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Friday, July 29, 2011

Vacation Inspiration

The Hydrangeas were AMAZING, BREATHTAKING, HEAVENLY, EVERY COLOR - EVERY WHERE.  They said all the rain they had this spring contributed.  The BEST part of vacation - next to visiting my cousin! Her hubby is a scallop fisherman - now THAT was interesting!
I even made myself try Steamers and Clams.  Once is enough...thank you!


Inspiration from a ceiling - I think in the Libary in Boston.  This will be design inspiration for free motion or couching ... something on one of my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets!

99% of library patrons sat laptops or ipads.  WHY were they in the library is what I want to know. Oh yea - perhaps the aura of learning.

Sunset the first night in Provincetown.  It set SO quickly!!!  Sunsets and the ocean..always put me in my place in relationship to God.  I find it so easy to get so 'into' ones one life - the minutia...that unless we spend time in God's word DAILY, the ME gets way, way to big. 




This guy was a dichotomy in eras - an Indian from when settlers first arrived, and dressed as such - in a power chair.  Good for him!  Working - sharing - celebrating his heritage.  Each character at Plimoth Village IS and STAYS in character!  Really educational. 













Texture of stacked bark off trees - bound to be roof of their 'homes'.

 Don't tell me that wallpaper is anything new!
Women have always worked with their hands to create something of beauty - I forget what fibers this gal was using - but they were from nature.
This settler woman was roll-hemming a kerchief for her husband.  Linen fabric - linen thread.  And we think WE don't have time to sew!!!!

Whale Bone - scrimshaw it is called.  Whale bone was also used in corsets for the 'boning'.  Duhhh
The first is a beautiful basket.  The 2nd is the contraption that you use to wind a ball of yarn from a skein of yarn.  I forget what is called - anyone?





And if you think there is such a think as 'junk'... think again.  On the island of Nantucket in one of the gallery windows, we saw this!  I wish I had written down amazing artist - but alas, no.   See what this artist transformed stuff like this into!  Taking a photo let me 'see' it in from a different vantage point - a trick I'm finding useful in wearable art garment design - take a photo, then look at the photo for a different 'view' that is VERY revealing.
Also - on Nantucket - I FINALLY found a fabric store!   Here is what I added to my 'Library' of fabrics... 'Visual Resource Center' a customer once cleverly called her stash!
This reversible texture with a GREAT selvage and a wonderful stripe - that I can seam, cut, piece, and bias strip in many ways is very rich and wonderful and 'in' color scheme on the Brown USA Comfort Color Sweatshirt. 

This is a 92'' x 72'' antique tablecloth.  Wish I knew lace to know the type - JoAnne, I'll be emailing you for your ID of it! 
Anyway - on brown, cut up, pieces, border - can't WAIT to get started.  
SEW... Comment to let me know what YOU have found on your travels to add to your stash or inspire you!