favorites, inspirations

i have been having some particularly gray personal days and dark feelings lately, but when i see color like this, all in one place, from the likes of you...the color/pattern/utter loveliness helps to cheer me, even if just a little.

other things i quite like at the moment/what's inspiring me now:

-summer fruit, like apricots and watermelon. i am not much for hot weather (and we don't have any in SF!) but i love the botanical bounty that warm weather brings to the table. -the cute animal site of the moment, i can has cheeseburger. those lolcats make me do just that. and i need a laugh right now! -the sweet, girlish art of san francisco artist, annie, aka wexford girl -nyc snapshot: a blog bursting with photos and drawings depicting NYC in the past. i still miss NYC dearly. -the fact that my talented pal linda now has a blog outside of livejournal...lindamade. best of luck linda with your impending move! you are an inspiration. -these books focusing on modern quilting intrigue me: make your own contemporary quilts, the modern quilt workshop, and glorious patchwork and passionate patchwork (the latter two by the consummate colorist and artist kaffe fassett, who hails from britain). too bad i don't have a gift certificate to spend...i'd buy them all in one fell swoop. -if i could afford it, i'd love to have a digital SLR, either this one by canon, or this one by nikon. i'd love to go further with my photography. alas...

from the mouth of dame vivienne westwood

there's an exhibition on at san francisco's de young museum honoring the 36 years of innovative sartorial work by dame vivienne westwood, the famed british fashion designer and doyenne of punk rock fashion (meaning, for those not in the know, she's one of the creators behind that now ubiquitous costume). known for her racy, intelligent riffs on historical fashion, westwood has been behind many a trend in years gone by, like tubular knitwear, corsetry, platform shoes, and pirate looks, to name but a very few. the dame herself was in san fran this past weekend, to open the show and celebrate her body of work with local glitterati.

(sara stockbridge in vivienne westwood, 1987.)

on sunday march 4th, vivienne spoke to the students at the academy of art university, and she gave advice to the fashion and art students that attend the school:

"If you want to be a fashion designer, don't look at fashion magazines. Don't care about them. Look at costume."

absolutely!! sound advice for aspiring fashion designers, miss viv...

and i'd suggest, sound style advice for "normal" folk too!

want to find your style center? keep your eyes open, be inspired by all that you see but don't let fashion mags or celebrities be the only source you turn to when you mold your style statements...

follow your inner muse, make your own interpretation! what comes from inside you may be even more amazing, and so much less derivative than unquestioningly accepting what's already around...and it could even be potentially groundbreaking.

purl's swatch portraits (and) the work of jen stark

two amazing, beguiling forms and ideas from the 'net ether that have invaded my creative mind and entranced my always searching eyes: these so-called "swatch portraits" made from liberty of london fabrics that have been framed by embroidery hoops were created by purl soho, a fabric and yarn purveyor out of new york city.

i first spotted them purl soho's blog, the purl bee (to whom the above photo originally belongs and where it was originally posted). their blog is simply amazing and always inspiring...packed full of lovely and innovative ideas for stylish needleworking fiends and friends, and their store(s) are dangerously, dangerously fabulous and brimming with aesthetically pleasing piles of decadently delicious yarn and fabric. if you are in new york, do yourself a favor and stop by.

i love that they are simple circles and i think it's neat how they frame and elevate each bit of fabric, making each one stand out as something important and special. when grouped together, using the various sized hoops, they become EVEN MORE special, almost perhaps like a bit of conceptual art, a miniature installation of sorts.

as i don't have direct access to a passel of liberty fabrics at the moment (wish i did!), but do have access to my own collection of riotously colored and printed vintage fabric and scraps, i'd love to recreate this idea to decorate and further brighten up some corner of my house...

i can also envision painting the embroidery hoops to add an extra element of color and interest...

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i simply adore these geometric yet organic construction paper sculptures by artist jen stark:

the top ones remind me of topographical maps...and (big surprise!) i love the rainbow colors.