Lilacs in May

 

It's rainy today but Lilacs are blooming in the yard so I don't mind.

Minted Design Contest

 I don't usually do this kind of thing but I have entered a design contest for a holiday card over at Minted.com. I have three designs in the competition and I would welcome your feedback. See them here: http://www.minted.com/design-rating/28432
http://www.minted.com/design-rating/27206 
http://www.minted.com/design-rating/28439 

Vera : The Art and Life of an Icon

"It doesn't matter where I go as long as I break my routine and see new things." – Vera Neumann

This book is a must read for all lovers of color and for textile artists (who are probably all lovers of color anyway!). Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon

I can relate to much about her life, including the inspiration she gets from travel. She was a woman way ahead of her time. She was one of the first to copyright and license her work. All her scarves started with an original painting. She introduced Op-Art designs in the late 50's. She reminds me of Sara Little Turnball. I like to imagine that they knew each other.

Cover of the book.

Inspiration: Mixed Media Artist Christine Sauer

I'm planning to attend Confluence, a conference put on the the Surface Design Association. I was looking through their member gallery and came across the work of Christine Sauer. It's wonderful. She uses crochet, freehand stitching, embroidery and machine stitching. Visit her website to see more of her great work. www.christinesauer.com

Mixed Media Contstruction by Christine Sauer

Sound Suits and Parade at the Seattle Art Museum

Me and two hammering men

Green Soundsuit

Hammerhead

Monica in a soundsuit at right

Last week SAM had it's Journey to the Center of the Universe parade to celebrate the Nick Cave (artist, not musician) exhibit going on there now. It's wonderful show and the parade brought smile and sparkly outfits out in full force.

May Day, May Queen and May Pole

Gunny Sack Girls

Top of the Maypole

Daisy Chain

Flowers in her hair

The Fremont Arts Council community weave the maypole

May Queen and Green Man

The May Queen is chosen!

maypole moshpit

Simon and Macque made it all happen.

Sunday was May Day and the Fremont Arts Council had their annual celebration with the community. There was a Green Man who selected his May Queen from available maidens. There was frolicking and dancing, there were ribbons and children and gunny sack races and flowers in hair. It was delightful and the weather cooperated with a warm sunny day. Here are some photos.

Sonia Delauney at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum

When I was in New York earlier this month I went to the Cooper-Hewitt museum to the Sonia Delauney show. Sonia was a textile artist in the 1920's 30's and 40's who was married to Robert Delauney in 1910, a painter (see his work up the street at the Guggenheim in the show "The Grand Upheaveal").  Since I was in NYC for Printsource selling my textile designs, it was a happy accident that this show was going on concurrently. For a really good wrap up of the show, read the article at Zoot.

Bathing Suit 1928

Dress 1925-28

B53 1924