471

hi friends.

just time for a quick post. later today we are heading to the eno river for a picnic lunch and a photo walk. now, that i'm working 2 jobs, i am finding it harder to spend time outdoors. also, i realized yesterday that i haven't taken a photo all week, which is so unlike me. anyway, i can't wait!

and later in the afternoon, e is coming over to help me finish my hat! looking forward to showing you when i'm done. it's my very first hat and i'm quite excited.

thank you all for your comments this week and for your suggestions re: the cropped photos. also, i didn't have time to compile the wonderful comments from monday's post, but you should check them out! it was fun to hear how you all celebrate the season.

so it's time to sign off for the week. wishing you all a lovely weekend.

ps: i cannot believe it will soon be december!

470: inspiring words

"But remember always that the true self is never a fixed thing....because the true self is always in motion like music, a river of life, changing, moving, failing, suffering, learning, shining. That is why you must freely and recklessly make new mistakes-in writing or in life-and do not fret about them but pass on and write more....and do not try to be consistent, for what is true to you today, may not be true at all tomorrow, because you see a better truth."

by Brenda Ueland from If You Want to Write


currently, this is my favorite passage. i read it throughout the day yesterday, and then in the evening, i tried reading on in the book, but my eyes (and heart) wouldn't let me. they kept leaping back to this passage. i guess this is the message i need to hear right now. and it seems i need to hear it over and over again.

what words are inspiring you today? is there anything that you find yourself reading (or listening to) repeatedly?

xo

ps: meg and andrea make me want to take piano lessons. i love their writing...full of inspiration they are!

pps: blogger continues to crop my images. does anyone have suggestions? i've tried copying and pasting from flickr but the images still end up cropped. it bothers me so much. thank you in advance for any help.

469

i have juniper berries on the brain ever since i saw this beautiful tree in charleston. i'm thinking this weekend i may treat myself to some juniper essential oil. the scent is supposed to be cleansing and good for clearing the mind of worries.

on sunday, my mom sent us home with a huge bag of apples that she picked in the mountains of nc. i missed the annual trip this year. anyway, along with the apples, she gave us a recipe for huguenot torte, a recipe that comes from the french huguenots who moved to charleston. we had the torte for dessert last night and it was so good.

it tastes sweet and gooey like pecan pie but has more of a cakey texture. we didn't have whipped cream but it would balance the sweetness for sure.

i thought i would share the recipe with you today.

huguenot torte

4 eggs
3 cups of sugar
8 tablespoons of flour
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped tart apples
2 cups chopped nuts (we used pecans)
2 teaspoons vanilla

beat eggs with mixer until frothy and yellow. add other ingredients in the order listed. pour into 2 well buttered, 8 by 12 pans. bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes or until browned. serve with whipped cream and nuts.

we halved the recipe last night since it makes so much. i'm also interested in playing around with the recipe and cutting back on the amount of sugar.

happy baking!

ps: i really like the new prints in ah yi's etsy shop. check them out here.

468: books

i took this photo at my mom's. we both like to collect bits of nature to have around our houses. the only difference is that she has bowls of shells and i have bowls of acorns or rocks.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

lately, i've been finding wonderful books online so i thought i would share some links with you today.

i think calamari press has some unique titles. the revisionist and land of the snow men look interesting.

hotel st. george press rocks. their website is beautiful.

i'm a big fan of cloverfield press, and it looks like they have a new title coming out soon.

i just ordered sheds and the broken camera club by nigel peake. love his drawings so much.

finally, alain de botton (love his books) named this book his pick for 2007. you can read excerpts from sandu's nocturnal journal here.

enjoy exploring! see you tomorrow.

467

hi.

gosh, i just love the beach in the fall and winter. the colors are so different. layers of gray, light blue, and white. brown grasses. an air of peacefulness. stretches of quiet.

but now i'm home and thinking that this week will be all about inspiration and simple pleasures.

first, i think you should definitely check out richard misrach's exhibit on the beach. (be sure to scroll down and click on the photos to view them larger) these aerial photographs are amazing and really show the expansiveness of the sea. the exhibit will be at the pace/macgill gallery in nyc next. i thought so much of his work while i was visiting my family. it changed the way i looked at the beach. i think you will really find it interesting.

second, i want to make a list of simple holiday pleasures this year. you are invited to leave your favorite simple way to celebrate the holiday season in the comments. perhaps, i'll compile a list and post it on friday.

two of my favorites so far this season:

hot buttered panettone with coffee for breakfast (becoming a tradition in our household).

frasier fir scented candles.


thank you all so so much for your enthusiasm about three in the kitchen! we only have 3 left for sale in the hammer and daisy etsy shop. we are so thrilled by your response! thank you. thank you. :)

speaking of etsy shops...abigail has updated hers and i love everything in it (check out those pinecone necklaces)!

amanda has a shop update tomorrow too. you should definitely check out her creations. i think they are wonderful.

see you tomorrow.

466

i thought i would have more time to post today but i'm running late. so...

happy thanksgiving everyone. may you have happy meals and cozy evenings. see you back here on monday.

ps: don't miss the doc project on lisa's blog this week! lisa has a beautiful voice.

465: grateful

hi.

i want to thank you all for reading and commenting and sending emails last week. the interviews were such fun and i'm glad to hear that you were inspired (and that you got some holiday shopping done!).


last week, while i was busy with interviews, gracia and louise were hard at work assembling our collaborative zine, three in the kitchen. the zine debuted last thursday and can now be found here or here.





by the way, that's t front and center on the cover, holding a lemon. :)

now you know how fabulous gracia and louise are right? i was so so honored to work with them on this project. in our zine, you will find:

gracia's postcard collages with the best titles ever
louise's lovely kitchen drawings
some of my kitchen/farm photographs
several family recipes, lists, and a mind map or two

it's a little pocket sized piece of art *hand sewn* by g and l. i hope you like it.

visit louise's blog elsewhere to read a bit more about our zine.

gracia has an amazing new zine too that you should definitely check out titled what do you think? also, i was just told that they have made a special zine bundle of favorite titles (three in the kitchen is included).

so yes, the zine is here. durham and melbourne together at last. gotta love the internet.

see you tomorrow friends. i want to share a bit of inspiration before i head over the river and through the woods. :)

ps: lj and gracia are on zine wiki. how cool. (just click the names to read their entries).

464: keri smith

hi again.

for the final interview of the holiday gift guide, i have the honor of featuring one of my very favorite artists, keri smith. i admire keri for so many reasons. she lives a passionate life and stands up for what she believes in. she challenges, questions, ponders, researches...and encourages others to do the same. i have read her blog for several years, and it is one of my favorite places to visit when i am feeling the need to recharge. recently, keri wrote 2 books that have filled me with inspiration: wreck this journal and the guerilla art kit. these books are playfully interactive and are amazing creative resources. she also has created a non-planner datebook that i adore. if you are looking for unique gifts that are full of spirit, pick up any of these titles by keri. you won't be disappointed!





Keri Smith
location: currently Troy, NY originally Toronto, Canada


are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I don't seem to have a set schedule for anything. at different times I have been both, so I don't really categorize myself as one or the other. lately I have been really enjoying the mornings, my favorite meal is breakfast and i like to lounge a bit over it, taking time for my tea and enjoying an egg and toast. I could spend years just doing breakfast.

creativity is…

... found in the midst of daily life, explosive, akin to breathing, to be found everywhere you are at any time, the ability to perceive things from many different angles.



tell us the story behind the non-planner datebook.

i had this idea floating around my brain for a few years to do a book that was about the opposite of planning, I have a thing for opposites these days. it is obviously a bit tongue in cheek to have a planner that is titled a "non-planner" and the whole thing is intended to make you a bit confused. a while ago I started looking back on all the really great things that have happened to me, both personally and with my career. I went through each thing and started to notice that all of the planning, controlling, goal setting, organizing I had done had very little to do with those things that happened. in actuality, when i clung to an expectation of an outcome it seemed to not happen. so I really like the idea of letting go of any control whatsoever, and the non-planner datebook was created with this in mind. it is also meant to infuse some fun and a bit of absurdity into everyday life, something we could all do with more of.


what is inspiring your work right now?

the process of collecting and documenting the world around me. exploring the unknown. seeing my everyday world with new eyes. I am excited by little things that I find under my feet. things that happen naturally as opposed to being forced into "a work". exploring natural world in it's truest sense. Gary Snyder wrote, "Everything is nature." I'm working on a new book that encompasses these ideas and combines them with different methods of documentation. I love playing with pretending I am a artist/scientist, and "my work" is just to document things in the same way a detective would. things that i am obsessed with currently, linen, colored wool, turquoise, leaves, found detritus, the color orange, hand sewing, cardboard, natural smells (earth, green things, lavender).




name an artist, photographer, musician, author, etc. that more people should know about and tell us why you admire them.

I'm loving the work of dutch artist anneke harmsen,(sorry there is no english, in her case this is a good thing because we are let to guess). she seems to encompass a lot of what I am working on in terms of collecting and documenting. Her work is very tactile and immediate full of little surprises here and there. things she finds on the street, new combinations of everyday objects cause us to see things in a new way. I am most intrigued by her shop which sells found objects which seem to contain some kind of mystery in them, jars filled with strange shapes, boxes with used tea bags, bags filled with unknown items, (maybe it's because I can't read about them, but I like the not knowing what the things are.) you can see more of her photos on her flickr page. it seems that her art and life are one.



which season inspires you the most and why?

I think it is the cold that plunges me into a creative space. something to do with retreating, hunkering down, diving into books. maybe it is contrast, the winter palette provides a minimal backdrop for creation, allows my brain to empty and create from scratch. I am never at a loss for new ideas in the winter, it's as if I can't keep them all at bay. plus i love all things cozy, woodstove, cooking, baking, knitting, crochet, sewing, reading, eating, dark nights, walks in the snow, tea.




if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

i still have many places I want to see in the world. but after traveling to spain and morocco this year i came home feeling saddened by how tourism is affecting many cultures in a negative way. this led me to feel that I don't want to contribute to that anymore, ancient cultures are being pushed out of their own space, (which they've occupied for thousands of years) because people are trying to make money off of the tourists. this was very apparent in southern spain, where neighborhoods where there used to be no cars allowed are now overrun with polluting tour buses. gypsies are no longer allowed to hang out in the parks at night (something they've done for two hundred years), because the government is trying to "clean up" in the name of tourism. the people have rebelled with the only thing they have left, graffiti (there are anti tourism slogans everywhere). and then there is also the issue of creating a much bigger footprint due to air travel. in lieu of these things my husband and I have decided that we will only travel to a) do some kind of relief work that benefits a community rather than take away from it, or b) travel only if our careers require it, (artist residency, speaking engagement, etc.)

someday i would love to go to india, and see the rest of africa, but only under these terms.






your favorite handmade gift to give?

anything knit or crocheted. I was doing a lot of crocheted bears last year which are pretty fast to make. I also like to make personalized illustrated things, stationery, books, cut out projects. last year I did the portable xmas tree and had so much fun with it. the year before that it was the secret note dispenser.




what is your favorite holiday treat?

I think it is the combination of things that feel most like the holidays to me, clementines, pomegranates, (fruit was always special in our house because my mother was poor as a child growing up in Newfoundland, and she only got fruit once a year). the homemade cookies, mincemeat tarts, onion tarts, homemade eggnog with heavy cream, steamed carrot pudding with rum sauce. I have to stop now as I'm getting hungry. salivating a bit.




how do you celebrate the holidays?

it's usually a pretty low key affair, our family comes to visit, we do dinner, exchange gifts etc. but this year is going to begin a change as we are expecting our first child in february and I am wanting to create some new family rituals surrounding this new being coming into our lives. I'm not sure what they will be yet but I am excited about the changes. maybe a walk in the woods xmas morning, followed by pancakes. or maybe we make a mobile out of things we find in the woods. i think kids make the holidays more fun, they are really into the experience of things, making cookies, decorating the tree, making things. each thing becomes monumental. if we think back to our own memories it is not the presents we remember but rather the time spent creating or playing.


thank you so much keri!

visit keri online at her website and her blog, wish jar journal.

you can find keri's books (the guerilla art kit, wreck this journal, and her first book, living out loud) at your local independent bookstore, powell's or amazon.

the non-planner datebook can be found at little otsu.

****************************

did you miss the interview with camilla engman? if so, scroll down.

i want to thank all of the artists for participating and for taking time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions. thanks so much for reading, too.

happy holidays!

463: camilla engman

happy monday! today is the final day of holiday interviews.

and so we begin with camilla engman. what can i say about camilla that hasn't already been said? i think she is an amazing artist. her work wows me, makes me dance around my room, makes me see the world with new eyes. i love camilla's paintings so much. in her shop, you will find four prints and her 2008 calendar. everyone needs a calendar, and i think everyone needs art by camilla engman in their home. it was certainly a treat to interview her. :)



Camilla Engman
Gothenburg, Sweden



are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I'm definitely a night owl. My perfect morning is to sleep until I wake up by myself. The sun is shining through the curtains and someone is up making me breakfast.



creativity is...

like breathing.





tell us the story behind a favorite piece of art you've created.

I like the work where I don't recognize myself so easily. I made a painting titled "The worse thing about sailors is the many good-bye's" and I painted it after listening to a radio program about a woman who was married to a sailor, she sounded so melancholy and sad. I was picturing her sailor out on adventures when she was home waiting.




what is inspiring your work right now?

It's not hard to find inspiration, it's to find the time to make anything with it that is the trouble. Right now I'm extra inspired by paper and texture.




which season inspires you the most and why?

Autumn - the colours, the smell and the darkness.


if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?
I would like to go to Iceland... or Scotland, living in a cottage, just walking and painting.




your favorite handmade gift to give?

Something you can eat, it has to look nice too. Like a jar of ginger pears. Or almond biscotti dipped in dark chocolate.






what is your favorite holiday treat?

I would vote for Riz à l'amande.

how do you celebrate the holidays?

With my mother and brother/brothers, eating, waiting.

thank you so much camilla!

to visit camilla's shop, click here.

you can visit camilla online at her blog, her flickr stream or her website.

up next: keri smith.

462: leya williams-albert: curious bird

hi again.

i'm thrilled to present leya williams-albert as a part of the holiday gift guide. recently, leya developed a new line called baby bird for babies and toddlers. this line features hand printed tees, tanks, and bibs as well as bibs made from funky, vintage fabric. in her shop you will also find lovely shadowboxes, handmade obis, pillows, and bags! leya's colorful handmade creations are delightful; i'm a big fan of her work. read on to learn more about leya.



Leya Williams-Albert: Curious Bird
Philadelphia, Pa.

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I’m definitely an early bird. I’ve never been all that good at staying up late. Mornings are when I feel the most energized and creative and I especially enjoy the ritual of getting out of bed, brewing a cup of tea, and reading about what’s happening in the world. Sometimes it takes me a little while to get going, but once I get started, I usually begin sewing or thinking about new projects and become lost in the whole process for as long my day will allow.

creativity is...

Seeing something move from my imagination to manifesting as an object in my hands.




tell us the story behind one of your creations.

Having always had a difficult time throwing things away, a little over a year ago I began exploring creative ways I could use my collection of colorful fabric scraps. Patchwork pillows were and still are one of my favorite things to create, but I wanted to explore creating something wearable, an accessory that would add color and texture to an outfit. After catching a bit of inspiration from some amazing Japanese craft books, I took my fabric and experience sewing patchwork pillows and started creating colorful patchwork obis. The initial design has evolved in a few different directions; recently, I’ve been working on solid color wrap belts in addition to patchwork designs. Creating these one of a kind accessories has been great fun and a rewarding way to make use of my scrap fabric.


what is inspiring your work right now?

Fabric in bold, graphic prints. Trees of all kinds. Pairing bold colors with muted grays and browns. Prints by Steven Harrington. Photography by Rinne Allen.



name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about and why you admire them.

Agnes Montgomery. Her creations are so vivid and inspiring. I saw her work at a gallery here in Philadelphia and it blew me away. Her work has incredible scale and multiple layers of meaning and the technique she uses really works beautifully. She creates pieces that remind me of stories I’ve heard and dreams I’ve had.



which season inspires you the most and why?

I love Spring. It’s a time of renewed growth. The birds begin to sing again and little sprouts make their way out of the earth. It can be a very magical time. It also happens to be the season of my birthday, so I have lots of fond childhood memories of springtime birthday parties in the backyard.

if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

The answer to this question is completely based on my mood. Currently, I’m very intrigued by Japan, with its wonderful food, culture, countryside, and of course all of the great fabric. I would spend my days exploring, taking photos and eating big bowls of udon.



what is your favorite handmade gift to give?

Framed drawings, little handmade books, aprons and personalized pillows. Mostly, I just love surprising people with a gift in the mail, for absolutely no reason. It is truly one of my favorite things.

what is your favorite holiday treat?

Eggnog, hands down.



how do you celebrate the holidays?

My husband and I have a tradition of hosting friends at our place for Thanksgiving. We make it an all day event, inviting everyone to come early and spend the day cooking, eating and playing trivia. It’s always a good time. For the Christmas holiday, we travel to be with our families for the traditional holiday fun. Dustin’s family has this great Christmas Eve tradition where everyone spends the entire evening sitting around eating fondue (cheese and chocolate!). They’ve been doing it since the seventies...go figure.

thank you leya! you can visit leya online at her website/shop curious bird.


to learn more about leya, you can visit her blog and flickr stream.

blog

flickr



***did you miss the interview with yes press? if so, scroll down. :)

enjoy the rest of your day. see you back here monday for the final day of interviews with two amazing artists!

461: yes press

good morning. it's sunday and here we are with the good folks of yes press. yes press brings poetry to the masses in the form of monthly letterpress postcards. these little beauties are works of art that you can hang up for inspiration or send off to a friend. fans of poetry and/or letterpress would be delighted to receive yes press goodies for the holidays!



YES PRESS is

Z Cody Lee Carlsen
St Paul, MN

Brian Aldrich
Minneapolis, MN

Éireann Lorsung
Nottingham, England


are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or
evening.

Z: Night owl. There is no such thing to me as a predictable-perfect anything. Like the periods in art/poetry, we cannot know what they were until after the fact—I could not know a perfect night until months later—it is a question of proximity.

E: I like the mornings best but tend to stay up late. A good morning is being woken up by light, before anyone else is up, brushing my teeth and sitting down to work until I get hungry.

B: I'm an anytime all the time kind of person. Morning. Getting up and getting into making things right away.




creativity is…

Z: the confluence of loneliness and supreme desire.

E: democratic.

B: Everywhere.




tell us the story behind yes press. how did you decide to begin?

Z: Eireann will tell it better. But my version, all three of us wanted to DO something, wanted to MAKE in the margins of our chaotic separate lives. We as individuals do not "hang-out" very well, we all like to be creating even during our moments of repose, so we figured out a happy compromise—quality time together AND an end product. We have bigger plans for YES but it may be classified info.

E: We were hanging out and talking about what we wanted to do, and I'd had this idea that we ought to do a collaborative project anyway and proposed a press to print poetry. We had a huge brainstorm and then kind of left it for a month or so...and then, on the 4th of July, met up to watch the fireworks and somehow kind of ended up designing and setting the first card. We printed it the next day, made our website that week, and voilà.

B: I think Zac and Eireann described it pretty good.



what is inspiring your work right now?

Z: The liminal state of my life, the feeling of limbo brought on my the
seasons' shifts.

E: loneliness, watching the clouds move across the sky, dancing again, non-fluency, language.

B: Binary code, the Rubik's cube, and the junk left by the train tracks behind my apartment by hobos.


name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about and why you admire them.

Z: Larry Levis (Eireann could have answered this one for me) because his poetry is so well received by poets/critics and so incredibly unknown to "readers" despite him being utterly approachable and lucid. His creativity is without competition and his articulation is so tactful it has inspired despair in me—prompting the inner question: What is
there left to say?

Beyond Levis, Blaise Cendrars. He had so much faith in the modernization of the world, he was a gruff intellectual man whom one would never think of as a poet on first meeting. He embraced everything and cared very little about the opinions of others; he could defend his every word with a cripplingly fluid articulation.

E: Randall Jarrell is one of the most empathetic poets I know. He somehow seems to have understood more of human experience than one person ought to be able to do.

B: I think Dieter Roth. I admire him because he figured out how to make art all the time.




which season inspires you the most and why?

Z: Fall. I think most artists and writers understand that "inspiration"
is not necessarily a positive feeling; melancholy is the state in
which I am most productive—I put it in the spectrum of complex
emotions, one shared by jealousy and anxiety—it is headless and
bottomless, meaning it comes without a consistent form and is almost
entirely ambivalent, it stems from depths which we cannot call to, it
brings me to heights which are always radiant with insight—painful as
this metamorphosis is, I thrive in it. Fall is the time during which
I am most melancholic.

E: I do the best and most work in the Fall, probably because of the feeling of loss and melancholy and change--those things that are not great feelings, but that push me to make work.

B: Fall gives me the feeling of most anticipation, but I think I get the most work done in the spring because its easier to move around.


if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

Z: I would travel to these underground aquifers I have read about were
salt and fresh waters merge—the heavier of the two rests on the bottom
while the lighter "floats" on top. I would float around in them.

E: I think I am doing this now.

B: I would travel to a pristine warm sunny beach/ocean and go swimming.




your favorite handmade gift to give?

Z: A handshake, because my hands are calloused as can be.

E: Something little that will make the person go 'oh!'.

B: Etchings.




what is your favorite holiday treat?

Z: Soy-nog, or a good scotch (but never both)

E: My mom's homemade toffee.

B: Ham.





how do you celebrate the holidays?

Z: Figuring out creative ways to avoid giving presents to people out of
feeling like "I should".

E: I'm Catholic, so for me this means Advent and Christmas, which I spend with my family making things and cooking and preparing in general. New Year's I love for the occasion to wear pretty clothes!

B: With family back home in Walpole, New Hampshire.

thanks brian, eireann, and zachary! visit yes press online here.

to shop for postcards or gift subscriptions, visit their etsy shop.


you can also visit eireann online at her website bara, brian at boiled art editions and zachary at gendun editions.

up next: leya williams-albert of curious bird.

thank you for reading!

460: susan lutjen o'connor: sulu-design

susan lutjen o'connor is such an inspiration to me. she takes amazing photographs of her surroundings and then translates these images into beautiful, affordable jewelry. knowing the story behind her creations makes her earrings even more special. visit her shop to find earrings in all shapes, colors and sizes. there is truly so much variety.




name: Susan Lutjen O’Connor: sulu-design

location: Portland, Oregon

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.


A few years ago, I’d have been able to say that was both, but my body and mind just won’t let me wake early and stay up late any more. I lean toward the early bird side now. The perfect morning for me involves being really productive so that I can feel like I’ve accomplished something that allows me to enjoy the rest of my day. I like to fit in some blogging and blog reading, take care of etsy-related tasks, go on a run, and usually do a bit of tidying up so that I can face the day with a clear head. Did I mention coffee? There’s no such thing as a perfect morning for me with out coffee. Lots of it.


creativity is…

Creativity is translating the unique way that each one of us experiences the world into something, anything, that someone else can experience – a spoken or written thought, a photograph, a meal, a movement – anything that says to the world, “Here’s the way I see it.”





tell us the story behind your original intent series.

I started blogging a little over a year ago for the sake of sharing my jewelry designs in a new forum and getting feedback on them from the crafty community that I had been following for a while as a blog reader. Originally, I decided that my blog would focus on my sulu-design jewelry and the everyday beauty that inspired its making. After months of blogging, though, I found that my posts were leaning too heavily on the everyday beauty in life – good food, fun nights out, crafty swap - and that I was neglecting my intended focus of sulu-design jewelry. So I gave myself a little assignment to refocus my blog and my energy. I decided to get back to the original intent of the blog, and to get more literal with the notion of everyday beauty inspiring my earring designs. I gave myself the daily task of taking a daily photo of something I encountered in my normal activities, translating that image into a pair of earrings, and posting photos of both on my blog. I committed myself to this process for one month. I was pleased with the collection of paired photos and earrings that the task resulted in, and I got such great feedback on the project that I continued on with it, posting Original Intent photo pairings frequently, even after the assigned thirty days were up. I recently published my one hundredth Original Intent post, and I have no intention of stopping. I’m thoroughly motivated by this process, as it has forced me to exercise my photographic eye and has more deeply connected me with my surroundings.






what is inspiring your work right now?

I’ve always been inspired by old, worn, and discarded items. I’m drawn to layers, like layers of paint and wallpaper, that give the suggestion of the lives of various people at different times coming into contact with things and making their mark on them. I like shapes and colors that occur near one another that don’t seem logical but that play interestingly off one another. And, while it may seem odd after what I’ve just mentioned, I’m a huge fan of clean, modern, mid-century design, which is playing more of a role than ever in my recent earring designs. Also, being new to Portland (I just moved here a few months ago from New York City), the moody light and sky here are influencing the way I see things, and therefore the way I make things.

name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about.

The photography of Nicole Jones blows me away.

The paintings of Michelle Armas are simply gorgeous.




which season inspires you the most and why?

When I moved to Portland from New York, I resigned from the job I’d held for a long time. I was an elementary school teacher in a public school in the Bronx. While I loved my job and it’s challenges, it was the most taxing thing I’d ever done. So, for the past eight years, the summer was always an inspiring time for me. It gave me a chance to regroup and to work for hours on end on jewelry making, as well as to wander the city and take photographs to be used for inspiration in my earring creation. I also was driven by the intensity of the city’s summer heat.



if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

Sicily. I would eat wonderful food. I would drink amazing wine. I would soak in the sounds of a gorgeous language, and practice the little bit that I remember. I would revel in centuries old buildings and art. And I would be in awe of the closest thing to paradise that I’ve ever experienced. Oh, yeah – I’d buy a vintage scooter, too, and do my fair share of zipping around the island.




what is your favorite handmade gift to give?

If I’m the one doing the hand making, earrings, of course!
Otherwise, I love to give beautiful letterpress stationery.


what is your favorite holiday treat?

The treat of being with my parents, my husband, my brother and sister, and their families is the best part of the holidays for me. We don’t live near one another, so the holidays are especially sweet since we all usually get to be together. This year, however, will be the first time that I’m not able to spend the holiday with my family because of my recent move. I plan on trying to recreate some of the comforts of my parents’ home at the holidays so I don’t get too homesick. It's going to be a teary Christmas...



how do you celebrate the holidays?

I usually partake in lots of little but important traditions. Tree decorating, gift wrapping, hunting for the perfect gifts - all done in the way that my parents did it when I was a child. And lucky for us, Santa still visits my parents’ house. I’m their youngest child (31), but good old Santa still comes and puts presents under the tree after we go to bed on Christmas Eve so we can open them up Christmas morning.


thanks susan! visit susan's blog here and her etsy shop here.

see you tomorrow with 2 more interviews. hope you have a great day.

459: fanja ralison: le train fantome

happy saturday!

today we start things off with fanja ralison. fanja handcrafts the cutest softies you have ever seen. currently in her shop you will find eddy rabbit, babette, and the softbird all guaranteed to make a child (or the child in you) smile. in addition, she has created the most adorable mushroom key rings made from fabric. perfect little gifts for the holiday season. i love her shop so much and am very pleased to feature her as a part of the gift guide.



name: Fanja Ralison / le train fantôme
location: Hertfordshire, England

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I am both, in theory. I love getting up early so I can get on with the housework and quickly move on to do something more creative. Then I like the peaceful rhythm at night when i can get lost in my thoughts again. A perfect morning would take place on a Sunday, I would get up before everybody else, make and eat lots of pancakes, browse the internet while everybody else gets ready. We'd all go to our local car boot sales and would all find a little something which would keep us happy for the rest of the day - then we'd hit the pub for a nice Sunday lunch.

creativity is... about materializing all the thoughts, obsessions, images of the moment into something you feel very close to.



tell us the story behind one of your creations. (your choice)

Little Ozzie rabbit was the first softie I ever made, which was just before my son was born. It used to look very wonky but my partner and I got really attached to it as it developed its own personality. From then on I got hooked designing and making little creatures.




what is inspiring your work right now?

Thrifted woolen material. I made this very simple ghost recently out of a white recycled woolen blanket.

Thrifted lace, traditional women's costumes from Brittany, folklore scenes from my recently thrifted vintage Dutch plates. One of my latest creatures called Babette is the perfect character to adorn with lace, velvety material, embroidery, anything reminiscent of traditional costumes.



name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about and why you admire them.

There are so many creative people I admire but I would have to mention my partner, Julian House. Julian is a graphic designer who designs record sleeves for the likes of Broadcast and Stereolab among others. He also co-founded his own record label, Ghost box music,and makes his own music under the name of the Focus group. and last but not least Julian added his touch to the design of my website.

What I admire is his creativity and versatility in his work but also his
creative approach to life on a daily basis.


which season inspires you the most and why?

Spring inspires me as we come out of the long wintery days, it is a new beginning, it is time to venture out again and experience new things.




if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

At the moment I would love to travel to Paris to spend some time with my friends I haven't seen in months. I think being in a city you love and exploring it with your best of friends is the best combination possible. If I was in Paris, I would head straight to the baker's to pick up a selection of cakes which would have to include at least one éclair au café and a macaroon. and I would certainly visit the flea markets at the weekend.

I would also love to visit my dear friend in Tokyo where we'd hit the fabric stores and stop in between to eat various Japanese delicacies.


your favorite handmade gift to give?

I think almost everyone in my family has been given a bag handmade by myself.






what is your favorite holiday treat?

Oysters as part of the Christmas meal. Chocolate and coffee panettone by Italian deli Carluccio's for everyday of the holidays.


how do you celebrate the holidays?

We usually spend too much time on the road between my family in France and Julian's family in Wales. This year we are looking forward to staying at home, relax and enjoy some time with the new member of our family (who is due in about two weeks time).

thank you fanja!
you can also visit fanja online at her blog here and her flickr stream here.

up next: susan lutjen o'connor

458: amisha sharma

hi again.

i'm delighted to feature this interview with amisha this afternoon. amisha is a law student who also loves to make things by hand. from soap to patchwork pot holders to market bags, amisha's shop is full of handmade loveliness. these items would be perfect for stocking stuffers or small hanukkah gifts. if you're unfamiliar with amisha, you must visit her blog! her writing is exquisite and inspiring. read on to learn a bit more about this crafty gal!


name: amisha sharma of bijou
location: new york, NY (and part-time in gainesville, FL)

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

oh this is hard, because there are things i love about both mornings
and late nights. i guess i can't really consider myself a true
morning person, because i don't like to get up very early! but i do
love to sleep in a bit, wake up in the morning light, and have a
leisurely quiet couple of hours at home on the weekends, cuddling with
the cats and reading, then walking with my sweetie to brunch.
i get more of my energy after the sun goes down. my day-to-night
transition ritual is a good cup of strong coffee, sipped while i talk
to e about the day. my perfect night would be to follow that with an
amazing meal, either a new recipe experiment or a special dinner out,
with good friends, good conversation, laughter. at home, a great
film, knitting in my lap... some time to play with fabric or yarn, to
sit and write. i think for me the elements of a perfect day are
always: people you love, time to be creative, some quiet time alone,
good food, and a walk. everything else is icing.

creativity is…

creativity is a process of translation and transformation... of
images, ideas, thoughts, dreams... of materiality and analysis.




tell us the story behind your soapmaking. what inspired you to begin?

i have been driven to make things for as long as i can remember, and i
really love making things that get everyday use, that become part of
your regular life. i also admit that i love to be spoiled, and a good
soap is such an everyday luxury... a little something that makes you
smile in the morning before rushing out the door. the idea of such a
small daily thing that is often taken for granted being a palette for
creative expression was very appealing to me... the aestheticization
of a utilitarian object. i came across a book in the library about
soap-making and decided to give it a go. the first few batches (about
9 years ago now, i think) were quite forgettable, but since then
soapmaking has been something that i always do. it's very "okay,
we're almost out of soap, time to mix up a batch." sharing it online,
with my little sewn goods, is something very new and exciting for me.


(i asked amisha to send a photo of a favorite object in her home).

this is a plate by diana fayt, whose work i really really love. i use this plate almost every day... it always makes me smile. beautiful and functional... pure love!



what is inspiring your work right now?

i am finding inspiration, as well as challenge, in the tremendous
change that has happened in my life in the past few months (moving
from florida to NYC to start law school), and this radically new
environment. the energy of the streets here, the astonishing
diversity of people and experience and ways of being in the world,
does not cease to amaze me. i am inspired by little moments of
history and life-making in the midst of this; tonight that was the
greek bakery where i bought spinach pies.

there is always so much incredible inspiration online as well...
visually, theoretically, linguistically. martha of uniform studio and
alison of six and a half stitches are such an inspiration in their process and work. they remind me to take more time, more care with my work, to remember the process. i also love lisa solomon's interrogations of domesticity and nature.



name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about and why you admire them.

i recently discovered the work of anu tuominen, a finnish artist who uses knitting as her medium. (i posted about her here).her work is a very thoughtful engagement with the everyday... translating objects into a different medium,decontextualizing them. her color-studies are also fascinating. many of her works look'interrupted,' bringing the focus to her process as well as the object itself.




which season inspires you the most and why?

i think i will have to equivocate again on this one, because i cannot choose between autumn and spring. autumn with its nesting, cooler temperatures (so dear to the southerner!), return to wooly knits,coming home from long walks with flushed cheeks and cold noses... and spring, which always makes me think an abundance of flowers, afternoon picnics, the return of white pelicans in louisiana, everything feeling
new and full of promise. i may have to check back with you again on this after i've experienced a full year in a place with four "true"seasons. i'm a bit frightened of the northern winter but maybe i will fall in love!

if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?


this is another really tough question. right now we are dreaming of a
little icelandic holiday, in the winter, experiencing that extreme of
temperature and landscape and light. and my life's project is to
explore more of india... when we visit my family we try to also see a
place we have never been before. next on the list are the deserts of
rajasthan (i would love to be there for the camel trading festival!)
and more of south india... visiting temples, traveling by train, and
enjoying excellent south indian food of course!





your favorite handmade gift to give?

soap! :) i do give a lot of soap at the holidays, but i also do as
many handknitted gifts as i can manage... hats and scarves usually,
and socks for my mama. since we moved to florida i have also taken
advantage of the yummy fresh citrus to make fruit baskets... not
really handmade but i do decorate them.

what is your favorite holiday treat?

mmmm... there are so many good things at the holidays... i love all
the holiday cookies (and that it is the time of the year when it's
normal to eat cookies all day), traditional christmas eve with family
friends who make an amazing hungarian + italian spread with dishes
that are only made on that day, farmer's market oranges... i could go
on.



how do you celebrate the holidays?

the holiday season to me means baking and making... cookies and cakes
and pies, creating handmade gifts... and the delight of spending time
with old friends, many of whom we only see at the holidays. i am a
homebody and i love the warmth and comfort of spending time at home
during the season, both at my home, decorating and making merry, and
with my family. the annual gathering of people who have flown the
nest of my hometown is always so good.

i am hindu but my family also celebrates christmas, in a pretty
low-key way... we all get together and exchange a few gifts. we are
very set in our holiday ritual: my dad makes pancakes first thing in
the morning, with upstate NY maple syrup, open gifts, go to the
movies, take a nap :) it is so relaxing and i love it.

shari, thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview! i am
really honored to be included in this project. your questions were so
good and thought-provoking... and now i can't wait for the holidays!


thank you amisha!
take a peek in amisha's etsy shop here. read more about amisha on her blog, heavenly days, or visit her flickr stream here.

don't forget to visit this weekend! the interviews continue through monday november 19th. thank you all for reading. hope you are finding some wonderful ideas for holiday gift giving!

457: alicia alferman: mayfly

good morning! i'm so happy to feature alicia alferman today. she's a mom of two, an artist, and a wonderful photographer. she seems inspired by the beauty of everyday living and i think this comes through in her work. i adore her handmade baby dolls (you get to pick the hair color, eye color, skin tone) and think they would make a wonderful gift for any little girl in your family. she also has beautiful paintings and handmade bags. her etsy shop will be updated today at 2 PM CST so do stop by for a visit.



Alicia Alferman, Mayfly
Kansas City

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I am definitely a night owl. I aspire to be a morning person, but I just can't get myself up early. I'm much more productive after the kids go to bed than I am with my eyes closed.

My perfect evening would include: a lazy, tasty dinner with my family- in my daydreams, someone else always cooks! A long walk after dinner. A bit of goofing around with my husband and kids. Maybe a few games of dominoes. Cooperative little ones scurrying off to bed right at their bedtimes so Brian and I can have a few hours alone. Then some time in the studio after everyone else is asleep. Of course this means someone else (Brian) will have to wake up early the next morning to dress and feed the little squawkers while I stay in bed buried in the blankets.


creativity is…..

an uncontrollable flow of ideas and the drive to interpret them.

something that waxes and wanes throughout the year, and one's life.

therapy.

a gift. I am so thankful that I feel creative.




tell us the story behind your bird paintings.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, we took to calling her baby bird. So when we were arranging her little bedroom, I thought that I would paint some bird murals up high on the walls, (most of my income as an artist comes from painting murals, by the way) but I ended up painting her six small bird paintings instead. I kept them very simple. My good friend, Stephanie, asked if I'd paint her one in exchange for one of her wonderful collages. So I did. It was a cardinal.

Painting that little cardinal, and the response it got on my website was a real growth experience for me. Right then and there I decided I wanted to try to sell some of my artwork on Etsy. I never gave my friend that little cardinal. It sold on the day I opened my Etsy shop!

I still find painting these birds quite fun. They are fascinating creatures, and it is rewarding to do a little research on each one. I've got some ideas for some slightly more conceptual bird paintings, but I'm such a formal artist that I find even the slightest abstraction difficult. I'm working on it, though!

what is inspiring your work right now?

Nature is always inspirational to me. Since I purchased my Canon DSLR, I have really discovered photography. I've always enjoyed viewing photography but now I pay so much more attention to what makes a photo successful. I'm always analyzing them in order to improve my own. And I can't leave the house without my camera. There is so much outdoors to capture; each new season brings an array of new subject matter.

My kids are an inspiration as well. Such genuine excitement as they encounter new things and pure joy about even the most simple playthings. Children are amazing.



name an artist, photographer, musician, author that more people should know about and why you admire them.

This is such a hard one. There are always so many. Who has been in my head lately?

Heather Smith Jones. She lives nearby and we're becoming friends through our websites. I am so inspired by her work. It's very stream-of-consciousness meets meticulous obsession. And I mean that in only the BEST way! Her pinhole projects are incredible. They appeal to my formal instincts.

I've been a fan of William Christenberry for many years. I met him through my old job and he's as nice and down-to-earth as he is amazing. His photographs blow me away. I dreamt about his little buildings a few nights ago.

Flickr. Seriously. I'm hopelessly addicted. There are so many wonderful photographers to just happen across. It's a brilliant resource.



which season inspires you the most and why?

I am a Summer girl. But I'll admit I'm much more inspired in the Fall and Winter. Coming back indoors and wrapping up in the home cocoon seems to make me more restless and therefore more creative.


if you could travel anywhere, where would you go and what would you do there?

I've always said Italy and France. I've never been to Europe and I've always wanted to go putter around the big galleries in person. But lately, the more I read about Buenos Aires, the higher it moves up my list.

As long as I was child-free for the trip, I'd eat, eat, eat. Then I'd people watch. Then look for art. I'd take my time and explore.




your favorite handmade gift to give?

The gifts I've made that were most well received were the Baby Dolls I made for all the little girls in my family last year. They were all so excited.

Handmade gifts (made by others) that I'm considering this year:

Someone MUST have one of Industrious Lily's ceramic houses.

The wooden bangles by Custom Bangles are so nice, and they come in "slim" sizes.

Cindy Jaswal's raven linen pouch. The detail in her birds makes me weak in the knees.


what is your favorite holiday treat?

Chocolate covered pretzels. It's the sweet/salty combo. It wouldn't be the holidays without them. Yum.




how do you celebrate the holidays?

We alternate years between here in Kansas City with my family and St. Louis with Brian's family. This year is a home year, so we'll be taking it easy. Eating lots. Opening one gift on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas morning. Then later we'll eat a big meal with my entire family. The kids will run crazy with my sister's girls and the adults will survey the damage and soak up the goodness.

sounds wonderful. thank you alicia!!


visit alicia's etsy shop here.

don't miss alicia's blog, mayfly, or her flickr stream.

up next: amisha sharma. stay tuned.

456: christopher david ryan

christopher david ryan's artwork makes me smile. from his leafy mysteries series to his solar system prints, i'm quite charmed. i am particularly enchanted with his sleepyheads series and have my very own copy of the sleepyheads book. i love its simplicity. in his shop, you will find limited edition prints, some very cool pillows and beautiful notebooks that are just perfect for jotting down your daydreams! read on to learn a bit more about christopher.




name: Christopher David Ryan
location: Wiiliamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA, Earth, Solar System, Universe

are you an early bird or a night owl? describe your perfect morning or evening.

I'm a Night Owl these days... It's easier to explain why you are in a bar at night... but I appreciate a nice morning. My perfect morning would be a winter one spent sno