Lisa's a fantastic teacher too, so I have to share with you that she's having a very special one time only workshop this Sunday, 'Out of Bounds: Book Assemblage' April 15 from 1 - 5 pm at the Craft And Folk Art Museum for $65 and $55 for CAFAM members. To register online just go to www.cafam.org or email workshops@cafam.org.
I have been meaning to share a post on Lisa's book since it first came out last fall, so now's the perfect time to tell you about it too. 'The Re-purposed Library' is beautiful down to every last detail. It's one of those books that you will make you happy just by having it in your space and you will be inspired to think outside of the box creatively by re-purposing some of those books you have sitting on your shelf - or seek out some very special vintage ones on your next thrift store or flea market outing.
Another favorite is the trailer that Lisa's brother Nate helped her produce. Pretty much sums up the vibe of Lisa and her work. She just moved to Southern California almost 2 years ago now, all the way from New Hampshire. Courage and a quest for adventure, that's what it takes to start over and build a brand new life for yourself especially in Venice CA. It's been great to see Lisa jump in and get acclamated so quickly with so much bravery and enthusiasm to boot. And those of us who knew Lisa before her move out west, are so lucky to have her creative spirit here to spend time with as often as we can. You should definitely join her at her workshop if you can! Oh and! you might want to take home one of her bookmobiles too~
This book arrived yesterday. It came highly recommended to Sean by Jan, his step mom. Even though he is a comedic performer, improvising and teaching Improv in a front of a room full of people, Sean definitely considers himself more of an introvert.
Even though I've barely cracked open the cover, I'm already intrigued and I'm already going to recommend this book to you.
The cover and the title alone totally caught my eye. I especially like the subtitle "the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking". {sometimes I just want to tell people to please stop talking, especially our neighbor who insists upon talking on his cell on speaker phone right outside our window}
And then we watched the TED video by Susan this morning and now I am completely fascinated.
I insta/tweeted a picture of the cover this morning and already the people responding with comments saying that they are reading this right now, tells me that we creatives were in need of some validation and permission to be the introverts that I personally think is necessary to do any kind of creative work.
It got me thinking about how introverted I am, really? I was definitely way more introverted as a child. Also being an only means that having a lot of quiet and alone time is just part of the package. Somewhere along the way I decided to develop my extrovert muscle and found that I also get energy from socializing. Listening to Susan's talk makes me wonder if I develped that muscle because society applauds that quality more?
I don't do crowds. One reason, I find attending and participating in art fairs particularly challenging. When I go to yoga class, or most classes actually I do not want to socialize. I just want to be quiet and learn. Teaching at larger art retreats and attending conferences, as fun and rewarding as it is can wollop me. I've always been more comfortable in smaller groups or one on one. Probably one of the reasons I've always enjoyed podcasting. A quiet way for me to get a message to many.
I've discovered that an ideal week for me is an almost equal balance of inward and outward time. Actually I'd say leaning much more with an emphasis on inward time. It's true what Susan says about needing quiet time and unplugging to come up with ideas. How will we ever get our own ideas if we are constantly experiencing a barrage of other people's voices? We won't. And there will just be more of the same. Something that many of us artists think about, how to keep our unique voice evolving and not looking like someone else's vision, or conforming to creating work that is solely inspired by trend.
We have to learn how to tune out and tune in.
This becomes challenging in the world we live in where the noise has become more, not necessarily in decibles or in person socializing, but the social activity around social media. And the panic that ensues when we are not on it, feeling like we are going to be forgotten or left behind. Seriously, this is a myth that needs to be stopped before it gets started. If you do great, meaningful work you will not be forgotten, especially not by the the people who are truly your people.
I know much of my feelings about the quiet time I need are heavily influenced by the city I live in. The sound of the squeaking breaks on the garbage truck that is outside my window RIGHT NOW is SO loud. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that someone comes so consistently to pick up the trash, but the amount of leaf blowing I hear on any given week has GOT to stop. We live in Los Angeles - I mean really how many leaves are there?
What I want to say is that living in a big city already calls for much more inward time to balance the energy involved just in getting from point a to point b. And if you happen to be more introverted, you can only imagine how much more quiet time you might need.
After watching this video I know that both Sean and I, are breathing a big sigh of relief. We feel like we've been given permission to indulge in what comes natural to us. We feel like we want to honor our quiet time more, even when we are together in the same space, Thank you Susan for writing your book and for adding equal value to those who live and create from a softer, quieter space.
How about you? Where do you think you are on the introvert/extrovert scale?
In the year and a half that I've been designing fabric, I've also been taking a lot of sewing classes. I cannot tell you how much it helps me understand who and what it is I am actually designing for. Learning how the pattern I design might be used, has been incredibly helpful in thinking of the best presentation and layout of the each design. (I for one really like stripes, because they are much easier, a little cheat sheet if you will, for me to cut and sew in a straight line ;))
My most recent class that I took at Sew L.A. {which if you are in L.A. I highly, highly recommend any and all classes there} was to make this Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated. What is suggested, and what I actually did this time I took a class! was make a second piece simultaneously at home. This definitely helps nail down that initial learning process into more than just instructions that literally float away from my brain the very next day, if not the same day.
The Iphone has also been super helpful with classes too, as I've found that I'm a visual learner so snapping a photo of the teacher demonstrating the next step for us, helps me way more than just taking notes. A combination of Iphone photos, notes, and last but not least the actual pattern instructions {I'm not really a very good instruction follower kind of girl} and I was able to successfully make a second tunic at home in the span of the same 3 weeks {with minimal mistakes I might add}
The pattern is for intermediate level and definitely pushed my skill level which was perfect for where I'm at with my sewing. It takes just under 3 yds. of fabric, both fabrics shown above are from my first collection, meet the gang, and I recommend choosing the size up from what you usually wear.
Having also sewn my first small quilt last year, I find apparel sewing to be even more challenging. Then again my quilt was made from 4 blocks, all square. Some of the quilts I see - whoa - seriously skilled people working on those. Totally different sewing experiences though, apparel vs. quilting. I have to say I'm loving it all, minus that pattern cutting and the pinning. As per usual, I've got big plans and want to start designing my own line of clothing, and patterns, right after I finish this book and...
Some accessorizing with a striped cowl and some yellow rain boots - voila. {If you're wondering what I'm looking at in these photos, it was Garbo. I'm telling you she's my muse} I've also worn both of these over jeans. Lets' just say I've been wearing one of these almost every day.
Thought you might enjoy this to kick off your week. Found via Matt and Kim from a vintage magazine. Seems like we've all been trying to find that 'elusive' balance for some time now. And personally, I think this list is totally applicable for today. We just need to add an addendum about the use your personal electronic devices.
I made 6 and am willing to part with 5, for now ;)
Loving the little 'Meet the Gang' button on this one. So much fun sewing and painting these this past week. Just makes me happy. Hope you enjoy them too.
At the moment Sean's teaching schedule is packed, which makes it challenging for us to get away for even two days at a time. But this does not mean we're not going to get away! oh no.
Because I've said it 100 times before, getting a change of scenery even if it is a whirlwind change of scenerey is so, SO good to do.
It helps when you have great friends you like to visit too, who also happen to live in beautiful, serene locations surrounded by vineyards.
So we took the Amtrak Surfliner train up North to Sab Luis Obispo this weekend. Highly, highly recommend this if you are wanting to see a glimpse of California, especially along the coast. In some sections the train goes right along the edge of the water, and it goes all the way South to San Diego too.
Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. One of my new favorites. There's an interesting story about the Vineyard name. I'll save it for you should you go. In fact there's almost always a good story behind wine names and labels. Turns out I like to ask a lot of questions and learn all about wineries. Must be the entrepreneur in me? I like to know all about busineses and bond with their brands. And the bottle I photographed was the best - Due Mila Otto. You can only get it in Paso Robles.
Tasting wine with the Frantic Meerkat aka Kim. We are enjoying the Due Mila Otto
First time trying wine straight from the barrel. Interesting to taste the difference between a new wine and one that had aged even a year longer.
Mincy, Sean and Kim on to Shale Oaks. {Mincy likes to keep his privacy so this is the only photo we have of him.} When I asked questions this time, I discovered that every detail from the construction of the winery, from the countertops to the water used to flush the toilets, to the organic wine making - all completely sustainable. It's no longer enough just to be 'green' people- Sustainable is the new buzz word for businesses. And I like it.
With scenery like this. I could probably live here.
Vineyards seem to have incredibly sweet dogs on the premises. The first one was Roxie {by the barrels above} and the last one was Chris Brown. Do not ask the story about his name, because I don't remember. We met him at our last tasting at Pasoport which specializes in you guessed it Port. Which was especially delicious and amazing when combined with cheese + quince. good times. good times.
A template site, I put together myself. It served it's purpose and did a great job of getting me started.
And then I outgrew it, at least five years ago now. It was high time for a new one.
You know how it goes. There's always something more pressing than getting your own site done. So then, you finally get some help! You hire someone who's a great web designer, gets your aesthetic, is easy to work with and is super patient while you squeeze in your updates in between projects over a period of two years.
And then there's today and you have a beautiful new site and you could not be more EXCITED!! {thank you Jo!}
My first holiday collection of fabric arrived last Thursday and this time rather than stare it for weeks on end before cutting it. I just went for it - had to sew something right away.
So, I made a new bunny today {might be one of my most favorite creations to date}
I created this first holiday group with an intention of using the majority of the designs year round. It was fun to work with it, even now at the beginning of Spring time, and still feel inspired by the colors and the designs.
A few years in the making, I have been wanting to create a signature Creative Thursday softie and this one could be getting close...! A little of everything, my own fabric! {I still can't get over the fact that I'm sewing with my own fabric} machine sewing, hand stitching and painting.
This is also good inspiration for my upcoming class at the Makerie. I like to create, particularly when sewing, through improvisation, which also means working in the 'mistakes'. When I started out this morning, all I knew is that I wanted to make a bunny that I'd love - that wouldn't be too complicated to recreate, and that could be made with slightly new variations each time. I tend to get bored repeating the same thing over and over. Several hours, a few mistakes, and a couple of changes later, I had no idea what the final one would like until I sewed on my second attempt at the face.
I might have to keep playing with this new fellow and make a little batch of Easter bunnies...
hope you're having a good weekend - and you remebered to set your clocks back I mean forward! I'ts 5 pm and light out!! hello springtime! happy sunday
