TALES FROM A TEXTILE STUDIO *formerly BLAH BLAH BLOG - now at katrinfreitag.blogspot.com

BYE BYE BLAH BLAH BLOG

2010-02-22T12:15:00.001Z

There will be no more updates on this web address as the Blog has moved to
http://katrinfreitag.blogspot.com/

Happy weekend

2010-02-12T12:32:00.001Z

Inspiration in sunlight

2010-02-11T17:40:00.000Z

I took some more photographs of my inspiration board on Monday. The sun was pouring in through the big pane windows and it was a lot of fun to capture some details.

Tales from a textile studio

2010-02-07T22:59:00.006Z

While I was working on the inspiration board for this blog, I finally found the name I was looking for. And it was there all along.

I feel I do really need to change the name. Though I liked "Tapetenwechsel" and what it stands for, I think most people probably will not be able to pronounce it (or remember it).

Any thoughts?

Inspiration

2010-02-07T22:53:00.007Z

So here it is, my inspiration board.

I'll print this image and put it in the notebook you see in the bottom left corner, where I keep a record of things that inspire me. As this inspiration board should show my personal style and how I want my blog to look like, I decided to assemble some of my work* on the table, instead of just sticking cut out pictures from magazines onto a board, like I have done previously for coursework at university. I will take some images of those mood boards this week to share them with you here on my blog.

I should have taken the photograph in natural light, but I admit, I didn't. Sorry.

I had a very busy week and today, after lunch, I wanted to have a short nap, before I finish my homework and woke up hours later. By then the little daylight that we get here in the north of England in February was gone. I can sleep for hours and still feel tired - maybe the energy burst you should have in your second trimester of pregnancy is just a myth.

Anyway - I got up and took some images of the board, without flash, in my textile studio, but was not too happy with them. So I went through to my partner's photography studio and used the big daylight flash.

[image I took in my textile studio - not too happy with it]

I left the arrangement on the floor and will go back tomorrow afternoon (if I get back home early enough that is) and take some daylight pictures from different angles.

*I put two of my fabric designs in the background and arranged some of the things I make and sell in my Etsy shop on top, together with some of the materials and tools I use, oh - and a couple of pictures I cut out from a magazine.

Please comment! Don't be shy.

Trapezius

2010-01-31T14:05:00.005Z

TRAPEZIUS, John’s most recent dance film, has been accepted at two more festivals.

It will be screened most nights from 7th Feb 2010 to 4th April 2010 at Xtend IV, in South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, as part of their LIFT OFF! dance festival this spring.

First we have been told that it would be part of a larger showreel of dance films, but then the festival director liked it so much, TRAPEZIUS is now being featured on it’s own screen.

It will also be screened at Phoenix Picture House, Oxford at a special screening event alongside a new commissioned work for “Dance Festival - DANCIN' OXFORD.” on 21st March 2010.

And here are some images of me preparing the backdrops used in this film.

The bump

2010-01-30T00:06:00.003Z

There's something I haven't mentioned on the blog yet...

John and I are having a baby. It'll be due at the end of May. We are so happy!

Handles

2010-01-29T21:37:00.001Z

We finally got handles on our kitchen drawers and cupboards. It was quite tricky without them, but if you start with the bottom drawer and then pull out the next one... well you get the idea.

The decision-making was quite tricky, too, as I really like these:

[found at car möbel]

but we finally settled for those:

[found at ikea]

as they go well with the oven handle and all the other stainless steel in the kitchen. There is already different types of wood going on and I wanted to keep things plain and clear.

Tapetenwechsel

2010-01-26T10:11:00.002Z

Thinking of renaming my blog...
So far "Tapetenwechsel" is my favourite name. Litereally it means "change of wallpaper". It's also used for changing location. And as this is what I am doing at the moment (literally and in a metaphorical sense) I think it might be the right name.
As I am designing wallpaper (amongst textiles and other things) it could stay the name of my blog even after all the moving and decorating is finished. Once we've settled in we will still need a "Tapetenwechsel" from time to time, as you could use this expression to discribe that you want to get away for a few days and stay somewhere else, i. e. need to look at different wallpaper.

Does that make sense, what d'you think?

The Poppies

2010-01-22T23:03:00.002Z

I am nominated for "The Poppies", a virtual awards ceremony, on Poppytalk, one of my favourite blogs.

Take part in this event celebrating the Handmade Community and browse through the lists of nominations here to find your favourite handmade accessories. Or just click on my name, and vote for Freitag Design! ;)

Correspondence between Goethe and Schiller

2010-01-20T21:18:00.007Z

Computer Journalist Giesbert Damaschke puts the correspondence between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller on a blog - in real time.

Well, nearly real time, there is a delay of 215 years. Letters form 1794 - 1805 will be posted on the date they were written.
Giesbert Damaschke started on 13th of June 2009, and as about 1011 letters were exchanged over a period of 11 years he plans to be finished on 27th of April in 2020.

Good luck with this exraordinary project. It will be interesting to see if these two classical authors will be able to succeed in the blogging world.

Click here to get to the blog:: Briefwechsel-Schiller-Goethe

(AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz)

Recollection

2010-01-19T23:12:00.002Z

Here it is, the first post labelled "my work". I'll keep posting about my work every Tuesday now.

Dionne's invite form the previous post reminded me of a picture I took for my degree project.

That's just a snapshot of the piece still at the sewing machine, but I liked it so much that I wanted to have it on my invite and the cover of my book. So we took some more photographs

and finally came up with this one:

Last week...

2010-01-18T23:17:00.004Z

On Monday, the first day out after being snowed in for a week, I went clothes shopping in Leeds. Tuesday I finally managed to unpack the last two boxes that have been underneath the big table in my studio since our move in September.

I've been cooking (and eating) lots of warming winter soups this week.
Carrot and Ginger soup on Thursday, with a lovely Welsh opera singer called Richard Parry.

Friday was spicy lentil soup with “Spätzle” with Martin Riley, an opera librettist, screenwriter, storyteller and dear friend.

Saturday we went to the opening of an exhibition of works by textile artist Dionne Swift at the Bankfield Museum in Halifax. I was very curious to see her latest work as soon as I had a look at the invite.

The exhibition continues until 7 March.

We had a fantastic night out on Saturday, when we went to The Green Miller, a pub in Huddersfield to celebrate Ruby Black's birthday. Ruby is a fashion and beauty photographer. Check out her beautiful website here.

photograph: Ruby Black

Then on Sunday I made minestrone for 7 people and, after a snowball fight and a long walk at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, it was exactly the right thing to have.

New Year – new start

2010-01-17T22:52:00.003Z

The last few months I was so busy with the renovation and the move that I neglected this blog, but there is still so much to tell as 2009 was such an exciting year! I’ve been working on various creative projects, but I’ll tell you about those later. I’ve collected lots of ideas and taken hundreds of images and I can’t wait to share them with you.

I plan to blog more regularly this year and I’ve been thinking about the subjects I like to write about and allocated each subject to one day of the week.

Monday – about my week
Tuesday - projects I am working on
Wednesday- other blogs and websites I like
Thursday- documenting the renovation & decoration of our new live/workspace
Friday - online finds / flea market finds

What do you think? I am grateful for any advice.

Moving

2009-09-18T18:42:00.003+01:00

All August we have been converting the printworks and finally things take shape. So we are about to move from Bankfield Mill

to the Old Printworks in Clayton West.

We have been shifting stuff most everyday, bit by bit.

But hopefully some of our friends will help us this weekend. It would be great to have some more hands and extra wheels to shift the bulky stuff. We should be able to crack it in a long half day, then we’ll light up the BBQ and crack open some beers.

[images, and indeed some of the text, by John Coombes]

Telegraph review: The V&A's World Beach Project

2009-09-06T22:39:00.003+01:00

Hoooray!
Sue Lawty, who had the idea for the World Beach Project, just told me that my piece for the project was heavily featured in the Telegraph review!!

Here are some images Sue sent me:

Can hardly believe it: It made it to the front cover of the Telegraph review!
Sometimes it is worth getting cold fingers. :)

[click on the images to enlarge]

Very cold fingers indeed, as we went to a beach in North Yorkshire on a stormy cold December day. See more images here and here, or go to the V&A site to find out how to join in.

Here's the link to the article on theTelegraph website - (and there's my piece).

The Daily Telegraph is one of the biggest newspapers in the UK with a daily circulation between 842 000 and 911 000.
That is more than Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Sueddeutsche Zeitung together! - I am quite gobsmacked.

The article is great, congratulations to Sue! I hope many people will be inspired to create their own piece and take part in this fantastic project.

Superfluous signs

2009-08-01T22:10:00.002+01:00

Some more signs had to come down at the printworks.

And whilst John was up there to check if the big sign at the front would come down easily...

I think he just couldn't resist. Punktuation mistakes really bother him.

The Paper Collar

2009-07-18T22:57:00.004+01:00

Late last night whilst John did some lighting tests I was folding sheets of beautifully aged paper to form a collar for todays photography session.

[photo: John Coombes]

Todays Photo Sesssion

2009-07-18T22:56:00.000+01:00

Been working on another photo session today. This time we have been shooting upstairs!

Possibilities and facts

2009-07-18T22:12:00.001+01:00

The possible flowers have turned into real flowers,
the possible garden has turned into our garden
and the old printworks, well, John signed the contract last week and we will turn the old printworks into our living and working space.

Taking the sign down.

Studio Glimpse

2009-07-12T09:25:00.000+01:00

ArtWEEK Fringe @ Holme Valley Warehouse

2009-07-11T08:31:00.001+01:00

There are some gorgeous things on display at the Holme Valley Warehouse.

I fell in love with this little creature. Introducing... Brains Floatation Device for fairies.
See more "Brains Fairy Aiding Inventions" by Samantha Bryan
on her website.

Raku fired sculpture by Andrew D. Hill.

Possible flowers

2009-07-10T00:18:00.005+01:00

Possible flowers for the possible garden.

Holmfirth ArtWEEK

2009-06-22T12:19:00.002+01:00

I will be exhibiting at the Holme Valley Warehouse in Honley
next week as part of Holmfirth ArtWEEK.

‘thoughtful art’

an eclectic mix of fairies & 3 dimensional art

Thursday, 2nd July - Saturday, 11th July 2009

Holme Valley Warehouse

11 Westgate
Honley HD9 6AA

You are welcome to come along!

The vegetable high bed

2009-06-19T11:49:00.008+01:00

We were building a raised bed for vegetables at the possible garden yesterday.

It's been pouring down with rain.

We built the wooden frame on Thursday evening and went back yesterday to fix some polythene to the inside. Then we started filling in twigs and sticks for the first layer.
Next layer will be cut grass/turf and then maybe some horse manure.
Then straw or hay and then a thick layer of leaves,
then compost and finally topsoil.

The frame is 240 cm long and 160 cm wide, which is a bit wider then recommended but I will still be able to reach across.

Can't wait to plant my seedlings outside! Meanwhile they sit here at the studio at the window cill.

The new lens

2009-06-16T23:09:00.004+01:00

John got a new lens for his camera today. It's a Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF and John seems to love it. I was allowed to have a go with it as well.

So he took pictures of my basil and I took a picture of him.

My basil.

My sweetheart.

The dead tree in the buttercup meadow

2009-06-16T23:01:00.003+01:00

Seen in Yorkshire on Sunday, 14.06.2009

Art Market Holmfirth

2009-06-08T16:39:00.003+01:00

I have had a good day at the Art Market in Holmfirth yesterday.

Me on my stall...

just finished setting things up and waiting for the first people to arrive.

My friend Rebecca, with one of my corsages in her hair, helping me at the stall. She's been great!

ByGraziela

2009-06-05T18:46:00.012+01:00

These gorgeous posters are now available at byGraziela in a limited edition. The posters are made of original wallpaper from the 70's, with Graziela Preiser design .

I cannot decide which one I love more, the ABC pattern or the farm. Circus is also available.

[source of images byGraziela]

UPDATE: I ordered the ABC one, it just arrived and l love it. I need to get it framed! :)

Coutdown for the Art Market

2009-06-05T13:46:00.008+01:00

Only two days left!

I found this gorgeous cube calender at the Open Market in Huddersfield.
But right now I am not counting days, I am counting hours. Still SO much to do for The Art Market on Sunday!

I finished this piece last night. Now that I've done all the figurative embroidery and print on cotton and silk, the pieces have to be framed and labeled and... I'd better stop blogging and get back to work!

The Mysterious Tree and Buttercup Meadows

2009-06-02T16:02:00.002+01:00

There is a huge tree in the Possible Garden and for weeks we did not know what it was. Now, finally, the leaves came out and we were able to identify it.

Apperantly it is a Robinia pseudoacacia also known as Locust Tree.

The German name is Silberregen, literary translated silver rain. In a few weeks time it shall be in blossom and we shall see why.

At the moment it's got very bright green young leaves that looked amazing against the clear blue Yorkshire skyes yesterday, so John took this picture.

It's been sunny and hot and we've done a short trip to the garden, only to find that we do not have to water the plants as the snails have already eaten most of them.

On the way back to the studio we passed meadows that were blazing yellow.

Buttercup meadows in West Yorkshire.

Dança em Foco

2009-06-02T08:01:00.002+01:00

Hooray! The short dance film "Trapezius" of my sweetheart John was selected to be shown at dança em foco, the international dance film festival in Rio de Janeiro.

Congratulations to John! This is the third year one of his films has been in this festival.

I did a lot of work on this film as well so I feel a little proud myself. :)

French window

2009-06-01T12:27:00.004+01:00

Well, it is not exactly a french window, but it is a window in France.

photo copyright © Katrin Freitag

I just fell in love with these gorgeous tall old windows, the blue shutters and the beautiful curtains.

Provençale interieur

2009-06-01T11:03:00.009+01:00

Desire to inspire, one of my favourite blogs, just wrote about provencale interior designer Nathalie Vingot Mei. Read the article here.

photo copyright © Nathalie Vingot Mei

Look at Nathalies portfolio here.

And here's me taking snapshots of where we were staying:

La Provence

2009-05-31T20:30:00.005+01:00

The landscape was just gorgeous and even better than in any picture or painting. We found some wild thyme on that hill. What we haven't used for cooking yet is in a bowl on our kitchen table. Fragant memories of Provence, dry soil and a warm summer breeze.

The vinyard and farmhouses on Domain de Sigalous.

Domaine de Sigalous

2009-05-31T20:20:00.006+01:00

Yes, these are the flowers you see through the window on the photograph of the previous blog entry.

And this is were we have been staying and working.

Provençale inspiration

2009-05-27T23:19:00.003+01:00

Just came back from a short trip to the South of France, with new impressions, fresh ideas, beautiful bundles of lace and lots and lots of photographs.
We also brought back some bottles of the very tasty vine they make at Sigalous, and some olive oil and wild thyme. Thanks to Jeanette and Alain.

The Art Market & Vanstallation

2009-05-21T11:23:00.014+01:00

The Art Market is a unique event where selected artists & designer-makers sell beautiful homewares, garden sculpture, jewellery, paintings, fashion, photography and more, direct to the public.

The concept is to have a gallery of stalls, each manned by the artist/maker, showing, selling, receiving commissions and often demonstrating their own unique works.

The Art Market’s aim is to stimulate interest, knowledge and sales of good quality art, craft & design.

The Market is in the centre of Holmfirth, a small creative town in West Yorkshire. The Art Market is run by The Art Market Team small team of artists, for artists and lovers of art.

The benefit for the artist is direct contact with buyers, finding out what the buyer likes about their work, receive commissions, meet lots of other artists and designer/makers and avoidance of gallery commission, all for a very low cost.

The benefit for the public is the chance to ‘meet the maker’, find out about the making process, & the artists inspiration plus buy and commission amazing, unique works directly, missing out the gallery.

Also, it’s a great day out! We have live music, food and drinks and a welcoming atmosphere.

I'll be showing my work at the Art Market in Holmfirth on 7th June.
Here's the official invite:

We would like to invite you to…

June 7th & 14th 10am – 4pm
Holmfirth Indoor Market
Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

80 Artists and Designer-makers selling their own original work
Demonstrations
Live Music
Food and drink

Only £1 entry!
(free entry to our Art Raffle)

For a list of all the artists and designer-makers, directions, parking and much more – check out our website www.artmarkets.co.uk

The 3rdArt Market is included in Holmfirth Arts Festival when there are many other things going on in Holmfirth in June – live music, workshops, Vanstallation & performance. Event listings can be found on www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

Also The 4thArt Market, in time for Christmas, on 22nd November 2009

_________________________________________________________________

Also come along and see…

‘Vanstallation’© Art installation in vans…

We are looking for Artists to create unique installations inside their vans. Big vans, small vans, work vans, campervans, caravans, all kinds of vans with art installations inside. Performance, sound, light, art, sculpture whatever you like…

The second ‘Vanstallation’© will happen on June 14th 2009 12 – 4pm in the centre of Holmfirth. Would you like to take part? Apply on line at www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk or email vanstallation@googlemail.com
Deadline 1st June.

Please feel free to pass this on to other art and design lovers you know!

[text by the Art Market Team]

Moldgreen Barbie

2009-05-20T10:45:00.002+01:00

Found just outside my studio, on a pavement in Moldgreen, Huddersfield, UK.

The Art Market

2009-05-19T18:25:00.010+01:00

I'll be showing my work at the Art Market in Holmfirth on 7th June.
Find out more on their new website!

Beautifully designed by Takae Mizutani.

Waiting For Godot

2009-05-19T16:45:00.007+01:00

We went to London on Wendesday to go to the Theatre. So here's John and me, waiting for Waiting For Godot.

The play, the actors, the stage design, it's been brilliant!

And the theatre itself, Theatre Royal Haymarket, has got the most amazing decor. Sadly it is not allowed to take pictures inside, so to see the stunning painted ceiling and get a glimpse at the balconys and for the whole flair you have to go there yourself.

Here's a picture of the box office and Martin and Rebecca getting our tickets as this has been a treat for us.

Seeing Captain Picard dancing with Gandalf was a real treat!

Pear vases

2009-05-12T09:50:00.007+01:00

These vases are so cute! Can't remember where I saw them first, but luckily found some here at Noun, amongst many lovely vintage finds.

Blah blah blah...

2009-05-11T15:30:00.004+01:00

by Mel Bochner.
I agree.

See more of his work on his website.

News from my Etsy shop

2009-05-09T12:04:00.016+01:00

Spring special: FREE SHIPPING!

★★★FREE POSTAGE ON ALL ITEMS ORDERED IN MAY!!★★★

Just click here to get to my etsy shop.

Places with a past

2009-05-01T21:28:00.007+01:00

I like places with a past. I like to be inspired by what was there and then find what might be.

The entry to the former metioned "possible garden" is not a beauty [yet]. But when you are there, you see all the potential and all the possibilities and then, somehow, you can almost see and feel that something special has been there before. A truly loved garden.

This photograph of the very same spot was taken in the fifties or sixties. Imagine what this may look like in colour!

Brambles

2009-04-29T18:41:00.009+01:00

Been in amongst the brambles again today. Finally bashed and hacked my way through to the bottom end.
Tonight I'll be working in the studio. There is an Art Market coming up soon!
Oh, and I have to upload some new stuff to my Etsy shop. Today I have been showing off my top items at the Etsy Showcase "Gift Guides".

Don't forget: It's Mothers's Day soon!! [not here in England though]

Possible Garden

2009-04-29T09:12:00.005+01:00

Underneath these brambles lies a garden. Maybe.

A few hours later. The most wonderful surprise: There are little dry stone walls!!
When I saw the place we could maybe, possibly, turn into a garden, I said I would love to have dry sone walls on the side, to seperate the garden bit from the grassy bit. At that time you could see nothing but brambles, and I did not know that they were already there. So happy.

The puppies arrived!!

2009-04-24T11:22:00.003+01:00

The puppies, I mentioned earlier, finally arrived:

Bastian, my little brother, and his girlfriend Annina seem to be abuzz! Congratulations on a good start in the breeding business.

More images and info on their website.

Gardening and textile flowers

2009-04-23T21:22:00.010+01:00

I did some indoor gardening yesterday. I put flower seeds in big old terracotta pots. Everything grows like crazy here at the studio, because of the fantastic amount of light and heat - and my green fingers.

And then I did some more work on the textile flowers. Soon my corsages will be available as clips, hair ties or headbands.

This is my niece Sonja, wearing one of my corsages as hair clip. We had a really good photoshoot recently and I am very thrilled with the pictures.

★More images of Sonja and my corsages comming soon!★

An afternoon in the sun

2009-04-20T21:54:00.008+01:00

Sunday was the most gorgeous sunny day - and I was working in my studio. At least I was until John, my sweetheart, who was helping our friend slating a roof, had the wonderful idea to pick me up so I could lie in the garden in the sun, while he was working on the roof.

It was a lovely afternoon. Amazing clear blue sky - not even a single cloud. Birds singing in the trees, bumblebees and butterflies passing by. Children playing on the lawn. Then a delicious meal with our friends and a little too much white wine.

Chilli cous cous with butternut squash and roasted sweet potato.
I have to get this receipe.

Blogger Quilt Festival - My Favourite Quilt

2009-04-17T18:00:00.008+01:00

Just came cross The Blogger Quilt Festival. I think this is a nice idea, read more about it by clicking on the icon below.

So here is my entry for The Blogger Quilt Festival:

nimmermehr quilt "palimpsest"

200 mm x 260 mm
silk, yarn, wadding, ink

I made this quilt in 2008 and there were many things going on at once. It was an experimental piece, I used different techniques and was very pleased with the way it finally came all together. The quilt was part of my Diploma work and it is in fact part of a series.

detail

The main theme was vulnerability. The poem on the right is taken from Goethe's Faust - it is one of the most beautiful poems I know. Gretchen, a young girl, is describing how she feels, when she realizes that she has fallen in love and given her heart away.
I did digital printing on silk, by using my ink jet printer. The poem was actually a scan of a old book page and this is the reason for calling it palimpsest as other words shine through. The image on the left is a scan of an old medical book that used to belong to my great grandmother, who was a midwife.

I used to do life drawing and transfered one of my drawings onto the fabric by using an ordinary sewing machine to embroider the figure.

While I stiched pieces of fabric together things started to make sense, and I can still see all the thoughts and work that went into it.

Thanks for reading - feel free to leave a comment.

You can see more of my work on my website.

Blog entry about the Quilting workshop in Kosovo here.

Puppies

2009-04-17T11:51:00.005+01:00

My brother Bastian and his girlfriend Annina are breeding dogs. Black Russian Terriers to be precise. Recently they posted an image of their dog's first litter on their website.

The image was a bit confusing and it took me a while before I could make out what was going on. But then I saw the puppies:

Bogenschießen

2009-04-17T11:04:00.003+01:00

I was less successful in this event, but I loved having a go at it nonetheless.
More images of the Scotland trip here.

Tontaubenschießen

2009-04-12T11:38:00.004+01:00

I tried this in Scotland last year and it was great fun.

Easter Egg

2009-04-10T11:21:00.009+01:00

Shoot as many Easter eggs as possible!

Download Eier Blaster bei computerbild.de

Faulty Optic

2009-04-04T13:51:00.005+01:00

A guy (who was not part of the instalation) talking about the latest show of Faulty Optic. He seems to be thrilled, and so was I when I saw the work in progess at Liz's studio.

Just in case you are wondering where I am...

2009-03-30T20:05:00.031+01:00

.

click here to find out!

.

Looking for Eric

2009-03-27T21:02:00.010Z

I am so thrilled to see Steve Evets in "Looking for Eric", the latest film of Ken Loach.

See the PREVIEW here.

The postman : "Sometimes we forget that you are just a man."
Eric Cantona: "I am not a man. I am Cantona."

Steve Evets in "Babbling Fools".

Frühling

2009-03-25T19:02:00.003Z

Found this morning in Bavaria.

Wirtschaftswunder

2009-03-25T10:32:00.005Z

A month ago I came cross this fabulous book.
"Wirtschaftswunder - Germany between 1952 and 1967".
It's an impressive collection of colour photographs of the "economic miracle"

Wirtschaftswunder - Josef Heinrich Darchinger

Hardcover, slipcase, 39.6 x 33 cm (15.6 x 13 in.), 290 pages, £ 350.00

ISBN: 978-3-8365-0733-2
Multilingual Edition: English, French, German

You can have a LOOK INSIDE here or read some reviews here.

And this morning I saw that Tchibo is selling a more affordable version of this book.
24 cm x 19 cm, 256 pages, 12,99 €.

This is my economic miracle of the day.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt

2009-03-20T10:18:00.007Z

40 years ago one of the most popular childrens books of all times has been published: «The Very Hungry Caterpillar» by Eric Carle, or, in German, "Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt". Since March 1969 more than 25 million copies have been sold worldwide. Happy birthday, kleine Raupe Nimmersatt!

Even Google is celebrating this event with a lovely google doodle.

You can leave a greeting for the Caterpillar on the website of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art.

The Ballad Of Cable Hogue

2009-03-11T21:33:00.013Z

Immediately after finishing work on "The Wild Bunch" (1969), director Sam Peckinpah started working on "The Ballad Of Cable Hogue" (1970).
While the "The Wild Bunch" is his most famous film, this one seems to be his finest.
It definetely was his favorite.

Jason Robards as Cable Hogue

Cable Houge, while walking through the dessert:

"Ain't had no water since yesterday, Lord. Gettin' a little thirsty. Just thought I'd mention it. Amen."

"Yesterday, I told you I was thirsty and I thought you might turn up some water. Now about sinnin', you just send me a drop or two and I won't do it no more... whatever in hell it was that I did. I mean that, Lord."

"Four days without water... if you don't think I've put in my sufferin' time, you oughta try goin' dry for a spell. Listen to me! Listen to me! If I don't get some soon, I ain't gonna have no chance to repent."

Then, when he "found water where it wasn't" he digs a well and sets up a business:

Great movie with great lines. More quotes here.
And the trailer here.

What sticks with me, is the soundtrack. Each of the main characters has a theme, Hogue "Tomorrow is the Song I Sing", Hildy "Butterfly Morning", and Joshua, the priest "Wait for Me, Sunrise", which is cleverly woven in all along. Can't get it out of my head.

Alexander McQueen Fall 2009

2009-03-11T16:38:00.000Z

Amazing looks and an unexpected luxury show by Alexander McQueen. Outstanding and brilliant. I love it.

See the whole collection for Fall 2009 here.

images Marcio Madeira

The inkwell

2009-03-11T14:51:00.007Z

I'm using the ink well as small vase. It looks really nice on our table.

Barbie Jewelry

2009-03-09T15:43:00.008Z

Margaux Lange is an art jeweler with the desire to re-purpose mass produced materials into distinctly handmade, wearable artworks. She creates stunning pieces of jewelry while she re-Members Barbie fondly...

Here are a few images of her work from her blog Midges Mind.

Smile and Eye Bracelet

Grinning Girls Necklace

Pink Lip Pendant

If the Shoe Fits Bracelet © Margaux Lange

Visit her Etsy Shop or her website.
.

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

2009-03-09T13:56:00.009Z

Barbie turns 50 today, and she has never been looking better. And Ken's new looks... !!
Thank you, Herr Lagerfeld.

photos from www.colette.fr

“The doll sells the fashion and the fashion sells the doll.” Ruth Handler.

True. For the last fifty years Barbie was always dressed in vogue.

Ruth Handler is sort of Barbie's "mum". On a trip to Europe she bought three Bild-Lilli-Dolls and took them to America. She pursuaded Mattel to produce dolls with adult physiognomy.

Here are a some more images of Bild-Lilli and some more info. Read about Bild Lilli's histoy here.

photos of Bild-Lilli from barbiepuppe.de

Dolls with adult appearance were not a new. Basically Barbie is following the tradition of french fashion dolls of the 19. century.

photo from spielzeug-museum.at

Doll by Pierre Francois Jumeau, blue eyes, leather body, 65 cm, 1865/70
original silk dress, silk handbag, lace boots (with high heels!)

Work in progress

2009-03-08T18:36:00.009Z

Though it is Sunday I am working away here at the studio since lunchtime. Just leaving every now and then, to get myself a cup of coffee. When I entered the room again, some strips of fabric that I just ironed, hanging over a board, looked like a painting to me.

Naked people

2009-03-05T16:47:00.009Z

Clothes are our second skin, used for hiding or expressing our inner self. But can we trust the shell? What's underneath?

Naked people. Click on the images and the clothes disapear.

Found via clusterflock.

The great sleeping bear

2009-03-05T14:40:00.012Z

This seems to be the most cosy sleeping bag ever. Brilliant work
by Eiko Ishizawa.
Found via Monster-Munch.

Working with new colours

2009-02-28T15:01:00.003Z

Keep watching my etsy shop for more.

Another find

2009-02-27T23:36:00.000Z

is an orange round mirror, like they were used to be used by hairdessers.

Looking back most things seemed to be made of orange plastic when I grew up.

photographs: John Coombes

Todays finds

2009-02-26T16:30:00.016Z

I found a wooden tray filled with wonderful old wooden printing letters at the Oxfam shop today and bought it for my sweetheart, as he loves these things just as much as I do.
When I came home with it, he immediately started playing with them, showing the same enthusiasm a little boy would have for a new toy.

Here are some photographs John just took.

The last three images are flipped.

Fränkische Feuerspatzen

2009-02-24T19:22:00.017Z

To celebrate Pancake Day we've been making the Franconian version of a doughnut.

500 g plain flour
10 - 15 g yeast (according to the amount of flour and the instructions on the sachet)
1/4 l milk
60 g sugar
60 g butter
4 eggs
a pinch of salt
a splash of rum

Allow dough to rise,
then deepfry spoonfuls in hot oil.

Oh, and some icing sugar.
A quick & easy version of doughnuts, very tasty!

Traditional doughnuts are called Krapfen. In some areas they are called Berliner and in Berlin they are called Pfannkuchen, which means pancakes in the rest of Germany.

Franconian Krapfen are filled with rosehip puree. Delicious!

Making stuff

2009-02-22T19:36:00.011Z

I love experimenting and assembling, finding out about material and colour, designing and developing ideas. I love handling fabric.
I love making stuff - a bit tricky with a plaster cast though.

Cutting and melting and assembling at the studio last night.

New colours!

British Design Classics - Special Stamp Collection

2009-02-21T15:35:00.023Z

Britain’s Royal Mail has issued a set of ten stamps celebrating 20th-century British design classics.

*The next few shop orders will be posted with these stamps!*

Supermarine Spitfire designed by Reginald Mitchell in 1936. Used by the Royal Air Force from 1938 - 1954.

K2 Telephone Kiosk by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. I love the red telephone boxes, they look so typically British. Layers and layers of paint.

Mini Skirt by Mary Quant. Redefinig fashion rules in the Sixties.

Polypropylene Chair - designed between 1962 and 1963 by Robin Day. Since then more then 14 million of these chairs have been sold worldwide.

The Mini - a British classic designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, who was born in Smyrna (today Izmir, Turkey) in 1906. His father Konstantin Issigonis (Κωνσταντίνος Ισηγόνης) was Greek with british nationality and his mother Hulda Prokopp was from the south of Germany.

Penguin Books -original design by Edward Young. Recogizable in an instant.

Anglepoise Lamp by George Carwardine. Beautiful and clever.

London Underground Map by Harry Beck. Legendary.

Concorde - Aérospatiale-BAC. Fast. Very fast.

Routemaster Bus - Douglas Scott and Colin Curtis 1954.
Big, smelly, noisy, beautiful.

Trapezius

2009-02-19T15:51:00.009Z

I really enjoyed to work with all these wonderful people on this wonderful film. I hope you'll enjoy watching the trailer!

TRAPEZIUS - the trailer from John Coombes on Vimeo.

“It isn’t much fun for one, but two can stick together”

Over 20 muscle groups control the movement of the upper body and shoulders.

Two dusty white figures turn and twist in the narrow, black, dark wilderness of the film-frame. They flex their muscles and show off their skills. Hesitant at first, they finally come together. They echo and tease each other, exploring the space between them until they become entwined as one. They come alive together, but it can’t last. They argue, they fight and their relationship collapses into chaos.

dancers: Elodie Frati, Marie Mathisen, Joelle Green, Lucie Palfreyman

music by Ian Sanderson

directed by John Coombes

Brooches and broken bones

2009-02-19T13:44:00.013Z

Work in progress at the textile studio. Slow progress, since I got a big plaster cast on my left arm now. I broke my wrist on Monday, or rather my scaphoid bone, which is next to the trapezium. *

*don't get it mixed up with Trapezius, John's latest film, I have been working on.

Word clouds

2009-02-15T22:41:00.006Z

For all or you who were wondering what the Blah Blah Blog is all about... this thing called Wordle seems to sum it up like this:

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. Have a play here. I love it!
I think this could be a great way to create a personal birthday card. So who's birthday is it next...?

My DaWanda Shop

2009-02-14T19:37:00.003Z

To make my textile jewellery available for people in Europe I set up a DaWanda shop. Have a look at it here.
I am just about to upload more corsages.

Twitter

2009-02-12T21:41:00.004Z

The New York Times calls Twitter "one of the fastest-growing phenomena on the Internet." TIME Magazine says, "Twitter is on its way to becoming the next killer app," and Newsweek noted that "Suddenly, it seems as though all the world's a-twitter."

Well, I don't know if this is for me, but I'll give it a try.
I don't think that anyone will be interested in what I have had for lunch, though.

Being a red balloon

2009-02-10T22:09:00.007Z

"... and then I'll be a red balloon for a few weeks", said Liz yesterday when I asked what she'll be doing in 2009. She is a puppeteer and co-founder of Faulty Optic. And soon she will be the red balloon in a play after the film
"Le Ballon Rouge" by Albert Lamorisse.
Sounds like a good plan to me.

Map Tags

2009-02-10T21:11:00.004Z

There are still so many things waiting to be uploaded to my Etsy shop...

Buff

2009-02-09T21:20:00.008Z

I didn't know what this colour was called, so I did some online research. Apparentely it is called "buff". Any other suggestions?

So this is a big buff button brooch then, is it?

Give your heart away

2009-02-09T12:53:00.012Z

A year ago I made these hearts to give away. I have been using a very nice silk fabric. On the front I printed an image I found in a very old medical book. The book is more than a hundred years old and belonged to my great grandmother, who was a midwife. I love all the drawings in this book and it even has a colourful fold out model of the human body at the end.

On the back of one of the hearts I printed a love poem*, another one has a silk&metal fabric backing and I filled it with a bit of paper, on which I printed a poem.

*You can read the whole poem here and you'll find a translation here. It's "Gretchen in der Spinnstube" from Goethe's "Faust", where Gretchen realizes that she has given her heart away.

Credit Crunch

2009-02-08T16:47:00.015Z

Rezept für Choco Crossies
Recipe for homemade Credit Crunch

200 g Milk Chocolate (or mix milk chocolate and dark chocolate)
25 g Butter
10 g Vanilla Sugar & a tiny pinch of salt
100 g Cornflakes

Melt the chocolate*, add butter, salt and vanilla sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add Cornflakes and mix by using a spatula until all cornflakes are completely covered in chocolate. Try to get all the nice chocolate from the sides of the pan onto the cornflakes.
Put the mass in small heaps on some tin foil and let it cool down.

Enjoy!

*I prefer melting chocolate in a saucepan on the stove.
Break or chop the chocolate into small pieces. Put 2/3 in a sauce pan and slowly heat. It will take time to dissolve, do not give it too much heat, but a lot of patience. As the chocolate will start to melt, stir with a spatula. Usually you can take it off the stove when it is mostly melted, add the rest of the chocolate and keep stirring. This will help to prevent overheating.

For melting chocolate I don’t like using the microwave, as I cannot really see what’s going on and feel the chocolate melting. If you do use a microwave make sure the chocolate does not get too hot. You will need to stop the microwave very often to stir the chocolate to ensure that it heats evenly.

Of course you can put the chocolate chunks in a heatproof bowl within a gently simmering saucepan of water. But you have to be very careful when stirring as you should not allow any water to get in contact with your chocolate!

I LEGO N.Y.

2009-02-07T17:52:00.004Z

After 11 years in New York Christoph Niemann moved to Berlin with his wife and their three sons, Arthur, Gustav and Fritz (what great German names!). During the cold and dark winter days he spend a lot of time with his boys in their room. And as he looked at the toys scattered on the floor, his mind inevitably wanders back to New York... or so he says here. You'll also find more pictures by clicking on this link.

I love it! So full of imagination, just brilliant.

Button Brooch

2009-02-06T16:07:00.006Z

Just amazing shades of colour.

Jim Bond

2009-02-06T15:02:00.007Z

Atomised, a sculpture by Jim Bond

I hope you enjoy all the buzzes and clicks, as I have been the sound recordist on this film!

I found another film on Jim Bonds website. Here it is, Art in perpetual motion, a Reuters video about Kinetica with Jim's sculpture "Blink" in it.

Faint memories

2009-02-04T15:53:00.003Z

I just uploaded new stuff to my Etsy shop. Amongst many other things there is this corsage I called "faint memories".

I love the gorgeous melted edges on this one, and the subtle colour, that reminds me of the yellowed paper of old love letters.

The corsage is made from several layers of organza and white & golden lace. All the cutting and finishing has been performed manually.

The fabric has been specially treated to give it an interesting and characteristic look, so this brooch is unique!

I decorated this brooch with a small bluish white button using bright blue thread.

Made with love, to be worn with pride.

Atomised

2009-02-04T15:22:00.009Z

Last week we have been filming one of Jim Bond's sculptures.

photographs: Jim Bond

See more of Jim's work on his website. Beautiful stuff.

The Kapok Corset

2009-01-28T15:50:00.004Z

I have been creating this corset by using a concept of ancient chinese military wear. Thousands of years ago they have been using silk stuffed with kapok to create sword proof clothing.

The metal bit in the middle is derived by a pattern they used in chinese armour to create an arrow proof but light and flexible surface.

They have been using full metal plates, arranged in this special pattern - I have been using cut out metal of beer cans.

Applause Machine

2009-01-28T11:24:00.004Z

Here it is, enjoy!

Read more about it on their Laikingland Blog.

New needlings

2009-01-27T11:02:00.006Z

Today embroidered things are featured on poppytalk.
Nice to see that, while I am working on new "needlings"
and "nimmermehr quilts".

Etsy

2009-01-22T21:27:00.006Z

I finally uploaded some items to my etsy shop. Now I am trying to find out how to become a successful seller on etsy. ;)

Applause Machine

2009-01-21T23:43:00.000Z

Today we have been filming Martin's Applause Machines for Laikingland.

The Applause Machine can be purchased on their website. It comes in the most vibrant colours. My favourite is the orange one!
"Traffic Orange". I love it.

Frohe Weihnachten

2008-12-24T17:09:00.000Z

A collection of small buttons

2008-12-14T18:28:00.003Z

All waiting to be attached to bulldog clips and being sold in my etsy shop.

Today at the Bankfield Mill Studios

2008-12-11T16:35:00.015Z

Sometimes I work with John when he is taking photographs. I love doing the dresses and helping out as stylist, doing the hair (in this case a wig) and make up (in this case white body paint) and creating an image.

Fotos

2008-12-06T00:58:00.009Z

So, ich hab's endlich geschafft Fotos von meiner Diplomarbeitspräsentation hochzuladen. Hier ein kleiner Vorgeschmack, den Rest gibt's hier zu sehen.

I've just uploaded new pictures to my Flickr site. To see my photostream click here.

To see some of my work visit my website www.freitagdesign.de

More corsages

2008-11-29T10:06:00.002Z

I am spending all weekend in the studio, working on new corsages.

TALES FROM A TEXTILE STUDIO *formerly BLAH BLAH BLOG - now at katrinfreitag.blogspot.com

BYE BYE BLAH BLAH BLOG

Happy weekend

Inspiration in sunlight

Tales from a textile studio

Inspiration

Trapezius

The bump

Handles

Tapetenwechsel

The Poppies

Correspondence between Goethe and Schiller

Recollection

Last week...

New Year – new start

Moving

Telegraph review: The V&A's World Beach Project

Superfluous signs

The Paper Collar

Todays Photo Sesssion

Possibilities and facts

Studio Glimpse

ArtWEEK Fringe @ Holme Valley Warehouse

Possible flowers

Holmfirth ArtWEEK

Holme Valley Warehouse

11 Westgate Honley HD9 6AA

The vegetable high bed

The new lens

The dead tree in the buttercup meadow

Art Market Holmfirth

ByGraziela

Coutdown for the Art Market

The Mysterious Tree and Buttercup Meadows

Dança em Foco

French window

Provençale interieur

La Provence

Domaine de Sigalous

Provençale inspiration

The Art Market & Vanstallation

Moldgreen Barbie

The Art Market

Waiting For Godot

Pear vases

Blah blah blah...

News from my Etsy shop

Places with a past

Brambles

Possible Garden

The puppies arrived!!

Gardening and textile flowers

An afternoon in the sun

Blogger Quilt Festival - My Favourite Quilt

Puppies

Bogenschießen

Tontaubenschießen

Easter Egg

Faulty Optic

Just in case you are wondering where I am...

Looking for Eric

Frühling

Wirtschaftswunder

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt

The Ballad Of Cable Hogue

Alexander McQueen Fall 2009

The inkwell

Barbie Jewelry

Margaux Lange is an art jeweler with the desire to re-purpose mass produced materials into distinctly handmade, wearable artworks. She creates stunning pieces of jewelry while she re-Members Barbie fondly...

Here are a few images of her work from her blog Midges Mind.

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

Work in progress

Naked people

The great sleeping bear

Working with new colours

Another find

Todays finds

Fränkische Feuerspatzen

Making stuff

British Design Classics - Special Stamp Collection

11 Westgate
Honley HD9 6AA