Sunday 28 June 2009

Merry-Go-Round


Jump on and join a group of artists/craftswomen as they link around the world and tell you a little bit about their lives in art and craft.
Our question this month is: What is your favourite publication(s)? Is there a book, magazine or website that has become the bible of your art/craft?
Inspiration for me comes from absolutely anywhere and everywhere - nature, magazines, my children and their inventive imaginations, historical properties, gardens, holidays, that ball of string that has tangled itself up into the most beautiful of patterns...everything! My eyes always seem to be open, everywhere I go. I love colour, detail and sumptuous texture.
It is no surprise to learn I'm sure, that I could while away many an hour grazing on the amazing talent and beauty that can be found on flickr and in numerous Etsy stores. That goes without saying! I devour every issue of Country Living magazine, too...oh, to live those 'perfect' lives! Stampington magazines are a fabulous way of looking in on other artists' lives and works - ever inspirational.
However, there are two tomes that never ever fail to inspire me - or at the very least leave me breathless with want and aspirations. Take a look at Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail (Lucy Johnston) and The Art of Embroidery - inspirational stitches, textures and surfaces (Francoise Tellier-Loumagne) and you'll see what I mean. When I open these publications, I feel the need to reach out and touch...to feel for myself the ruffles of fabric, the nubbles of thick thread, the delicacies of the stitches beneath my fingertips. Such beauty and intricacy to marvel at!
If I could climb into these books and never get out again, I would. Taking with me my monthly copy of Country Living, of course! That, my friends, is happiness indeed.
What publications inspire my fellow international merry-go-rounders? Do click on the links in the sidebar to find out!

10 comments:

meherio68 said...

Pfff... I just spent half an hour roaming your links. You have a terrible influence on me, Charlotte! So much beauty and inspiration on a Sunday— how can I begin to try to resist?

Jackie said...

I used to have an annual subscription for Christmas every year to CL and absolutely loved it, but then after about 5 years, I noticed a photo or two of Prince Charles on his farm that I thought looked familiar. As I never throw a copy away I checked back and found the exact same pics from an articlke a few years earlier. So I stopped it. Of course, that was a very long time ago and I still have many of the copies from 1980s, I'm sure its different now.

Mariana said...

love all those pics! I read country living too... it always looks as if they are so laize faire and yet neat and pretty! hahahaa never manage that here!

I like that book "the art of embroidery". I have no ckue about embroidery but I wanted to learn to add some texture to the felt I make...so I might have to look into this book!

Easterya said...

The 19th century fashion book looks ABSOLUTELY to die for... what a great list of links, Charlotte you're a star! I've been thinking about mixes of metal and fabric, and you've given so much to think about! Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

My book of inspiration is Robert Henri's THE ART SPIRIT. It's something I got from one of my art instructors when I was ill and in the hospital. Just having it in the house and glimpsing the cover gets me in the art spirit.

Gina said...

Country Living and The Art of Embroidery are two of my favourites too.

Ruth said...

What a lovely post! I so enjoy your idea of climbing into a book.... That conjurs up such a wonderful feeling! And the photos of all those pleats and lace and.....Beautiful Charlotte

Wendren said...

I know what you mean when you say that inspiration surrounds you in all directions. That is how I feel. All you need to do is see it.

Sara Millis said...

I think I've said thsi before... a girl after my own heart... some truely lovely inspirations points! Sxx

Beaded Zen said...

I love color and texture also ;)
Great links. I'm going to bookmark them. Thanks