The Playful Textiles of Alexander Girard

Mr. Girard featured with some of his work.

(reposted from the Metropolis website)

Perhaps the name Alexander Girard (1907-1993) doesn't mean anything to you.  He was the iconic head of textiles at Herman Miller from 1952 onward through 1975, and his bold graphic style is just as relevant now as it was during the mid-twentieth century.
Thanks to a wonderful article in the current issue of Metropolis magazine I had an opportunity to look at a sampling of his work.  If you have an opportunity to find the current issue it is worth checking out.

In the meantime I want to quote from the magazine article some of Mr. Girard's Principles of Textiles.  They are so meaningful to the type of surface design work that many of us do:

-Fabric design is not easel painting or illustrating.  It is fabric design.

-Realism should be avoided in printed fabrics.  Draped fabrics naturally distort any pattern, unlike wallpaper.  Their design should respect their natural character.

-It is boring to be aware of endless pattern repeats; they should be as invisible as possible, particularly when they represent an object realistically.

-Designs that are fresh, interesting, and different are not achieved if being fresh, interesting, and different is the prime objective.

-Good design derives from the wish to do just that.  The textiles of India are perhaps the best example of this urge.  The delight in, and understanding of, the problem that they reflect is so powerful that it needs no description.

-I find that those of my designs that satisfy me personally are the only ones worth producing. (!)

-Nothing is new, but personal interpretation often can be. (!)

-The hope for good design lies in those designers who believe in what they do, and who will only do what they believe.  Contrary to hearsay, it is possible to make a living that way.

Garden Inspiration (from a community garden in Philadelphia)

These images were shot in or near my daughter's garden plot in Philly.  It was fun to wander around in the lovely community garden and see what people were growing.  Almost everyone uses their alloted area to grow both flowers and veggies.  It was fun to see!

I can't remember what these are, but they look like a type of Gerber daisy.  The middle is an electric lavender color.

Oriental poppy seed pod

and blossom

Pod from a different perspective.  I love these!

Big bumblebees were happily working away.

Fava bean blossoms.

Congratulations to my wonderful mother and father-in-law!

These are the two people who taught me about unconditional love.  They are loving, generous, and have extended their love of family to include me.  I will never be able to express my gratitude.

At ages 90 and 92 they continue to live independently in their own home.  I am thrilled they have achieved this rare milestone, and I wanted to share it with you.  

Both have been loving role models for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  

Announcing a fun Quilt Contest and a chance to win great scissors!

HAVEL'S SEWING "CUT IT CLOSE" QUILT CONTEST

QUILT THEME: WHAT DOES SUMMER MEAN TO YOU?

FIRST PRIZE: $500
SECOND PRIZE: $250
THIRD PRIZE: $100



EACH WINNER WILL ALSO RECEIVE A
GIFT BAG OF HAVEL'S SCISSORS!!!!!

THE WINNING QUILTS WILL TRAVEL WITH HAVEL’S SEWING TO BE DISPLAYED IN THE HAVEL’S SEWING BOOTH FOR ONE YEAR, AS WE ATTEND QUILT SHOWS. 

Please visit Havel's Sewing website for additional information and entry form.

Stencil Blog Hop! A bit of "Flower Piecing" for Spring!

Check out all the fabulous ideas on Julie's blog!

"Flower Piecing"

I have been playing with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's "Flower Piecing" stencils in both 12x12 inch and 6x6 inch sizes.  I love having the same stencil in two sizes because varying the scale of the mark adds a lot of depth and interest to the surface.

To play with these stencils I decided to pull out a variety of surfaces on which to experiment:  baby wipes, sale tags, watercolor postcards, and polyester organza that had previously been laminated with paper (as well as gelatin printed and stamped).  With the exception of the sale tags these things had some paint on them and were "languishing" in my studio.

First up:  the baby wipe.  These had been hit with some acrylic paint when wet and allowed to dry.  I didn't bother pressing them flat.  I like the slight imperfections that I may (or may not) get by working with a slightly wrinkled surface, but I'm crazy that way.  Iron your surfaces flat if that is how you roll.

The large stencil is placed over the baby wipe.  I'm working on a slightly padded surface that has been covered with a drop cloth.  

On a paper palette, I placed a small amount of both blue and bronze acrylic paint. 

And, as you can see, I'm using an old toothbrush as my stencil brush.  I love using these!

I just want to pick up a small "dab" of the paint, and by working on this paper palette first I can pounce off excess before approaching my work surface.

See how the toothbrush gives a nice, soft look to the mark?  Love!

Next, I have a watercolor postcard that I had previously marked with water-soluble crayons, over-screened with matte medium to make it permanent.  I'm not crazy about this postcard.  Things like this are perfect for experimentation because they don't feel "precious".  

I plan to work back into this after the paint dries.....

I love making paper-laminated sheer!  It would take too long to explain (in this post) how to do it, but there are a number of good resources, not the least of which is my DIY Surface Design dvd (shameless self-promotion disclaimer).  Jane Dunnewold has a great book about lamination, which I highly recommend.  This piece is left over from a previous project, and was used for a gelatin plate printing demo at one time so there are a lot of marks on the surface already.  Yay!  More is more....

I'll use more paint colors..

Using an acrylic brush this time, I am moving over a portion of the 

surface alternating colors.  

These colors are faint over the bolder blue in the background.

I'm fine with that.  

I intend to outline some, or all, of the stenciled areas with a permanent marker.

I used a Pentel Gel Roller Fabric pen to outline, and create more, of the shapes in the stencil.

The dark edge brings the shape forward on the surface.

So much fun!

Don't forget that sometimes an opaque light color works well over a dark(er) background:

Think how interesting this laminated sheer would be with backlighting?

Wow!  It could be a really cool window treatment!

Here is my blank sale tag:

First, I stenciled with the large pattern, then drew around it with a gel pen.

Next, using the small stencil, I stenciled across a portion of the surface with my trusty toothbrush.

...and I did the same on this baby wipe.

Note the larger pattern is in the background with white opaque paint.

Look how soft and lovely this image is when used with a leaf-green paint:

Oh my!

You, too, can make a "happy mess"!

These samples will eventually find their way into my work:  fusible added to the cloth and appliqued to a quilt surface.  Postcards will be mailed.  Sale tags will be further embellished and used in a wide variety of ways, including as gift tags, as a book mark, or in my sketchbook.

I haven't even broached the subject of acrylic inks and all the possibilities with those.  Stay tuned for more fun!  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you try these great stencils:  I think you will like using them!

Please visit these participants in the stencil blog hop:

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2012/06/stencil-hop-flower-piecing.html

Tammy Tutterow
http://tammytutterow.typepad.com/

"Faces" in Places....

All systems go!  When I looked at this antique piece of equipment inside (yes, inside!) the famous Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia, I saw a face and it is saying, "Yay!  I'm eating these cords as fast as I can!".  But then, that's just how I roll.....

And then there is this guy, a bit slow, maybe he doesn't have both oars in the water.......

Simple..... but happy all the time.

In and Around Philly: Bartram's Garden, the Italian Market, Community Garden

I was in the New York/Philly-area for a week and a half.  In between my youngest daughter's senior show and commencement, I spent a few days in Philadelphia visiting my oldest daughter.
I hadn't been there in several years.  It seems every time I was in the northeast, my daughter was traveling on business.  This time we were both in the same area.
My oldest, who has become an avid gardener, was anxious to show us Bartram's Garden.  This place is lovely and magical:  the first Botanical Garden in the country.  Founded in 1728 by John Bartram, a man determined to collect a specimen of every plant in our country.
Seated on the banks of the Delaware river, the place is a hidden jewel.

 “whatsoever whether great or small ugly or handsom sweet or stinking…everything in the universe in thair own nature appears beautiful to mee.”  John Bartram, 1740.

An old millstone near the river.

to give you a sense of scale...

hopefully this guy will eat something we don't like.

wild strawberries

mossy pathway

Now, on to the Italian Market

Then, to my daughter's community garden plot.

It thrills me that she is so interested in gardening.