Maria Manuela Rodrigues

Was at a really interesting lecture today held by Maria M. Rodrigues. She talked about her way of making art, about her life and her achievements. I really recommend to have a look at her website, I find her work very inspiring.

Bought two of her books, showing her works; I wish I was and "Nå koser vi oss" (enjoying ourselves). I am really looking forward to reading them!

Have to have - in process

Today I have started sewing the dress for the school project. I cut all the pieces out yesterday, and I am happy to notice; I can do this! It already looks like a dress, front and back is stitched together, and the side seams have to wait until I can try it on my model. The "fabric" sheds itchy treads all over me an my home, but I keep smiling! Gold paint is in the house, and I am - so far, very satisfied with the process and the picture in my mind of the finished project. One week left until presentation time - I feel on schedule.

First real assignment at school!

Have just started on the first real project at school. This is one assignment out of four that could count for 40% of my grade for this year! Scary and really motivating!

The assignment is named have to have - or something like that, and the inspiration picture on the paper is this:

Damien Hirst - Jeweled Skull

I am planning to sew a dress out of rugh sacks normally used for firewood etc and spray it with gold paint, to give the illusion of somthing beautiful... I am really looking forward to working on this! It is really fun!

Clothes - simplified form

Ok - coming to writing about clothes and naming parts of garments and sewing techniques etc in English - NOT so easy... You will have to bear over with bad wording on this I'm afraid..

Starting point
I wanted to test how a simple piece of fabric could be formed into a garment with a minimum of cutting and pattern use. I used a rectangular piece of fabric with a simple cut for the head.

Form
To avoid getting just "a sack", I needed to do something over the shoulders. I tried folding, but wanted a slightly rougher look and decided to make wrinkles by means of a seam.

Decoration
As decoration I wanted to do something to emphasize the “simpleness” in the dress. I chose to use crocheted “granny squares” (old Norwegian pattern I think?!) in different colors, which works very well with the dress.

I had initially thought having the armpits open from the waist up to the shoulders, but this did not look good because of the thick jeans fabric, and I decided to sew woolen (to catch up with the crocheted wool in the patches for decoration) in large cross stitches.
Impatience took me when I was to cut the length of the dress, so it was slightly shorter than intended, but with a rough pantyhose or tights it works!

Conclusion
It is not necessarily the pattern that makes the dress. Decor and simple adjustments work wonders with a single piece of fabric. I am satisfied with the result, I have learned a lot from the process and look forward to using my new dress.

Unfortunately I am not able to upload photos to my pc at the moment, will try to add some detail pic's later.

New camera!

I finally managed to decide what camera to buy. I have been thinking back and forth whether to buy a digital SLR or a compact camera, and ended up with this one;

Panasonic DMC-TZ10

So far I am very happy with my choice, and I'm looking forward to really learning to use all the different settings and start playing with it!

Photoshopping..

Photoshop is frustrating, fun, hard, interesting and great, all at the same time. Have been working on a collage for an assignment at school and the result is as follows;

I have used a picture of my son representing "today". The "old picture" background and the futuristic skyline of Shanghai represents the past and the future. The child is the connection between the past and the future... Wonder if it works....

Rainbow

Yesterday I was at a store called Rainbow textiles and bought textiles in all the colors of the rainbow!

The people in the shop was great, and they gave me all the help I needed! I will definitely go back for more when I need it! Already a favorite store.

Street Art

Just saw yesterdays ”Nasjonalgalleriet” on Nrk2 (Norwegian TV show) and got really impressed by the street art artists presented. I know I have seen some of the works earlier, but I do not think I have taken in over me that they are really doing great art on big walls...

These two pictures from the Norwegian artists Dolk and Pøbel shows that the “street” part is not always necessary:

photo from flickr by Jon Olav Eikenes

photo from flickr by Kim Joar Bekkelund

I was particularly fascinated by the videos made by the artist called blu. Check it out!

Holiday gift from my good friend!

Look what Lene bought me back from Tunis! 

I love it! It just needs a couple of more newspaper sheets inside to be perfect. Many thanks! It's priceless….

My coat!

My coat is nearly finished! –It has been for a while, but I have been seriously on the lazy side when it comes to blogging. Sorry for that, will try to be a better blogger a while now.

Here is the before pictures:

And after:

Nice or what? Many thanks Lene, for the nice pic’s! I think I need to find some new buttons as well, but I would rather use some time for that than finding something just ok. Will post new detail pictures if I find new buttons.

New suggestion for my logo by the way:

sorry - bad picture again. -but it is just a testpiece..

Was thinking about making the tab myself, at least for the time being. Mass production is not quite the thing at the moment anyhow.. ;)

Any comments please?

ludobabe logo

Have started working on a coat I got from my friend. She bought it on the vintage market from my earlier post, but found it was not going to get used by her. To me it was a bit tight in the upper arms, and I have started fixing it up with some fabric I had lying around from an earlier project. I will post pictures as soon as it is ready!

Working with this coat got me thinking on labeling my work again. I have been thinking about it earlier as well, but now I have started working on the look for real. I would like to have some woven labels to sew over the original lable, and have found a good Swedish website where I can get it custom made. If you know of a better place to order it, please let me know.

Here are some suggestions for the logo – any comments? Should the colored letters have a black outline maybe?

redesign by:

ludobabe

Redesign by:

Ludobabe

Redesign by:

LUDObabe


I have noticed that the font is not always shown correct here. I think I need to find out how to present it another way to be sure to show the correct logo examples...

Nice piece!

Spotted this nice snake/sea monster at school yesterday, and had to take some pictures. Isn’t it great? It is made from different size and color cables, and I really liked it! Do not know who made it yet, but I guess it is someone in second or third year of my studies.

Drawing with coal

This week I have had two drawing classes, and it is really fun! We have been drawing rhino masks and various containers and stuff. I have never drawn with coal earlier, and it is pretty difficult to thet the lines where I want them. Forgot to take pictures of the rhino masks, but yesterday I was rather impressed by my own work! Not directly a professional drawer maybe, -but considering who drew it…

First project finalized!

My first school project is now finished! It has been a great start, -fun, interesting and educational. We have been working in groups of three to four students, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with my group! We have worked very well together, and I believe all four of us feel equal ownership to the "finished product”. The process has been very inspiring and I believe we will, if we get the chance, work together on other projects later on as well.

The assignment was to make wallpaper to a chosen interior in a chosen space, either private or public. As this was the first assignment, we chose to focus on getting to know each other, and take inspiration from the “getting to know each other” process. We started by drawing a fun drawing of a person – where one draw the head, another one the body, the third the upper legs and finally I drew the legs and feet, all done without looking at what the last person had drawn. We are still discussing whether it is a man or a woman…

Our wallpaper is a decoration for one wall in a big public space – we are thinking about an airport or another place where people from all over the world come together. It is meant to be an inspiration to connect and communicate with other people, and should be combined with a round table. The round shape of the table will further facilitate and encourage connection between strangers. I must say we are very pleased with and proud of the result!

It might be a bit difficult to see from the pictures above, but the three is put together of the continents of the world as the foliage – filled with the faces of the people of the world. The wood is made of words, proverbs and quotations about peace, freedom, happiness, cooperation and coexistence. The thought is that the world is the people and we are held togheter through the thoughts and feelings that both similar and different at the same time. What do you think?!

Vintage market

Today we have been checking out a vintage market in Galleri Festiviteten  in Eidsvoll. It is the first year they arrange this market, and I believe it can be a nice place in the future. There is a lot of potential even if today's market was not the best. There were not very many stalls and some of them were a bit overpriced. I managed to get me a couple of pearls anyway, so I am rather satisfied with the trip. –And a road trip with my girls is not a bad thing either! Thanks for the trip L&K! 

Look what I found! Even on my top 10 list!

And isn't this clock just beautiful?!

The after noon has been dedicated to reinventing my wardrobe. L gave me a very good lesson in how to mix and match what is already in my closet, and we found some really neat outfits in there! Really looking forward to getting dressed for school in the morning! Maybe I’ll post some examples later on. –But then again, I am not a big fan being photographed, so I will not guarantee anything…

...and action!

First and second day of my Master of Art & Design is over! Great days by the way, with their feeling of happiness, expectancy, anxiety and confusion, combined with a lot of information, new names and new faces. All the glory that goes with starting up with something new! The teachers seem great and it feels like a good mix of different people with different knowledge and experiences that I trust will make sure the studies will be both fun and challenging.

Today we where lucky enough to be invited to Oslo Fashion Week to watch the five winners of the competition called Springbrett showed their collections.

For me it felt like a giant kick-off for the studies, as I really love to see how young new designers get rewarded for hard work and great design. Three of the five is Oslo University College students (present or past). I will follow all five and wish them all the best. Well done! –And thanks for great inspiration!

Check this cool shop!

Found a great shop today! Kitch shop has got a great deal of cool/nice/fun stuff. I believe I have to order something from them shortly. Found a suggestion for schoolbag

could this be the one?!

and lunchbox as well

Betty Boop <3

even a few items that would really "kick ass" in my kitchen

would give new life to me drinking longdrinks..

hahahahaha

I finally have found time for Windows shopping! 

South African wire art

Some friends of mine lived in Africa a couple of years ago. Back home they brought a lot of nice things of course, but I fell hard for her wire art tree with many nice ornaments to hang on the branches. Some of the things they make is maybe a bit gaudy, but look at these nice owls!

I found some nice ones at House of Oslo, but would really like to buy them myself in South Africa...

Mission completed!

Today my mother’s bedroom was finished. –Except from the cupboard doors, they do not look good. I do not understand. I have really done my best to get the paint evenly distributed, but it is still running. I am very close to wanting to blame the paint. Anyway, want my mum to have a look at the color before I do anything more about it. If she wants to change the hue I would like it done before I add another cote.

I have had some time for my drawing today as well. It is slowly but surly getting more colors and details.

One week untill...

…I am a full time student! I am really looking forward! Currently I’m making time pass by helping my mother redecorate her bedroom. Today I have worked with the new oak parquet on the floor. Pretty fun work actually - even all by my self! Very proud of own work today!

I am very happy about the new vending in the case regarding the power line in Hardanger by the way. It is about nature and beauty, and about saving some untouched nature for our descendants. Nature is really the final inspiration for everything, isn’t it?

Stine Rommetveit

Today I have been visiting the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, The museum of Decorative Art and Design here in Oslo. It was a really nice exhibition of Norwegian furniture design showing 100 seating items together with the permanent exhibitions; Style  1100-1905 and Design and Craft from 1905-2005. Unfortunately it was very bad air in there, so I was not able to enjoy as much as I could have. Think I need to go back there another day (maybe with not so nice and warm weather outside..).

The items that made the biggest impression on me today was two bowls made by Stine Rommetveit, a contemporary Norwegian artist with a lot of nice pottery. I really like her use of colors and simple design. My favorite item on her blog is this one, quite like the two in the museum.

Happy birthday to me!

It is my birthday today! -So I am taking a day off writing. Just wanted to let you know I got some beautiful dessert bowls from my son (picked them out myself from Freetex, a thrift store - all for NOK 60)

And I finally have ordered a sewing machine – a gift from my mum! Thanks mum! I love you! Here is a picture of it as well.

from www.symaskiner.no where I bought it

Top 10 Must-haves

1. The blanket and

2. the lamp from the Vintage and Retro, yes please! post!

3. Fantastic pens! Don’t quite know where to put it, but must have it!

www.designista.se

4. Doorstoppers! Like these maybe? Currently using a blanket and a wool-slipper…

www.urban-trend.no

5. An USB-stick – if I need to carry some files between home and school! This is a happy one! 

www.designmuseumshop.com

6.  Lunchbox – I’m a full time student as from the 17^th. How about one of these from Blafre Design?

7. A school bag. Was wandering about buying a Moods of Norway Moods of Norway bag like this, but I haven’t decided yet. Any suggestions?

8. A radio for my study. Check out these fabulous Retro radios from Technology Factory! I cannot decide whether the plain or the wave pattern one would fit best in my apartment. Trust I could find a place for them both if needed…

9. Clogs, no special reason. These would be perfect!

www.riceandbeansvintage.com

10. Something with Cathrine Holm’s fabulous lotus pattern! Isn’t it just great? Simplicity rules! I found the picture through a very nice blog by the way – check it out; MyBlackBook!

catrineholm collage found on Flikr by MyBlackBook