on some fashion accessories lately, what else could I write about but the opening the "Sex in the City 2 " movie.  One of the most stylish television programs in a while, it was so interesting to see new and quirky ideas, not just high end designer clothes.  I really appreciated having Patrica Field as the costumer.  She has had a boutique shop in NYC since 1966, and so has a great feel for the city and living there in a creative way(not a Wall Street type).  It was so refreshing to see women of different ages each with their own individual style.  So hard to find interesting fashion, in my area for my age, I always want to be unique and in a mass market world not easy.  That is one of the reasons I started designing at a very young age, hate to see everyone dressed the same.

Patrica Field Boutique

New Art Class

I will be teaching a summer class "Exploring Fabric and Fiber Art" at Suffolk Center For Cultural Arts.  I have been teaching middle school age students for several years, and this is a chance for me to work with adults.  I look forward to this new program in Surface Design and Guided imagery I am introducing.  You can check out all the details here.

Dyed and appliqued fabric with knit trim.

Wood Design

We do have some new products coming out.  I have them at the Red Thread and they will soon be available at on line.  All wood boxes, work well for display, serving, and organizing as well with a retro, modern look.  Made from recycled, reclaimed wood each with some quirky printing/painting details and a quilted fabric mat inside.

1920's, 1970's

Somewhere in Time, this weeks art journal assignment comes from two places in the past.  My place starts in the 1920's, the deco design and style, the woman's movement all seems to draw me into this period.  "The Great Gatsby" as well as the book and British TV series (BBC,PBS) "The House of Elliot" offered a wonderful insight to this period for me.

This photo, above, from my journal page,I found only a few years ago, is of my grandmother and grandfather's wedding-what a great "Gatsby" like dress.  I never new my grandfather, but my grandmother was a great style influence to me.  She had to go to work after her husband died and left her with three children, and even though they lived a poor life in Appalachia Kentucky, she always had a chic, modern sense of style.  She was also my influence in quilting and sewing.  My own wedding dress, has a definite 20's inspiration.

Being a teen in the 70's has always affected my personal as well as business style.  I don't think that time is appreciated as much as some other periods for design influence, but I love the wide leg pants, and sleek turtle necks and long floaty maxi dresses.  Plus lots of bold colors, and as noted in my last post are drawing me in these days.

 

Photo-Miss Retro Modern

Marimekko

Bold shape, and color, such lovely designs from Marimekko a Finnish company that was very popular in the 60's and has had a resurgence today.  I am a huge fan, color is what I do,so... My new design collection has a more organic feel and lots of color.

There was a exhibit in Boston at Design Research, of an extensive collection from years past-fabric, fashion, interiors.

Clearlytangled has a great bag give away of a Marimekko bag, so fun.

Out of the Mud

Jeannine started a great art journal class last week.  I am a little behind, due to the end of the school year activities, but am getting back on schedule.  Digging in last week hand me thinking about these last few months, and all the changes that occurred and are coming to my life.  Being able to get back to a working space has been so inspiring, flowers are blooming in my work.  The lotus flower is formed from a seed growing out of a deep dark bed of mud and reaching up through the water,  so my world has seemed since last fall. 

I had not realized until the business closed last fall, that I had been practicing yoga for a little over three years.  It caused a real emptiness, the  yoga work helps both the body and the mind and just when I had the most stress-it was not available to me.  The lotus is also a powerful symbol in yoga.  In Hindu it is the symbol for beauty, purity and good fortune.

More photos here.

An invitation to Red Thread

Chaos

Thanks to J for the great window displays-the chaos we have been going through for the last several months, seems like the right theme.

I am finally working in the studio and even though we have more construction coming for the stairs and second floor it feels great to get back to work.  That said, I would like to invite everyone to come by this Friday April 30, 2010. Come an see the progress-so far and find out about some of the new plans for the New and Improved Red Thread.  I will also have some "Fire Sale" bags and other items available.  Dave's fitness space is open and we hope to be starting our Anusara Yoga with Kathy soon.  I will be there all day, the reception is at 4-6pm.  So while you are in town for the great art openings at Suffolk Museum and Shooting Star Gallery stop by and see me.

 

More window photos here.