Last Week’s Inspiring Things …

Still with the flu (argh) but on the bright side I’ve almost caught up with my RSS reader!  I consider this an accomplishment. Problem with the blogs I read is that I do love all that stuff - after years + months of reading, I’m still inspired by all the things people come up with and do.  Sometimes it’s overwhelming, and I want to just delete my whole blog list.

After I get through the list I wish - yet again! - that I could remove the “by night” part of my name and have time to do all the things that I get inspired to do, or would do if I had the time. But this is not possible, and in any case I like my job, but still … oh, what I could do with more time! All I can do is try to manage my time well. Can you crochet on a treadmill? ‘Cause I’m thinking multi-tasking might be the way to go …

Here’s some of what I found inspiring last week …

One.

Katy Horan does art she describes as long lost folk art from an imaginary world. I really love that concept - it speaks to me as a reader of books that explore imaginary worlds and because I really love folk tales and art. Her art looks to me as though it’s inspired by native SW American symbolism and imagery because of costuming, color and animal choices. It’s quite striking artwork, very bold in its choices. Much of it reminds me of the graphic effect piecework and applique, and a combination of elements like collagework. I don’t have a picture because I don’t want to infringeon any copyright, but it’s really something great to check out if you think my description interesting.

Two.

I’m quite taken with this book artwork by Jennifer Khoshbin . It feels to me very much how I think of books, as something to delve into, with simple covers concealing a wealth of information and experience. The art depicted here is from Book Project 1 (there’s also a Book Project 2 in process) and uses illustration and carved books to convey concepts, something she calls the “sculptural use of books” that creates a “depth of thought.” Ashes and Building Bridges are my favorite. The thumbnail to the right is a detail of Orbit.

Three.

I am quite taken by these collections of little pots from Etsy seller JMN Pottery. I suppose you could use them for something if you wished, but I’d rather just have a collection of small, beautiful pots in a tray. Many of her designs have something of a whimsical nature, for example, poison skull mugs and “grouchy pots” and spiked ceramics. Her descriptions seem to indicate that she very much creates her pieces spontaneously with what appeals to her as she works.

Four.

I was interested in this Queen Anne scarf design from mk carroll - well, to be more precise I was interested in her interest in experimenting with fibers. Usually you just get a few product placement-ey shots of a pattern unless you go search for people who’ve used the pattern. But in this case, the creator made the pattern in several fibers, and the differences are really interesting. I actually found this on flickr first, where she has a set of 63 photos of the Anne in various stages, fibers and drapes. I do believe I like it best in a less bulky cotton, and as soon as I get done with some other projects I might just do this. I do love crochet lace.