I heart New York

We walked, ate, drank, looked, ate some more, strolled, shopped, gawked, sipped, and ate again. Intense is the best way to describe life as a New York City visitor. Here is a list of the best of the best from this trip: Best museum exhibit: The Loving Story at the International Center of Photography. Best meal: braised pork shoulder at Birreria in Eataly. Best drink: Gin and Tonic at Gaby in Hotel Sofitel. Best breakfast: Oatmeal and large latte at Le Pain Quotidien. Best hike no. 1: Crossing Brooklyn Bridge by foot. Best macarons: Maison Ladurée. Best art: Kim Abeles' Smog Collectors at Museum of Art and Design. Best hike no. 2: The high line. Best home store: Ochre in Soho. Best art no. 2 Lee Nam Lee: Ming and Chung dynsasty paintings: crossover at MAD. Best craft store: Purl Soho. Best craft store no. 2: Tender Buttons. Best run: the path around the reservoir in Central Park. Of course there was much more, and much that was missed. I am already compiling a list for the next visit.

love

Love is best when dispersed frequently and freely. I am back from an amazing (and love filled) weekend in New York City. Photos, and other impressions soon to come. I dropped off some work at Trunk, a wonderful artist owned shop and gallery in Brooklyn. Make sure to visits if you are in the area. Happy valentines day!

NYC here we come

Ever since my first visit at the tender age of less than 20 I have loved this city. New York is magical, it oozes of  creativity and energy and style. I love the pace, the abundance, the tackiness, the colors, the people... This time me and my love are spending an extra long weekend in its midst. I am so excited to return. PS. Last minute suggestions are most welcome...

seeing blue

Blue is on my mind. In March I will take this online class, to get a better grasp on indigo and its properties. Glennis Dolce is a renowned indigo dyer and shibori artist and you can find samples of her beautiful work in her shop. Then, come summer I will be back here, for a class with french natural dye master Michel Garcia and indigo will once again be on the agenda. I can't wait for these opportunities to learn and grow, and to unveil the mystery of dyeing blue. For further indigo adventures check out  India Flint's workshops at Long Ridge Farm in New Hampshire in August. I am thinking that may be a perfect ending for a season of blue. The rocks in the image above turned blue after being used to hold the red cabbage under the surface during our latest sauerkraut batch. Love that color.

Images courtesy of Glennis Dolce, Shibori Girl Studios. All rights reserved.

a special quilt

Prior to the natural dye workshop I was teaching last fall, I made this sample quilt to illustrate the beautiful range of colors that can be achieved by using natural dyes from plants growing in our region. The quilt ended up in the blog post about the event, where one of my readers spotted it.

I was honored and thrilled to received her request to make this quilt into a wall hanging for her home. Her initial inquiry has now led to a budding friendship, and a project that is taking on a life of its own. The stitching (done with silk/cotton thread and a wool yarn) makes each square come to life, and unifies the piece in ways I could not imagine. It will take a few more weeks to complete and I know I will miss it when it is done. But this is a special quilt going to a special place, and the privilege of working on it makes my heart sing.

icy conditions

Everything was coated in ice this morning. This is the first winter weather we have had this season – up until now it has been unusually mild. The garden seems to glimmer under the ice layer, everything looks cuddled and safe, but also fragile and exposed at the same time. During my wanderings I discovered all these oak leaves on the ground, much darker in color than the others. They look oxidized, almost blue. Immediately I start thinking about the dye pot - what color will they give in that condition? I have so much on my plate. Can I fit in a play date with the cauldron?

reuse and reclaim

My studio, my house, and my life is overtaken by fabric. Fabric yardage, fabric remnants, fabric scraps. Vintage fabrics, mod fabrics, silly fabrics. Fabrics collected and acquired over decades, lovingly washed, folded, and stored in piles. Fabrics left over from numerous projects and experiments.

Despite a promise to not announce any resolutions for this new year, I hereby declare 2012 the year of no new fabric purchases. Not only will I try not to buy more fabrics, I am also determined to use more of all the wonderful goodies I have on hand.

The last few days I have spent making pillows from fabrics originating from modern fabrics, a wonderful Charlotte, NC, based company that specializes in reselling remnants from furniture corporations and other industries. I am also creating small zip purses, using vintage linen and cotton prints. This new line of work will have its own place in my etsy store, some of the pieces are already listed, more will be added in upcoming weeks.

No promises can be made without caveat. I am running short on silk and wool for eco dyeing. And there may be a need to reorder my house linen fabric for new production work. But other than that I should be all set!

adrienne antonson

Images courtesy of Adrienne Antonson. All rights reserved.

Adrienne Antonson work exemplifies meticulous attention to detail and beauty. Her sculptural replicas of insects and everyday objects are life like and ethereal. All of them are made out of human hair and other non-traditional fibers. Adrienne attributes her choice of material to "its immediacy, its beauty and flaws" ... and beacuse "it never fails to attract and repulse almost simultaneously". Adrienne also creates a clothing line, state, that is comprised of repurposed fabrics and garments, lovingly transformed into wearable pieces of art. I love the exquisite craftsmanship that infuses all of Adrienne's work as well as her resourceful and respectful choice of materials. She is a young artist based in Asheville, North Carolina, and you can find more information about her work on her website and blog. She also has an etsy store where she sells adorable felted headwear among other things.

Images courtesy of Adrienne Antonson. All rights reserved.

 This profile of Adrienne is the first in this year's series artistic delights, which focuses on artists that delight and inspire me on my own artistic journey.

juxtaposition

Two of my most admired holiday gifts may be regarded as symbols for the contradictory life I am leading.

I aim to simplify, slow things down, and un-clutter my existence. I sort through cupboards, clean out closets, trying to rid us of plastic junk and poorly made things. Mark and Sally Bailey's book The Hand Made Home, is a refreshing inspiration for pared down living. Pages of pages of beautiful images, ideas, and inspirational places. Here, you will not find television sets, computers, or advanced machinery. Everything is tactile and plain, patinated and charming. This is how I want my surroundings to be.

Enter my new iphone. Yes, the one who patiently answers your questions about weather conditions, and nearby grocery stores. I confess, I love this little device. It makes me feel contained and safe, in a different way. It holds the people I cherish, my endless to-do lists, my favorite music, and impromptu photos. It relays emails and messages, and keeps me connected, even when I am all alone. And she does talk.

I hope your holidays where wonderful. May 2012 bring joy, health, and peace. I wish your dreams come true, whatever they are. Happy new year!

wishing warmth and joy

The holidays are near and I will take a break from work and blogging to spend time with my mom and sister who just arrived from Sweden, and my boys who both finished exams and are back home! I wish all of you a joyous and peaceful holiday season.