One of the fortunate things about living where I do is that a lot of the stoops have intricate tile patterns. Bathroom floors often have great tile designs as well.
The green and white floor (right) would be an interesting quilt. I wouldn’t do it in these colors, but would keep the light as a resting space for the eyes, then put some scrappy fabrics where the greens are. I would see if I needed to maintain the varying degrees of darks and lights. I don’t think the piecing would be boring since there is quite a bit of variation.
It is easy to walk by and never notice the patterns. This is why it is important to look, an action of which I have to remind myself quite often.
Gabilan Street, Salinas stoop
These tile patterns are awesome for quilt design inspiration.
The unusual part of this porch or stoop is the pink. I don’t remember seeing so much pink in tile in this type of location before. I also was interested in the heart shaped motifs in the outer border. Given the pink and the hearts, I want to believe that a woman had a hand in picking out the colors and designs.
These types of designs are great inspiration for round robin quilts.
Restroom, California Adventure
Finally, the piece de resistance, another restroom floor. I love the curved outer border and, especially that circle in the corner. When taking photos of tile motifs that you might want to translate into quiltmaking, it is really important to take photos of the corners, otherwise it can be difficult to figure out later.
I am not fond of the colors, but also like the combination of hexagons and curves.
This was hanging outside of the cafeteria at the BAMQG Retreat. Cheryl is a biologist and she told me that this is wisteria. I have never seen wisteria this small before. Usually, when I notice it, it is hanging down in long purple or lavender hanks. I thought it was really beautiful.
This is another inspiration book by Lark Crafts, which they sent me to review. Thanks, Lark!
The cover grabbed my attention right away with the turquoise and silver bead sporting a beautiful spiral running in silver through the turquoise (Aqua Spiral Enameled bead by Lynne Glazzard, pg. 13). More eye candy and inspiration for all kinds of creative people.
This book starts off with an introduction by the juror, Kristina Logan, who is recognized internationally for her glass beads. It is clear from the introduction that Logan is as entranced with beads as I am with quilts and fabric as she says “Beads: They have a power that belies their size. They’ve been around for 40,000 years. They’ve been found on every piece of land occupied by man. Small objects of enormous impact, beads can teach us about past cultures–about religious beliefs, social system, and aesthetic trends–or be taken at face value and simply enjoyed as works of art.” She has clearly done her homework and doesn’t pull any punches when telling the reader about the importance of beads to her and hinting at the importance of beads in life, culture and history.
The photos in this Showcase edition depict surprising beads, at least surprising to me. Lily Liu shows beads that look like brightly colored post it notes (pg.7) flung down in a fit of pique. There is a dress made from beads as well as tubes, flat round beads and beads that look like they could never be worn. The book also shows beads displayed in a variety of ways, so they become part of artworks rather than just ‘a bead’.
Page 9 is the page where the photos of the beads begins and after that is a feast for the eyes. They are not arranged by artist, just page after page of eye candy. It is impossible to judge the size as the beads are photographed in extreme close-up, but extreme close-up is fabulous, because the details are amazing. Peeli Rohini’s Royal Collection has tiny 3D flowers covering the bead. It looks like each petal has been added individually. Barbara Simon’s Quote Beads (pg.10) have microscopic writing on each one.
Again, neutrals such as bronze, grey, black, gold, pearl and silver have a firm place in the range of colors in this book. Wiwat Kamolpornwijit’s Lantern Festival is a polymer clay piece that looks like nickel has been used to create lanterns that morph into jellyfish or octopi. The ceramic grey beads of Ana Gomez’s Dominoes (pg.44) make up a a dress that could easily blend in with a society gala where designer frocks are de rigour. Non-neutral color is also well represented. Harold Cooney’s Nevada Trade Beads (pg. 37) and Iris Mishly’s Brocade Collection Beads are a riot of fabulous color, as well as shape, and are inspiration worthy of any quilt.
It is very hard to pick a favorite from the 1000 beads in this collection. I do like the variety of turquoise (color not stone) beads on pages 130-131, especially Astrid Riedel’s Blue Moon. I am also a sucker for the polka dot beads Leslie Schenkel calls Loose Beads (pg.115). I also like the pink and yellow combination of Donna Millard’s Tango necklace made from soda-lime glass (pg.231). The detail work in Melanie Moertel’s Clear Lakes (pg.230) makes me want to take a second and third look. There are really too many fabulous works to chose a true favorite.
A lot of the beads are depicted singly, but many are in groups made into necklaces.
Look at the shapes, materials and colors and be inspired. any creative drought, no matter your medium of choice, will be rehydrated by this book.
This is a cool quilt top made by my friend TFQ. I love this design. It has inspired me to cut 2″ blue, green and violet squares. I have a long way to go, but it is a start.
I love the way TFQ has chosen the pinks, yellows, oranges, etc for this piece. She said that she chose fabrics that read pink, yellow, orange, etc. They are similar in temperature, and sometimes in vlaue, but because of the different hues, there is interest in the piece as well. There is that quality of making the viewer want to come closer.
Some of the fabrics had white in them and TFQ was careful to not let the white creep in too much. This is to mitigate the holes that can be caused by too much white. White isn’t bad, but it wasn’t TFQ’s choice for the look of this piece. White can create a hole if it isn’t distributed well. The concept goes back to something Sandy and I have discussed in the Design Series: what is your intent as an artist and designer?
TFQ’s top is named Pink Lemonade. I may name mine Blue Lemonade. That will be the working title for now and we will see.
I saw this design on a hotel bedspread. Immediately an image sprang to mind of the branches and leaves in a variety of colors. I really like the curves of the branches and the shape of the leaves.
I saw this design at the Alden Lane Quilt Show somewhere. I have always liked the tin ceilings and faux tin wall treatment seen in many Victorians in San Francisco. I thought this example would make a particularly nice quilting pattern. Perhaps modifications would be required for machine quilting, but hand quilters could use the designs as is.
I dream of a beautiful garden. I find green things and flowers so attractive. Sadly, I don’t want to do the work required. Periodically, I get a bug in my ear and do some work on one part of my yard, feel great and then do nothing for months until the next bug gets in my ear.
Sigh.
One of the things I loved about the show was the non-quilt inspiration I got there. Everywhere I looked the employees had gone out of the way to make the gardens attractive to look at. Even the tables filled with flats of flowers and other plants looked wonderful. This place is no Home Depot; it appears that the owners and employees actually care about their work.
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
One part that I liked were the random sculptures. I don’t know if they would fit the ‘official’ definition of sculpture, but I thought the displays were sculpture.
I really liked the one on the side of a shed that looked like windows. I suppose a person could make something similar with 1x1s and some larger wood for the outside. It might look nice hanging on the back of my house in some pleasing arrangement. It would require some work, though, and I don’t know that I am up for it.
Part of what was so great was the weather. It was a beautiful day: sunny and not too hot. Not only did the wonderful weather make it pleasant to walk around, but it also made gorgeous shadows, which added to the look of the non-quilt ‘art’. (The shadows on the quilts was a little bit frustrating.)
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
I am sure Alden Lane is serious about their plants, but they have a sense of humor, too, which was exhibited at the entrance.
It made me laugh. I am not sure I would put it in my yard, but given the right space, I wouldn’t count it out either. I love the humor and wonder if it says something about the owners? Perhaps a worker has a good sense of humor on which the owners capitalize? In either case, I think they should do more.
I might like a tub like that in my bathroom, though…
Garden art – Alden Lane Nursery
TFQ loves coleus. I saw this arrangement and thought of her.
It is a particularly appropriate arrangement, because we write letters back and forth. I can’t see her putting a mailbox like this in her yard, though.
I think TFQ was on my mind, because she was planning to visit that weekend and I thought it would be fun to go to the show together.
In looking at the color of the coleus and the color of the mailbox post, I wonder how the arrangement would look with a blue post? Red and green are opposites on the color wheel and the success of the look might hinge on that relationship. Still, it would be interesting to see a series of tableaus like this in different colors.
I think often of the type of outdoor rooms or living spaces that I see in glossy home and garden magazines. I know they wouldn’t really be practical for me because I would be able to use the “room,” maybe, four weeks out of the year. Still, a girl can dream.
Nice outdoor living! – Alden Lane Nursery
I do dream about them when see an arrangement that includes a chandelier outdoors. I can’t imagine that this one would work, but in my imaginary house set in an imaginary place that has the perfect climate, mine would work and cast a soft glow over my perfectly cooked kebabs.
Sigh.
Good thing dreams are free, right?
And from the Excellence in Marketing Department:
If I – the reasonable and authoritative side of me – didn’t know that my yard needs a lot of work before it will be at the stage where I can buy flowers to plant for a few weeks, I would have bought pots and pots of flowers simply because of displays like this red window box. Doesn’t it make you think that your life would be more beautiful if you had such a thing at your house?
This is a companion post to Pam’s Hip to be a Square podcast episode #148 where she and I talked about finding inspiration.
You won’t find inspiration unless you look and actually see what is around you. The texture of a building that was not a blip on your radar yesterday may inspire you today. In the podcast we talked about finding inspiration at a quilt show. Listen to find my tips about that.
Some examples of where to find inspiration:
junk mail
billboards
sidewalk cracks
what is around you on your walk to work? new flower springing up int he parking lot planter? Building decorated for the holidays?
glossy magazine ads.
Look at the CPP posts (yes, I had to throw that in)
Once you find inspiration, here are some things to do:
take a photo
make a drawing, rubbing or other kind of sketch
create your own personal 365 project where you look at the same statue, building, public art, fountain or parking garage every day.
Take a photo (or draw) and compare the photos (or drawings) you have taken over time (a Flickr set is good for this). What has changed? How is the light different? Do the colors change with the seasons? How does your artifact look in the rain?
What is it you like about the piece? Color? Shape? Pattern?
After this, it is a good time to translate your inspiration into a quilt. Use the essence of the inspiration, you don’t have to make a replica. Use what you like to make something reminiscent of your inspiration.
The people with whom we stayed in Georgetown over the weekend had little shrines all over their property. Many were devoted to Mary or seemed Catholic in origin.This was a very beautiful piece that was laying on a table on their deck. The simplicity and smoothness really appealed to me.
