I think by now everyone knows I like to browse the web and find different little bits of art I find amazing to share with you. Recently I came across a portrait artist by the name of Cayce Zavaglia. A lot of people make portraits, you may be thinking, so what makes her so special?
Well, take a look at this photo and I think you'll see. All of her portraits are embroidered!
I must say, watching the video (click the picture to see it), I'm a little bit jealous (ok, maybe a LOT jealous) of her talent. I mean she doesn't even use a pattern and the detail is absolutely phenomenal!!!
I don't even know what else to say besides I'm in awe and I really, really think you should take the 4 minutes to watch the video and see how she creates them. :)
I recently came across this artist on the web and was amazed by the artwork she creates from cake icing! The mural on this wall is "painted" completely using the same icing you would use to decorate a cake with.
I spent quite a bit of time scrolling through all the pictures on her site and was amazed by them and the stories that go with all the different pieces of art she creates. She also has a series of sand sculptures featured that were created years ago. I'd definitely check those out also.
And just about 6 weeks ago she participated in an event in Toronto, ON with this awesome display. Tons of pics to look at here. Wish I could have been there to see it in person. I'm sure I would have enjoyed not only seeing her wall, but all the others that were part of the event.
Now if you'll excuse me, all this talk of cake icing is making me hungry. Think it's time for some breakfast. :)
Yesterday marked the 25th year that my mom and I have been going to the Stitchery Showcase at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. For those of you that aren't familiar with it, Stan Hywet is the estate of F.A. Seiberling that founded The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, OH. It is an absolutely beautiful Tudor estate full of wonderful gardens, a butterfly conservatory, Japanese Teahouse and so much more that there's never a dull moment wandering around.
Back in 1974 the Stan Hywet Needlework Guild held it's first Stitchery Showcase. It's an event that hundreds of pieces are entered into each year. You see cross stitch, needlepoint, surface embroidery, stumpwork, blackwork, handmade quilts, etc. The main requirement is that none of the stitching is done by machine.
It's such a wonderful way to get inspired if you're in a stitching slump. It usually takes me about 1 hour to go through the display in the Manor House Auditorium as I like to get as close to some of the pieces that I can, look at the stitching techniques, etc.
Several years ago the Stitchery Showcase was moved to a stand alone Spring event to be held in the Fall with the Ohio Mart. I think this makes it so much more fun. After we're done looking at all the beautiful stitched works we can then go outside to walk through tents throughout the grounds that have booths of more than 100 artisans and look at (and sometime purchase) the wonderful items they make.
Normally my mom and I go alone as this is something "we" do. This year I got together a group of stitchers from around Ohio. One of them I knew from a monthly stitching group we used to have at a now closed local needlework shop. The others I have met through various Facebook stitching groups. It was a new experience for all the ladies and I think (and hope) they all had a blast. Here's a pic of all of us except my mom, who was playing photographer, while we took a lunch break in between all the fun. I'm the one in the center, back row. :)
Hopefully this is something we can do again in the future. I was sad to hear yesterday that the Stitchery Showcase will no longer be held every year and the next one won't be until 2014. I guess the good news in that is it gives me 2 years to stitch something to enter (that doesn't get sold in my shop or a gallery) as it's been quite a few years since I've entered anything.
Take a moment and search around the area you live in. There may be events like this that you can attend that you've never known about.
Happy Stitching! :)
I've seen paper quilling before and thought it was cute and interesting on a small scale. For those of you that aren't familiar with paper quilling, here's a partial description of it from Wikipedia:
Quilling or paper filigree is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper
that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative
designs. The paper is wound around a quill to create a basic coil shape.
The paper is then glued at the tip and these shaped coils are arranged
to form flowers, leaves, and various ornamental patterns similar to
ironwork.
Now that you know what it is, I'll get on with my post.
So recently I came across the works of Lisa Nilsson, and let me just say I think she is amazing! Her page doesn't have all the normal cute flowers, insects, etc. Instead she has created works of the internal human body with fantastic detail. I've shared a couple of them here. Please take a moment to check out her page for other pieces and I'm sure you'll be amazed too!
I will be the first to admit, all my posts are not entirely original ideas. When I see something fantastic on the internet sometimes I just have to share it. That's the case in today's post.
Yesterday Etsy posted a picture of a penny with a link on their Facebook page. It was such a beautiful penny I had to click the link to find out more.
It turns out there is an artist named Jacqueline Lou Skaggs that paints these tiny, beautiful pictures on pennies she finds. They are absolutely amazing! I can't paint anything, let alone get a beautiful scene or portrait on a penny!
I mean can you imagine getting such detail like this on a penny?
She has a total of 12 paintings in her penny series names the Tondi Observations. I would highly suggest clicking any of the links in the post so you can see all 12 of them. :)
