{Glimpses} Hometown...

How many times does it take before something becomes a habit or a part of your routine? Last Wednesday I started to document my "glimpses" here as a way to participate in the drawing assignments that I give my class. I want my students to keep a sketchbook or journal where they collect images of things that they see in their daily life that inspires them. I took a drive last Wednesday making a point of pulling over to snap a photo of things that caught my eye. I found that I was looking forward to doing the same thing this Wednesday. While I won't always take photos of my hometown for this feature, I felt the need drive the backroads again today. It really has a way off clearing my mind and my stresses seem to melt away temporarily. I also just got a new zoom lens for our camera and really wanted to test it out. Here are my five Wednesday glimpses.

Glimpse 1:  Every time I pass this little building, I crane my neck to look at the vintage signage. I'm a sucker for typography and rust. So today I pulled over and got out of the car to snoop. 

Glimpse 2:  In addition to cool, vintage signs, there were old gas pumps and cars out  back. I loved the colors and shapes. 

Glimpse 3:  It was the row of birds on the roof of this barn that made me pull over. They had a really great view of the valley. I like the lines and color of grass in this photo as well. 

Glimpse 4:   Unfortunately I couldn't capture the sound, but this is what is above Sayer and I when we walk to school these days. If the sun is hitting the trumpeter swans just right, they shimmer. It's truly spectacular to witness and I always look up. I snapped a photo today to document pattern. I've been playing with images to create new pattern screens for my textiles and this may inspire a new screen print. 

Glimpse 5:   I don't think I will ever get tired of watching swans, particularly when they take flight. I've been drawing swans in thread for my plush, textiles, and screen prints so I took this photo as a study. I love the the swan's wings- so delicate and strong. I really do wish that I could fly. 

What has inspired you lately?

{Glimpses} Remembering to Breathe

Do you own a sketchbook? Better yet, do you use one? I have many - one in every room in in every bag. You may remember me mentioning a few posts ago that I'm teaching at the college again. Class started last week and I required every student to start using a journal to collect inspiration or "glimpses" for our drawing class. Every week, I want them to document something that they see in their everyday life that inspires them - like a texture, color, shape, mood, or image. I thought it would be fun to do the same thing but to use the klt:sketchbook to document my observations weekly.  So here are my five  Wednesday glimpses.

Glimpse 1 - I love old barns and peeling paint. While driving the backroads today, I spotted this little barn like building up on short stilts. There was something that struck me about it- maybe it was the little ladder and the idea that I would have loved this space as a fort when I was a kid. The peeling color was wonderful too. 

Glimpse 2 - I'm trying really hard to find balance right now. The addition of teaching night classes is throwing a monkey wrench into my daily schedule. The fog was so pretty today and I found that I just started driving after a post office drop off. I pulled over for a short walk on the river dike and spotted a heron on a log and I slowly made my way towards it. I was too late get the heron in this photo, but you can see him leaving. The photo is to remind me to breathe.

Glimpse 3 - There are so many trumpeter swans in the the valley that I live in - particularly these days. I really love them. I get excited when I see them on the side of the road and if I can, I'll  pull over.  I also really enjoy fog - the combination made me giddy today. The roads were empty as well. I just sat on the side of the road, up against my car and watched these guys for awhile. This photo was to capture color.

Glimpse 4 - I have driven by this building so many times and I always give it a double glance almost as if to see if it's still standing. Today the foggy light gave it extra appeal. The window, the weather vane,  the green/yellow pollen on the building, and the fog lifting is why I took this photo. The spindly trees lined up behind the swans was a bonus. 

Glimpse 5 -  When Sayer and I walk to school in the mornings, the swans are often honking and flying overhead. There is always one point during our walk that we stop and look up. I am fascinated in not only how they fly, but their formations (I was in marching band so I can completely appreciate the complexity of what they're doing). These two flew over my head today when I was walking and I was quick with the camera. This picture is for perspective both figuratively and literally. 

Did you see anything noteworthy today?

{Music Monday} Play & Repeat...

I'm honoring my old blogging routine by bringing back the Music Monday feature. Music is a huge part of my life & a necessity in the studio when I'm working. My musical tastes vary dramatically depending on mood & what I'm doing. I suppose everyone is like that.  I learned quickly when Chris & I started living together, that if, There Goes Rhymin' Simon is playing, that means Chris is dusting or deep cleaning. For me, I find that I like mellow music with a nice rhythm when I'm screen printing. What seems to get consistent studio play is the fairly new, Bahamas is Afie, album. Here's one of my favorite songs of the album- along with a little snippet that introduced me to the great trick of putting my iPhone in a (an empty) mug when listening to music. I like listening to Afie talk about his philosophy for the album as well - it's one that resonates with me & my work right now.

So, this album is my recent "go to" album - one that I can play continuously without the need to wash the ink off my hands & switch it out. 

What are you listening to these days? 

{New Year} A new start...

Is blogging like riding a bicycle? 

I'm about to find out...

This blog has been producing nothing but the sound of crickets for the last few years. It was strange really- after blogging religiously for years, I just stopped. The blogging break started with giving myself permission to take a hiatus due to larger production demands with KLTworks. Then I ended up just filling the time. I could say that instagram filled my blogging void, but that isn't entirely true. I use instagram for a quick creative outlet, more than a way to document inspiration like I used blogging. As a small business owner (that consists of just me - no employees) & being a mom, time is spread thin anyway, but social media adds a whole new element to the game. I started to feel too accessible - almost longing for the days before computers (yes, I remember those days well).  I was also feeling a bit like I was treading water- some days more successfully than others. My business was turning into being all about production, with no time to design & create which coupled with my mom duties changing because my son was entering grade school. I've spent the last year in particular, restructuring, re-prioritizing, & re-grouping - I think I'm ready to start blogging again. I've figured a few things out. 

Eva Hesse

Next week I'm going to start teaching at the local college again- it came from an unfortunate reason, but I'm grateful for the opportunity.  I taught painting/drawing at this college for 12 years - it's where I met my husband, who teaches ceramics in the same department. I haven't taught for nearly 7 years - since a few weeks before Sayer was born actually. I'm nervous & excited to teach drawing fundamentals this quarter. I thought it would be fun to incorporate blogging again with this drawing class. I've been pinning away on my drawing/painting & installation boards, revisiting shows & books from artists that I was able to see in person during my MFA studies at SVA. It feels good to jump back to what seems like second nature - I look forward to rediscovering  & exploring it all with anyone that still reads blogs.  

So, Happy 2015! It's nice to be back... Kristin

{In the Studio} Polyfil & Plush

It's been a bustling studio in the last few weeks! I've never made so many thread drawing plush in such a short period of time. We've been living in a world of polyfil & boxes thanks to the KLTworks sale at Fab.com last week and I'm finally emerging from the studio & trying to catch up on life. Chris took this photo Sunday at midnight, right after we finished the last plush heading to Fab.com and I thought I would share. 

Hope you are all having a great week! What have you been up to?

{Design} Just FABulous...

As you most likely know, I'm a bit of a design junkie. I love all things design and when I discovered Fab.com last year, (thanks to my friends at Ideal) I was in heaven. So, it's pretty darn cool that I was asked to have a KLTworks sale on Fab.com recently. I've been busily getting ready for it - printing more things at one time than I ever have and then photographing them! I've literally been buried in boxes & tees for the last few weeks. Not to mention, sewing tons of thread drawing plush pillows. 

But It  sure was exciting to see it go live on Valentine's Day - I've been busy ever since! I took the opportunity to debut new colors, styles & designs during the sale - all of the apparel is for adults, at a really great price. If you are a Fab.com fan, pop on over to check it out. The sale goes until Thursday.  In the meantime, I'll packing & shipping....

Hope you have a great week! 

Fab.com: KLTworks Sale

{Music Monday} Good Times...

Just popping by to say Happy Music Monday ! I'm excited for Matt Costa's new release tomorrow, are you? I have my itunes gift card from Christmas ready.  I'm needing some new studio music.... & I'm such a fan of his. I always love his aesthetic in his videos too-  I still think the Mr. Pitiful video is my all time favorite...

What are you listening to these days?