The Art of … Knitting

lady desidia

Oh, the popularity of knitting!

It embraces the past and holds onto the integrity of handmade.

I grew up cozy and warm under beautiful afghans hand-knit by my mom, granny or aunts!

Many knitters learned from loved ones as the skill was handed down through the generations.

Enjoy these images of men, women and children (along with a few critters!) who love to knit!

"For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13,14

Alberto Montt

Paul Albicocco

Ernest Bieler

Phoebe Wahl

Dee Nickerson

Dilka Bear

Ben Chen

Albert Anker

Micki Wilde

Jean Metzinger

Dabin Choi

Karl Albert Buehr

Reminiscing about my fun visit with Knitter-Extraordinaire, Susan Nadelson.
It was terrific spending time with her - she's one talented lady!
Take a look at the post:
Hand-dyed, Hand-spun Yarns by Susan Nadelson

Martin Wiscombe

Schall Eszter Illustrations

Eszter Schall, an illustrator from Hungary, studied graphic design in Budapest.

She draws inspiration from folklore; we pick up that mood in her drawings.

Casual and whimsical. My favorite is Squirrel Picnic, above!

Here are more of Eszter's happy illustrations~

Castle

Birds

City

Flowers

Rabbit Journey

Mrs. Bird

Foxes in Love

Forest

Owl

Reading House

You can see more of Schall Eszter on her website and Etsy shop!

Images used with direct permission from Eszter Schall.

The Embroidery of Kimika Hara

From Kyoto, Japan comes Kimika Hara and her colorful, mixed-media embroidery!

She embellishes her free-form stitches with fabric & trims, beads, buttons and sequins,

easily meeting her goal of creating cute, happy works of art!

How about her choices of background fabrics?
And those bright shades combined in ways I'd never expect to work - but surely do?

It all adds up to fabulous fun!

You can find the art of Kimika Hara
on her Blog and on Flickr.



Images used with direct permission from Kimika Hara

Scripture Art by French Press Mornings

As an encourager, Jenny Stewart recognized her desire to cheer and console others. 

She decided to share her artistic talent by creating 4 x 6 prints of scripture verses,
beautifully flourished with vines, leaves and flowers.
Her intention, by posting one each week on her blog as a free download, 

is to encourage others with God's love and promises by placing a sweet reminder into their hands. 

Jenny says, "...please...hang scripture on your walls so you can experience God's truth 

about you and for your life!" What a beautiful way to reach out and be an inspiration!

 “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; 

tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home 

and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 

so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land 

the Lord swore to give your ancestors, 

as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” 

Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Before long, she opened an online shop called French Press Mornings

and started selling her popular prints in larger sizes.

Here are some of my favorites, along with information 

on how you can see more and get one for yourself!

Want more French Press Mornings?

Blog

Etsy

Facebook

Images used with direct permission from Jenny Stewart. Thanks, Jenny!

Cherry Blossom Cupcake Mosaic

Holy Pastry Pixelation, Batman!

A mosaic mural of cupcakes.

10,000 of them!

I bring you this post in recognition of the upcoming

National Cherry Blossom Festival,

held annually in Washington, D.C.

fodors

The 2014 festival is set for March 20 through April 13,

amidst 3,000 predicted-to-be-blooming cherry trees!

Can you imagine the fairytale ambiance?

Like stepping into a magical, pink dreamworld!

The trees, a gift from Tokyo Mayor Yukeo Ozaki to the city of Washington, D.C.,

were given in 1912 to honor the friendship between the U.S. and Japan.

syndicatesales

A hundred years later, London bakery Crumbs & Doilies

was commissioned by Japanese TV show ITTEQ

to create a cupcake mural of a blooming cherry tree.

Oh, and the whole thing had to be done in one day

so that the treats could be eaten. No pressure there.

Were they up to the challenge? I think the result was terrific, don't you?

Here's the official poster for the 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival.

It was created by artist Evelia Sowash.

From her site: "Created in the Japanese style of woodcut block prints,

this composition was meticulously made on a mac.

The blooms were hand painted with watercolor and then moved into place."

Isn't this poster so, so pretty?
The charming color palette with salmon, aqua and lime?

(And of course, I'm partial to the paisleys she used!)

See more of her work at Evelia Designs.

eveliadesigns

More on the festival HERE!

I'd love to go some day!

Cupcake images used with permission from Sam at Crumbs & Doilies.