Inspiration, originality, and favorite things...

These past few weeks have been infused with creative tornadoes and vortices. Never a dull moment, but my classic problem of decided where to put my hands and committing to that. I am at a place where it appears to be beneficial to do a little self limitation. We'll see about that...it won't be my first attempt :).

I have been wanting to share with you two blogs that have been inspiring me since last summer when I committed to myself I would give textile design a go. And then figuring out how to get it licensed. Or self-publish, as it were. And format...My favorite designer right now is Anna Maria Horner, and I am also really excited by Laura Gunn because her work is so painterly and actually based on paintings. This opened things up for me, realizing I didn't necessarily have to master a computer application yet to do what I want.

And there are always those craft projects... There is a shop in LA called Henry Road where you can buy all sorts of indy design and craft goods. In the photo above (from Henry Road), besides the fantastically outfitted chair, notice a lampshade redo, which is just the juice I needed to consider what to do with my sad little victorian lampshade. That is, when I am not doing "more important things" :)

I recently re-seated a child's chair with a beautiful weave of ribbons. I love how it came out because I so desperately wanted to do something with these ribbons and NEVER had considered patchworking (patchweaving?) them. Definitely an efficient way to use lots of beautiful materials--so I don't have to THINK about using them anymore. Be gone with you pesky ribbons! Have a nice life :)

I really want to devote more time to quality photos, but please just bear through my quick and dirty ones...

Last week I had the great pleasure of exchanging crafty-girl-american-in-italy time with Lynn, who was sweet enough to gift me with some beautiful earrings from her shop, and blog about the beginnings of some mixed media madness...You go girl! And we get to make more fun this week :))

One reappearing theme for the artists around me and deep into the past of creation...ORIGINALITY! I will admit that it has been a great albatross for me, or siren that pulls me deep into the waters of creative voids.

If this ever creeps up on you just think about music. Musicians find it completely normal to cover songs. Why shouldn't that be true for anyone? It is your voice that gives the creation life. Develop the voice and along the way you will "cover" and "create". Trying not to privilege one over the other is helpful in just moving forward.

Does originality get your goat?

Everything in Moderation?

Okay, I must start out talking about comment moderation. You know that before I thought it was merely a personal choice, and I just chose not to do it. Now I know another motivation...Spam! I didn't realize you could get spam in your comments. So now, as some of you have noticed, I am moderating comments. There.

Moderation, moderation...everything in moderation. Including moderation itself. I am a big fan of this proverb and can say that I live by it, which is great because even moderation isn't easily quantifiable :)
Lately I have been riding a bit of a tornado and tying up loose ends from the past and reaching for strings to tie up into the future. So where does that leave me in the present? In paradise I suppose. So says my Note From the Universe today.

I am working on things that are in stages too early to share, but here are a few abstracts...I know photographing always helps keep me focused on the present, so maybe this is more for me :)

This is on my inspiration board, from an interview with Angela Bassett:

"...everything became clear. If you do what you love to do, then you won't do it in an average way... I made choices based on what I believed in, and I had no regrets. At the end of the day you have to ask yourself: Of the many different lives that can be lived, which is the one that's going to inspire you?"



In light of Angela Bassett I thought of Tina Turner, whose album I am missing. I used to put it on to stretch whenever I got home from a run. Ironic though, the rain inspires me to run and do other things more than a sunny day does :) Maybe because I always have an ambrella with me?

Epiphanies

To start with, Happy 2010! I hope that this first week is showing promise and filling your heart with hope for the coming year.

Today is the Epifania, a holiday that never really meant anything to me till now; partly because of just getting older and embracing religious traditions, and also, obviously, because I am in Italy. In a similar way that Santa Claus has become an important element to what is widely considered a Christian tradition, in Italy the "Befane" are old crones, witches who come to take away the party at Epiphany. The crones seem to me the Three Fates from ancient mythologies.

It is also the twelfth night of Christmas, the last day for gifts. I think of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which is basically a romantic comedy that is propelled by mistaken identities and practical jokes. Epiphany is a time when healing and forgiveness are lit in white and gold and we are reminded to proceed with open hearts.
So where is the common thread? In a short post all I can say is that I find history and literature fascinating, and how the stories of humanity intersect to provide such rich illustrations, each that remind us of how people time and space over ultimately relate to life with renewal, with hope, and with forgiveness.

On a personal note, Epiphanies was also the name of the first main stage production I was hired to do props for, on a decent contract, and kicked ass. The yearly reminder that I am talented and professional and could do it all over again is always nice :)

This is my first post since an important trip to California, where I spent the holiday season with family, friends, and myself. It was over four weeks of Mom and Daughter travelling, that was immensely successful. The coming year will be full of BIG changes, which you will see as we go along.
For now I am enjoying such small and significant changes as eating breakfast, painting my nails, and running. The short list of my larger goals for the year:

-continuing with textile design
-going to school
-publishing
-doing some large paintings
-being a kick ass mom & friend to all my loved ones, who support me oh so sweetly.
-driving
-making music

These photos are from when I was pregnant, and I love their gestational energy. Their light and shadow and dreamy aspect.

And I love YOU!

From My Heart to Yours

Something fresh and sweet and fallen from above. Something alive, in a whole new way, changing the world for just a brief moment. Something so transient, something so firmly rooted. Contradictions in living color, life gives us, who will receive them, endless gifts. Life I will never stop loving you.

These photos were taken at nearby Bussana Vecchia, a place where I have taken many visitors, because it has a fascinating history of being destroyed by an earthquake, and eventually being taken over by an artist community. They then lived with no electricity in place, or running water, up in this medieval village on a mountain top.

They just wanted a place for themselves, and they made something wonderful that has persisted as a gift to the region, and every artist who has subsequently lived there. It is still a quiet and fairly closed community, but one that has morphed from who was originally there. Time and seasons changing, and this one place surely being an important marker in the life of many.

We leave for the states in about a week, so here we have already put up the Christmas tree and lights and decorations. Such a nice way to warm up the house--I totally recommend it! Some last minute projects to finish up for customers here, and for the trip. Suitcases and butterflies are about. And one more little painting I hope to finish :)

A moment of limited responsibility...

Okay, had my feet up the last couple of days...my apologies for the delayed announcement of the winner. :)

Due to the overwhelming response, I have decided to give something to each of the 3 commenteers. So let me know your address through email and I will send them off! (info@ambrelladesign.com).

About the photo: This is the second in line of a theme that so far includes a beach, my feet, and a bottle of beer. What can I say? I suppose I think it would be sweeter without the beer in there, but it is there, and I think makes it in because it symbolizes a moment of limited responsibility.

I am about to finish a big blank journal, which, if you have ever done, you know is a great feeling of accomplishment. I found this toward the beginning:

Welcome.
Let yourself in through the back door.

Sweep out the cobbies.
Sweep the floor.
Let in the sun.
Give a fresh coat of paint.
It's okay to leave some rooms for later.
Do what you can right now.
Just try it.
Do it well.
Make it your personal sanctuary.
The front door is locked and only you have the key.
This is a safe place.
This is you.

With Grace All Things Are Possible + Giveaway!

Number four....

Guess what? We just missed my 100th post, and I am celebrating a very near trip to the states, so let's have a little party, shall we?

Head on over to my etsy shop and then come back here with a comment including which item you'd like to win. And then you just might! I'll draw the winning name on November 8th.

My Journey, My Folly, My Heart

Number three! Number four awaits me in the studio. I may do more of course, but this particular set of 4 canvases were awaiting a common destiny.

One little bump in the road is this glossy medium I am finishing them with. It is just way too glossy. I think I remember Heather telling me she started mixing glossy with matte to get a sort of satin finish. Once they are all done I think I will do that.

And I am also really into it because they are "just because I want to". You know, for so long it has been about figuring out what I want to make and then figuring out how/if I can sell it. Selling my work is a great motivator. Or having it be for some intended purpose, like a show. BUT, I haven't really given my art development its due attention just as an important part of who I am. And this has resulted in me often needing to give a reason to my work, which is incredibly limiting. It puts on the pressure, gives parameters of all kinds, guides your expression.

I work well under pressure, and enjoy having parameters too. But in retrospect, having less of that to start with could have been a good thing. I suspect that by simply paying more attention to IT/ME for awhile, that something really positive will come about. That voice I have been looking for...

ps...have you noticed the Notes From The Universe up in the right hand corner of my blog? That is the most inspiring widget I have seen. Now every time I open my homepage I get a note from the universe. How great is that?