Mad for Plaid

Just an itty bit is sometimes nice.
Found on Anthropologie

Just a bit, or a lot, of red plaid always gets me through the winter. A favorite memory, still clear for me, is my grandmother in her wool plaid Pendleton jacket raking in her fall garden.  Below are some of my recent favorite plaid finds, an ad I did in the 1980 something, a little sewing project I just completed and of course Ms. Viv the Queen of plaid. Has anyone seen a nice pair of red plaid clogs that need me?

Found on Etsy. Pia Barile has lots of lovely wrist warmers,
unfortunately these gems have sold.

Coat with a lot of fun detail from Omiru that can be purchased at Urban Outfitters

I have a few of these I store paper treasures in. Found on Etsy here.

A Pinterest find which is unfortunately untraceable

From a MAC Cosmetics ad

Love this. Origin unknown.

An ad I did for Gant in the mid '80s,
before Photoshop, using some very very old school methods.

 

 

This little collar was last weekend's easy sewing project. I am in love with the simple Japanese sewing books you can find more and more of. I got this pattern from Shape Shape by Natsuno Hiraiwa.

A heavenly symphony by Vivienne Westwood, an artist who knows how to work her plaid.
Here's a wonderful film interview of this revolutionist.

a little Red, some Blue and a lot of White

I love wearing it. Playing with it. Sitting in it. Lying in it. And for some reason the combination of a little red, some blue and mostly white makes me happy and an 8 year old again. Some recent finds that show variations on that color theme to lower the August temp for you. Yay! Off to my painting studio for a few hours. Talk soon.

Lovely etsy find from folieAdeuxVintage

I adore this sweet etsy find from BohemianBisoux who really 

knows how display and prop her treasures

Paddles handpainted with semaphore designs from Contact Voyaging

Dang wish i'd thought of that one.

If you can't afford the mattress from the Swedish company, Hastens

you could spring for this beautiful hammock they now produce.

I could definitely spend an August weekend with John and Juli Baker at their cabin. 

They are the owners of Mjolk in Toronto

And these Hubert Zimmermann's Ornabo Blocks for sophisticated play. 

They can be found (on sale) at fawn and forest

Arley-Rose Sees Letters Everywhere

My friend, Arley-Rose Torsone is a monster graphic designer, font maker, sign painter, letterpress printer, musician, and fine artist. She took a little jewelry making class at Penland last summer. As all her classmates lost themselves in earring findings and brooch clasps, Arley went nuts scrounging for scrap metal and banging it into letter form sculptures. Starting this Thursday night, January 27, these magnificent alphabet wonders can be seen at Craftland in Providence, along with many other pieces of Arley's art.  I guarantee they will make you smile and look at letters in a new way. Arley has a twinkle in almost everything she does and has the following to say about her work- 
"The thing I like about type is that each letter is like a person. They each have their own quirky way of existing, and yet they still seem to function properly. I like the way they fit and flirt with each other like capoeira dancers... or sometimes stand next to each other like strangers waiting in line at the DMV. I like to explore the wild world of type through letterpress, drawing, painting, digital type design and three-dimensional sculpture."
Opening reception January 27th, 5-8 pm and will run through February 26. For more info go here.

Evil Quilt Studio

Yes, you did read that correctly. While researching the quilt making world I came across quilter Boo Davis, who has an attitude for design and color I love. She's an art director for Seattle Weekly, does illustration and Ozzy is her man. Her company is Quiltsryche, and Boo says she likes to make heirloom quilts just like your metal-loving, half-blind Grandma would. Here's where you can find her. Those art directors like to stay busy.

Emergency Clown Nose

It works. I meant to include this in yesterday's posting. Found it in the fabulous Curatorium on Wickenden Street in Providence. If you aren't close (believe me it's worth the drive) it can also be found online here.

The Red Cardinal in the Backyard

One tiny red pillow in a living room. A dash of paprika. One red word on a page. The red cardinal in the January backyard. The potency of red. It's usually what I throw into a painting or layout when I'm struggling. It's the exclamation mark that very often moves me forward. So often when I'm trying to find the answer I get worn out and that's exactly when I need to shout. Sometimes just a small scream is all that's needed. Here are some lovely little shouts- Bracelet by Pia Wallen, Shoes by Asa Westlund, Red Geraniums by Andrew Wyeth and Emergency Clown Nose by Rosie Cole and Lloyd Brant.

Throat clearing at my new studio

I just started working in my new painting studio. Trying to make it a daily practice to get in there. To keep a rhythm going with whatever it is that's starting to pop up. The beginning is always the hardest for me. The fluorescent lights have gotta go but I love the neighborhood. Roseberry Winn Pottery, Jenna Goldberg, Beehive Kitchenware are a few peeps down the hall. The work for Trafford Restaurant is beginning again and here are the early attempts to bring together a few ideas. Not sure where it's going, but that's always the best way, yes?

Mr. Stripey and Juicy Love

It's almost time for Mr. Stripey and Juicy Love, Black Krim, Cherokee Chocolate, and Julia Child. A basketful of Homer Fike's Yellow Oxheart with a few a Believe It or Nots thrown in. A plate of sliced Crazys, some Glory of Modova with one or two Marianna's Peace. But make sure you leave room for one of my favorites, the Mortgage Lifter.

Photos of Walker's Stand in Tiverton, Rhode Island by Paul Clancy

8.10.10 Color Swatch

Pantone Swatch No.185

yes 
dear Summer has really got 
the green thing down.

but she get's a little fatigued 
by the new midori bugs, 

tender blades, blair,
acid flair and myrtle glades

with peridot twinkles.

so when august 
steams onto my emerald lawn,

satisfied Summer lets out a

celadon sigh and squeezes 

all of her verdent vim

into the happy fat fruit of 

the tomato plant.

just in time for my saturated,

grass stained painter's

peepers to say yes, yes, 

yes to red.
-Alyn Carlson

Buttoned Up Beauties

Some sweet little button/brooches from Birthine from Copenhagen, Denmark. Incredible craft, color sense, and of course good use of red thread. Makes me want to loose a button or two. Happy Friday!

Red Threads

I can't seem to get enough of embroidery lately. And I think a lot of the world feels the same way. I don't know is it's my Swedish petticoat showing but I'm really loving the red threads I see out there. Some choice stitchers I've come across lately- First from rocks in my dryer, second from whimsiology, third from liliesovalley, no. 4 from minceco, five by foxesandrobbers, six by courtney, and the last by chartreuserepublic.

5.18.10 Color Swatch

 P  A  N  T  O  N  E    N  o.   1  9  2

red. 
please don't take this the wrong way,

because i would hate to get you mad,

but i do like you very small.
there have been times it was helpful

to have you as large as the sky 

to fill stadiums for me.

because of you
i didn't have to say a black word

to exes and should have been exes

bosses lovers friends

but for now i like you itsy bitsy in my rooms

my little red button

so mighty with so much 
altoid muscle

you can knock over any green with envy jerk

with just a glance, raised brow

or give the kiss of death
with just a peck on the cheek

i love you in my corner

a cube in my paint box

a thread in my dress

a feather in my cap.

be mine red

you little drop

of life

love you 

red

Wedding Hat No. 38 for Brin + Alex. Photo by Paul Clancy.

The Grownup Side of the Rainbow

The site colourlovers is a fun resource for looking at palettes in a fresh way. Great place to go for.. I never thought of that. They ask readers to interpret and submit versions of color combos. Here are samples of the rainbows colourlovers came up with. I have to admit I'm loving the ones that titles give you as much of a smile as the hues. Mature Clown? To see them all go here.