Saturday, May 19, 2007

Meant to be Made

Yesterday I got an email from Deb Lacativa, my lost twin, (artistically, that is) and she had found a website that I ought to see. Bill Lowe Gallery had a page of Ton Schulten's work and since I love his stuff I really was happy to find this site. I found this painting that reminded me that I have been thinking about using gray and yellow as a color theme for a quilt.

I wondered when I would have time to get around to making anything from this neat colorway. I had my day all planned, to clean up the messes I have made all week and get ready for the party I am giving Sunday. The kitchen came first and then the bathroom, my bedroom, the vacuuming and finally the studio.

Since that room was in disarray, I put away the fabric from the previous creation, and it took only minutes to divert my attention to finding the gray and yellow fabrics in my stash.

Some scraps were already cut, so in minutes I was deep into construction. Here is the result:


L.A. Modern

about 21x25" unquilted at the moment

It is so evident that what one feeds the mind eventually is spewed out in the work. I have been so entrenched in looking at real estate that I can make nothing but buildings and houses in my quilts.
The architect designed homes (I know that originally all the tract homes were also architect designed, but here I refer to original custom designs) from the late '60's to '80's are the most intriguing to me. The owners commissioned an architect to design something 'modern' and usually these were fitted to a specific site, not in a regular street or neighborhood. The homes had at that time all the latest and greatest new ideas, cathedral ceilings, pendant light fixtures, sunken living rooms, or some such clever new styling. Lots of windows and open floor plans were usually part of the design. I lived in my parent's house that an architect designed, as a kid right before I got married in 1967. All of these homes I have recently found remind me of that house.
Nostalgia? Perhaps. But the thought that I could do something arty with the interiors also intrigues me. It must be all those decorating shows on tv.

7 comments:

  1. I love that period house. They are so unique. It seems they are the hot commodity in this area, too. They seem to be featuring them in the all the newspaper redos. I love the calm of the yellow and gray.

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  2. Anonymous12:32 PM

    Have you ever been to Palm Springs? OOOh, a mecca for mid-century modern everything. I love this, of course. And don't forget who really introduced you to Ton Schulten!!

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  3. Anonymous2:55 PM

    I apologize that this note has nothing to do with todays blog, but I am watching Fons & Porter, and your work is featured! I absolutely love those little flowers, those "bodacious bloomers". I am so inspired to create and to fuse. What a great show to get me motivated this fine Saturday morning. Great work!

    Jeri

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  4. Oooh -- HGTV is dangerous when you are looking at homes. But I know what you mean about that style/period home. I love it too.

    I really like your grey and yellow piece so far. Great inspiration.

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  5. Anonymous5:44 PM

    Today, for the first time, I worked with Wonder-Under. I am really excited about how quickly I was able to create a little 'naive' picture. Took a bit of planning on my part because I worked on a fabric covered board and developed it from there so that I could hang it directly without having to frame it.
    A whole new way of churning out my ideas has opened up. Wow.

    Enjoy your May Girls party.

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  6. Thank you for opening my eyes to Ton Schulten's work. Love the vibrancy of the colors and abstraction of the landscapes.

    I know you want nothing to do with Phoenix and these houses have skyrocketed in price here but... lots of modern eye candy at this site if you just want to look!

    http://www.modernphoenix.net/neighborhoods.htm

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  7. Nice colors..and it does remind me of my parents home in the 60's..I thought it was so sheek...someday I going to get brave and try one of your projects with the Wonder-Under..(hmmm could it be related to the Wonder-Bra ??)lol

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com