Charm

I have been working on pulling together my portfolio of over 50 different Organic Digital Designs. It has been quite a process, but one I am enjoying. In addition to a new website (will be completed this month) and the master ODD portfolio I can share in person, I have also decided to have a substrate sample booklet that will go out to selected designers, upholsterers, and the like. I am looking forward to getting my work out into the world on a larger scale  :)

The booklet has been designed (is currently in the process of creation) and will house the different options of fabrics and wallcoverings to choose from. Each substrate will showcase my below pattern, Charm, which was created from my original oil, Grace of a Turnip.

detail.....

repeated....

Stretching my brain a bit

So my dear artist friend, Trisha, came out the other day. As I was showing her what I have been working on in the studio, she started musing about the idea of combining various components that I have between my different mediums - all into one piece. 

One idea she invited me to explore was the use of patterns in my encaustic paintings. This is something that was not entirely new to me as I had combined my Organic Digital Designs that first weekend I was introduced to encaustic. But as in all things, I, and my work, had grown/evolved since then and that perhaps, just perhaps, the marriage of the 2 would be different this time around.

Over lunch we continued the conversation (and I have to say I was warming up to her suggestion and could visualize the idea!) and later she waved good-bye with a firm go and play in the studio!

And so, following her direction, I printed out in varying scales, a couple of different patterns, complimentary to each other. I then cut out shapes and sizes that worked with the direction I had in mind.

After a couple of trys, "playing" as she called it, and what I so want to embrace, (I'm trying to not create a perfect (in my mind, reaching my high standards) piece every single time the first time around. I'm trying to instead embrace the idea that less-than-what-I-hope-for is just fine - especially if I am exploring, getting messy and just plain having fun!).

 I share with you the piece below, My Tiny Little House on a Hill with a Patterned Sky......

and here's a detail. I do have to say I'm especially pleased with the textural hill - with the varying values of green  :)  What do you think???

I have to say that my head hurt by the end - it did feel like a lot of work to stretch my comforts and play! and so I felt the need to end my studio time with a bit of cheerful comfort.....

P.S. since then, I have been noodling around in my head what I feel I learned from this day of play. I am looking forward to continuing this thread and am curious to see where it leads me.  As always, stay tuned!  :)

Stools for the foot or other

I plan on working with the existing paint color and character of the legs.

The other day my dear artist friend, Patty, and I went to Northfield for a much-needed day of art exploration. As we waited for Swag (one of our destinations) to open, we wandered into various shops along the main street of downtown.

It didn't take long before I had found and purchased 2 adorable little footstools from one of the antique shops. Filled with such character and possibility! I just couldn't resist!

I haven't taken the time to see which of my Organic Digital Designs will suit each of these, but I have no worry. As all things do, it will fall into place in its own time and place..... As always, stay tuned!

I love these legs! and really don't mind the covering either....

and look at this shape! perfectly heart-like, don't you think?

Underneath history

The Before

 I'm quite curious (what, who, where, when prompted this to take place??)  when I see "The Before" of a makeover - whatever that may be (a room, a person etc).

In this case it's a Danish chair, circa 1940, from Danish Teak Classics. The character of the wood and the fabric, both worn and full of perfect imperfections, doesn't completely share with the viewer all of the details of it's previous history. Wouldn't you love it if such a piece could talk?

H Nielsen Slajelse??

Danish Teak stripped my chair down to it's raw skeleton, where they found a name? scrawled across the wooden seat. Oh!, to know the significance, the connection from one person who touched it to the next throughout the Danish chair's history..... It's really all so curious.

Now that the wood has been refinished and the new fabric chosen, it's going to be transformed into a piece that will not, on the surface, give any viewer an idea of what previous life it's had. Only those that have had a hand in it's creation and transformation will have an inkling of the stories it can tell to those who will listen.....

The almost After

Footstool Trio

 I was brainstorming with my dear artist friend, Patty, during one of our recent monthly meetings and the idea of footstools for an upcoming Home Show at the Bloomington Art Center came to be.

  

So with a girlfriend, I went footstool hunting last week and scored! Above you can see the treasures found. Perfect in size and variety (not to mention condition of the wood!) these are the perfect foundation  for my fabrics.  I'm quite excited!

 And this one even opens up! I'm thrilled as I'm able to keep the interior material (a beautifully aged black and white pattern on heavy paper) as it is still in good condition and works with the newly chosen exterior fabric.

I do not know how old these footstools are. I do wish they could talk! Wouldn't you love to know their stories? When I dropped off the fabrics and trims yesterday, my favorite upholsters had started taking the old fabric off. The picture below shows the innards, horsehair and all....

Stay tuned for the end result!

Oh! I have an idea....

Don't you love it when you say yes to something even though you don't know at the time what you'll do with it? This was the case on the chair you see to the left. My dear friend and fellow artist, Patty Carmody-Smith, picked it up along side the road with me in mind. Granted I was taken with it's wooden curves, but I really didn't know what I would do with it, much less than when I would do something with it.....

I can hardly wait to show you! I'll just say it involves red, black and white. Stay tuned!

More Ellie Sodaphant jounals underway

 

It's that time to replenish my supply. And so it starts with ordering more recycled soda bottle fabric (printed with my organic digital designs) followed by cutting this and the elephant dung paper to size. Sewing the covers and binding the pages to the covers with a silk ribbon ties my favorite product all together.

A process it is and one that can't be rushed in the details (as are most things in life); I make a point to try to savor the time spent at each step and not get caught up and worry about keeping the time to minimum in the production costs. A challenge indeed!

Univeral Designs - studio day!

What a delightful day it was! I spent a good portion of the day at Liz's Universal Pants studio. I brought with me 14 inspiring yards of organic cotton knit (a new fabric for me to use! one that is available through spoonflower.com) featuring 7 of my organic digital designs. She mocked up a few of our ideas (what we fondly call our "winter lovelies") with alternate materials for us to try out. So exciting! Stay tuned ~ upcoming events where these will be available are soon to come!

HKH meets Universal

Liz Plambeck of Universal Pants and I have been sharing our talents with one another. The shirt I'm wearing to the left is representative of one of her wonderful handmade creations. It features on the front a pattern I had created from one of my original oil paintings (see hkhdesigns.com for more information). Creatively made from reclaimed fabrics and hemp/silk this is definitely one-of-a-kind. We plan on having open studio events this fall. Stay tuned....

Mirror, mirror, on the wall

During the night one night I awoke with the memory of a frame in the garage that had no purpose at the moment. First thing the next morning I pulled it out and took a look. Despite it being dusty and bowed, with loose joints and decorative detail chipping off, I deemed it was going to work. Above you can see the end result (I'm sorry I didn't think to capture the 'before'). The frame showcases one of my Organic Digital Designs (this pattern was derived digitally from the original oil painting, The Hide Shall Seek, the Seek Shall Hide image 28/32). This was on display at my most recent exhibition at Normandale Community College in their Fine Art Gallery.

Materials include: reclaimed vintage frame, digital image printed onto metal, white gold leaf, paint, schlac, mirror