Linda's Magic Workshop - Linda Britt Design

Stitch Boutique I had a great time looking and taking pictures of everything that caught my interest one overcast afternoon while walking in Boston.   Now that I’m home and looking through those pictures, I’m realizing that repetition is a common element in my photos.   The repetition might be boring unless there is a twist – like the dolls with different personality and the wood bookend that fans.   I thought you might enjoy looking at the photos also.   I’d love to know what catches your interest too. Great Museum of Sewing Machines in Clothing Store Merimekko -repetition of color, line, fashion pinky otto store - repetition of bears Society of Arts and Crafts - wood bookends Felted scarves in rose repetition Society of Arts and Crafts Anthropologie - repetition of shape, pattern and color

Yesterday Peter and I took a day trip to V-Bar-V Ranch near Sedona AZ.   We love to visit ruins and see petroglyphs while we look for real birds and interesting textures of nature. In 1994, the U.S. Forest Service acquired the V-Bar-V Ranch to protect the ancient art panels found here. The property was first homesteaded at the turn of the century (1900’s) by the Taylor family.   Several families ran the property as a working cattle ranch after that. We checked in with the ranger and took the short walk to the very large configuration of rocks on the sandstone bluff.   It was covered with petroglyphs- 1032 have been identified so far.   Most were pecked, ground or scratched into the rock between 1150 and 1400 A.D. (over 800 years ago).   The Sinagua people who created these images seemed to like pairs – 2 birds, lizards and humans with different sets of legs- and we found several of these pairs.   By watching the movement of light across the rock ...

I’m getting ready to participate in my first Holiday Sale!   Our homeowner’s association is having a one day holiday sale (September 17).   I will have a table to display my creations of jewelry, silk flowers and blank cards with my photos.   And I’m wondering how to present these items to the best advantage.   Displaying my products in a way that attracts buyers has me thinking about the art of presentation. How things look and are presented can mean success or not!   I remember my mother telling me that it was very important to set a pretty table.   If the presentation for the food was inviting, the food and the conversation would be better.   If it looked like dinner was planned, Dad would not mind waiting for it!   So now, even with pizza, I set the table with candlelight and napkins.   A Ladies Afternoon Tea Such fun to make this presentation and then eat it!! When I taught, I wanted my students to listen.   Junior high and hig...

Noun  TEXTURE texture ( plural   textures ) The feel or shape of a surface or substance ; the smoothness , roughness , softness , etc. of something. The beans had a grainy, gritty texture in her mouth. ( art ) The quality given to a work of art by the composition and interaction of its parts. The piece of music had a mainly smooth texture . ( computer graphics ) An image applied to a polygon to create the appearance of a surface, Verb texture ( third-person singular simple present textures , present participle texturing , simple past and past participle textured ) to create or apply a texture Drag the trowel through the plaster to texture the wall. Texture gives us so much information.   It gives variety to shapes and it helps us distinguish between items.   It helps identify plants and animals and we can tell what kind of bird lost its feather by the size, color and texture.   It tells us about health.   Is the skin dry and flaky?...

My camera and I keep capturing images that inspire my jewelry making.   This time it’s about LINE ! My mother was an artist and a teacher.   She taught me that line is the foundation of art and that there are unlimited kinds of lines.   Some join to make a shape.   Some intersect.   Some wander.   I learned about vanishing lines where the land meets the sky and you aren’t quite sure where.   Mother made line drawings of people that told wonderful stories.   This is one I found in her sketchbook. This line drawing was made during a faculty meeting and I can imagine just what each person was saying or thinking.   Bet you can too! In one of my college art classes, we were to make 5 drawings using only line to depict recognizable objects without drawing an outline of the object.   See if you can draw a broom using only parallel lines!   I’ve been thinking about lines and how we use them in our daily life.   Think about and look for...

I love to take pictures.  My Nikon 7000 goes with me most places.  I try to be aware when something catches my eye and find what caused me to stop and look.  Usually it is in the details! Today I'm sharing some photos I've taken of circles and their many origins.  I keep a file so I can review and many times I use the textures, rhythm, color, lines and themes for my jewelry.  I hope you enjoy the details of these circles too!  Stacked Sewer Pipe  Farm Equipment Rows of Feathers Flamingo - the difference is in the details My Gourd Purse patterned from a flower in circle Christmas Ornament Glass Balls Take time to really see - not just look-at the beauty of the details.  These are circles but more important is what we find within those circles.  Lyrics not just words. Visual poetry.  The details of Life.