Color Play: A Study in Orange, Red, and Pink

The work of an artist is often more like play. It could be said that all those who enjoy their right livelihood are playful on the job! I am playing with the cheerful colors of orange, red and pink today, with a touch of yellow for fun. Some of these images are my own and some are inspirational touchstones for me.

Traditional furniture with zesty colors creates a youthful space at home.

Silk fusion is a playful fiber art technique I enjoy. This piece is now ready for embellishment.

The pinks and coppery oranges in the wool pile today are an obvious favorite of mine!

I believe this feather has been overlaid on an orange and pink backdrop. Fun!

What colors are you playing with today?

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne

Top Ten Tuesday -- April 17, 2012

My Nestle and Soar studio office has a large dream board that I love adding to, and each week that is where I stash my Top Ten Tuesday picks. I figure that if a handmade item plays with my heart strings enough to make me want to add it to my inspiration board, then it will probably be a perfect item to share with you! This week's items are all very sweet and colorful. The attention to detail that each crafts person/artist shows is impressive, don't you think? I'd love to invite all of these folks to sit around a table and be creative together...who would you want to invite to that crafting social?

Red Orange Bird Archival Print

I have fallen in love with the art of Cori Dantini, a talented illustrator from Washington. She has a charming Etsy shop since 2007, and this archival bird print is one of my favorites! The illustration is 8"x8", which is a great size to hang in a little nook in your home. You can see more than 100 lovely whimsical illustrations by Cori's at Corid on Etsy.

Tiny Watercolors from Little Dear

I love learning about entrepreneurial women who create in many arenas, and I've found that in Aimee Ray, the creative force behind Little Deer. Aimee hand paints these pin back buttons using watercolor, and she also is an expert at embroidery! Her Craft Patterns and Embroidery Patterns are very popular, and I can see why...I hope you have fun looking at Little Deer on Etsy. I know I did.

We are All Connected!

I'd like to introduce you to a special artist I've gotten to know a little bit, Jen Renninger of sunny Florida. I purchased one of her prints and I get so many great comments from friends with it: seems as though folks feel really good about being connected! I tried my hand at a paint-by-numbers landscape years ago, and when I saw Jen's print, it helped me remember that fun experience. I also love the name of her Etsy shop -- Please Be Still. Those are words to live by, too!

Twine and Rag Nest by Carolyn's Homework

I love a whimsical nest perhaps more than most, and this lovely twig and fabric scraps nest is top drawer. Carolyn has a sweet and simple aesthetic and uses natural colors and homespun materials in a fun way. This little shop has only been open since 2010 and I am very excited about keeping my eyes on her work! You can find her at Carolyn's Homework on Etsy.

Appliqued Owl Pouch

What a cheerful handmade owl pouch I found at Mama Blue Designs. I can see one of my little granddaughters enjoying this cute pouch as a purse and I can also see my youngest daughter using it as a make up bag! Every girl I know loves owls! Artist Laura Clausen of California does a great job with machine stitched lettering, so if you'd like one of her popular pouches personalized, you will love the results!

Lottie Fun Crochet Flower Bracelet

Imagine a hand crocheted flower that is less than 1" across and then imagine how tiny the crochet hook would have to be to create the definition you see in this chic and colorful bracelet! There are eight double crochet daisies in this cute bracelet...the photo here shows the Lottie Bracelet (closest to the model's hand) as well as other handmade crochet from Gitte - Wearable Fiber Art in Australia. Open since 2007, this shop has many fashion-forward items that all have the homespun qualities of vintage, which I think is a lovely combination. Modern Vintage Style!

Little Knit Birds by Beaded Wire on Etsy

These soft pastel knit birds are all sitting in a nest, waiting to make your home a little sweeter! Beaded Wire is a popular shop based in New Hampshire, and her shop is loaded with a huge assortment of accessories either knit, crocheted, or beaded. All of her items are available for immediate shipment, which I admire. And the expertise of her knitting stitches...can you see it in the shaping of each little bird? I'm in love!

Art Quilt -- Tree of Life

Art quilts are an acquired taste in my opinion. If you learned to sew or quilt in home economics class, like I did, there was always great emphasis put on traditional geometric patterns. Art quilts are so very interesting because it is a fiber art in the quilting genre without all of the fussy rules and right angles. The Tree of Life quilt by Bozena Wojtaszek of Poland is a wonderful example of the expressive nature of art quilts. It is about 16" x 21" and packed with personality.

Straight Stitch Society Patterns

Whether you are an apples or oranges type of gal, this Oliver + S shop pattern is perfect for you. Having a handmade sewing kit was always the perfect beginner's sewing project, and making one this adorable will be popular for any age group. The finished items includes a pincushion, a zipper pouch for notions, a needle keeper, and tons of style. If you like this, you will really want to check out the whole Straight Stitch Society selection.

Funny Animal of the Week

I love books, too! Owls and books are a good combination, and it looks like these owls love books about birds! Hoot!

Thanks for stopping by,

Georgianne

Trust Yourself as a Creative Person

Vintage frame refurbished and ready...

Trust yourself. Trust yourself to do the things that only you know best.... Trust yourself to do what's right and not be second-guessed.... Trust yourself to know the way that will prove true in the end. Trust yourself. Bob Dylan

I found myself in the studio today second-guessing almost every action I needed to take. It really slows down the creative process.

Beauty can come to us as creative people, enter into our thoughts and heart through every sense, and then that beauty can be expressed as we manifest or create with our hands. This process is magnificent unto itself. Then, the humbling magic happens for me. When that beautiful item I created is purchased, placing it into the hands of another who enjoys the beauty I, too, can see, but also, gives that fiber art new meaning by thinking about it and enjoying it from their OWN PERSPECTIVE, then the circle is complete

Art does that--art touches something unexpected in people who look at it. The artist likely will never know the real meaning that the object acquires from its new owner. There is such poetry in this whole experience and I suggest that it can't often happen without Trust.

I decided today to ease-up on the second guessing in my studio. Instead, I can ask myself, "Does what I am doing at this moment contain kindness, possibility, or good energy? Does it feel comfortable, and does it sit well in my heart?" If so, just go with the flow, trust, create.

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne

Bright Orange and Pink Sunsets...

What's on my studio table today...

Today I am thinking about those orange and pink and yellow sunsets that just blow your socks off! This is the kind of sunset that makes you want to pull the car over and just look at it for 5 minutes. This is the kind of sunset that should you be lucky enough to share it with your significant other, fireworks might well happen!

As I think about bright sunsets, I decided to start making a wool version of my own. I am far from finished, but I couldn't resist sharing my progress today. Here is the wool-on-wool-on-wool stage of my needle felting. It will be a week or so before I am ready to add other elements to what I hope is a landscape view of a sunset in the distance. Wish me luck!

Laura Johnston's photo on Etsy

I also have been looking at what other artists do to express the awe-inspiring sunset, and thought I'd share my favorite find. A fellow Etsy.com artist named Laura Johnston took this amazing photo and is selling archival prints of it. I think it is remarkable, and not just because there are birds involved! As I continue to enjoy my reminiscing about sunsets this week in the studio, I think I'll try to capture the vibrant energy in Laura's photo. you can see Laura's etsy shop here.

Thanks for stopping by,
Georgianne