Friday, January 29, 2010

FFAF: Inspire Your Heart...

Happy Friday, Highlowaha fans! Cheryl here.

Sunday, January 31st is National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day. Quite fitting for a girl who will be driving down to next to nowhere Cypress Mill, Texas that very day to embark on a week long painting workshop with a fabulous artist named Bob Burridge. I've been planning it for over a year now. I hear his classes are fabulously inspiring and they fill up quickly so you can imagine how excited I am. I will be eating, sleeping and making art for 5 days straight.

I have no doubt that I will be well on my way to completing my 2010 resolution next week and inspiring the rest of the year to follow suit. (Jessie- your piece WILL be finished next week!!) I can't wait for this new experience.

But, what does that have to do with you. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

I could, of course, go on and on about all the wonderful art out there. Old and new. The Internet provides us with such great resources to discover and purchase art. Just scan Etsy or PapernStitch for lots of great artists.

And art covers a broad spectrum. Photography, watercolor, ceramics, jewelry making, weaving, knitting, cooking, sculpture. Music is a form of art and one of my very favorites. Dance is a form of art. Shoot, kamasutra is the Art of Making Love! Whatever form of art you love I hope you will celebrate it on Sunday.

I was chatting with a friend that said in that sad voice, "I'm not artistic." That's all well and good but it doesn't stop you from appreciating it. On Sunday, just take 20 minutes out of your day and embrace your favorite form of art. (Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned kamasutra.) In the comment section, tell us what form of art you appreciate most? What inspires you? But before we run into the comment section, I have a little project for you.

It's another little Valentine gift for your loved one. Many years ago I attended a wedding shower where the hostess made a sign for the bride and groom. On one side of the sign it said Yes. On the other side it said No. It's a gift for the bedroom when you need to communicate with your honey. My version is a small pillow you can leave on your bed.

Do I need to spell it out for you? We're still PG-13, right? It's for the bedroom, wink, wink. It's an easy way to communicate your mood, wink, wink. Oh hell, let's get on with it.

I chose to work with felt because 1) I had a lot of laying around my house and 2) it holds its shape and is super easy to work with. Especially if you're not a seamstress. If you are a natural with needle and thread or a sewing machine, please feel free to adapt this to your skill level because it could be really cute. But, I'm telling you- this simple one is CUTE if you'll excuse me for bragging on my own work.

1. Cut out two squares of fabric the same size.

2. I drew the words yes and no on paper. You can use the computer if you think you're not artistic enough. I wanted my letters to touch so the stitching would flow from one to the other.

3. Cut out the words on paper. This is your pattern. Your template.

4. Turn the words backward on another contrasting color of felt and trace with a Sharpie and cut this out.

5. Using embroidery floss, stitch one word on each of the felt squares.

6. And embellishments like this cute little heart. Hi cute little heart. You inspire me.

7. Once both sides have their words stitched to them place them back to back and start stitching around the edge. I used double width of floss for the edges. Just tie a knot at the end and stitching the thread up through the middle of the two fabrics so the knot is hidden. Go to town around the edges.

(Note: I did not stitch the edges with the stuffing in the middle. Why make things more complicated trying to hold it in there?)

8. When you get nearly all three sides done, throw some kind of stuffing in the middle. I had Polyester batting laying around (did I do that right Claudia? Laying?) so that's what I stuffed in the middle. (And honestly, I could have used more.)
9. Finish sewing the edges, put it on your bed, sit back and wait for your honey to come in and see what you're mood is. Is cute, yes?
Glad you agree. But maybe your sweety deserves more than just a simple yes and no.
Maybe YOU want to add some spice to your life and in your bedroom. Go ahead. I dare you. Instead of just yes and no... why don't you put Yes on one side and OH YEAH on the other.
Your sweety will thank you for it. I promise.
Don't forget to tell us in the comment section what form of art inspires you most.

My job as cupid is done here. Signing off until tomorrow...

17 comments:

Robin said...

That pillow is adorable, Cheryl! I saw a pillowcase that had spoon on one side and fork on the other! Oh my...

Fav art? Probably music. Though I have a lot of little artists in my home.

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Cheryl,

I love the pillow! You're right. I can think of at least one guy who would love the "YEs" and "Oh Yeah" version.

I will come back later in the day and share a great quote I recently read about art. Can't do it now, as I am late for a meeting I must attend.

Ugly, rainy day here. Thanks for a post that shines, Cheryl!

Claudia said...

O.k. I couldn't help it. I will be a minute late for my meeting. Here it is. This quote is from esth Godin. I love his definition of art, as it means all of us - even those who don't consider ourselves artistic - can make art.

My definition of art contains three elements:

1. Art is made by a human being.

2. Art is created to have an impact, to change someone else.

3. Art is a gift. You can sell the souvenir, the canvas, the recording... but the idea itself is free, and the generosity is a critical part of making art.

By my definition, most art has nothing to do with oil paint or marble. Art is what we're doing when we do our best work.

Cheryl Houston said...

Good morning. Ugh! The Rain! Go Away.

That pillow is so simple to make and you could do it for anything. It could simply say I love you or hi or congrats or YOU SHINE in yellow... it could be any shape. It could sport a graduates school colors and the school letters. The possibilites are endless. :)

I've been bored with KKIM and my new car has the plug in the dash where I can simply plug my iPod in so I've been reconnecting with all the music on my iPod lately. It's so great.

Hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world because it's not shining here. :) HAPPY HAVE FUN AT WORK DAY, too.

Kat said...

What a great idea! I will have to make one!
I am definitely having fun at work today; we are having a snow day!

Katie said...

Cheryl- I love this pillow! And I love that you mentioned a graduate's school colors and letters. I've been trying to think of a good gift for my friends for graduation in May- I think I've just found it!

Happy Friday, everyone! 6 inches of snow are headed this way tonight...woo hoo!

lindsaymarie said...

ahh that pillow is all kinds of adorable! as for art... i love most varieties, and i'll try my hardest to appreciate nearly any form of art. however, my favorite is music. living in new york, there are so many opportunities to enjoy live music any night of the week, and i just love it. sunday night i'm going to see one of my favorite performers, and i can't wait. there are just no words to describe how incredible a good live musician can make me feel. and music when combined with dance, or theatre? love it.

Cheryl Houston said...

Lindsey! You are so right! You are in the heart of so much wonderful art. Lucky, lucky girl!

Peggy said...

Yay! the sun is still shining here in Northern Illinois, it's a balmy 18 degrees out.

Thanks for cute pillow talk Cheryl.

I love all kinds of art, and since I went to a liberal arts college and my fav class was Art History, I can appreciate the great artists like Monet, Picasso and Michelangelo... however, I'm 'drawn' to arts & crafts... especially remakes of authenitic antique-'ish' craftsman furniture, pottery, quilts, postcards etc...I pretty much like EVERYTHING, except modern art... weird, I know!

Cheryl Houston said...

Oh Peggy! You rock.

Pillow Talk.

Kelly McMichael said...

Hello all, Claudia asked me to add recipes here from the desserts I brought to the Box of Shine party on Sunday. Claudia took a cute picture of the desserts all lined up.

Well . . . I blogged about just this last night so if you'd like to find out more about these desserts, plus get a recipe for the Lemon Bars I brought, visit my blog:

http://bookscookslove.wordpress.com

Let me know if you have questions or want any other information!

best,
Kelly McMichael

Danko Family said...

I love and appreciate all forms of art. I was a music major, so I obviously love that! However, I like to express my artful side through desserts. Right now, it's the best way to release my creative juices!

Allegra Toran said...

HI AUNT CLAUDIA!
i have 7 days left tomorrow until my birthday! I'm at grandma Nancie's house working on my jeans that or gave me and working on my mission ;-) and so i made a pretty good sketch of what i wanted to do, and if i do say so myself its very cool! but what i wanted to say that the pillow case idea that you did today gave me an idea to do something on my jeans... i could find plad fabric and cut out some word and sew it on!
Say hi to everyone for me please!
And if you can contact Paula tell her i said hi too!

Love
Allegra (almost 13 years old :D)

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Allegra... if you are out there... HI! I am so glad you are working on your jeans!

I can't wait to see the final outcome. I love the idea of sewing on some kind of cool word cut from plaid material.

Remember to send me a digital photo of your finished product and I will share it with the rest of my readers (not to mention send you the follow up present I promised!).

Anonymous said...

Great post and love all the suggestions and pillows and art talk! Art is truly all around us and love to explore and discover - thanks for the new paths in finding art! Happy weekend.

Chaotic Kristi said...

this was an adorable project!! as for my fave art form... mixed media. So my pillow would have not only felt but aromatherapy insides, glitter glue & painted outsides (not patient enough to cut out letters!) and shiny doodads hanging off it in places :-)

Liz said...

This is adorable.