Arts and Dafts

Just my imagination...

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:20:17 -0500

The hardest part of this entire learning process I've been going through over the last 9 months or so is the attempt to reclaim my imagination. I mean, it's still there but not nearly as strong as it once was.

When I was a kid, I could view a place like the one pictured above and instantly see a hideout. I loved hideouts. I would have made mudpies, beds out of leaves, tables and utensils out of sticks and vines, pretended to fish out of the small pond just to the left (you can't see that...just imagine it) etc.

Now I simply imagine this because I have before, like an instinct.

So, how do we let go as adults when we're so overwhelmed with the real world? Especially in times like these when most of us want to rip out our hair.

Well here's what I'm doing now, I'll let you know if it works:

Watching fantasy flicks and soaking in all the little details. For example, last night I watched The Spiderwick Chronicles and said to myself "Why didn't I think of that?" when they suggest tomato sauce as the best weapon against a goblin. Or perhaps Harry Potter is more up your alley. If so, why didn't you think of a set of stairs that constantly moves and changes or a photograph that comes to life?

Reading books I've read before like Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Eragon, etc. and paying attention to the little things I didn't before. Books that are born completely from inside the writer's mind. If you'd rather be a little more grown up, try Ursula K. Leguin's Earthsea series (even non-fantasy readers get a kick out of those) or George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. The key is a made up world with completely made up characters and circumstances.

Playing games. It's easy for us to play grown-up games like poker for instance, but when's the last time you played Hide N Seek? Thinking about it, a game like that forces you to be creative and hide in a place you think you know every nook and cranny of. Maybe you don't after all and there's a perfect hiding spot you never even considered before. I mean, have you even been underneath your kitchen table without a broom and dustpan? Probably not.

Last, being completely aware of my surroundings, like a child. Trying to soak everything in when I take my walks in the park. Like the hoof prints in the mud from a horse, or the group of mushrooms guarding a path, or the bush with leaves the size of elephant ears, or something as simple as how the sun hits a set of tall trees.

Turning off my grown-up brain is the hardest feat I've come across in this creative adventure I've put myself on. Trust me, I'm the first person to auto-think "This is silly." when I'm forcing myself to do something 'weird' and different (like sit under a kitchen table which I have not done yet but now that I mention it maybe I'll write my next post under there).

The worst thoughts I've aquired over the years are that there's nothing left for me to imagine and doubting that I can ever be that creative again.

That's grown-up talk. Remind yourself what you would have done if stuck in an empty room with nothing but a cardboard box and a box of crayons.

Come up with anything interesting? Tell me about it....

Instant Art Grants in Union Square!

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0500

Instant Grant Program from Steve Lambert on Vimeo.

The Federation of Students and Nominally or Unemployed Artists (or the FSNUA) came up with this brilliant idea and I'm just bummed I wasn't in the park to take advantage.

The FSNUA aims to re-inspire creative thinking and action in everyday people by removing a small barrier and providing encouragement. We give small, unsecured grants in the form of $10-$60 for creative projects thought up on the spot by everyday people. In the past this has included a merchant marine, two 10 year old girls, a US soldier on leave from Iraq, an accordion player from Alaska, and around 40 others. We funded their new paintings, drawings, knitting, and photojournalism projects, and the repair of one accordion. Projects that may not have happened had they not come across 10 people in the park to support and inspire the thought.

Beyond the small amount of money, the project encourages people to see themselves as something other than workers or consumers even if it just for the length of time required to apply for the FSNUA grant. We also hope to re-inspire dormant desires to create while presenting an example of generosity without an ulterior motive.

Etsy Wednesday - Not Your Grandpa's Birdfeeder

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0500

I swear I was looking for something affordable for everyone this week but when these incredible bird feeders caught my eye, I knew I had to highlight them. I've just never seen anything like 'em before. Pricey? Well at $475, I'd say yes. Unique? Incredibly!

Each piece is hand crafted and welded with steel and copper. This particular piece stands 6' tall and has a sturdy base you can bury 8-10 inches in the ground. Click the photo for the listing and there you can see more shots of this fascinating creation.

The work in this small Etsy shop ranges from the simple to the intricate and bizarre. Also available is this gorgeous candelabra made of steel and glass. It's sturdy enough to withstand being outdoors but pretty enough to have a place in your living room. It also measures around 6' tall.

The creator, Joseph Papendick, has a website as well where you can find more information on materials, his shows and more.

Even if you can't afford one of these bad boys, they're absolutely worth a look.

photo property of shop owner, Joseph Papendick

Learn a fun photo effect...the tilt shift!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:57:44 -0500

Click photo to view large

One of my favorite things about digital photography is being able to manipulate old photographs and turn them into something completely different. This photo is pretty boring in it's original form (left) so I decided to play with something called the Tilt Shift effect which makes everything look like it's in miniature (right).

There are special lenses out there that create this look organically. However, I'm still struggling to save up for this big girl camera with all the whistles and bells. That will be a very, very long time from now at this rate. So for now I use my fave editor the GIMP!

I do have an old copy of Photoshop and also PSP, but I prefer the GIMP because it provides just about everything Photoshop does and it's free! I'm a big supporter of programs like this and Open Office who make their products accessible to the every day user. Go grab yourself a copy!

Anyhow, why don't you give it a try, it's really easy! Here's how you get this look in GIMP:

1. This really works best with a photo looking down on the subject, Particularly well if it's at an interesting angle as opposed to a direct bird's eye view.

2. After you open your photo, you'll want to toggle the Quick Mask. You can do so by either clicking the little dotted box at the bottom left of the photo tray, using the Select menu and choosing Toggle Quick Mask or hitting Shift+Q.

3. Choose the gradient tool which can be found in the Gimp bar and looks like a little black square fading to white. Once selected, go to the drop down menu below and set the gradient to Bi-Linear.

4. Choose your focal point of the photo. In my example I chose the woman in black at the center of the shot. Click and drag away from that point and you'll see the red mask turn into a smaller red, blurry line. Adjust this until you get the size you want.

5. Toggle Quick Mask again and the mask with disappear, leaving behind a bunch of marching ants (selection) where your gradient was. Now go up to Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur. I prefer to set my blur to somewhere around 10 but you can play with this setting as you like.

6. Once the blur is set, go to Select>All. This clears your current selection and now you can see the photo without the marching ants running through the middle of it.

7. Go to Color>Curves and play with it until you get the desired look. Brightness/Contrast control can also get you similar effects. That's what made the image darker and more crisp.

So! Give it a try and show me your results! It's such a simple little effect and I've applied it to half a dozen images now.

Also, check out this fun Tilt Shift video:

Beached from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Have I mentioned how much I love Fall?

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:15:24 -0500

Took a long walk in the park yesterday.

Do you care?

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:37:17 -0500

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Tis the season for keeping secrets...

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:57:28 -0500

It's getting close to that time of year again, when responding to "What are you up to?" with "None of your business!" is copacetic. I have taken on a super fun knitting project for she who will not be named and this is the only photo I'll be able to post of it for 3 months. Why? Because it's nunya!

Knitting has not only provided me with a creative outlet and thought inducing hobby, but it's also come in VERY handy when the holidays roll around and I am inevitably broke.

In other news, my show finally ended and I'm back to a little over a month off. Just me, my coffee, knitting, writing, the boob tube and this fantastic fall weather. I hoping for a super October!

The MuuMuu that keeps on giving...

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:13:40 -0500

This MuuMuu has been handed down from generation to generation in my family.

By that I mean my grandma has a tendency to do a little cleaning and send my mom the leftovers. Then my mom sends it to me as a gag.

Then I wear it around the house because I can.

Knitting in the middle and more...

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:40:50 -0500

My schedule is really starting to work out these days and it's a great feeling. Every morning I get up, make my coffee, sit down and get to work. I truly believe that picking up my knitting again has re-centered my focus so I can concentrate on all the little tasks I do online every day.

This photo was taken about 30 minutes ago and I'm donning the hat I am currently working on. It's gonna be one of those cute little slouchy numbers and I just hope I end up wearing it, unlike most hats I knit for myself. For some reason I end up just wearirng them around the house and never outside. It's like I don't trust my knitting to be warm enough or something.

Incase you're curious about how things are going on the financial front around here, it's still pretty much the same but with a dim light at the end of the tunnel. Once we get the rent squared away, we just might be able to go out and treat ourselves to something fun.

For instance, the fella and I have not yet celebrated his return over a month ago. No dinner or movie dates. I'm a firm believer in having these dates atleast once a week, even if it's just being silent in the movie theater. The walk to and from allows us to concentrate on eachother as opposed to when we're sitting around the house with multiple things to distract us.

I know, we could just take a walk, but you haven't met the fella. That's really more of a nuisance then a pleasure trip. I'd rather take walks alone most of the time. And frankly, I might be annoyed if I were him too because a walk for me consists of stopping to take a photograph every few paces.

No, I cannot leave the house without my camera.

So, with the beautiful fall weather we have around here these days, things are starting to fall into place. This of course is leaving the state of the economy aside. Let's try not to think about that for a little while, okay?

Etsy Wednesday - Cuff 'Em Danno

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:55:21 -0500

I'm kind of a freak for oversized cuffs and when I saw this one, I had to have it. I don't play the guitar...well, I can but I don't and I only know a few diddies...but I still love the idea of walking around with a guitar pick hidden on my wrist.

This cuff was made from an upcycled leather belt, adorned with musical notes and a handsewn leather pocket. Two snaps provide secure closure. A standard guitar pick is included to make this a perfect and complete gift for the guitar player in your life!!

There are a ton of gorgeous leather cuffs (I love the shape on this one) and other accessories at the Blest Beads and Leather shop on Etsy. All of this shop owners goods are very affordable too. None of the leather cuffs are currently over $25.

photograph property of Blest Beads

The impatient knitter....

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:52:30 -0500

This is a project I finished back in 2006 called Clapotis. It's by far my favorite pattern and so far I've made 3, but none for me (this one was for mom). In fact, I don't knit much for myself at all. That's probably because I'm sick of the clutter around here and don't need to add more to the piles. Also because I'm not very exciting when it comes to colors (I prefer my knitware in blacks/grays/whites) so knitting for others allows me to be more colorful.

Why is this particular project significant? Well, because it's finished. Also, I really dig the photo.

It feels great to get the needles moving again but it reminds me of how incredibly impatient I am. I love little projects because I can finish them in a day, but big projects allow me to get distracted half way through. It's not that I don't appreciate the process, it's more that knitting tends to be insta-inspiring and so I start to think about all the other fun stuff I could be working on. If only I had another set of hands.

Next thing you know I have 10 WIPs sitting in the basket and only a few will move on to become America's Next Top Model. Wait... what?

Anyhow, I've made a small pact with myself. Finish everything that's been sitting in the basket all this time and then I can start anew. No yarn buying until I'm done, I can't afford it anyway.

Also, I just realized that all unfinished projects are the ones I start for myself.

Interesting.

First impressions...

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:48:42 -0500

When you see a photograph like this for the first time, what do you notice? Is it gross and creepy? Do you see it for what it simply is, paint and sawdust? Do you notice the stirring stick or the black sludge first?

To me it's all about the texture. I loooove good texture in a photo, when it feels like you can reach out and touch it (even if it is a little ooky). After I took this shot and put it up on my computer, I wanted to take my finger and wipe that first layer of sawdust off the stirring stick. Just an impulse.

No, I did not make this bucket of muck. One of the painters did about a week ago and just left it sitting there. At first I wanted to yell at them for leaving such a mess behind. Obviously I've changed my mind.

Goin' Bananas

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:03:24 -0500

It's been really rough around here lately, financially speaking. It's the first time I can ever remember appreciating the food we have as much as I do right now. We're not starving or anything. We're not down to beans and rice only. But I've never felt this close to that edge.

I'm certain this is a phase we will recover from. We're smart, resourceful and capable of finding good work. I'm just amazed at how quickly one can be thrown into this situation. We've always been what you might call 'privileged poor', living paycheck to paycheck, extravagant purchases made only once every year or two, wearing clothes out until they can't be worn any more but still being able to afford things like cable and internet. It's nothing to complain about. That is a lot to be thankful for.

In fact I can't complain at all. Especially when I live in a city where I see homeless men & women every day. It's just when you hit a bump in the road like we have lately, you can't help but picture yourself in that very situation.

Days like this make it feel a little like it's only a matter of time. Rational me knows it's not going to happen and we'll learn a very strong lesson from this. Emotional me gets scared.

Buddha sez remember...

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:37:02 -0500

When you take a closer look at an object so small, it suddenly becomes the elephant in the room. Memories come racing back, good and bad. It becomes clear why it is so important to take those moments to remember and acknowledge that those little things are there for a reason.

This reminds me of someone I really should not discuss. One, they might read this. Two, we bitterly parted ways after a long friendship and I'd rather the dust continue to settle on that subject.

I think Buddha would be proud.

Etsy Wednesday - Hypnotized

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:13:48 -0500

I originally found Maid of Clay when I spotted this incredible vase. Unfortunately it's been put on hold so I peeked around the rest of the shop and found these amazingly unique pendants. The face is made from porcelain clay that has been "lightly glazed with underglazes for an antique-y look and kiln fired to 2167 degrees." They've also been signed on the back.

The pendant on the left features vintage shirt studs that have a brown mother of pearl in the center of a gold frame. On the right has vintage watch gears. The chain measures approximately 19" long (she does offer to make different lengths) and is 14k gold filled. The toggle clasp is plated metal.

There are currently 29 different face pendants in Felicia's shop so you're bound to find one just right for you. There are also a number of other items including charms, sculptures, vases and more.

At around $32 a piece, these seem like a real steal to me. I will definitely snag one for myself. I have my eye on The Hypnotist personally (the one on the right).