Kiri Masters started DIY-ing her own home lighting when she couldn’t find stylish and affordable lighting for her own apartment. When she realized that sourcing the components to make her own lampshade could be difficult and confusing, she set about creating a customizable DIY lampshade kit and I Like That Lamp was born.
The A+ In-Home Wellness Healthcare Agency is an owner-operated licensed home care agency that provides professional, affordable, and in-home living assistance for seniors in the St. Louis Missouri area. They provide personalized and flexible care plans helping their clients remain safely and comfortably in their own homes. In addition, they hire only the best caregivers! Their caregivers are fully insured, bonded, extensively trained, courteous, and very professional.
An American Craftsman Galleries showcases the work of talented emerging artists alongside well established artists working in wood, clay, fiber, metal, glass, leather and mixed media. A wide range of work is represented… from unusual gifts to decorative art objects, from furniture to sculpture, from art glass to jewelry… for first-time buyers to seasoned collectors. An American Craftsman offers an ever changing collection of beautiful American made fine crafts.
Alcon Lighting is a retail & wholesale distributor of Architectural LED Lighting Fixtures designed for commercial and modern residential applications. Ideal applications are office spaces, conference rooms, commercial buildings, multi- family apartment buildings, and single-family homes. Browse our complete online catalog.
After 24 years of living in New York, USA Sasha Spivak relocated his Art Studio to Western Massachusetts, USA. Alexander “Sasha” Spivak’s study of fine art began at an early age and showed incredible promise. He started to develop his unique style when at the Lviv College of Fine Arts. The artist’s unusual yet sophisticated imagery brought him through the surrealistic period to the series of technically perfect symbolic and rich in content art. Constantly developing his style Alexander “Sasha” Spivak established his own visual world of POETIC SYMBOLISM. After too many questions about connection of the style to a poetry Alexander came up with a formula “POETIC SYMBOLISM = ROMANTIC SURREALISM”. The “Grace of Interrelations” is a leitmotif of every artists artwork.
The Luxury of a Cushion
At the end of February, I had a friend from Canada come visit as she was participating in a conference here in Boston. We shared similar interests that were directly related to our work; one interest was travel, which is often associated with another – research. She had just come back from spending 3 months in South America and ended up in Peru. On the last day of her stay in Boston at breakfast she was recounting her stay in Peru and talked about how hard it was to find a cushion and find comfortable seating to sit down and have a conversation. Sure there were hammocks, but the intimacy of a hammock sometimes can be too much.
A cushion.
It’s so interesting to me that someone else can find the luxury in a cushion; an object that is so prominent to our culture, which can be hard to believe that something so simple can be foreign to someone else. Cushions have often been a sign of luxury in many cultures around the world. When I think of luxury, sometimes I think of the gold and multi-colored cushions of the Middle East or the Far East. But one doesn’t have to go as far as Asia to experience this. It is often prominent in our society and local culture. High End furniture often have tufted cushions or fabric which exert luxury.
In the Victorian times, upholstered chairs and couches were definitely a sign of luxury and having an upholstered tufted couch was the ultimate sign of luxury. The luxury of a cushion can be found anywhere from the leather seats of your luxury car to luxury home décor. It’s always interesting to me to hear of my friends’ travels and their reactions to other cultures in other countries.
In America we can be so self-absorbed that sometimes we forget what it’s like to only have primitive surroundings. Americans sometimes wonder if those in third-world countries would be happier with more things, like we have. While running water, electricity and other utilities are often seen as luxury as well, sometimes we miss the little things that also can be luxury to someone else.
After my own experiences of traveling to third-world countries what I have learned from them is that while they may not have a much as we do, they may not necessarily be sadden by this but they make the best of what they have and they make the most of what they have. If you can be happy with making the most of what you have and live comfortably, then that is what is important. Sometimes luxury isn’t buying a $100,000 dollar ring, but being able to sit comfortably and have a conversation with your friends and loved ones.
Be on the lookout for future articles by Kristi which will feature ‘tips and tricks for artists to get ahead,’ Artwork ‘currently on view,’ Projects ‘in the studio,’ Travel Stories ‘on the road and in the air,’ and finally ‘lifestyle’ adventures. You can find more about Kristi, and her work on her blog: http://blog.kglyphics.com.
Wellesley Hills Living is a private publication dedicated to the Country Club Neighborhood .
We all have, at one time or another, faced a difficult transition: a major project ending, changing life circumstances, or other things that just make it hard for us to balance our lives. Transitions are hard but what helps is working with other people on something new, different and exciting. The act of just creating eases life’s transitions especially when the collaboration is a labor of love, something that isn’t paid, and is outside our comfort zone. These collaborations help us get to know others and build connections.
I most recently worked on a textile collaboration with artist, Meghan Widger owner of Hills and Thread who I had been following on Instagram. Our conversation about her work and about our project details how two artist can get to know each other, create together, and move through our ever changing lives.
As far as I can remember, I’ve always loved creating. But my sewing journey started at age 14. I got really hooked on the show Project Runway and just felt like I wanted to do what the designers did. I felt a spark, like this was something I could be good at. I wanted to learn, so my awesome parents gifted me with a sewing machine. I taught myself to use it and designed my own garments. However my interested shifted from fashion design to quilting, and has been evolving and expanding ever since.
My main destination is to some day teach my own workshops. I want to teach people not only the skills and knowledge to sew or paint, but how to enjoy the process and how therapeutic it can be. I’d also like to travel around to display and sell my work at different festivals and shows. Basically I just want to learn, share, and teach.
I enjoyed getting to know a new artist and learning about your Electrography project. Collaborating two completely different skills and talents is such a fun experience. Not only did I learn a lot from you but I also gained a lot of inspiration from this project!
I spend most of my time creating. If I’m not sewing then I’m painting or making something else. But If I’m not making something then I’m taking care of my plants, practicing yoga, or listening to music/podcasts. I love being outside, reading/writing, and thrift store shopping.
Starting Hills and Thread was actually a huge step for me. As an introverted person who used to be painfully shy, I never liked to draw attention to myself and was never one to show off my work. I realized that starting my own business would be constantly challenging me to go outside my comfort zone and, in turn, help me evolve and grow. It took a lot for me to just start posting things I made on social media for exposure, then I was terrified of starting an Etsy shop. But every time you do something that scares you, you take control and the fear loses its power little by little. I decided I wanted to overcome as many fears as possible not only for myself, but to inspire others to do the same.
Just as starting Hills and Thread caused Meghan to leave her comfort zone, working with her and interviewing her helped me do the same. Through our collaboration, I was able to expand my brand and create something new.
What collaborations have you been a part of? How have they fueled your creativity?
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
Read the current issue: http://www.theperpetualyou.com/the-magazine/
I highly recommend taking the time to slow travel. By spending a month in one location, I was able to learn about the culture, make connections and friends, and establish a relationship to the countryside. If everyone could have the opportunity to travel and spend time within a culture, the world would be a wealthier place.
Two summers ago I was accepted into an artist-in-residence program in Greve in Chianti a town in Tuscany, Italy. I was ecstatic to pursue one of my projects to help build my portfolio and repertoire as a professional artist which is something I was not able to do while in college.
The residency, La Macina di san Cresci, was a month long. During the month, I worked on my project which incorporated the native flora in the surrounding hills. I have fond memories of roaming the Tuscan hills foraging for edible and non-edible plants and herbs to be used in my project.
The building which housed the program was rebuilt by two artists, who are now the directors. The 900 AD building originally had a church and a parish house, which was converted into the artists’ residence. With support from the town, the artist-duo began the program and started accepting artists.
While in the program, a typical day included long sweltering afternoon walks through the Tuscan hills gathering plant specimens. I would bring them back to the studio which had a well-equipped darkroom – perfect for my artwork.
My evenings were filled with photo making, wine and cheese, and relaxation. I also spent time gaining inspiration from a book on scientific photography, which I’d gotten from the London Museum of Science while visiting a family member just prior to the program.
During the weekends, I made trips into Florence, which was only an hour away. Taking the public transit and riding through the Tuscan hills was quite an inspiring experience. The locals said that one of the best, most inexpensive things to do there was to ride the bus through the different towns.
In Florence, I stopped by the Orto Botanical to identify the plants I had been seeing in the hills. A part of my project was plant identification as my final portfolio pieces were named after the plant used. Through this project, I gained a deep connection to nature and to my surroundings.
La Macina di san Cresci promoted the “Slow” culture by sponsoring the Slow Movie Contest where directors and filmmakers submit movies on the slow culture. “Slow” culture is a protest movement that contrasts the fast-paced lifestyle of many in the United States and other parts of the world.
From my extended time in Italy, I witnessed a culture that takes time out of its day to slow down, relax, and connect. If we just take time to enjoy our travels whether abroad or even to the nearby park or neighboring town, we may be surprised by the things we learn and the connections we make. Slowing down enriches our lives with experiences, which means our extra time spent is well worth it.
“Kristi Beisecker is an artist and freelance designer in Massachusetts. In her spare time she creates photograms using electricity and organic materials with analog darkroom processing. She also reads and writes about science and spirituality, composes and performs music and gives spiritual guidance.”
At The Perpetual You, they believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves – the parts that never change – our Perpetual Selves. They are creating a movement that encourages women to love and share who they already are.
The Perpetual You offers women the tools to create Joy, Ease, Fun & Wealth; the opportunity to connect with like-minded women and form intentional, meaningful relationships; and the space to showcase their creative and/or entrepreneurial talents as part of our makers movement intended to shake up the world.
Read the current issue: http://www.theperpetualyou.com/the-magazine/