Good morning! I hope everyone had an easy, laid back weekend. This weekend I went to an art opening for a member of my art group, had sushi, spun a yarn, and began knitting after it was washed and dryed, and went to my favorite new hiding space where I made the following video:
I made this video to add to my “Natural Grafffiti” project series. I hope it can help ease the transition from weekend to work-week. It was inspired by my series, by the idea of watching something so closely that it can be therapeutic, and how the sound of the running water is soothing as well.
And here are some of my flickr favs to inspire you.
Archive for July, 2008
I just finished a set of 50 buttons to include in my artomat set. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m still working on putting those together to send out.
I’ve been kind of feeling uninspired lately. Maybe it’s not so much uninspired as it is a lack of motivation, or drive. I have plenty of ideas of things to work on, but I just don’t feel that gung-ho feeling. Is it the heat? I’ve been doing little projects here and there, like scanning all the paintings, spinning some yarn, working in my page a day, etc.
I’m trying to not stress out about it, I know that I occasionally go through my ebb and flow phases, and I can’t always be the production queen I’d like to be. I think I need something new to get really excited about. What shall it be? I’m sharing this just so you understand why I might not be posting as frequently as I like.
I’d like to leave you with a scan of an ad my sister in law Dacia took out in the local paper for her garage sale this weekend.
All right, so we saw Batman and it was pretty great. Worth the wait, but man, I was so tired (it was a midnight showing) and it had been a looong day before that. I’m sure I’ll see it again and appreciate it even more when my eyes can focus straight.
Then yesterday we did a double feature with Hellboy and then Wall-E. I did something I’ve never done before, something very bad and something I’ll never do again. Don’t do this at home kids, er, um, at your local cinemas. I snuck into the second show without paying. After seeing Hellboy I thought, what the hay, and said “Let’s just go see Wall-E” and didn’t think anything really of it, other than a little “woohoo, I’m being sneaky”. But once we were in the theater I started to feel SUPER guilty and was waiting for the cops to show up and take me away. In fact, even though I was sucked into the movie from the very beginning short beforehand, I looked over to Matt with sad eyes, hoping he was feeling the same way I was and hoping he’d say “Let’s leave”. But nope, he just gave me this look like: “what is your problem? You are disrupting my movie going experience.” I enjoyed the rest of the movie and only had a mini panic attack that once were were leaving they’d have guards at the door checking tickets for the two that snuck in, handcuff us and take us off to prison. Friends, this kind of tells you how rebellious of a person I am.
Anyway, I think it was a good order to see these movies in. I have to say Wall-E was my absolute favorite. Beforehand, I’ve had plenty of people saying “Robyn, you MUST SEE Wall-E” and after seeing it, I have to say I think those people know me pretty well. This has instantly become my new favorite Disney movie. I just can’t stop thinking about it, it was that great. Matt and I have decided that I am the Wall-E in our relationship and he is definitely the Eve, which is kind of funny because he is the PC user and I’m the Mac user, so that part is backwards. Also, it’s kind of backwards as he’s more the romantic one, I’m more sentimental though, if that makes any sense. This film is just so beautiful in the way it was illustrated (at times I even forgot that it wasn’t film photography, yeah, I know) and in it’s story as well. Afterwards, while were discussing the movie, we both came to the same conclusion at the same instant; We want to have Wall-E in our home, as our pet or friend or what have you.
Last week I read about this girl who posted a youtube video of herself last winter, crying as she watched and reacted to the trailer for this movie.Her crying watching it, made me just about cry. Here is the link, it’s a pretty cool story, apparently her video was seen and appreciated by Pixar and some pretty cool stuff came from it all. Haha, I just found this link that proves that Wall-E, like myself, is a law breaker!
So, one of the great things about Wall-E, and one of the reasons I related to him was that he was a collector, which brings me to Keri Smith. I just read on her blog that she is releasing a new book “How to be an Explorer: The Portable Art Life Museum” and straight from the page of her new book, “When I look closely at the work of all my favorite artists & designers, I notice they all have one thing in common… They are collectors.”
Okay Peeps, I’m back from my mini hiatus. Back from my self inflicted anxiety week.
When I go through a really stressful period, say I have big deadlines or am worried about something, once it is over I find myself taking these really deep exhales where I can actually feel all the tension escape. I always think about that movie titled Waiting To Exhale. I don’t think that was really about that same feeling, but it still captures the feeling for me. I’ve been holding and holding all these tight feelings inside and I’m just waiting till it passes and I can release it all.
I took tomorrow off from work and have an exciting action packed weekend ahead of me. I’ve even had a chance to upload a couple new pages from my Page A Day http://www.flickr.com/photos/robayre/sets/72157603715879400/
And now my weekend begins:
I’m about to head off to a midnight showing of Batman, The Dark Knight with a bunch of my homies. Hope to post more soon!
Friday night The Makers drove out to Rockford for the Rockford Midwestern art show at the Rockford Art Museum. Al had submitted the wood block print kite (shown in the background above, lower left) and was accepted into the juried exhibition. I took that picture with Elinor standing in front, as she is the inspiration for the piece. It was an eclectic show, which was very refreshing, and many familiar faces were there.
Today has been the perfect day, weather-wise. Matt got a call that some servers went down at work, so we decided to ride our bikes across town. While he went inside, I explored around Barsema hall, and the North 40 and found my new favorite place. There is a pond behind Barsema and a couple bridges. Near one of the bridges there is a dam and I was able to climb out onto it and enjoy my surroundings. There were fish, snails and huge tadpoles, tall grass and cattails, bright yellow birds (golden finches?), perfect breeze, perfect temperature…I could have just stayed there all day.
When Matt was done he came out and told me about the other bridge which is a secret/hidden, wooden bridge to get to the North 40 and beyond there was a geocache we located.
We rode our bikes home and I cooked pancakes again. We’re obsessed.
I just went to get my hair cut and I have a huge gripe. Why is it so difficult for hair dressers to understand the concept of cutting hair on a side part? Even after I ask them to cut it on my part, because I NEVER NEVER NEVER wear it in the center, they still want to cut in down the center. Granted I’ve just been going to the Hair Cuttery for a long time now, but still, it’s like beauty school only teaches their students one way and these women have no idea how to stray off that path.I thought the dresser today was going to have an aneurysm trying to understand the concept.
I started this weaving back in february, and it has mostly sat on the shelf since I moved. Last weekend I took it out and began working on it again and realized it goes a lot faster than I had remembered.
I blogged about it back here when I began, when I just wanted to basically teach myself to weave. Unfortunately, I decided early on, why not go the distance and make a whole scarf, while I’m learning? Fortunately it wasn’t hard to pick up. Unfortunately, again, since I was just beginning, I didn’t want to waste a ton of my own handspun yarn, so I chose to use dumpy ol’ acrylic for the warp, but a beautiful handspun for the weft.
Still I like the way it turned out. I still need to wash it and I worry that it will shrink up or get all lumpy and bumpy because of the two mixed materials. Right now it is about 5 feet long and I’ll say maybe 4 or 5 inches wide.
Now, I’ve got some new ideas for weaving that won’t be so time consuming.
Have a great weekend everyone!
rock, originally uploaded by robayre.
Yesterday I was having a conversation with someone about the crafts of the 70s, and I brought up decoupage. Immediately this rock came to mind. I started thinking about this rock that has been in my parent’s home as long as I can remember. This rock is not mine, I didn’t make it, I don’t even know the whole story behind it. I think my older sister might have made it, or it might have just been a sample my mom made to use as demonstration for girl scouts, I’m not sure. Anyway, here is this rock. To another eye, I’m sure it is absolutely hideous, but this rock has been in my life forever. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have no attachment to this rock. I didn’t sleep with it in my bed, or give it a name or take it to show and tell. I’m sure it’s had it’s day of being used to hold down corners of blankets while making indoor forts, or to keep papers from blowing away. It got me thinking about things that might not mean much to you, other than they have been in your life for so long.
Do you have anything in your life that is significant, possibly just because of the amount of time it has hung around?
Later in the evening I went over to my parent’s house to bring in their mail while they were on a trip. There is this hanging planter/mosaic wooden box by their front door that they stick stuff in for each of us kids to pick up (junk mail still being delivered, little presents, etc.) and I looked inside the box and there was the rock. Weird.
So, now if I didn’t think this rock had much significance before, now I am beginning to wonder. It’s totally 70s, look at it, it’s got holly hobby on the side and mickey mouse on the top, there is also some crocheted stuff on top, and all of this is just magazine clip art, decoupaged like crazy on this rock, so well, that 30 years later it is still going strong.
I think that the longer something is in my life, the more significant it becomes. Example, the hat. It was just a stupid K-mart hat that I probably bought for $8, but I wore that hat for many years and it kept me warm. People made fun of that hat, but I didn’t care, every winter I grew fonder and fonder of it.
I remember when I was a kid how I was amazed by people who always wore the same pieces of jewelry or clothing, or always carried the same stuffed animal, or whatever form a prized possession might take. The pieces became their signature pieces; associated with the person, just as much as their smile or laugh. I think I admired that in other people because when I was younger I was never able to hold on to anything long enough before losing it or losing interest and moving onto the next item. As I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten a lot better about not losing things, which has allowed me to become quite connected with many of my personal possessions. I’ve grown into the type of adult I would have admired in that regard, which I think is pretty cool.
And now a different kind of Rock. Another mixtape for you, inspired by Rosa, who was in turn inspired by me. Tag, your it!
7.9 circle 12 angle, originally uploaded by robayre.
I’ve added two new original pieces to the shop. I love the one above, it really embodies the qualities I have in mind for this series.
This piece is a bit different and has a sea theme. It might be cute for a child’s room or a person who has a passion for the nautical. Speaking of ships and the sea, yesterday I found out an interesting derivation of the word Posh. It comes from the location of luxurious cabins on ships back to Britain, Portside Out, Starboard Home (P.O.S.H.).
This last weekend my friend Al had a booth at the local Art Show on the lawn of the Ellwood House. While I walked around I met a few wonderful artists. Clark Bending was selling his paintings and I was just in awe of his use of colors. His booth really stood out as a breath of fresh air, amongst the other “realistic landscape” painting booths. I spoke to him for a while, bought a print and discovered he will be giving a lecture for the local Art league in the fall. Another artist I met was Bob Politsch, who doesn’t have a website. He carved wooden sculptures from the dead bark fallen off of trees. The sculptures were very imaginative, with detailed execution, little dwellings, like castles, homes, churches, etc. They contained elaborate, doors, windows, balconies, down to bricks and mortar and wood panels with nails. I could just imagine how much fun it would be to create each one.
The cancer that grows and grows, originally uploaded by Chrissie White.
Earlier today I was searching around Flickr, as I often do and found this talented photographer and designer. Her work was very inspiring, so I went to her profile to add her to my contacts when I see that….wait for it….it’s coming…yeah…SHE’S ONLY 14 YEARS OLD! Check out her photographs, wow! I was just amazed, here I am 30 and I don’t even know how she did some of the techniques she pulled.
One last thing I wanted to mention was that Bishop and Theo are doing really well and getting adjusted to each other swiftly. Theo has turned around her attitude more beautifully than I could have ever hoped. Now, she does not get angry at the kitten and in fact she braves him wonderfully, when he tries to “play” pounce on her, she does not act like the prey instinct in her should, instead she stands her ground, but in absolutely nonthreatening manner. In fact, I think she might be enjoying the kitten because she comes out of her cage more often and explores more than ever before now. If she was feeling threatened, she would run and hide in the back of her cage, but instead she and the kitten are chasing each other around. So cute. Matt and I just waiting till the day we walk in and they are next to each other grooming one another, that would be the ultimate.
My fourth in list form:
-slept in and worked on my latest yoyo set.
-made a HUGE plate, piled high, of pancakes for Matt and I.
-My sister dropped off patio furniture for us.
-Bought 10 McDonald’s Sweet teas, and two regulars to bring to BBQ.
-Headed to my brother and sister-in-laws house for said BBQ.
-Had a brat.
-Played with their puppy.
-Hung on the hammock.
-Played my first game of bags, which I sucked at.
-Watched some America’s Next Top Model with Dacia’s sister alyssa and surfed the internet and loaded some pics to flickr.
-Drove to the city’s fireworks display, video snippet above.
-Thought I was video taping the grande finale, until it was over, hit stop and only then it started recording :(
-Drove out to the _______ farm (name removed to protect the not so innocent), where we had a bonfire and fireworks (shhhh, all fireworks are illegal here).
-Had a hotdog and toasted marshmallows.
-My brother recited the “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech from Patrick Henry.
-Our own grand finale.
-Everyone in attendance went through a whole box (plus some) of morning glories in the matter of 5 minutes or less. We were burning the whole bundles at a time.
So how was your holiday?
