Dear Daria,
Fresh off the rejuvenation of July’s project (which is prescisely what I’d hoped this project would do, rejuvenate!), I open your August box. Such a contrast from last month, but it feels very in line with the world outside right now (although isn’t this indian summer we’re having incredible?). The contents are full of textures and depth of brown and navy blues (I’d love to see the Jedi costume these came from, did I miss it? It must have been fabulous!).
Thread… when I thought about this theme, I immediately thought of Lisa Solomon’s method of drawing with thread, like these pieces in one of her newest shows (scroll down). I am also thinking about everything I can DO with thread in general, like on cloth, of course, but also things like helping Ian hang a paper mobile. I was struggling a bit with this month, and thread, but then when I talked to my sis-in-law about it, she helped me brainstorm into an idea that resonated with me. So, I’m all a-go. Hope you are finding inspiration out there (and in the box I sent).
Blair
Dear Blair, I know that it’s my turn to post a picture of the July box, but first i just wanted to show you this picture, from a ferry trip last week. This is just about exactly what I was imagining, can you tell?
D
Daria,
I really love this tiny painting you sent in the July box. (For those following along, we are just now starting our July projects because we took a small summer break). Everything you sent in the box just sings of this little capture of water.
First and foremost, thank you a zillion times for sending me no buttons ; ) I think this little box of watery inspiration will be going on the road with me soon, I already have some ideas…
Blair
Filed under: Blair, Daria, inspiration | Tags: August, inspiration, July, June
Dear Daria,
I will wholeheartedly admit to having let the lazy days of summer get to me, how can I work when the weather is like this??? And how can you work with sick kids: ( ?
Let’s officially put ourselves on an eight by eight summer schedule. Which will work something like this-
Next week, Daria and I will take turns posting a photo a day to inspire us for July’s theme of ‘water‘, to kick us back into creative gear. We will be posting our finished June project at the end of July (you can see our boxes of materials for June’s theme here and here), then double up with projects for August (August and July’s project will both be completed in August), to get us back on schedule.
Thanks so much for following us along on this creative journey!
There is a write up about our little eight by eight project over at Shannon and Kathy’s blog, back and forth project, where they chonicle their Ruby and Esme children’s book (which looks amazing!), and feature other projects that are sent among friends through the mail. My thoughts today, Daria’s thoughts will be posted next Friday. Thanks so much guys! And thanks to everyone who follows along with this project. It is quite calm on the outside here, but you can be sure there is much creativity sparked for Daria and I from each month’s assignment.
Above is the h-u-g-e hosta in my front yard. Its leaves are measuring about 14″ from bottom to top right now and its still growing strong! Every year I am amazed by it. I grew this! This month’s theme eight by eight of green could really not have come at a better time for me.
Dear Daria,
I know you’re swamped with school auction craziness, and you know I sit here in my post-auction leisure (as if!). The March color pairing you sent has really inspired me these past couple of weeks (or maybe its that everything truly does just look better when the sun shines on it!). I keep going back to this quilt project in Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts (a detail shot from the book is pictured above). You know the “Sort of Crazy Quilt” project…the one in the more than 12 hour section. I know, what am I thinking?? Seriously though, I’ve always wanted to try Denyse Schmidt’s approach to piecing to combining colors (the paper-bag technique) and I think the stack of fabrics you sent is just the pile to start with. I know that the version in the book uses many tonal colors combined to flow nicely, but I would like to mix up the blues and oranges you sent to see how the contrast would work. This is the part when I so love the fact that this project is small and focused, eight by eight is a very doable size.
Hope to hear from you soon.
B
