Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Hari Kuyo - February 8, 2010


Today is Hari Kuyo or The Festival of the Broken Needles in Japan. Once a year on February 8th, people, mainly women and in particular needleworkers and those in the textile industry gather at Buddhist temples to pay homage to their needles and pins. Alters are laid out with various gifts of thanksgiving and a container of tofu is set up so that people can bury their broken and bent needles in thanks for their service and to bring good luck to their stitching endeavours in the coming year. Traditionally women used to wear their best kimonos to this ceremony but this has taken a back seat to more contemporary dress. However, many young apprentices of needlework schools and textile houses are attempting to bring back this tradition and in fact, there is a renewed interest in general by the younger Japanese generation in the kimono and in these traditions.
To read further about Hari Kuyo and to see some beautiful color pictures of this ceremony, click on the links below:






Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Creativity, Childhood and Arts Education

Virginia Spiegel has just published a Blurb book entitled " Wild at the Edges: Inspiration from a Creative Life" which touches on her exploration of her artwork and her creative life. http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/archives/4013 Her book couldn't have been more timely for me and I am about to order a copy to study and enjoy further.
Currently, I am thinking more and more about creativity and challenging oneself as I am taking an innovative class with the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild called The Broader View of Art. ( I will be blogging about this shortly - stay tuned). This class has given me much food for thought and taken me back to my early school years and ways in which my creativity was both encouraged and discouraged by various teachers and educational systems. I have also dug out old report cards etc. , which many years later have given me greater insight into myself and my creative development over the years. Having taught Creativity Workshops especially in relation to the Fiber Arts, I have an ongoing interest in the subject and especially how early childhood education has affected our creative processes and thinking.
There's a most interesting blog written by Richard Kessler, who is the Executive Director for The Center for Arts Education in New York. He writes on the importance of art education for children and how it affects their development, not just artistically but in life itself. Richard's take on things and his wonderful connection with fascinating artists, educators and scientists proves for valuable and insightful reading. Read his blog here:

http://www.artsjournal.com/dewey21c/

Another terrific read is the book "The Element " by Ken Robinson Phd. who is one of the world's leading thinkers on creativity and self fulfillment. In addition to his book, you can view a fascinating and humorous clip on his thoughts about " Do schools kill creativity?" on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

I hope you will enjoy exploring these gentlemen's take on the subject and reminisce about your own early development and how it affected your creativity both then and now. As always, your comments are always welcome.


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

LEST WE FORGET

Lampwork by Kirsty Naray


" They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. "
........Laurence Binyon

Please pause today to honour the memory of the brave servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, offer prayers for the safety of those still struggling to maintain peace in the world and give thanks for their unselfish sacrifices in order that we many continue to enjoy the rights and freedoms they have fought for and continue to fight for.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Blog Action Day - Climate Change and Textile Recycling


When I considered signing up for Blog Action Day, I wondered what I could really say or contribute in the way of something positive regarding the chosen topic " Climate Change". I'm not a hard core environmentalist or a " rocket scientist" with reams of research or data to offer up but like so many individuals, I can start to initiate change in my own home and local community.


What do I know best? - well being a person who creates with textiles on a daily basis, I have an appreciation and love for fabrics and fibre. However, the processes and manufacture of these very fabrics I adore is having a major negative impact on our world environment and is contributing to global warming and making detrimental changes to our climate.


Governments, manufacturers and environmental lobbyists are slowly creating changes to processes and years of neglect and mismanagement of the industry which has caused pollution, energy and water waste in astronomical and devastating quantities. But as individuals, how can we implement changes in our own back yards so to speak? Well, for myself, I can begin to share information with the public at large about the positive aspects of textile recycling.


I was shocked to discover that in Canada alone, there is an average of 7 kilograms of textile waste per person in our landfills and that accounts for 4% of all materials in Canadian landfills, while the average American throws away about 68 pounds of clothing and textiles in their garbage and dumps per year. Most of these articles are tossed because they are considered damaged, worn out, outgrown or out of fashion. We are indeed a throw away society. People no longer bother to sew on a button or replace a zipper or alter clothing. Home economics is no longer taught in the schools so children are not being educated in the skills necessary to carry out these tasks. Often both parents work outside of the home and it is economically far easier to replace an item than to make either the time or effort to repair it.


Alas, textile recycling programs are not as widely available in North America as other types of programs such as glass, paper or aluminum recycling but it would certainly not hurt to make enquiries as to the feasability of such a program in your community or to support said programs if they do in fact exist. It seems that more often than not, unwanted clothing and household textiles are either donated to charities or tragically end up in our landfill sites. Synthetic fibres will not decompose and while wool garments do, they produce methane gas which causes global warming. It is estimated that 38% of Canada's methane emmissions come from landfill sites.


So what can we do to make a difference? We can definitely take better care of our garments and household textiles by repairing or altering these items instead of disposing of them. We can be more aware, research and educate ourselves about the types of fabrics we are purchasing and attempt to buy more natural and organic materials and clothing.


Give your used and unwanted textiles to charities and thrift shops regardless of their condition. Items in poor shape can be recycled into rags for industry or can be shredded to make cushion fillings, carpet underlay and other forms of insulation. A large number of the world's population uses second hand clothes distributed by charitable organizations and the fabric from curtains and bed linens can be remade into apparel and accessories.


Consider donating textiles to church rummage sales or including them in your family garage sales. Think about the fun you could have by hosting clothing and textile swap parties with your friends -the giggles and comraderie alone would be worth it, while an old blouse or skirt no longer enjoyed by one of your buddies could look scintillating on someone else or make the perfect lining for a newly created purse, bag for shopping or other creative bent. Re-use older but still sturdy fabrics in quilts and household accessories such as runners, toss cushions, curtain tiebacks, or table coverings.


Encourage your children to take pride in their clothing and teach them to sew on a button or do minor repairs for themselves. Retro is " in" these days and perusing the aisles of your local thrift shop can unearth unknown treasures and camp clothing styles. The remaking or refashioning of clothing can be rewarding and fun and by using your imagination, you can create accessories and clothing from older style acquisitions which can result in a unique and individual wardrobe. You could be a trendsetter!

In conclusion, please consider the following:
Recycling textiles saves energy
Recycling textiles saves water
Recycling textiles saves natural resources
Recycling textiles reduces landfills
Recycling textiles can affect climate change

Surf the internet to find out more in depth about textile recycling and the positive affect it can have on our environment both locally and world wide.

Please click on the Blog Action Day badge in my side bar for more information and to connect to a myriad of other interesting and informative blogs taking action and providing information on the importance of climate change.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Ta Da .....at last......

We are pleased to present A Way to Women's Wellness 2010 Art Bra Calendar!

Cover Design "Days of Wine and Roses and You..." by Barbara Blankenship


Please check out our new site at: http://www.artbra.org/



The 2010 WTWW ArtBra Calendar will feature all newly designed ArtBras, complete with stories, and three spectacular crazy quilts. Net proceeds from the sale of the calendars will be donated to two cancer centers in Pennsylvania. A portion will be donated to the Fox Chase Women's Cancer Center mobile Mammography van, which will provide free mammograms to Philadelphia, PA neighborhoods. Proceeds will also be donated to the Lehigh Valley Breast Health Center in Allentown, PA for Survivor Services.

We expect this year's calendar to sell-out! Over 50% of the calendar printing has been sold to date so please get your orders in early to ensure your copy. Calendars are $14 US, printed with heavy-laminated covers and gorgeous photography.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEET THE DESIGNERS at the WTWW ArtBra opening
exhibition at
BYERS CHOICE, October 2, 2009
in Chalfont, PA

All proceeds from the Exhibition Opening Cocktail Party will be donated to Fox Chase Women's Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA for breast cancer research. The WTWW ArtBras and Crazy Quilt Exhibition will be open through October 31, 2009.

Event Info

October 2, 2009 Cocktail Party
7 - 9 PM
Byers Choice, County Line Road, Chalfont, PA
Exhibition will be open from Oct 2-31, 2009

October 3, 2009
Calendar signing at the James A. Michener Art Museum
Doylestown, PA
October 4th
Calendar signing at Byers Choice, Chalfont, PA


Designers attending ~ Barbara Blankenship, Victoria Brown, Leonie Hartley-Hoover, Laurel Mazziotti, Stephanie Novatski, Brenda Wilson, and Julie Yonge.

Start your holiday shopping early and have the designers sign a calendar for you!

A Way to Women's Wellness, Inc
http://www.artbra.org/
info@artbra.org

Friday, August 28, 2009

Busy Month

I am leaving Sunday for Kalamazoo, Michigan to spend five glorious days with Laura Cater-Woods and to break free and make some serious art. I have long wanted to study with her and I am psyched to go!

I will be home a couple of weeks and then off for three exciting days to the American Sewing Expo in Novi where I will spend some time with Koos van den Akker. I hope some of his glorious talent will rub off on me a little and inspire me to new heights. I also hope while there to meet up with my old mentor, Kenneth King, who has inspired and influenced my beadwork for many years.

In the interim, classes will commence at CEG where we are hoping for a wonderfully creative , stimulating year and the joy of being with old friends.

Not home long from the expo and it will be off to Pennsylvania for the grand opening of the WTWW Art Bra exhibit at Byers Choice along with the James A. Michener Art Museum events and a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my amazing friends and fellow Art Bra designers.

My go-to guys will be cat sitting and looking after affairs here in my absence ,bless them and probably enjoying a nice break from my female presence and the general chaos I seem to create. Thanks guys! Love you.

I hope to spend the rest of the year tying up loose ends, taking care of some family business and spending some quality time in the studio designing new
work and creating new classes.

So I will be quiet for a short time here on the blog but will be back soon with lots of news, inspiration and updates. In the meantime, stay well and continue to enjoy creating.

Byers Exhibit and James A Michener Art Museum

The Byers Bra designed and created by Victora Adams Brown


The art bras are once again stirring up a great deal of interest as we look to the fall and the month of October, which many of you are aware is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Byers Choice Ltd. in Doylestown PA. USA, is hosting a month long exhibit of the Art Bras featuring 35 WTWW ArtBras and three spectacular crazy quilts with some of the ArtBra designers, including myself, in attendance the weekend of October 2nd, 2009.

Friday, October 2nd at 7 pm join us for the Grand Opening of the Art Bra exhibit. Reservations are required and tickets can be obtained at 215-822-6700. There will be 2010 calendar signings at The Byers Choice gift shop Oct. 3rd from 10 a.m until noon and on Oct. 4th from 1pm - 3 pm. where you will have a chance to meet and chat to the artists.
On October 3rd from 1 to 3 pm the designers will be at the beautiful James A Michener Art Museum in Doylestown for a calendar signing and there you will get the opportunity to see Barbara Blankenship's "Grape Expectations" and my newest piece " Who's the Contemptible Scoundrel who Stole the Cork from my Lunch?" It will be a busy but fun time for sure and if you are in the area please drop by to see us and say hi. I'll keep you all apprised of the goings-on in further posts as the time draws near. I have been asked to keep " Contemptible Scoundrel" under wraps until the 2010 Art Bra calendar is ready to go but I think you will like this year's offering when it is finally unveiled.