Inspiration- Textile Designer from Madrid

I found this textile designer from Madrid, Monica Romero Martin, while doing a search on LinkedIn.
http://www.porvariosmotivos.blogspot.com/

I love her palette.

Felt Inspiration - Fashioning Felt

http://www.cooperhewitt.org/EXHIBITIONS/Fashioning-Felt/

I'm so sad I missed this exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt. It showcased the amazing work being made by artists using felt. One of my favorite installations is by Janice Arnold of who makes felt right here in Washington in Centralia. I want to meet her and study felt-making. Check out this video of the process: http://blog.cooperhewitt.org/2009/04/13/video-making-of-the-palace-yurt 

Knitting Season Begins

With the cooler weather and changing leaves I've started to cozy up inside with my balls of yarn and knitting needles. Here's my first hat of the season. It's made from a variety of yarns I had in the scrap basket. I'm pleased with the colors and the way it turned out.

Inspiration - Apolline a Paris - handmade dolls and other Wonderful Things

See here website here:

http://www.apollineaparis.com/

Leaf study

Looking up looking down in Autumn...this is what I found. Each one as different as a snowflake.

A visit from Maria

Sabor de Oaxaca

Maria

Mural in front of Twilight Artist's Collective in West Seattle

My friend Maria came to town for a visit this week. I took her to the Farmer's market in West Seattle, the International District and my favorite little taco place in Burien...La Estacion. We tried to go to Sabor de Oaxaca, but they were closing as we drove up. I was there last week and tried their friend grasshoppers...not really my cup of grasshopper!

Road trip to the Skagit Valley

I went up to the Skagit Valley on Saturday to see the salmon swimming upstream to spawn. It is an awe inspiring yearly event. On the way home I stopped near Mt. Vernon and took some pictures. In the spring, these fields are full of tulips.

This boat was at an RV park not far from La Conner...I love the warm, reflected colors at sunset.

Handwarmers

There's getting to be a nip in the air so that's when I get out my knitting needles and start to cozy up with the cat. Here are some new handwarmers I've made. There are available to buy at my etsy store. They are made of a yummy wool called manos del uruguay. It's kettle dyed and has slight variations in color. They are very soft and warm.

Wasn't it just summer?

Making Felt

I got inspired to make some felt today using the wet method instead of needle felting which I usually do.  It's a lot of fun, though messy and wet. You basically need wool roving, hot water, dish soap, bubble wrap and nylon net mesh (the kind fruit gets packaged in). Here are my samples from today.

New look, new colors.

I changed the title photo for the blog and the colors. What do you think? Do you like this better than the old Looking Up Looking Down? Let me know, and don't forget to sign up to follow this blog so you won't miss a thing!

Inspiration - Julia Rothman

I love the work of artist Julia Rothman. Her designs are on the cover of two new pattern books by Reprodepot...another inspiring place to visit.

Random Portland pix

Rexall sign. Haven't seen one of these in a while...I saw two in Portland.

Meters, bike Alberta Street

Darling luncheonette on Mississippi Street in Portland. Moxie RX.

Cafe on Alberta Street. I love the windows and the light.