9/29/09

RED GIANTS

Looking beyond the usual inspiration from design and architecture magazines, I found unlikely artistic stimulation from the October issue of National Geographic. The magazine that shaped my future interests in history, nature, and far-away lands was once again able to captivate my attention. The 35 page feature on Redwoods touches on everything one would ever want to know about the majestic trees and I highly recommend it, should you need a little awe-inspiring beauty added to your day. I especially suggest viewing their pullout mosaic of a 1500 year old giant.






Personally I could not resist taking advantage of a warm fall day to capture Vancouver's own giants, our ancient cedars within Stanley Park.

9/28/09

SEED STITCH

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

This weekend I visited a wool shop that recently opened just off the Avenue. Though I'm not a great knitter, I've been craving a wide woolen cowl for winter and the simple design I have in mind makes it an easy project. I bought two balls of baby alpaca in a deliciously soft cream and started on Saturday. Never one for the easy route, I actually knit the entire thing once, didn't like it and started again on Sunday night, this time using a seed stitch which I think is so pretty.
I'll post photos when I'm finished (hopefully soon considering the forecast.)

9/22/09

WEIGHTY ISSUE

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Stopped by the newly re-opened antique mall on the weekend and picked up some green glass insulators and various paperweights to use as fabric weights. With the new studio finally coming together I wanted something slightly more visually appealing than the usual tin cans to use when drafting and cutting. I love how these catch the light and contribute to a space that is starting to feel like my own.

9/18/09

FASCINATING RHYTHM

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

{rodarte images from style.com}

Rodarte fascinates indeed. The fairy frocks which could've dressed a childlike empress have given way in recent seasons to a different sort of fantasy. To me their Spring 2010 collection reveals a maturing eye, a different narrative, one in which the nightmare of reality is more fully realized. The influences of tribalism and survivalism seem apparent. The cobbling together of a garment, crow like, from shards of the destroyed and decayed (as well as bits of jewel here and there) evolves into a truly relatable whole. I believe the clothing's magic lies in its disintegrated finery and the trepidation to which it gives way: a beautiful unknown. This is a notion that I can presently understand and wholly embrace.
What alchemy arises when two sisters collaborate.