It all began with me needing black embroidery floss but once I started opening the little drawers revealing all the colors...well, I was lost in color lust. Thankfully I had a 25% off coupon and a 10% off offered to artists working with cloth. I just began opening the drawers and picking out colors that I was drawn to...that spoke to me. I put a few back and I was surprised at the limited blue (favorite color) but for now this will determine my palette. Most of the colors are light and grayed down. Tell me do any of these colors call to you? I have in mind to create three altar cloths (fragments) so now to get to work
Yesterday we saw "The Great Gatsby" and we both enjoyed it so much. I was taken with the over the top visual scenes and musical score and yet the film stayed with the original dialogue...I recommend. The next movie I desire is "Inside Llewyn Davis". One section of the review by Sasha Stone states "though it takes time for him to realize that to achieve greatness in music--or any art for that matter--is to access parts of yourself most of us keep hidden." For me that is an Amen! I'll take a small popcorn with butter and a bag of m&m's please!!
I have that trouble with paint... too... and I always buy brown shades... I will see Gatsby then... I was wondering about it... I remember the Robert Redford version... and I think he was the best part, if I remember correctly!!
ReplyDeleteCaterina, I believe we have our favorite colors built deep within!
DeleteThis Gatsby is different as the music is current mixed in and the scenes over the top!
a number of years ago a friend sent me a huge bag of embroidery floss of many colors. i love looking at it but mostly use it as thread to handbind books. I run the floss through beeswax so the strands stick together when I thread it through the needle. love the earth tones you show, orangy and red. have fun.
ReplyDeleteSuki, I have been using my mother's embroidery floss and adding my colors to the mix. They are inexpensive and so so many shades! I like the way you use them for your books!
DeleteI appreciate the movie tips Mary Ann. As well, I do like the colors that have called to you. I have been thinking of aqua and the colors on the left of your thread palette. Maybe because its spring. I look forward to seeing your altar cloths.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I agree on the aqua but I'm also drawn to the opposite side with a mustardy green/yellow. I am starting on the first cloth and at that "I don't know how it is going to turn out stage"!!
DeleteDecision making is hard when it comes to fabric and yarns. I love all your choices. I'm really drawn to ferns right now and the lovely shades of green they come in. Looks like you have one on the right there. :-) Must see Gatsby! Hubby keeps saying - it's not that great of story - but I'm trying to talk him into the Baz film.
ReplyDeleteKaren, This production is a very different approach to the classic story...I saw so many levels and beauty... but not for everyone's taste.
DeleteI'm loving the almost unnatural greens and yellows on the right too!
What a fun buying trip ... As much as I like your "Thread Shopping!" title, your words in the text below that inspired me the most were "lost in color lust". Now that could be the title of a book about use of color in fabric-centric art. Greatest thing about Mary Ann's art is the part you don't see. It's that special place inside her, and only those who know her well can appreciate how her inner spirit transforms into art that shimmers, dances, and rejoices. Just look at her previous post, "Oasis Light", and perhaps you can imagine what she was feeling during her creative journey. --Pablo
ReplyDeleteI'm blushing...Husband Pablo has left me a lovely comment and I thought I would thank him personally but what the hell.....I've decided to share it as well!
DeleteWell Mary Anne... I'd have gladly accompanied you to both film and supply shop!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun!
Adore your colours. My fav thing to do when picking colours like this is to deliberately choose ones I usually ignore for that elements of surprise.
As for Lurhman... when I read years ago that he grew up on a gas-station on a lonely stretch of high-way south of a town I knew (100 miles south of my childhood town) I was just blown away and felt I understood that dramatic life force he brings to every part of his work.
He offers so much in one film that its possible to say I didn't like this bit but loved that.
Do you remember Moulin Rouge.. the scene where he had dancers moving to Sting's song Roxanne and then at the same time wove into the score a completely different musical number and held it all together... it was majestic and mind-blowing...
Shall look forward to seeing this film...
and also to seeing what you did with your colours!
Sophie, I would imagine we would have a wonderful time at the fabric store and then delight in this Lurhman production of "The Great Gatsby". He stays close to the dialogue which makes the music and colors even richer with meaning! I did see Moulin Rouge and loved it but was so surprised at friends NOT liking his vision.
DeleteHi Mary, this is Jacie from drawings in mixed media (formerly dear treehouse), I was thinking about you this morning. I remember a while back I was reading on your blog that you were having trouble sewing through paper etc. without the paper breaking down. Well yesterday I bought a paper called Terraskin. It is very thin, but very strong, made from ground stone and a bit of resin. It occurred to me as I was cutting it that it would work perfect for what you do. Anyway just wanted to through that out there. : ) Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteJacie, What a nice surprise! I will be looking for the paper Terraskin as it sounds like a great addition to my papers and fabrics!
DeleteHappy days in Vancouver!
I think it is a lovely earthy color assortment with a touch of sea and sky.
ReplyDeleteLaura, Touch of sea and sky?! I agree, I'm excited about the sewing part!
DeleteA literal take on the expression "new threads"! What fun...as delightful as a box of chocolates and so much easier on the figure. As for colours calling to me, turquoise and sienna always grab my attention in a loving way that I can't resist. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteLynne, I think we are drawn to colors from the beginning. My mother was all about orange and I've always been about ochre and aqua! Actually I love them all.
DeleteHello Mary Ann, isn't it amazing how often color play can find us...I can so relate to opening drawers and choosing colors; I've been doing my color choosing with fabrics for my son's streamer curtains...for his wedding in Santa Cruz...isn't that where you live? I love your color selection; enjoy its wonders.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, I'm dumbfounded on fabric streamer curtains but it all sounds beautiful and romantic...will the wedding be on the beach?
DeleteYes, I'm in Santa Cruz!
Hi Mary Ann, the wedding is at Stones and Flowers Retreat in the mountains, but we are hosting the welcome dinner at some park or maybe the beach. Ezra and Shannon are scoping it out now. We've got a beach house in Davenport...maybe you and I could 'meet up"?
ReplyDeleteMaggie, I went online at Stones and Flowers Retreat and it is a beautiful site... among the Redwood trees! I live near the harbor but I'm sure we can find a way to meet-up. Email me some of your dates...I have my son visiting me from Texas late June and early July.
Delete