Art in Bloom = Window Design

library window prior to my design

Happily gearing up for another Village Garden Club Art in Bloom event happening on March 12 - 16, 2012, at the Lynnfield Library. I agreed to design the lobby display window pictured above to help get the word out about the event. Thus began my design process on a project that I could really sink my teeth into. How would I best highlight the event, and visually show the artistic creativity involved in the "art of interpretation?" I WOULD SHOW THE PROCESS!!!!

Inspiration provided by Britt Daw

Art in Bloom begins with INSPIRATION, and this is the piece that I chose to interpret this year. Interpreting a painting or piece of art is a very individual thing. An interpretation will be somewhat reflective of its interpreter. The best part about interpreting art is that there is never right or wrong way, to go about it. It is in ones ability to think outside the box, and be able to use flowers as your language to convey a meaning.

Floral designing and painting are actually very closely related in that the designer/artist follows a similar thought process. Some of the words that best describe the process would be theme, texture, inspiration, scale, form, light, color, mass, shape, implied meaning, composition, harmony, rhythm, emphasis, balance and line. These words helped me understand what I wanted to show in my window design.

I decided to create a small scale interpretation of my painting for the window design, using silks. A visit to Jacobson was in order, as they have an enormous selection of silks, containers, and floral "do - dads" of all kinds. It did not take long for me to make my selections, and get back home to start the designing.

Flexibility is the name of the game. Being able to improvise when needed, and realizing that there's more than one way to skin a cat. My overall design concept stayed true to the original thought, but it was necessary for me to make adjustments to some of the details, as the process unfolded.

silk flowers

wire container

See you soon, as I will be setting up my window design this week to help kick off the event. Look for additional posts on my final window design, silk interpretation, and Art in Bloom design done with fresh flowers.




Until next time...L.

My Home: Forty Four

Let me take a moment to introduce you to Forty Four, a 1971 Royal Barry Wills Cape that is my home, and the inspiration behind my blog.

                                                         
Her quaint features speak of a time long ago, yet she is 41 years young. Her design was created by a man named Royal Barry Wills. Royal was an MIT architecture graduate from the 1920's whose career focused on the forgotten residential design, which he felt was a "missing piece" in the architectural world. His homes were designed for the post-war, budget-conscious home owner. He was best known for his design of the Cape Codder, although he also designed Colonials, Saltboxes and Ranches. He used reclaimed materials, which were less expensive at the time. Boy, have things have changed. You could say that Royal was ahead of his time, in that he was designing green years before it was in-vogue. His homes boasted large center chimneys with used brick, appropriately sized dormers to create proper scale, graduated clapboards, beautiful reclaimed beams for interior spaces, over-sized fireplaces with huge iron screens and rooms that flowed with a natural ease. All of which was in keeping with homes that were appropriately sized, with the best possible use of space.

step one: paint over brown stain

My husband and I acquired Forty Four in 1998 after falling in love with her rustic charm.  A classic design with so much potential both inside and out. She was just in need of a little cosmetic updating, but we knew her bones were good. Step one would be to address her exterior color. She was dark chocolate brown and appeared hidden in her treed surroundings. Although "colonial" brown may have been popular during the Brady Bunch era, it would not be considered attractive by current taste. The brown must go.

step two: wait for warmer weather to paint the (red) doors and (green) shutters

With Cabot's solid storm stain, an attempt was made to cover her brown coat with a lighter stain. Some questioned whether you could successfully cover a dark stain with a lighter colored stain, but, in my personal experience, it is possible. It has held up well for the last 15 years, except for a bit of fading which is to be expected. I chose to keep her doors red but selected a more cherry shade vs. the existing orange shade. I also wanted to add shutters for the purpose of creating dimension and sophistication. Shutters painted in hunter green would add weight to her exterior appearance. The combination of three colors (gray, green and red) would add additional interest to her facade. After reading in Country Living Magazine (one of my bibles) about a place in Kennebunk Maine called Old House Parts, I scheduled a visit. They had just what I was looking for: shutters in all shapes and sizes. It is an amazing place if you are looking for reclaimed materials, and if you are the adventurous DIY type.

Forty Four is like an old friend, and is the inspiration behind much of my design experience. She has a familiar warmth, and I have thoroughly enjoyed raising my children within her walls. I feel lucky to have been her keeper.




Until next time... L

A Philadelphia Valentine

Sculptor: Robert Indiana

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, and the place where one of my Valentines currently resides. It is the American city known for having the most outdoor sculpture. This particular piece is located on Locust Walk which is in the heart of the Penn campus. I love the sculpture for its letter placement, and for its vibrant color.

Sculptor: John J. Boyle

Ben Franklin sits on Locust Walk, in all his bronzed glory looking over the students of Penn. As the story goes... Ben lost his button due to his plump figure, causing it to pop off...

and land here.

Sculptor: James Peniston

My littlest Valentine... hanging with Ben in Olde City.




Happy Valentines Day!   L.

Felting Fever

Thanks goes out to my friend Maura Quinn, for teaching me how to felt an old sweater. She has given me felting fever, and I just cannot stop. She hosted a little crafty soiree on "Thirsty Thursday" a few weeks ago which started all this madness. I love having creative friends who I can teach me new things, as I love to learn anything design related. This is the same gal who made the gorgeous birch candleholders this past Christmas with the assistance of her husband. And, may I add that they are still married. Another tag team of designer and engineer.

I have always, always, always wanted something Valentine-y for my front door, but was never able to find just the right thing. I decided to stray from the group design a bit, and come up with a door decoration for my house instead. The other gals where making adorable strung-heart designs which could be hung around the home for a bit of valentine fun.

I was on a mission now that I had felting fever, and determined to come up with something unique. The gals at the party said that they could not wait to see what I was going to create, I thought to myself, me too.  I decided to pay a visit to a yarn shop, as I would need some wool yarn and the right needle. I had never been to a yarn shop before, and did not know the first thing about shopping for yarn. I found the Seed Stitch in Salem, Mass http://www.seedstitchfineyarn.com/  where I found my 100% wool yarn to help finish my project.

What was I going to make? I had already envisioned puffy hearts what would I put my puffy hearts on??? I remembered seeing these wood wreath bases at Michaels so off I went to buy one. I bought two sizes, but ultimately went for the bigger one, as I wanted the wreath to be substantial. It was going to hang on my front door, and hopefully be seen from the street. While at Michaels, I picked up some needlepoint thread to help with the sewing of the hearts.

I then decided to cover the wreath base with felted wool that I would created with an old sweater, and poly fill to make it puffy. I went to the Salvation Army (per Maura's suggestion), to buy some additional sweaters, as I needed a piece large enough to cover the wreath base.

Here is the finished product! A Valentine wreath made of puffy, felted, wool hearts. I now have my Valentine-y door decoration that I have always wanted, and what makes it even better is that I made it myself. A little hard work, and some ingenuity pays back in hearts.

More to come on felting fever, as I made this flower pin with some of the leftover scraps of wool. My daughter cannot wait to pin this on her winter coat. Thanks Maura!





Until next time...L.