Indian Fabric

When my husband visited India this summer he brought me back some beautiful fabric.  I was really impressed with what he picked out.  Now I just have to decide what to make with it!  The top picture is two pieces of silk brocade and the bottom is a very unique piece of embroidered fabric.  The sheen on the silk is so pretty, and I really love the colorful embroidery.  He got me one meter of each - now what to make?

 

Friday Featured Art: Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles

My husband and I were remembering this exhibit the other day but could not remember where we had seen it.  Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles by John Vanderlyn is a set of 19th century oil paintings on display at the Met.  It's so interesting to stand in the middle.

Thursday Tunes: Peter and the Wolf

I can't believe I haven't posted about this before!  I loved Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf as a child, and the new (2006) academy-award-winning animated short version is outstanding.  Have you seen it?  It's very cleverly done, and Peter's gigantic blue eyes remind me of my nephews.

Cast Seed Pod

Here is the first completed piece from this semester's jewelry class.  We cast found objects in silver.  This is a seed pod.  I also cast a piece of lavender and a twig - I'll post them when they're cleaned up.  Fun!

Footstool Project

When I was home this summer I told my mom that I needed a footstool - and she gave me one!  I got some new legs from the home improvement store and stained them and then reupholstered the body.  I think it was OK before, but now it is a better height and goes with our living room so much more nicely.  (Try to ignore the carpet - I'm hoping it will go away one day...)

Euro Coins

I pulled out some of our leftover Euro coins to see if I could use them in my jewelry class, and I was interested in the designs.  Each member state issued a different design for each denomination.  Here are some examples: the French sower, a German oak tree, and Raphael's portrait of Dante from Italy.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: JazzberryBlue

JazzberryBlue is a fabulous Etsy shop that offers modern art prints.  I especially like the maps.  Here is one of Istanbul and one of the world's time zones.

Thursday Text: Love in Autumn

Sara Teasdale seems appropriate now that it's autumn - her seasonal poems are so delightful.

I sought among the drifting leaves,
The golden leaves that once were green,
To see if Love were hiding there
And peeping out between.

For thro' the silver showers of May
And thro' the summer's heavy heat,
In vain I sought his golden head
And light, fast-flying feet.

Perhaps when all the world is bare
And cruel winter holds the land,
The Love that finds no place to hide
Will run and catch my hand.

I shall not care to have him then,
I shall be bitter and a-cold --
It grows too late for frolicking
When all the world is old.

Then little hiding Love, come forth,
Come forth before the autumn goes,
And let us seek thro' ruined paths
The garden's last red rose.

Ford Transit Connect

I kind of want one of these for a family camping vehicle.  It would be small enough to drive easily but have space in the back to sleep!

Turquoise Necklace

I bought a string of lovely turquoise beads for $3 at the Wisconsin State Fair and turned them into this little necklace.  I wish I would have bought more!