art-in-bloom: making connections

The concept of art-in-bloom has many facets, one of which is the collaborative connection that happens between artists. It's about the celebration of art, and the sharing of media for the purpose of making an artistic statement. This year officially marks my tenth year as a member of the Lynnfield Garden Club, and my tenth year participating in the club's art-in-bloom program. I owe much to my experiences with art-in-bloom, as it was that which lead me to floral school and to the launch of my business, Laura Thomson Design. A love connection, in the words of Chuck Woolery, that was made rather unexpectedly.

Every year I talk about the process of art-in-bloom, and how it always begins with the inspiration, aka the painting or piece of art. When it's time to choose a painting, all the beautiful pieces are laid out for the club members to see. Garden club members pick numbers from a hat, and the selection process begins. I was lucky number one this year.

Karen Duggan | "A Fall Walk"

I was instantly drawn to this beautifully saturated water color by Karen Duggan, called "A Fall Walk." After speaking with Karen on the phone, I learned that this was her first attempt at painting, and that her creative background was in the art of needlepoint (6th generation, to be exact). My curiosity was piqued. I couldn't help but think that her unique perspective must have played a huge role in how she interpreted her inspiration. Karen also talked about her connection to The American Needlepoint Guild, which has provided her the opportunity to travel the world, teaching, lecturing and judging needlepoint work. As our conversation continued, my mind was abuzz with questions. What are the current trends in needlepoint?  Is it a popular medium among the younger set? I had to find out.

Coral and Tusk

Coral and Tusk

In the throes of another sleepless night, I came across the website of Coral and Tusk. The serious creativity of their name, and the meaning behind it, immediately brought out my jealous side. The tablescape design was like a pressed-flower extravaganza of eye candy, and it drew me in from the moment I entered the site. I was amazed by the breadth of their work, and suddenly realized that I was most definitely out-of-the-loop. Have I been sleeping on the job, or have I not been paying enough attention? I may have been stuck in my thinking that this art form had ended with my grandmother's generation, and was not something that had clearly come along with the times. Shame on me! To say that Coral and Tusks designs were engaging would be an understatement. I connected especially with the natural aesthetic of their work. I, too, am a friend to the animals. Although, I may never pick up a needle, 'cause the eye sight just isn't what it used to be, that doesn't diminish the fact that I can truly appreciate the intricacy of these designs, the expert craftsmanship, and the attention to detail, obvious in every tug and pull of a stitch. Please read about the story of Coral and Tusk, here.

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I almost forgot that I'm supposed to be writing about art-in-bloom in this post! I suddenly found myself lost in the desire to learn about the art of needlepoint, thanks to my conversation with Karen. Once I have my painting/inspiration in-hand, the process is pretty much the same from year to year. I start by pinning up the image someplace where I can spend time admiring its qualities, and considering the overall feeling that it invokes. I then start to think about the container. When I saw this West Elm collection, created by the talented floral designer, Amy Merrick, the search was over. The sandstone compote and bedside vase had the most unique shading, similar to that of a cross-section of a tree. It was the perfect beginning to my story. To change things up a bit, I decided to create a grouping or vignette of vases for my interpretation this year, putting to use some of the fun ideas I learned while in New York from Naomi DeManana, Senior Style Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings.




Art in Bloom begins on Monday, April 13th, at 7:30pm, with an opening night reception, tour, and treats. Hope to see you there!

the fundamental nature of creativity, is really just a kaleidoscope of ideas

With a few upcoming design projects in the works, coupled with some self-induced pressure surrounding my design strategies, I am reminded about the nature of creativity in the words of Mark Twain.

There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages.
- Mark Twain

Well that's a relief, because I wasn't really looking forward to reinventing the wheel. It's comforting to think that the potential to connect to new ideas is ever present, and if you just click around on Pinterest for five minutes, it's not hard to be convinced. Personal experiences, images, and ideas seen in magazines or on sites like Pinterest can provide us with the inspiration to express ourselves creatively, in whatever way we see fit. It's our unique ability to interpret and marry those ideas together, and spin them into something new, that allows us to express ourselves as individuals.

So with all that in mind, a simple turn of my kaleidoscope helps me use my recent trip to the BVI's as inspiration for a tablescape demonstration for the ladies at the local senior center.

Often, I find that statement pieces, like conch shells, or found objects, help to get the creative-ball rolling. A girl with a big set of lungs, although not essential to the process, immediately calls you to attention and to the charge at hand. Boy is that loud!

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Visualizing a color or a group of colors will help narrow down your tablescape palette. You can follow the same principles that apply to interior design and floral design, by choosing a starting point. For interiors, it might be a rug or wall color, for florals, it might be a vase, or a particular flower, and for tablescapes, it's the table surface or covering.

Marrying a set of everyday dishes with heirloom and vintage pieces is the best way to create a one-of-a-kind look. Not only is it in keeping with a modest budget, because you're using what you already have on-hand, but more importantly, it's meaningful. That being said, it doesn't hurt to make a smallish purchase when you find the perfect tangerine-tango chevron-patterned napkins at West Elm, for a bit of contemporary to play-off my more traditional Flying Turkey plates, passed down to me by my Mom.

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Layering and mixing of colors, textures, and shapes, helps to achieve the right balance for your design space, or in this case, your table. I chose to begin this design with a natural linen cloth, found at HomeGoods, and just the right size for a 6-foot folding table, which will come in handy for future demonstrations. A piece of sisal mesh, which can be cut to any length, is used as a table runner, to recall the look of driftwood, and the color of sand.

Sometimes, it is helpful to use pieces that are whimsical to bring down the level of formality.

Bringing the outdoors in with the addition of organic elements and living art can never be wrong. Foraging for greens from the great outdoors or from your own garden can be rewarding and add a personal touch. Even if you live in a northern climate, you can always find something that can be incorporated into an arrangement with the addition of store-bought bunches.

Since the nature of tablescaping is semi-permanent, I say, throw caution to the wind and let your hair down, unless of course you're expecting Martha for dinner. Keep in mind that tablescaping isn't just for the dining room, and that many surfaces in your home have the potential for some self expression and creativity. Isn't that why they invented the coffee table book?  You might even choose to surprise an overnight guest with a tablescape design for the bedside table, or have some fun decorating your patio table for an impromptu barbecue. Spin your own kaleidoscope of ideas, and see what happens.

Traditions in Taxidermy

Carriage House | Manchester by the Sea

Growing up with traditional taxidermy displayed on the walls of my home did not prepare me for the current fascination with faux taxidermy, aka fauxidermy. In thinking about my own design style, and the movement towards bringing nature inside, it never occurred to me that collecting natural elements for florals and interiors is akin to this newer definition of taxidermy.

Martha Stewart

I will also share that, along with the abundance of heads hanging around our home, there was also an abundance of fresh game in the freezer. Oh joy! Mom's numerous attempts to substitute venison for beef in her spaghetti and meatball recipe never proved to be too successful, as her "unsuspecting children" could always tell the difference. Really Mom?

Pinterest

I can still remember giving tours of my grandfather's taxidermy collection to all my friends, for the purpose of freaking them out. My Grampy had a montage of heads displayed in his man-cave, ranging from a bobcat to a bear. If you were wondering where the rest of the bear went, well, the clawed foot made a nice ash tray for his office desk. I don't believe that my Grampy ever smoked, because he was actually a bit of a health nut. He read many articles on health and wellness, and I can specifically recall one article that he read about 30 years ago alerting people to the high mercury levels found in tuna. He never ate it again. His morning routine included a self-made concoction of wheat germ and Nuform milk, along with a tablespoon of cod liver oil, for good measure. While I would watch this whole process in action, noticing the movement of particles floating in his drink, the enjoyment for him was in my wide-eyed and curious expression. He could also tell the BEST stories, even though he had the tendency to tell them over and over again, but it didn't matter. I never tired of hearing about his adventures in the woods, as his love of nature and his appreciation for wildlife were evident in his sincere enthusiasm.

Erin Gates

Z Gallerie

West Elm

As I begin to appreciate and recognize the influence of taxidermy for the beautification of interior spaces, I begin to see the connection. It seems like every time I open a magazine, click around on Pinterest, shop online or in stores, I see evidence of this craze, from felted animal head trophies at Snug Harbor Farm in Kennebunkport, to a wall of papier mache heads at West Elm, to resin skull caps and antlers at White Faux Taxidermy to metallics at Z Gallerie. It's incredible!

Zuloh

And look...one for the horse-lover in your family!

As this trend follows its course, I will take the time to enjoy the fact that for me, it all started with my Grampy.