Pumpkins

 It’s that time of year again.

 

There are cute little pumpkins.

 

Scary ugly ones.

 

Strange mutant color ones.

 

And, best of all, the hand crocheted ones!

 

I liked and used this very good and helpful tutorial.

Happy Halloween!

 

Paper and Fiber Journal

Here's a flip-through of my most recent, almost complete journal. It's about 5" x 5", bound by sewn-over-tapes with a canvas cover. The video is a little rough since I'm just starting to learn about filming and posting videos (so no music or special effects). 

Three signatures hold pages of my various pieces of acrylic-painted watercolor papers and fabrics. 

William Morris

 

Last month I visited a home store I’d never been in before and it got me travelling down a road of high curiosity and interest. The store carried items from the famous English artist William Morris (1834-1896) with his designs appearing on bedding, shower curtains, bath mats, pillows. The next time I went back I found more Morris & Co decorations on cloth napkins, pillow shams, and even a desk chair.

 

    

  

 

     

In 2005 when a local museum held a Pre-Raphaelite exhibit I saw it twice because I was already interested in their style. At that time I knew William Morris was on the edge of the group but I wasn’t particularly interested in him since he wasn’t known for his paintings.

 

But now I’m on a quest to learn more. I watched a YouTube documentary that described him as a polymath, “a person of encyclopedic learning” according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. Internet searches found several other establishments carry items of his designs, some put out officially by his own Morris & Co or some by other companies. Most objects are only available online and are not available in stores.

 

Today I picked up a very thick library book about his art and his life. Morris did designs for furniture, textiles, wallpapers, ceramics, metal and sculptures, wood blocks, stained glass. He was also a writer, poet, and political activist.