Thursday, August 20, 2009

Handmade...













Yes, I have been writing. That is something creative at least...yes, I have the excuse of very hot and very pregnant but it has been over a year since I made something I really loved...completed something. Time to get in gear! Stop the excuses!

I decided I would post some old work to get the juices flowing until I create something new. I need to touch, to feel, to think, to create again! I graduated with an art degree for goodness sake!

The above is a tapestry I made while attending Mimar Sinan Universitesi in Istanbul. It from a photograph of my husband's and my feet on a ferry trip coming back from the Princess Islands in Istanbul. Great day; love, bicycles, ferries...

I have been quite inspired by two creative blogging sisters, one at The light garden and the other at eighty days design who both sell their work along with tons of other talented artists creating beautiful handmade items at Etsy:Your place to buy and sell all things handmade!

I do miss all my materials back in MN! My good godmother is storing them in her basement awaiting our return; my sewing machine, big tackle box of beads, book making materials, nice paper, pencils, pastels, a whole college career's work etc. etc.

As Verity at thelightgarden was musing it far more difficult to find materials in Turkey but especially in Didim! But people make things with all sorts of materials though so another part of the creative process! Recently I've been reading about several women in many countries, Turkey included creating and selling hand bags out of plastic garbage.

My sweet husband did find me an easel, few canvases and acrylics. He brought it home stuffed in the little Volkswagen to surprise me, wooden legs sticking out the windows! He is very supportive. He calls me, "my Art" and I just don't ever want to correct him to- my artist:)


















Here is my new favorite piece of handmade! Our quilted elephant bedspread that I found at the pazaar! The pazaar is packed with amazing fruits and vegetables but unfortunately the rest is mainly cheap plastic crap and fake "Prada" and "Adidas"...But I spyed this beauty and look forward to adding more to our room along the theme! Turkey has a rich history of handmade.

A painter is coming on Monday to repaint the ceilings; the cement houses hold moisture and has caused the paint to flake all over the floor daily, although we painted a few months ago???? Not good for our beautiful (almost here) baby or us but after that I can finally officially set up my tiny studio!!!!!!

Write about creative...be creative!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous bed cover! Its wonderful you are feeling creative again. I'm sure its the pregnancy and mothering hormones that kick in and get the creative juices flowing again. My most creative times have been after the births of my boys. I would love to send you some of my Japanese fabrics. I have so many off cuts that may inspire you a bit more. Email me your postal address and I'll put them in the mail :)

Nomad said...

Creating things with your hands is one sure way to stay sane. Once, when my mother was terminally ill, I found a box of scrap material and I spent the next two weeks, sewing patchwork pillows. I don't think I would have made it without having something to keep my mind and hands busy!

Verity said...

Your husband sounds like such a sweetie! So you studied in Istanbul...I would love to hear more about it. And that bed spread is a great find!! And yes there is such a rich history of hand made - I'm thinking travelling around Turkey and writing a book about handmade culture/history here would be so much fun! I hope you have a great time creating. Having Yashar definitely sparked a huge time of creativity for me - both in doing things with him and also doing things separately so I could have some time just for me!