List It Tuesday - Map Inspiration

While working on my map series, I discovered a number of artists who use maps in their art, are inspired by map imagery, or both. I've listed a number of my favorites here, and for your convenience, I've included links to their web sites below. Take a minute or two and check out some of the amazing artwork from these artists. You may never look at a map the same way again! And don't forget to head over to artsyville and peruse this week's lists.

Joyce Kozloff

Shannon Rankin

Ian Hundley

Leila Daw

Susan Stockwell

Valerie Goodwin

Tofu

Lordy Rodriguez - I couldn't find a direct site, but google image to see his work

PS I will share my map series once all the pieces are finished and mounted.

Reality Beckons

My Thanksgiving week was one of busy * happy * bliss. I welcomed a few days off from the daily grind and had a week of freedom to do and play as I wished.  I used the time to finish up some projects, continue working on others, and start a few brand new ones. I sewed. I painted. I collaged.   I made progress. I made mistakes. I made discoveries. It was wonderful! But now reality beckons, and another work weeks begins all over again. I hope to share with you soon...but right now I need to squeeze out a few more hours of fun. Hoping everyone had a spectacular holiday complete with a little bit of busy * happy * bliss!

Happy Thanksgiving!

List It Tuesday - Lunch with the Seinfeld Gang

As a long-time Seinfeld fan, I have a lot of favorite quotes. For List It Tuesday I thought I would compile a list of some of my favorite food-related quotes. When I was done I realized that I messed up and one of the quotes is erroneous. I considered trying to fix it then decided to just leave it so the true blue Seinfeld fans can pick out which one it is.

I've posted Seinfeld quotes before---here and here if you want to check them out. Don't forget to visit artsyville for more lists!

heART Therapy

I must be in need of some serious heART therapy. Ever since I stitched up that first little wool and felt heart a few weeks ago, I haven't been able to stop. They just keep coming! My couch looks like an explosion of felt, sweaters, floss, and beads. I know it's therapy because I have no purpose for stitching them. Nada. Zilch. I just thoroughly enjoy the act of pulling a needle through fabric again and again and again.

But as the pile of hearts grows, ideas for other projects has grown along with it. (Not that I'm in need of more ideas--far from it!) I suppose I'll have to let the hearts run their course and wait until they tell me what they want to be. Or maybe they don't want to be anything. Maybe they're just a little pause in the creative process. The calm before the storm. I do feel a torrent brewing somewhere close by. What creative thing do you do when you need a little therapy?

IF - Burning

What is your burning desire? Have you focused all your power on achieving that thing?

List It Tuesday - Groovin' in the 70's

I was at an art show this weekend and one of the booths had the most fabulous handbags made from old record albums. The artist used both the covers and the vinyl to fashion some of the coolest bags I've ever seen. You can check them out here. I spotted a few familiar covers which made me think about my own album collection and inspired my list for List It Tuesday.

I consider the 70s to be my decade. Those ten years took me from an awkward seventh grader through high school and to college graduate. I could fill ten lists with my favorite songs, artists, or albums of the decade so I limited myself to artists whose albums I owned. As you can see, my taste in music runs more to singer/songwriters than bands and is pretty tame. My husband was the own who owned The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Who among others.

Here are a few random musical memories:

- My eighth grade teacher was young, bearded, and fresh out of college. He sat cross legged on his desk and played Simon and Garfunkel on the record player when we worked quietly. I thought listening to "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" in the classroom of a Catholic school seemed pretty scandalous.

- My first date with my husband was to a stadium concert headlined by The Beach Boys and Chicago in 1975.

- The Best of Bread was my go-to album whenever I felt depressed in high school. Boy are those songs depressing!

- My college roommate and I couldn't go out unless we'd listened to Frampton Comes Alive, Bat Out of Hell and Linda Ronstadt's Greatest Hits. It's no wonder I know every word to "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."

- Our favorite "new" album is the soundtrack to The Jersey Boys.


I loved this music in the 70s and I still love it today. Heck, I even like disco!

Don't forget to hop over to artsyville and check out even more lists.

I Heart The World

It's the time of year when just about every weekend you can find a place where artists gather to present and sell their work to the public just in time for holiday gift giving. I have a whole list of local shows I plan to attend and yesterday marked the first. There's just something about seeing so much creativity and hand made goodness in one place that makes me happy and gives me hope. It happens whenever I visit a gallery, museum, art show, or inspirational blog. I feel energized. I feel alive. I feel like I heart the whole dang world!

I saw some adorable little hand sewn felted heart pins that totally rekindled my desire to do more hand sewing. I've been itching to get out my needles and floss and do something with all those thrift stores sweaters I felted a while back. So last night, (when I should have been finishing up my map art for the last class this week) I gathered up a few supplies, found a cozy spot on the couch, and sewed to my heart's content. Sometimes you just have to create when inspiration strikes.

IF - Afterwards

I would always cast a vote to sleep on things--or just sleep in general.

List It Tuesday - I Love Spuds

As a self-proclaimed spud lover, I didn't have to look far for inspiration for another edition of List It Tuesday. While dining on a reheated dish of spudlicious leftovers, I found myself musing over the versatility of this unassuming little tuber. It might not look like much, but boy can it cook up a storm! Spuds can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They can become an entree, side dish, soup, bread, salad, or snack. You can dress them up with butter, cheese, gravy, sour cream, or onion dip. I'm proud to admit that I've eaten every potato dish on this list.  Yep, I love spuds! Just don't ask me to choose a favorite.

Don't forget to visit artsyville and check out a whole new crop of lists.