inspiration from grandmothers

Yesterday I received a lovely surprise from my folks; some linens and doilies that belonged to my grandmothers on both sides of the family. These particular ones belonged to my maternal grandmother and possibly great grandmother. I know just what I will do with them, can you guess?

On my studio table there is this framed pinhole piece I did about 4-5 years ago which was my first doily inspired pinhole piece, entitled "about Mama". Mama was the name my sister and I called my maternal grandmother. I remember as a young girl, working on a small embroidery quilted patch with her as she was teaching me about hand-stitching. She loved embroidering and made everything from Christmas ornaments to pillows to wall hangings.

A few years ago, a friend of mine once remarked that he thought my pinhole work was "like sewing without thread." I have always liked that notion as it relates to my own thoughts and inspiration about this pinhole work. So I have decided I am keeping this first framed piece, I try to keep my favorite pieces from the different series I do, as it began an ongoing series of doily pieces. And actually, today I am shipping two pieces from the series to L.A. for a show opening in May. More about that soon.

Who is someone who has inspired you in your creative work?

I look forward to hearing about your inspiration,
H

thoughts on creativity, 2

Good morning,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences on creativity. I feel we could think/talk about this a little more, don't you?

Yesterday was a good day. I arranged items on my inspiration and 'things to think about' wall. I also re-sifted {re-sifted is not quite the same as tidying up, but almost} some stuff in the stacks on my table. Simply moving things around cleared my mind, brought previous ideas to the top again, and perked me up.

Then I worked on a few little pieces, even added a couple art cards to the shop, and wrote a haiku. While I was working, I heard good news on the radio that there are signs the recession is easing up. Amen! M. even came home from work last night in a mood other than terrible. Woah. Did the earth shift? I doubt it. Because today is still the infamous April 15, not just wacky Wednesday.

Here's a little fuel for the mind }
} The Good to Know Project - artists discuss ways to overcome creative barriers in this Pikaland publication. {Amy hosted a great etsy lab last night too btw. Thanks Amy!}
} Check out a new issue of this joy + ride today.
} Lisa's piece at Tiny Showcase takes my breath away.

hoping for another good day for all,
H

thoughts on creativity

I imagine you are a person who has at least one or more creative interests. For you, are they strong all at once or do you feel prolific in one at a time? Do you have a creative growth spurt and then a resting time? I think I recently had a growth spurt with my drawings and now the ideas are percolating. So I have been enjoying writing bits of poems and baking in the kitchen, even if the baking doesn't always turn out! I wonder how one mode feeds the other? I guess it's good that our creative ventures take turns in our lives, or we'd probably feel rather explosive.

I've been working on this piece above, {which I am calling an artist's book} a little bit each studio day. It will be an accumulation of thoughts and images over time, not necessarily chronological, but overlapping and coexisting. When I feel stuck on other individual pieces, I come to this one to draw, write, paint, and print.

} Did you know Melissa has a new space now?
} Have you read this interview with Susannah Conway?

It's gloriously sunny here today and I feel inspired to begin my studio day by rearranging my inspiration wall.

I hope you have a good day,
H

our Easter weekend

before and after our little Easter brunch : also today is this kitty's 13th birthday

With just the two of us I still wanted to celebrate Easter with the little details and traditions like springy linens, heirloom china, dyed eggs, potato salad, {which really turned out better than I first believed} fresh garden flowers, and homemade cinnamon rolls.

I mentioned I wanted to make hot cross buns from this recipe my Dad emailed me. {Note, my Dad is the true artisan bread baker of our family, for sure.} Well looking at it I thought, I don't want to make a recipe using 8 eggs, so I halved it. Next time I will have someone check my math because 3/4 tsp. salt is not half of 1 1/2 T. What was I thinking? Who knows. Well then I made the dough forgetting to add all the spices because I printed it out on a different page. uggh. So once I realized that, I decided to try to turn that dough into cinnamon rolls. In the end they turned out fine and M. likes them so I'm good with that. However I'm not completely satisfied and want to try it again!

Yesterday we also took a big afternoon nap, which when I woke up I felt completely baffled about what day and time it was. I'm still feeling a little befuddled.

So perhaps our traditions will entail a little comedy of errors? If so, as long as I can laugh about it, I'm good.

How was your weekend?
H

ps. I'm going to have use word verification for comments again. There was some weirdness the other day.

lightening up } day 5

another view

good things about today }

} It's Friday! That's a good thing. In fact it is Good Friday.
} Yesterday I found this paper in my back jeans' pocket. I pulled it out and realized it was a grocery list, or what was left of a list after going through the laundry. I looked it a moment. Hmmm. The paper felt soft, pulpy, and the creases were interesting. What would happen if I drew and painted on it? So of course I tried it. I liked how some pen marks were still barely visible after washing. The idea of making something {a drawing or list} and then washing it and working on it again seems interesting. I wonder if or how I may translate this into my work? Perhaps the artist book I have begun? Incidentally, the list paper was from Rach, check out her download for some sweet beehive printed paper.
} I'm enjoying exchanging poems with a friend.
} Do you celebrate Easter or Passover? We will be celebrating Easter. Tomorrow morning I help out with a childrens' Easter Egg hunt at my church and then Sunday is Easter Sunday.
} I made a couple loaves of bread yesterday and my Dad sent me a link to a recipe for hot cross buns that I want to try. Are you cooking something special or traditional?

Thanks for sharing good things about your days throughout this week. I wonder what next week will bring?

What's one good thing about your day?