Friday, May 27, 2011

New Colors for an Old Design


Freckled Bird pillow in progress
One of my favorite things is to receive a special commission request. Most often, I'll get an email from a customer who will send me a photo of one of their rooms--bedroom or living room--and ask me to make one of my folk art pillows to match their color scheme. I love this! We talk about the photos they send me and I ask questions like, "Am I seeing tomato red in this bedspread, or is it more like a lipstick red?" Back and forth we share ideas and then The Creativity can begin.
Traditional colors for Freckled Bird design
This scene from my studio today shows a fun color adaptation of my popular Freckled Bird pillow design that I'm making for a new customer. She has asked me to make the pillow more vivid than my standard color scheme. I'm having a blast. Don't you think her color choices are great! (I'm showing my traditional color palette for you to compare.)






If you'd like a special commission item from my Nestle and Soar Studio, feel free to drop me a note at georgianneholland@comcast.net. I'd love to work with you!

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne

Monday, May 23, 2011

My new favorite things...

I stumbled upon two new favorite things this morning and I want to get to know these Etsy artisans. I think we have similar passions.

I create only 2D work with wool, but I do like this folk art bird pattern from Cheswick Company in Connecticut. I especially like their button eyes and the feathers on their heads! I like that this is a pattern, not the finished item for sale. I think Etsy is a great source for those who make things, as well as a source for those who want to buy things. I know I look at other artists to be inspired. I have a few patterns in the works of my own designs, which is fun. I never thought to clamp the soft sculpture like this. Love it.







I also found a great bright green tote bag (and how many tote bags do I need... unending urge to collect them). I like this Love Languages tote by Buck Toothed Bunny in Boston because I am entranced by the best way to add words to art. There is silk screening, iron-on transfer, printing directly to fabric, decoupage, applique...can you think of any more techniques? I most recently embroidered words by hand and that is very time consuming! My particular OCD comes out when I do hand embroidery of words as my stitches are never as even as I think they should be. I really like how the words on this tote form a heart.

What has caught your eye already today? What will be your favorite thing this week? I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Nestle and Soar Studio Scene


Long's Peak 100% Wool Landscape
It has been a busy week in my fiber folk art studio! There is something special about hunkering down to artwork when it is consistently rainy and cool outside. My space feels like a cocoon.

I have been looking at my landscape of Long's Peak for a couple of months now as my progress seemed to stop after I accomplished the background layers. I now need to hand embroider and dry felt the mid-range and fine detail work, and I am stumped. I just keep looking at it, waiting for inspiration to strike. I think I should take a drive and sit with my sketch pad for awhile as I look over that scene again. I was inspired while on the gym's treadmill to begin this piece...my view from the west-facing window at my gym is just spectacular. Not sure why some folks stare at the television when they could be looking at this mountain view instead...to each their own.

Coexist Tree in Blue Sky Series, 10"x10"
The last photo shows how messy my work table gets during a busy week. I have been using all these colors of wool -- Delicious. I like having everything close at hand, and at the same time, I long to have everything neatly tucked away. The creative process is not a tidy thing--Don't you agree? I am almost finished with my 10"x10" sky series that depicts a tree with birds; I like to call this design Coexist. Birds in many colors, shapes, types, and all personalities are welcome...Coexist. I plan to make 12 of this design, each slightly different. The trees are becoming more and more plump as I go. Never trust a skinny tree, that's what I say!

My work table right now...
Thanks for stopping by my studio,
Georgianne








Thursday, May 5, 2011

Sunrise...Sunset

I have always been a sucker for the magical feeling I get when presented with a bright sunrise or sunset. Do you ever get that awestruck quickening when you turn the corner and see the sky on fire? I found this photo of a sunrise on the Internet [sorry to not have the photographer's name to share] and wanted to let you enjoy it, too.


Winter Sunset, Georgianne Holland, 2011


Yesterday I listed my own version of a sunset on my Etsy shop, Nestle and Soar. Finding this sunrise photograph makes we want to make a whole series of wall felts to try to capture that magical feeling! I definitely want to add more purple to the sky next time...




"Rays from the sunrise drew forth the buds and stretched them into long stalks, lifted up sap in noiseless streams, opened petals, and sucked out scents in invisible jets and breathings." Thomas Hardy

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne

Monday, May 2, 2011

Enchanted Forest

8x10 painting by StudioZen in Tacoma Washington
I took a stroll through Etsy.com today and found a couple new favorite things there. I'm so grateful for this site as it gives me access to artists around the world in a virtual boutique and in the comfort of my fuzzy slippers, too!

I am always impressed by those who paint, and I am dazzled by those who work with glass! My sister makes mosaics that are jaw-dropping in their beauty and I have seen the effort involved in her art. I found another artist in Nevada who combines trees and glass work with lovely results, and wanted to share that with you today, as well as this charming painting by StudioZen.

Glass Tree Moon by GlassRiver, 14" diameter

As for my own enchanted forest, I am pleased that all the trees in and around our home have leafed out and are looking healthy after their winter's nap. The volunteer aspen trees that now grow outside our dining room window (thanks to our neighbor Joe's healthy root system) are about 10' tall. They literally sprang up at the end of last summer without leafing out, and now I'm excited for my first summer/fall seasons with these trees so close at hand. My husband thought he'd "weed" out these volunteer shoots, and I threw my body on top of them! What a fun result.

"The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today." Better yet is when they voluntarily grow in just the right place.


Thanks for stopping by and best wishes,
Georgianne