Friday, September 28, 2012

Design Outside the Lines, Day Three


Today was the last full day at DOL. I have loved the experience, the location, the food, and the people. As much as I wish this were a longer retreat, I'm not sure I could really absorb much more information.

I really want to go home and play.

I need a week or two of vacation, to try out the new things I've learned.

Today Marcy and Diane spoke for a shorter period, so we'd have more time to work on projects, or run into town. I did a bit of both. I finally played with silk screening and I think I've got the hang of it now. A couple years ago I tried it at home and wasn't happy with the results.

Today Marcy focused on fabrics. She gave each of us three packs of generous fabric samples, one for coat and jacket weight fabrics, one for pant or skirt weight fabrics, and one for knits, and went through the samples, explaining the characteristics, and best way to use them.

Diane focused her presentation on refashioning garments, and details she uses, such as knots she likes, collar manipulations, pleats, buttonholes. She also showed us jewelry, purses, and teakettles that she's made.

I want to share pics of some of the amazing women at DOL. I didn't get a chance to photograph everyone, but here are a few.

Susan

Gwen, my excellent roomie!

Lindsay

Ute and Peggy

Diana, my tolerant table mate.

Joann

Linda

Narra

Kate

And here are some other photos from today. (Sorry the post is light on sewing content, but I am a wee bit tired.)

The Solarium, atop the main building. The room with the 360 degree view.

Meditation Labyrinth

This is just a guess, but I suspect that Mabel Dodge Luhan liked birds.

Gatehouse entrance

Because you stuck it to the end, a wee bit more sewing content. This is one of Diane's shirts, refashioned from a thrifted RTW shirt - a man's shirt, I believe. She has some really beautiful refashioned pieces.

23 comments:

  1. Wow looked amazing - you guys are so lucky in that there are many more opportunities for these types of events in the USA than we have in the UK, and even Europe I think. Hope you get to play soon. Look forward to seeing the results.

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  2. My goodness, your mind is going to be chock-full for years from all that you have seen and learnt! Hope you are absorbing it all. Thanks for taking the time to share. I would be interested if any of your fellow DOL friends have blogs that we could all follow - think I recognise a few ladies, but not all....

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  3. Everyone is dressed beautifully. I recognise some of those designs! What a wonderful place.

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  4. I´ll say it again. Thank you for sharing all this with us. All the thing you´ve leart and all the great people you´ve met! I envy you (always is a good way ;)

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  5. thanks for all the updates! these posts have been really fun to read. claudine

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  6. Thanks so much for taking time to let us share your experience with photos and sewing bits! Wish I could have been there too. Maybe one of these days!

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  7. Sharon, you are a real sweetheart to think of us and blog about this amazing retreat for us while you are there!!! i have really enjoyed these posts - the images, the people, your own creative process unfolding.

    whew, stencilling and silkscreening are just skills you gotta practice :) stick with it, pay attention, and you'll get it under your belt!

    your comments about frustration with various processes brought my art school days back to me. re: working with new means of fabric enbellishment. In art school, we spent a certain amount of time flat out copying other artists's work. Copying is a well known, quite respectable approach to learning about art and honing your own skills. I thought of this as one technique you might find helpful - just set out to copy an embellishment you really like. Figure out how it was done, use the same colors, etc. That way you get experience planning a finished look, practice with the materials and techniques, all without the 'pressure' of coming up with 'a creative concept'. Sometimes you don't have an idea anyways ;) !!!

    so i thought i'd mention it, tho chances are very good it came up in your workshop :) Thank you again, these posts are so fun and inspiring. And i love that look Marcy gets when she's concentrating ;) Happy Weekend!!! steph

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    1. tinyjunco, thanks for posting this. I felt a little overwhelmed and you calmed me down :-D

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  8. and you and roomie Gwen could be sisters! how fun!! steph

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  9. The pictures are wonderful. Thanks for continuing to share your journey. Martha

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  10. I really enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your gorgeous photos from design outside the lines. What an amazing experience! New Mexico is one of my favorite places to visit -- been to Santa Fe several times (love Santa Fe Dry Goods and the Shed) and Taos once. There is such a cool vibe there -- it's the perfect place to get those creative juices flowing. Thanks for sharing your journey!

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  11. Loved tagging along with you to this workshop. It has been a while since I have taken a workshop and it reminds me how it can shake you up, right out of your regular routine, in a GOOD way.
    Safe travels home!

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  12. I do hope that you have some time at home to play because I would hate for all that creative inspiration to have to wait for another time. Glad that you had a good time and enjoyed the experience.

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  13. I just caught up with your whole Design Outside the Lines adventure, and I'm quite inspired and impressed. I can't wait to hear more about it the next time we run into each other. What a great event!

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  14. Looks like you're in good company.

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  15. Wow, what a great experience! Thanks for giving us a peak into this fabulous retreat.

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  16. I am sure you will leave there with lots of ideas and great memories

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  17. What gorgeous women in their fabulous garments! And now that you are chock full of new information and inspiration, it just has to start spilling out... :)

    Thank you, again, for giving us all such a delightful peek into your journey. It's been such a gift! :)

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  18. Shams, you look beautiful! What a great experience and learning time. Looking forward to hearing more about it in your blog. Darby

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  19. What an amazing experience. It will be interesting to see how you interpret (all?) these ideas, once you've had a chance to think on them.

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  20. I appreciate your sharing of your images, impressions, ideas, and experiences of DOL. It sounds like a wonderfully inspirational (and practical) experience. I'm looking forward to seeing DOL's influence percolate through your projects.

    Rose in SV

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  21. It looks like an incredible trip from start to finish. I am glad you had such a great time and cannot wait to see what you make now that you are revved up and full of inspiration!

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