Cityscape
07.09.2016 § Leave a comment
I have always admired the serenity and pureness of nature. As soon as my husband and I were finished with our schooling, we immediately moved to the quiet, spacious suburbia; never understanding ones desire to move to the big city. Many years and experiences later, my perception of city life began to shift and eventually (to my surprise) began to influence my work as a designer.
On one particular sales trip to Manhattan, I walked…a lot. While traveling amongst the noisy hustle and bustle of traffic, I stumbled upon a little wild flower rooted next to a wrought iron gate. The graceful flower was rising from a crack in the concrete, pushing its way toward the clear blue sky. The juxtaposition of the cement, the wrought iron and the plant created a texture that brought a smile to my face for the rest of the day. The peaceful experience made the echoes from city streets dissipate; leaving only the beautiful composition in my memory. From that day forward, I gained a different perspective of the urban environment and the magnificence held within it.
Then I began to travel. I was able to travel longer and more freely after my obligations of parenthood and elderly care were fulfilled. I discovered the joy of experiencing different cities, architecture, bridges, public transportation, vegetation, people, as well as cultures from around the world. I took photos, doodled, sketched, took notes, and made plans to enjoy outings with friends from different cities. I now fully understand the attraction society has to live within a metropolis.
Drawing inspiration from the energy and graphics of the urban landscape, the 18 new patterns in the fall 2016 Cityscape collection depict my experiences from the eccentric life of the big city.
Metropolis 4569 – Cityscape 4564 – Boulevard 4568
Boomtown 4564 – Metropolis 4569
Junction 6531 – Lexingtion 4221 – Lumen 1305 – Essanay 8220 – Selfridge 8940
Quote of the Day ~ 9
05.04.2016 § Leave a comment
“Traveling a million miles is greater than studying for ten years.”
In traditional Chinese culture the importance of experience is of greater value than any other form of education.
Lotus Seeds – South of the Yangtze River
10.09.2015 § Leave a comment
The Yangtze River divides China into two regions, North and South. The river is the third longest waterway in the world and the lengthiest river to run entirely within one country. The population north of the river consumes mostly wheat products such as noodles, breads and rice. While traveling through a southern city in China, I visited a local fruit shop. Within the supermarket, I came across lotus pods filled with seeds. I decided to try the seeds, raw of course, and they were delicious! My friend, who I was traveling with and a native to the area said, “Poor thing, you have never tried fresh lotus seeds!”
Lotus plants are indigenous to China in the south and wherever there is a pond, usually there are lotus flowers to be found. The plant blooms beautifully in the summer and is still alive and thriving in the fall when all other plants are fading.
Grass Roofed Restaurant in Sister Bay
27.08.2015 § Leave a comment
Sister Bay, a village in Wisconsin, only has a population of approximately 800 people. When my family and I decided to stop for lunch in the small, quaint town there seemed to be lots of people. I assumed, because of the small number of residents, that most of the people around were probably tourists. The place we chose to stop at had a grass roof top and was called Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. Outside of the restaurant, crowds of people stood waiting patiently for a table. After approximately 45 minutes, we were finally seated. A polite young gentleman waited on us. After conversing with him, we discovered he was the owner’s grandson and was helping out during his summer vacation home from college. When we were finished and leaving as satisfied, full customers, I decided to compliment the gentleman that was standing near the cash register facing the dining room. He appeared to be the owner, but we were pleasantly surprised to find out that he was our waiter’s father. He was full of delight when I told him how enjoyable our experience was and how impressed we were with the service of his son.
Algoma Homes in Wisconsin
04.08.2015 § Leave a comment
During a recent visit to Algoma, my family and I walked around the neighborhood to admire the charming homes. Within the subdivision, almost every front door had a unique and interesting decoration. I thought to myself, what a relaxing lifestyle these people must live.
In Search of Light Houses in Door County
28.07.2015 § Leave a comment
Allen came home to visit so we drove to Wisconsin again. Going on a road trip is relaxing because there is no need to plan ahead. We drove to Algoma in search of the light house there. It turned out to be smaller than we had anticipated. Not a light house, but instead a light tower stood still on the shoreline. The color of the tower was beautiful against the blue water, especially the reflection in the waves. The air felt cool in the 90 degree temperature. The beach below was not crowded and the noise was muffled by the vast open water and sand. A very old church stood facing the lake. It reminded me of the old cathedrals I visited in France and Italy. It even smelt the same way.
Sturgeon Bay
11.06.2015 § Leave a comment
How fun! These fish were swimming all around Sturgeon Bay when I visited over Memorial Day weekend. I had to take pictures.
Door County Lighthouses
01.06.2015 § Leave a comment
I’ve lived in the Chicago area for 30 years, but I’d never visited Door County, Wisconsin. It’s just a couple hours away. This past Memorial Day weekend I finally made the trip with the whole family — husband, brothers, sisters, etc.
The Lighthouse at Two Lights, Edward Hopper, 1929
The little towns were clean and lovely, and the cherry pie was especially memorable! The most special part for me was the lighthouses, and I will go back to seek out more of them. Edward Hopper has long been an inspiration for me and may have helped spark my first interest in lighthouses. « Read the rest of this entry »
Boarding Gate Concert
16.12.2014 § Leave a comment
I was on my way to Washington DC via the Midway airport at 5:30 a.m., and there was a concert going on across from my boarding gate. Three singers wearing Army side caps were singing old-timey songs in front of a full house audience in the waiting area. A whole bunch of people in orange shirts pushing wheelchairs were gathering at the concert, and I asked a lady wearing a green shirt what it was all about.
She said that 92 World War II veterans were going to Washington DC. The trip was sponsored by Honor Flight Chicago, a privately funded organization. « Read the rest of this entry »
Woven-Words 