Chihuly at the New York Botanical Garden

Breathtaking is one word. Awe-inspiring, another.  Dale Chihuly, an American artist who works with glass,  has created dramatic new pieces inspired by his Artwork Installations of 1975 in Lewiston, NY.  I first saw his work when I lived in Portland.  It's always overwhelming and beautiful and I can't help think, how does he do that? What he does with glass is unbelievable and inspirational.  The New York Botanical Garden always has amazing art exhibits.  They never seem to disappoint.  And this summer is no different.  Chihuly has pieces are scattered throughout the New York Botanical Garden complementing and enhancing.  A wonderful place to escape to during a hot summer in the city.  

Polyvitro Crystals

Float Boat

the native garden

Koda Study #2

Harper in front of the Red Reeds on Logs

There are so many photos I am going to break them up into 2 blog posts.  

Enjoy!

Tracey

Blush: Color of the Moment

Have you noticed all the blush, dusty peach, faded pink colors out there lately? It's showing up in home, apparel, interiors, accessories. It's amazing. It's a beautiful shade and when put together with other colors it can be a sophisticated new addition. Here are a few of my faves. 

Many of these are from companies I follow on Instagram so I have kept the company name on the photo. From left to right, the farmhouse project, selvedge magazine, abc carpet and home.

Blush pinks have a bit of yellow to them and are dustier than your baby pink.  It looks refreshing with spring green which is a lighter, brighter shade.  It also looks sharp next to pea green or golden ochre.

Here is dusty blush pink with peaches, yellows and whites.  From left to right, Etsy, Brooklyn Haberdashery and The Loome. 

This photo has been on my inspiration wall for a few months now. Unfortunately I cannot remember where it was from. It is from a magazine, possible NY Times Style.  It is actually swatches of wall to wall carpeting but I ripped it out because I love the rose pink shades next to the taupes.

And the wall at my local coffee shop, Everyman Espresso.  Love this!

Vintage Fabric Finds

While building my new line which will consist of upcycled, vintage inspired and sustainable fabrics I am on the hunt for truly antique fabrics.  In a local store right in my neighborhood I found this blue and green kitchen scene floral fabric.

This fabric is light weight but a tight weave. There is a casing at the top which looks like it was used for a curtain.  I don't know the origins and the tags are still inside but all print has been worn away.  What attracted me to this fabric were the colors.  I love the shades of blue used with the shade of lime green. Is that a green orange or lime with a blue interior? Blue or green cherry anyone?  I assume it is 3 colors because that those were the printing capabilities available at the time. 

Totally cute fabric and  I was able to secure 4 panels.  Now working them into my line.

Currently Reading - Feed Sacks - The Colorful History

my copy of Feed Sacks with a feed sack used as wrapping. 

Currently reading a book called Feed Sacks, The Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric.  I have always been interested in feed sacks.  They were a fabric bag made for sugar or flour or other grains and then repurposed most of the time for a dress or clothes.  Both of my parents were born during the depression.  They do not talk much about it although I am very interested.   Things were not wasted.  Food and clothing were not plentiful.  A very different life from mine and my daughter's.  

Feed Sacks is written by Linzee Kull McCray and published by UpperCase.  It is over 530 pages of photos and stories and 850 feed sack patterns are included.  It comes wrapped in a feed sack print. I ordered 2 and each came with a different fabric.  Talk about a great gift! 

Feed sacks are known by other names; cotton commodity bags, chicken linens, grain bags or textile bags. Since most of the people sewing were women, the manufacturers started to create their feed sacks with the woman of the house in mind. Sewing patterns were printed on the sacks, floral designs or needlework doilies. 

Once the sewing machine was invented, specifically a lock stitch, bags were able to be easily made and replaced the barrels that were originally used for carrying products.  Feed Sack takes the reader from the mid 1850's up to the early 1960's when sack fabric production ceased.

Linzee covers a thorough history of the feed sack.  How to tell if something is a feed sack, different feed sack sizes, feed sacks around the world and the many purposes that the feed sack served from clothes to quilts to kitchen purposes and sewing contests. 

a doll pattern to be cut out and made into a stuffed toy. all photos from the book Feed Sack by Linzee Kull McCray

all photos from the book Feed Sack by Linzee Kull McCray

a girl on the farm 1938.  all photos from the book Feed Sack by Linzee Kull McCray

feed sack example  all photos from the book Feed Sack by Linzee Kull McCray

View fullsize

all photos from the book Feed Sack by Linzee Kull McCray

Almost a century later these designs and prints are still popular.  

Click here for more info on Feed Sacks, The Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric. 

Tracey

Tapestry Weaving

View fullsize

In the past few months I have been craving some other creative outlets.   When you create for a living sometimes you become focused on what the customer wants and not what your soul wants to make.  I am fortunate to live near the Textile Arts Center in Gowanus Brooklyn.  In school I learned how to weave on a loom but that was years ago.  Also it wasn't a tapestry loom.  

View fullsize

It's so much fun to choose whatever yarn you want and create a painting with textures.   It's a wonderful and relaxing way to experiment with color.  Many people make these to hang on the wall.  I am not sure yet what I will do with mine. It's still in the works.

If you like fiber arts, I definitely recommend taking one of these classes. Textile Arts also has a location in Manhattan.