My very own sculpture gallery

Back to my woods again!! As I walk through the woods, I sometimes realize the futility of being an artist. It has all been done; it is all around us. While the drive is to recreate it, the need is just to see what is there. I do love art museums, but sometimes I think they are our visual "second hand stores"!

The real trick is in recognizing the beauty around us - everywhere; not having it served up to us in a silver frame! (NOTE: this is said with all due respect, awe, and love for the creations of my many artist friends... you show us what your eyes see, and I thank you for that.)

Sculptors work so hard, with every material, to create interesting forms. Nature does it everyday. She is just far more patient. Letting the wind and water and temperature do its work over seasons and years. But the line, repetition, texture, movement, balance and every other principle of art that we artist strive for, are right there in the tree stump or rock. I am so happy that during the day, I can go visit my Blue Mounds Wood 'sculpture gallery' whenever I want a little break from creating for jill2day, or just need inspiration.

Birds, real and Etsy!

If you have been around my Facebook or blog, you are probably aware of how much I like our birds. we are so lucky to have a great variety that stop by and eat at Jon's Diner!

I have really enjoyed seeing bird art by the artists on Etsy.

Here are three of my favorite Etsy bird artists:

Dean Crouser

The first is DeanCrouserArt Dean is an Oregon state artist.

This chickadee is wonderful, but his shop is just full of critters of all sizes each done with these wonderful splashes of color. Watercolor is one medium that I have never been able to master, so I have true respect for the technique used here as well as the aesthetics. Check out his shop and his animals.

Wire Animals

The second is wire animals, a Seattle Washington artist.I love this bird! Again, I am astounded by the technique as well as the fun beauty of these wired critters! If you would like to see a video of Nakisha making one of his birds watch here.

Ballet Art

And the third artist is Ballet Art an artist from Montebello, California

You have got to go check out all of his art. The dancers are fantastic, and everyone of his drawings just captures the essence of his subject.

I found this cardinal to be absolutely charming; even this cardinal from my porch loves it!

Yellow large/extra large sweater

Tall friends

As many of you know by now, I am lucky enough to have a woods in my Blue Mounds, WI backyard. Mostly it is ignored by humankind, especially in summer when it is well protected by poison ivy, nettles, barbs of every kind, and ticks are omnipresent, but in spring I can go visit. I like it best then anyway. Free from the frills of foliage, the trees can reach with abandon! I went wandering recently and rested by a few of my favorite tree friends. I love the textures of the bark, the fuzzy green of the moss, and the polished smoothness of the now bark-less old timer.

During the day I can watch them standing guard out my studio window. At night, when our bedroom windows are open, I can here them talk. The soft squeaks as the winds sways them against each other. The occasional crack or creak as an old limb gives way. The general rustle.

I think I wouldn't mind being a tree. It would be a long and lazy life of welcoming others to nestle within your arms. You would provide shade and protection, and food for future generations. All the while feeling the sun's rays, the rain's moisture and the earth's security around your roots. And after many years, if you are lucky, you disintegrate, first into a beautiful sculptural form, then into the ground.

Tagline; What does it mean

When I redid my jill2day shop recently, I also changed my tagline to:
...always one-of-a-kind...always eco-friendly...always snuggley perfect

So what does this mean?

One-of -a-Kind

click here for this listing

You will never see your garment duplicated. No patterns are used, it is sculpted individually on a dress form, with unique materials. I find some pretty wonderful fabrics in my supply searches, but usually only once. So the size of a sweater or the unique attributes of it will often determine the final size or style of the garment I make... never to be seen again!

Eco-friendly
The fabrics used in this garment were sourced at charity-based resale shops. All were chosen for their uniqueness and quality, all were given new life, and all were saved from the landfills. All suppliers were chosen for their philanthropy and good works in hope of also keeping my garment socially responsible.

Occasionally, people have questioned my cutting up perfectly good garments, especially when they are in stores often thought of as providing low-cost clothing to those in need. I did a post about this when I first opened, if you have that question, click here.

Snuggley perfect.
Comfort and durability are sewn in with an industrial serger. This means the insides of the garment is smooth and unfettered by seaming, instead the seams are made decorative through the use of colored thread and appear as a design element on the outside of the garment!

My designs are all original, are designed for casual and comfortable fit on all body types. The distinct flare of the back, and the wide sleeves (on most garments) are two of the considerations for comfort. Of course the afghans are just plain comfy on their own!

Click here to see this listing in my shop

Because all of the fabrics are pre-used, they also have that comfort that is usually found in your favorite old t-shirt or jeans, but now can be worn to the office in the guise of a business sweater!

Tunnel vision

The Military Ridge state trail is across from our house. During the winter it is also a snowmobile trail. It is built on old railroad tracks, so it has the tunnels and bridges of the old railroad. it is a great place to wander, wave at passers by, and watch the change of season. Soon it will be in its summer glory, but now it is still recovering from winter.

Yesterday I wandered. I got a bit hung up in the tunnel. It was sunny on the outside, but the melt was not quite finished on the inside darkness. I am struck by the patterns that this light/dark and wet/dry makes. So of course I had to photo some of them!

gray wrap sweater

People often ask me where I get my color combo ideas for my upcycled, reconstructed sweaters, and I have to admit that many times they are not initially conscience choices, but the editing of them requires very conscience decision making!  I think that somewhere in my head, there is a folder labeled "colors/textures seen" and my gut just goes there and pulls images like these.... then comes up with ideas like these two sweaters available on jill2day.

black and tan cardigan