Appreciating the world of art, design, and handmade craft -plus all things creative, lovely and inspiring! Sharing my travels, my experiences, my fancies ... My Paisley World!
Liu Bolin brings a new, artistic definition to the word “camouflage”. He paints himself with the intention of blending into his surroundings. It's imperative that his body matches perfectly for the illusion to take place.
At first glance, he's hidden, but as you look closer, you can see him. Talk about “Where’s Waldo?”!
He has been referred to as a ghost, a chameleon, or “The Invisible Man”. Imagine the intricate planning this takes! Perfection is his goal. Each masterpiece entails about 10 hours of painting.
Here are a few examples of his work. Get ready to be amazed!
The Great Wall of China via ifyoufindtheearthboring
via trendland
via whatsonjinan
Venice via defringe
via pic2fly
Watch this to see some behind-the-scenes work,
and hear some comments from the artist~
Cathrineholm is a brand of enamelware from Norway. I have to level with you. At first, I thought these pieces were designed by a woman named Catherine Holm. I was glad to learn that I'm among many who've made that mistake. :)
Initially producing agricultural equipment and wrought iron, Cathrineholm operated from 1907 to 1970. Its enamel kitchenware became known as very tasteful Scandinavian design. The well-loved lotus pattern is thanks to designer Grette Prytz Kittlesen.
These mid-century items are highly collectible. So many vibrant colors! It would be fun to have a piece or two to coordinate with your kitchen color scheme. I just love this retro look!
There's something about the tactile experience of a letterpress creation!
The impression of image and words is a delight
not only to the eyes, but also to the fingertips!
"Bears Eat Berries Press" knows how to show off the art of letterpress to its best.
Here's the 2012 Holiday Collection~
I met Laura while we were participating in the Lititz Main Street Christmas Market.
We've kept in touch and when she agreed to do this interview, I was delighted.
Your talent shines through in each of your designs! Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, I'm Laura. I am a (trained) graphic designer and self-proclaimed letterpress printer. I say self-proclaimed because I've never had any formal training on the press but I've had hundreds of hours of patience, practice and sheer will to get me where I am today. Where I am today is owner of my little letterpress and design shop called Bears Eat Berries Press. So I must ask. How did you come up with this unique name? It's terrific! Well, I love wildlife and nature. (I once majored in Wildlife Management for awhile in college!) I wanted to reflect those passions into my work and into my name. When we would go camping in CA when I was a kid, my cousins and I would sing songs about "bears eating berries" and I've never forgotten those fond memories.
Please explain the letterpress process. Letterpress printing honors the traditional form of printmaking, like the Gutenberg press. I own and operate a century-old press that is foot-pedal operated. Originally, you took pieces of metal or wooden type that you built into whatever you needed to print, one letter at a time. Nowadays, most printers (and me too) design on their computers and have their designs made onto thin polymer plates. Once the design is locked up into the press, I take my hand-mixed ink and spread it onto the ink plate. With letterpress printing, each ink color is done separately. So if you want three colors, the paper goes through the press three separate times. Next, I register the piece of paper I want to print on, usually thick, 100% cotton paper because it gives such a wonderful "bite"/impression. Then I print away! If I am doing a job that is 150 invitations, I feed the press 150 times with each paper for that one color. It's a time-consuming, get-your-hands-dirty type of process, but it results in a beautiful, unique paper product.
What led to your decision to begin a letterpress business? I had been a working graphic designer for a number of years. My sister was getting married, and she and her fiance wanted letterpress invitations. Naturally, I wanted to design them, but I didn't know the first thing about letterpress other than what it looked like. I did a little research and started thinking, "You know, I can do this!" So, I drove up to Ithaca, NY, and bought my first press without even touching one before. I'd love to hear about how you acquired the large press you're using now. I operated my first press for awhile as I taught myself how to print. It's a small tabletop press, which I quickly learned is very limited in terms of printing. I needed to go bigger. So about two years ago, I found a press up for sale by a retired printer in Harrisburg, PA. After 12 hours of maneuvering the 1100 lb. press up his basement steps, I was finally the proud owner of a Chandler & Price floor press.
You create gorgeous wedding designs! Thank you! 100% of each wedding invitation is custom. I work with each client on what they want, and design each piece to make their invitation unique. Letterpress invitations are not only like little gifts sent in the mail to each guest, but they're also wonderful keepsakes for the bride & groom.
What inspires your creativity? I am inspired by simplicity. I think it's really difficult to execute simplicity in design. I am constantly trying to challenge myself on that. Japanese design really excels in simplicity and I frequently look toward that type of design for inspiration. I am also inspired by nature. The textures and patterns created in nature never fail in my book. From the texture of tree bark to the shape that the sun creates on a mountain, I always find perfection in nature.
View Laura's remarkable handmade paper crafts at these locations:
"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings
of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come,
others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they
can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible
to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
...It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently,
and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice
by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens..."
Happy Thanksgiving to you and to your loved ones!
Enjoy celebrating together as we appreciate one another
and the many ways in which our Lord has blessed us!
We hear lots of talk these days about antioxidants, and we know cranberries are full of them. Well, listen to this. The only place in nature where the most powerful antioxidant is found is in cranberries!
One of my most memorable vacation moments involves cranberries. My husband and I were driving along the New England coast. Absolutely by accident, we came across a Massachusetts cranberry bog. As luck would have it, they were in the full swing of harvest! I remember how startling it was to realize that those gorgeous red swirls were actually floating cranberries! Of course this was long before the recent telltale Ocean Spray TV commercials. It was the first time I had ever heard of what the cranberry harvest entails.
I could have stayed there all day to watch.
via cranberryfestivals.com
via dujardindesign.com
via tripadvisor.com
OK, if you're intrigued, here's an interesting video to
watch & learn more about this unique process.
Fix yourself a cup of tea, relax, and be fascinated.
Stick around for my mom's luscious Cranberry Jello Salad recipe!
My Mom's Cranberry Jello Salad
This is much nicer than opening a can and dumping it into a bowl,
but still very easy to put together.
(Although, you still may have a few die-hards for the plain stuff!)
Celery and walnuts give this the perfect crunch!
1 large pkg. raspberry jello
1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce
1 14 1/2 oz.can crushed pineapple, drained (note that this is the smaller size can)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped celery
Very simple. Follow directions on the box of jello.
Add other ingredients, stir well, put in 13x9 pan, chill until set.
Delicious, especially with chicken or turkey! A Thanksgiving favorite!
