Beautiful or Ugly

Art is the psychic expression of beauty as revealed through truth.

                                                                Webster's Dictionary

Greetings All,

Is this beautiful or ugly?

Recently, I put together this scarf from a pile of discarded sweaters.  I borrowed the majority of the idea  from some of my fellow Etsy crafters and then added a couple of crocheted rows to the edges.  After I finished the scarf and showed it to others, I was told told that it was ugly, really ugly, so ugly it was almost beautiful!  Wow!  Exactly what does that mean?  I guess that means I am going to make another one!

We have all heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, our moms told us that many times during those terrible middle school years. What we think is beautiful now, quite possibly was thought to be hideous one hundred years ago.  For example, consider what the public thought about modern art at the turn of the century.   Those same pieces that outraged them in the 1900's are now priceless.  Think Matisse, Van Gogh and Picasso.

And then there is the cultural element.  What is beautiful in China, may not be perceived as so in India.    What American's feel is an ideal beauty is not necessarily so in the Arab world.  Finally, your own personal experiences will define what is "beautiful" to you.  Some people just like orange or landscapes or portraits etc.  What you like can be very personal to you.

"I have found that all ugly things are made by those who strive to make something beautiful, and all that all beautiful things are made by those who strive to make something useful."

   Oscar Wilde 1885

And speaking of beauty, here is a beautiful wedding card made from recycled paper including the bride & groom's wedding invitation.  Here, Amelia used the lattice card technique which I have detailed in my September 18, 2012 blog and appliqued it with stars.  It really turned out lovely and what a keepsake for the new couple.

Amelia's Wedding Card

Thanks again for reading my blog and your support!  Please visit my Etsy shop, there will be more journals and Literary Jewelry made from the pages of Wizard of Oz.  Great Fun! I will preview them here first.  

 Let me know if there is anything special you need to see either on my blog or in my Etsy shop.

Talk to you all soon,

anne

Pretty Things to Make

Tori wearing my new scarf

Here's a picture of my new scarf.  I knitted it on #50 needles, it took about two hours and one skein of Mo'Puffs yarn by U. Knitted Nation.  Great yarn and great scarf right! Locally the yarn is sold at Flying Fingers Yarn Shop in Tarrytown, NY.  So... this morning I wore my new scarf to the Farmer's Market.  The first comment I got was from a guy who really thought the scarf was an homage to the brussel sprout!  His family loved brussel sprouts, that is what he was buying at the Farmer's Market.  The scarf reminded him of his little cabbages of goodness.  And even though I love brussel sprouts too, really?

Next a woman came up to me and asked if she could take a picture of the scarf for her blog.  Ellen Margulies is a knitter and writes a fiberarts blog.  She will have a picture of me wearing the scarf at the Farmer's Market on her blog.  Hope I look good.

Memory Wire Bracelet

I have a few jewelry workshops planned locally during the school winter vacations.  This project is a memory wire bracelet especially designed for middle school children.  They will make a few paper beads crafted from recycled cereal  boxes.   They will roll, glue and glaze the beads, just like I do.  While the glazed beads are drying, they can choose from various sizes and colors of seed beads to complement their paper beads and design a unique one of a kind piece.  I will help attach charms and other adornments or if the student is familiar with using jump rings and head pins they can complete their own.  You can contact me directly for more information.

I got my first international sale last week!  Yahoo!  Hope to see you soon on my Etsy site.  New Valentine's Day gifts for your sweetheart!! 

Talk to you soon,
anne