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New Look!

Hello everyone! 

I am very excited to tell you that we have a new updated look for our blog! You will find all the future posts in here. Actually, there are a few new articles already. So go ahead and explore!

See you there!

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Mood: Fade Away

Leaf Shadows by Tatiana Ginsberg.

Detail of a dress, hand painted and embroidered by Lisa Smirnova.

Textiles pattern from Spring/Summer womenswear collection by Sabine Egler.

Embroidery detail by Yumiko Arimoto.

Watercolour painting ‘First Snow in the Valley’ by ARco Texture Paintings.

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Surreal Photographic Stories by Oleg Oprisco

Today I would like to dip into the creative world of photography. Nowadays photography strongly relies on digital cameras and image editing software. And that is quite natural, as a lot of people like to simplify things, therefore they choose digital over analogue. Endless software possibilities give them an opportunity to alter the reality and that is very attractive. These days it is harder to find artists working with film photography, therefore it gains more value.

An artist Oleg Oprisco, who is based in Kiev, Ukraine, has mastered the art of analogue photography. He creates beautiful surreal images without the tricks of post-production. All the props are made by the artist himself and they are impressive! 

Explore the dreamlike fairy-tails by Oleg Oprisco here. You can also follow artist’s work on Flickr, Instagram and Facebook.

All the copyrights of the images used in this post belong to Oleg Oprisco.

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Rust Speck

Knitted sweater by Camelotia.

Rust dyed cotton tote bag by Natural Primitives.

Handmade terrarium by Box Wood Tree.

Handmade ceramics by Liquorice Moon Studios.

Bowl-cup with clay spoon by Eeli-Ethel Polli.

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Chaotic Atmospheres

This time I would like to share with you some interesting digital art pieces. It comes from a 3D artist Istvan, known as Chaotic Atmospheres. The artist experiments with various software to create unique pieces.

My personal favourites are ‘Flowing City Map’ and ‘Eroded leaves’ projects. These projects touch the topics that I am very interested in: Urban and natural structures, patterns of cities and nature.

The first series of images explores identities of cities and their inhabitants. The pieces represent the influence that cities have on the environment through ‘erosion flow map’ of each place.

‘Eroded Leaves’ project is a series of images generated by the flow map of the erosion device. It has a similar look to the ‘Flowing City Map’, but explores a different theme - detailed patterns found in nature, the veins of leaves.

Find out more about these and other projects by Chaotic Atmospheres here. You can also follow the artist on Behance and Twitter.

All the images used in this post are the property of Chaotic Atmospheres.

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Grain and Knot

I have to admit I am a little obsessed with textures and patterns, visual and tactile qualities of objects are just so important to me. Even more so, if they derive from nature. Therefore, today I find inspiration in wooden creations by Sophie Sellu from Grain and Knot.

Sophie makes beautiful tactile kitchenware in her London studio. Each of her pieces are made from reclaimed wood. Products at Grain and Knot are not only pleasing to the eye, but also timeless functional items.

More information can be found on brand’s website, as well as Instagram account and Pinterest.

All the images in this post belong to Grain and Knot.

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Mood: Dream in Blue

Morocco. Image by photographer and food stylist Gabriel Cabrera.

Shibori Pillowcases by Upstate.

Printed scarf from ‘Whatever the Weather’ collection by Anna Badur.

Ellipse Platers by Suite One Studio.

Hand Dyed Shibori Scarf by Ayelet Iontef.

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Mood: High Spirits

Embroidered piece ‘Reaching for Equilibrium’ by Izziyana Suhaimi.

 Acrylic painting by Prudencio Irazabal.

Photograph by Angex Lin.

Photograph ‘Ode to Her II’ by Beeline Studio.

Encaustic Painting ‘Tupelo’ by Betsy Eby.

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Handwoven Fibre Jewellery by Lesh

Today on the blog we have an opportunity to get an insight into the creative world of a fibre artist and photographer Summer Moore. She creates unique handwoven jewellery pieces in her New York based studio, under the brand name Lesh.

Initially Summer’s interest in fibre arts was inspired by antique Andean textiles seen in Peru, later influenced by the weavings of her grandmother, and finally strengthened by an artist residency she did in Turkey exploring the possibilities of this craft.

Lesh jewellery pieces can be found online through the brand’s website and Instagram account.

And now let’s have a look at the story behind these beautiful fibre creations:

What do we need to know about you?

This can be quite an introspective question! On a less personal level I’m a San Diego native who's been living in NYC for 10 years. I got my degree in photography from Parsons, and somehow found my way to textiles. More personally, I guess it’s important to know my desire to create things feels like it’s part of my DNA. It’s the only way I know how to exist happily. I've tried not creating things and it was the most miserable time of my life!

What are your daily inspirations? What motivates you?

New color combinations inspire me almost daily. I am really into art and design and go to museums, galleries, and see films as often as possible. I like being inspired by mediums I am not using, such as painting or sculpture, and see how I can develop it into something that fits my aesthetic and use of fiber. The best part for me is designing something new, or a new variation of a piece I already created. It’s that first phase of experimenting that motivates me to keep going.

Describe your creative process. What is your favourite part of it?

My textile practice began after being inspired to learn how to weave while in Peru. After learning the basics, I started experimenting on my own with smaller, wearable, handwoven pieces, and worked on them from home for over a year. Ideas were flooding me, so I decided I needed focused time to work them out, and took part in an artist residency in Cappadocia, Turkey. It was an incredible experience, and was the push I needed to get my own studio once I returned to Brooklyn. It’s not easy managing two rents, but having that separate space from home has helped my creative process flourish.

How does your workspace look? What do you like about it? What would you change?

My current workspace is cozy and inviting, and has a sitting area for people who visit, or if I ever need to give my hands a rest from the loom. It was important for me to have a space I visually wanted to be in, so I added a palm tree, rugs, and arm chair, and plan on painting a mural. I’m in the midst of swapping studios after being in the same space for over two years, so am pretty excited to freshen it up a bit and personalize it even more. It’s well organized and I have all my fibers within arm’s reach of my loom. Having your supplies within reach keeps you more focused; I have learned this from experience!

Describe your typical day.

I’m not a morning person so I’ll usually get to the studio in the early afternoon, unless I have a deadline. On nice days I’ll walk through Prospect Park to get there. Sometimes I have a set plan in mind on what I need to get done, and sometimes I wing it, depending on what I feel like making. I’m in the process of experimenting more with dying yardage, so some days I’m on the loom and some days I’m getting my hands dirty with dye. I love the variety, which is also why each of my jewelry pieces is one-of-a-kind.

Your tips for fresh artists, designers and makers.

Keep playing with your medium of choice until you find an aesthetic that speaks to you and becomes yours. You really have to put your heart into it, dream about it, and see it happening. It takes time so start small and build up, and if you’re putting your all into it, it’ll get noticed. Having a nice, clean website to showcase your products is essential! Then try taking part in markets or design shows, they’re a great way to get exposure and meet fellow designers. You have to have a mix of creative exploration and business-mindedness. Keep putting yourself out there!

All the images used in the post belong to  Summer Moore.

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Mood: Moon Textures

Today I am introducing a new section to Ideasblock - Mood. Here we will have daily inspirations of art, design, photography, colours, textures, patterns and anything else that will come to mind that particular day. It is all about inspiration! 

Today’s mood is Moon Textures:

Blankets from ‘Mod’ collection by Mae Engelgeer. 

Still life photography of worn-out frying pans by Christopher Jonassen.

Tea towel by Alexquisite.

‘Pearl’ Watercolor by Malissa Ryder.

Moon leather coasters available to purchase at Leif.

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Natural Dyeing with Cara Marie Piazza

You might think that is a weird thing to say, but I just love natural dyes! Maybe it is not so odd if you consider that I am a textile designer, so my mind is always filled with ideas about colours, patterns, textures, materials and, of course, dyes. I am happy to find designers experimenting with alternative ways of applying colours to the fabrics, using natural and ecological materials. Therefore I was so excited when I found out about a textile designer Cara Marie Piazza.

Cara Marie Piazza lives and creates her sustainable one of a kind textiles in New York. She explores natural dyes based on plants, minerals, food waste and non-toxic metals. All her pieces are manufactured locally using organic natural materials.

The artist works with various companies and designers producing exclusive pieces that can be seen on her website. Also her Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and blog are all filled with many inspiring things!

All the photographs used in this post belong to Cara Marie Piazza.

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Dorotea Ceramics

Today I have one more inspiring story for you, an interesting interview with a visual artist and ceramicist Carolina Silva, who is originally from Spain, but now based in Seattle. Apart from creating art pieces for exhibitions Carolina also works on her nature inspired ceramics' line Dorotea. Her ceramics are filled with floral patterns that artist draws by hand. Therefore, each piece is unique with its own character. And not only that, Dorotea ceramics also look very sturdy and well made.

Now go ahead and explore the full collection of Dorotea ceramics and don't forget to visit artist's personal website to see her artworks. For more insights into Carolina's creative processes follow her on Instagram.

And here is the full interview with the artist:

What do we need to know about you?

I live in Seattle, love this region where the woods meet the ocean and its vast nature. It is a rich ground for my work, where I like to challenge boundaries and try new things.

What are your daily inspirations? What motivates you?

Being connected to nature, art and objects with stories. I am motivated by many artists and makers I admire, by people who see possibility more than limitations and follow their visions.

Describe your creative process. What is your favourite part of it?

My ceramics process goes through different phases: hand building and drawing or etching on the surface of each piece, firing, glazing, washing, glazing and firing again. My favorite part is the etching of the patterns on the surface. Drawing the surface by hand instead of using stamps or other ways of imprinting make it exciting and meditative at the same time- a balance of impulse and control that makes it feel very alive. It's almost like tattooing, only using a needle to draw in clay is more forgiving ;)

How does your work space look like? What do you like about it? What would you change?

My studio is in a old cookie factory. The building is called Salty Dog which talks much of the seafaring history of the neighborhood. I like that it is old, has cracks in the walls and holes in the wood floors, layers of paint. I like that I can smell the sea from it every morning and more than anything the light it gets. I would add a fireplace to it, so its not so chilly to work there in winter.

Describe your typical day.

I normally throw myself into work at whatever point I left it the day before. My studio time is very precious and I am very austere in my commodities, so no distractions. I like working on my own and following my rhythm. Because I work on my own I also have to take care of all the business part: updating the website, shippings, emails...That takes time so I often times go back to the studio to work at night.

Your tips for fresh artists, designers and maker.

Follow your instinct and desire, do not frustrate your creative energy and always listen to your inner voice. Sometimes you need to take risks to follow a dream or a passion so be brave. Also, find a community, be connected to other people who share your interests, passion. We all learn from each other.

All the photographs belong to the artist.

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Made by Rain

I don’t know about your new year, but mine is starting with some rain. I know that for many of us rainy days are quite slow and sleepy, whenever it is possible we try to avoid getting wet and cold. For that reason I was looking for an inspiration that would embrace the rainy weather. 

Randomly I came across some great work that perfectly fits the subject by a Dutch artist Aliki van der Kruijs. The artist was interested in exploring the rain, which is so common in her home country. She decided to capture the experience of a rainfall and transfer it to textiles, making it possible to ‘wear the weather’. The artist developed a technique called 'pluviagraphy’: photographic recordings of rain precipitation on textiles with a film coating that is sensitive to water. Each piece comes with a  precipitation data of location, time and weather conditions. The project is called Made by Rain and it is presented in a book together with the process, research and inspiration.

Enjoy the rain! 

All the images belong to Aliki van der Kruijs.

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DIY Christmas Decorations by Studio Lilesadi

I am quite sure there are many people out there looking for some interesting Christmas decoration ideas. Therefore, today I would like to share with you some great DIY paper decorations from a creative studio that was previously featured on the blog - Studio Lilesadi.

They are offering free pdf files for everyone who is interested to create something new for their homes this Christmas. Among their décor ideas you can find minimalistic tea-light holders (download a pdf here) and Christmas tree decorations (download a pdf here). Get your files and make the Christmas decorations yourself! 

And if you like Lilesadi handmade goods, right now you have a chance to get a free shipping on all the products in their online shop. All you need to do is use a discount code ‘santa’ at the checkout.

Good luck with your Christmas preparations!

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What Appears Through Disappearance by Seung-Hwan Oh

I just discovered something great and had to share it with you all. This time I am admiring some beautiful photographic creations, in particular, a series of photographs called 'Impermanence' by Seung-Hwan Oh. The collection is inspired by the second law of thermodynamics and explores the ideas of temporal dimension, disappearance and disintegration.

'Impermanence' is expressed through microbiological practise, where a film is submerged into water filled with various types of bacteria that slowly destroy it. The artist obtains different results by controlling the conditions for each photograph. And those results are captivating: human portraits become blurry or even unrecognisable due to the disintegration of the film. The colours change creating beautiful dreamlike colour palettes.

To see more great work by Seung-Hwan Oh please visit his website.

All the photographs in this post belong to Seung-Hwan Oh.

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Fabrics of Sound by BeatWoven

Sound and textiles to me looks like a perfect combination. While doing research on this subject I found something really interesting- woven fabric featuring sound patterns. The geometric patterns created by the beats and sounds in music are set to the loom to be materialised. This wonderful project is created by the textiles label BeatWoven, based in London.

Here are a few thoughts from the founder of the project – Nadia-Anne Ricketts:

"When travelling and living around the world I experienced how music is a universal language and at the core of every culture. When I hear music I want to react, whether it’s dancing, singing, or smiling. It can unite us, unlock special memories, take us on an emotional journey and most of all, it can motivate us to focus, create and endure. To be able to express the intangible of music, through woven textiles is super special, as it creates tactile music with an added narrative to any interior space; A woven piano concerto wall hanging in a concert hall for instance, or an Arabic prayer upholstery on a super yacht, or your favourite house track woven and tailored into a garment ".

To learn more about this beautiful project please visit Beatwoven website. You can also follow the updates on Instagram and Twitter.

All the images and video used in this post belong to the artist.

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Ocean Blues by Milly Dent

As I am having my morning tea, I imagine all the beautiful cups that are being made out there in the world, cups that would make my tea even tastier. And among those special vessels I place the imaginative ceramic creations by Milly Dent.

Milly Dent is a designer and maker based in Sydney, where she creates distinct geometric tableware infused with marbled patterns. Her work is highly inspired by the ocean, which can be clearly seen in the selection of colours and organically shaped patterns. I love the scattered dreamlike blues in her ceramic pieces. That is my kind of style!

Have a look at the full collection of vessels by Milly Dent in her website. Also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

All the photographs used in this post belong to Milly Dent.