heysusy

Moving Day!

Well, the day has finally come when I can show you what I've been working on over the summer, and into the fall. My new Susy Jack* website is now live, and starting with my next post, I will have a new home for my blogging, also.

Starting on Monday, I'll be posting over here at my new blog, exclusively. I'm thrilled to finally have my blog, shop, and studio in one venue. I hope you'll come and visit me often... I'll be posting more of my own work in style, pattern design, product design, and lifestyle, and of course, waxing poetic on paper clips and top hats, now and then.

See you on the flip side...

Can't wait.  xo! S

 

Weekender { Spinning Yarn }

Good Day! Just popping in, as I have a design-day planned and need to get on it.

I hope your weekends take you to many weird and wonderful places...real or imaginary.

Textile Art Yarn Paintings by Mandy Besek found here (Note: I've silhouetted them on white to get the full visual effect of the yarn's form on the page).

Delicacies { Lace Eggs }

 

I thought these handmade decorative lace-etched eggs were a really fun follow-up to the antlers that I posted on Friday. There is something so interesting about the choice of an egg for something so intricate and painstaking as this lace carving...the contrast is really quite striking!

Found here. You can also watch a video of these eggs being created by artist Beth Ann Magnuson here - not only does she carve them, she hand-draws their designs. I highly recommend it!

 

 

Weekender { Headgear }

I would love to meet the animal who grew these... Perhaps our paths will cross  in a dream... anyway, their twists, turns, and graceful shapes of this antler sculpture art seemed like an appropriate send off to le weekend!

These naturally shed antlers are lovingly painted by Cassandra Smith and available via her Etsy Shop. I think they would make a great decor item for a coffee table -- so they could be seen "in the round". What do you think?

Have a wonderful weekend, and to those of you who commented, tweeted, and facebooked about the Susy Jack and Blue Sky Target items yesterday, a huge thank you. Your support means the world to me, and makes me feel so good!

x s

Water Lilies

 

Just loving the colors in these beautiful fashion watercolors by Cate Parr of Silver Ridge Studio.

I particularly like the one on top because it has a mood...and goes a little beyond just a picture of a pretty face. I also really like the pieces where she shows the full figure of the model, or part of the arms... with a kind of watercolor filigree.

Lots more here in her etsy store - plus some lovely originals, and affordable art giclees.

Have wonderful weekends, all! x s

Put a Bird on It

Tweet! *blush* Oh, my...well, this is embarrasing! You've caught me checking you out!

Don't let it ruffle your feathers. I AM a lovebird, you know...and It's only because I think you're so very cool.

Found Here

*****update*****
ooooooopsie. forgot to list the website of the actual artist here!

A Dream You Dream Together

Last night, my boyfriend attended a Japan benefit concert at le Poisson Rouge here in NYC, featuring a bunch of his favorite artists. It started late, and I stayed home, and went to bed. He came in quite late and said it was great.

He slept in this morning, and I went off to the gym. When I got back, he was awake and having some coffee, and I asked him to tell me about the show. He went through the lineup, and said that Cibo Matto, Patti Smith, and Lou Reed showed up and were incredible. So was Antony of Antony and the Johnsons. Sean Lennon was there and Yoko Ono performed with the Plastic Ono Band.

It sounded pretty amazing and we talked for a while about the various artists and the mood that was created among the audience, which was of all ages.

After he was done describing the evening, he jumped up from the couch and said "Oh! I forgot! Yoko gave us a souvenir!" and went over to his bag. He brought out a little pouch containing this "piece of sky" and a message.

I thought this was pretty powerful - not just to have something from an evening of so many greats -- but the idea that the people attending were given a souvenir is quite sweet. I have always loved the idea of people dreaming togther - the idea of a double dream... I also like the message.... I love you!  at the end...it's funny how those words can be so hard to say, but once they come out, there they are. I thought you might enjoy it.

ps - a cool thing about the little puzzle pieces is that they seem to have a specially shaped notch in the top that makes them easy to hold with your fingertips.

pps. I love you!

Folk Art-ifact

I walked the NYIGF for a day with a few friends, and while I was there, we visited Odette's booth. I was instantly taken by designer Jennifer Sarkilahti's soon-to-be launched collection called "Minerva Divinus". The necklace in the top photo is part of it. 

I really love the textures she's using... they remind me of woodblock printing and linocut (see below), and defnitely give this entire line an artifact-y look, a great contrast of glowing metal with the brooding texture of a dark, folk art print... So very thoughtful, conveying a unique idea, using larger, thoughtful shapes and symbolic cutouts, and combining them with a really unique texture, to great effect. Just love the powerful mood coming through.

More on the Minerva Divinus series by Odette NY here
Woodcut Texture Example found here- from a piece by Lauren Bakoian.

ps. I forgot to mention that I think I see a little owl face hiding in the pendant up there - which is really cool because the owl was Minerva's (Athena's) symbol. More about Minerva here - really cool!

World Series

I fell instantly under the spell of this gorgeous art print series by illustrator Valero Doval... These would look so beautiful framed and decorating a study or library... I love the painstaking handmade collage look and the rich pops of color in this series of prints, titled Wonderful World.

It's wonderful indeed.
Available as a set here

 

Belle Epoque

Just posting a little inspiration this Monday Morning - The life in John Singer Sargent's charcoal sketches and portraits always amazes me...