Ai Weiwei, Artist

The Chinese Government has destroyed the studio of Ai Weiwei, a protean artist who is one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese Communist Party. Even though he said officials told him that the demolition would not take place until after the first day of the Year of the Rabbit (which falls on February 3rd) he was shocked to discover that workers had begun knocking it down today. 

Sad news. They also knocked down a neighboring studio he had designed for a friend. Mr. Ai's studio was to be used as an education center and a site for artists in residence. 

Weiwei compares the seeds in his current installation at the Tate Modern to Twitter "...a vast sea of ideas and communication contributed by individual people." Weiwei had the seeds made in the southern Chinese city of Jingdezhen. Each of the 100 million seeds was molded, fired, and painted with three or four individual brush strokes, often by women taking the objects home to work on them. One thousand six hundred people were involved in the process.

Although the installation was intended to be interactive and in the fist few days of the show people were allowed to walk on them and pick up the seeds, this has resulted in the release of dust from the individual "grains" rubbing together. The dust could "be damaging to health following repeated inhalation over a long period of time." Visitors are now limited to looking at the installation from behind a barrier and they are not happy. I personally would assume the entire 'feeling of the installation would be pointless without having the interaction with the piece.

New In The Shop

I listed this sweet pair of baby mittens in the shop today. They keep selling out and I'm trying to keep up. Each pair is different and the colors are so bright and happy.

New In The Shop

This super sweet pair of fingerless mitts were created from a vintage wool sweater and now have a new useful life ahead. I love the shade of green and the hand stitched flowers really give them a lovely touch. More photos and info is here.

Goodbye Sam

I'm happy we were able to spend some much needed family time together before he had to travel north to reunite with his newest loved one. The late night board games were memorable and I'm already looking forward to my trip out west.

To You and Yours...

Happy Holidays!

Baby Mittens

I've been knitting up some baby mittens, both for the shop and also some custom pairs. They're made from superwash merino, which makes them machine washable and super convenient. I plan on making more during and after the Christmas holiday and will definitely be adding more soon. They're stripy, super adorable, soft and made especially to keep the tiniest hands warm with style.

 I should also mention my facebook page here too. I'm not sure I have, but there is one for yesterdaydream and it's a nice way to here from you and also for us to keep up with each other. Please say hello if you stop in because I'd love that.

My Most Recent Creations

They're cousins and they were custom orders for a friends' nieces. Both Sharon (pink) and Lucinda (purple) come with their matching companion pocket dolls. I had so much fun creating each of them and trying hard to make them coordinate in some ways while giving each of them some individualized touches so they'll have some spunk too. What do you think?

It's A Start

Still getting setup for the Christmas holiday here. It's too easy to feel overwhelmed and I'm trying to keep it all together. So much to do and so little time.

Julia Randall

Decoy 1

Lick Line 20

Bubblehead

Julia Randall is a Connecticut-based artist whose drawings are actually accumulations of many fine layers of color upon color with the white of the paper showing through, which creates the dimensionality. Each of the above pieces are colored pencil on paper. The mouths are isolated within the space and make the viewer feel voyeuristic while allowing our brains to make unconscious assumptions about what we see.

Have you seen this?

Fitzsu is offering made to order Poultry Domes for both chicken or turkey. A new, untypical glass collection designed by Fabrica for Secondome.  

Objects used in the past, such as cake or roast covers, are reinvented in both their use and their shape. The past and the future blend in these innovatively-shaped creations: the future lies in the ideas and sketches of Fabrica’s young designers, while the past is represented both by the choice of the material (glass) and by relying on the art of skilled glass-makers. The piece above was designed by Ben Cabelli (Israel). A collection revisiting daily use objects in an ironic and unconventional way and transforming them into top design pieces.

No Place To Fall

Lately, I've been so busy with the shop and the recent shows. No matter how hard I've tried to switch gears and focus more on the clay and sculptures, there is some drying time with that and I find myself diving back into my vast collection of fibrous materials. In the end, I'm trying to push away the scattered feeling and to help do that, I've been listening to this and maybe you'll enjoy it too.

Fall Colors

We've been having some really beautiful days here in New Jersey. The chilly weather came on pretty quickly this year and everyone is saying how cold and crazy this upcoming Winter will be already. Personally, I'm looking forward to snow and having my little house filled with the smells of holiday baking and the sounds of music brought in by family who is mostly so far away. Sure I like birds chirping and warm days too, but the feeling the chill brings with it can be equally as comforting.

REcreate by Katie Thompson

The inspiration behind Recreate was Katie Thompson's passion and flair for transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Located in South Africa, Katie never works within established stylistic boundaries. She creates an eclectic combination of styles, materials and finishes; this skill highlights her passion and her ability to find the intrinsic beauty and new, hidden purpose in the old, discarded items she chooses for her pieces.

A hoarder of all things useless, impractical, broken, colorful and shiny; Katie’s designs show tell tale signs of her Dadaist leanings. By nature an extremely energetic, bubbly and creative individual, Katie’s energy filters through to her work and into her pieces and the lives of her clients.

Mehmet Ali Uysal

This installation created by Mehmet Ali Uysal is displayed at the Chaudfontaine Park in Belgium. Thanks to my brother Sam for sharing this installation with me.

Lovelies

lookinglasshouse

monkeysalwayslook

jlwoodturning

Some of the recent things I've fallen in love with. Maybe you will too.

The Devil Hat

I've been making a few of these hats and will introduce them October 30th at our next craft fair. The show is at a local high school and their mascot is a devil. For more information, feel free to email me. 

The Girlfriend Scarf

Sophistication and classic design make this the perfect gift for your girlfriend (or yourself, I won't tell). The Girlfriend Scarf was created with a luscious textured shell pattern using a high end yarn in shades of pinks, taupe and sage green. It looks even more beautiful in person and makes a perfect gift because you don't have to worry about size with this piece. Find out more here.

Vintage Marguerite

So, my lovely mother showed me the most beautiful hand crocheted bedspread made by my great grandmother who passed when I was a young girl. It is so detailed and weighs a ton. To imagine the time this piece took is simply daunting to me.

I looked for it on ravelry and learned the vintage pattern's name is Marguerite and although there are some people charging on other sites, I was able to find a pdf link to the entire Priscilla Crochet Book Bedspreads free (page 33). I believe the original book was 25 cents and published in 1914, though my grandmother would have created her's a bit later. The techniques shown in this book are brilliant and invaluable.

I'm happy my mother shared this piece with me as it has allowed me to know more about a women I barely remember and imagine the time and love she put into this wonderful piece. The bobbles and perfect stitching is most amazing.


What stories from long ago have been shared with you?

New In The Shop

I've added a new hat to the shop and I'll make it especially for you in any size. See more about it here. It is even more adorable in person.

Undressing My Mother

Undressing My Mother - My brother sent this to me this morning. It's so lovely and stirring he said. He's right.