Wearable Art at Artist Review Today

A few weeks ago we created a "wearable art" section at Artist Review Today. Hats, purses, scarves, wraps, ponchos, coats, t-shirts, ties, etc., are displayed together. Several artists create the wearables, and it all seems to work together and looks terrific. Opposite the front door -- it's colorful and inviting, with a great expanse of wall for hanging all kinds of great knitted and handdyed stuff. We've noticed that people gravitate to that section first. Stop by if you're in the area and have a look!

Displays in Lorain Storefronts

Image is everything. And my friend Lorain artist Peg Asensio and Lorain-area building owners are out to brighten up the empty storefront windows of downtown Lorain. Peg, who has her studio near Fourth Street and Broadway, enlisted the help of her friend and origamy artist Barb Zilko, also of Lorain, to decorate street front windows.

Spurred on by the recent volunteer efforts of Lorain resident and downtown property owner Joe Skodny, who took it upon himself to decorate a downtown street corner for fall, Halloween and for Christmas, Peg spoke to Skodny and Mike Challendar of the Lorain Growth Corporation about what they could do. Since Easter, the results can be seen in the storefronts of the old Woolworth building and the former Seymour Jewelers building. Peg, Barb, and other area artists decorated the windows with large, papier-mache Easter eggs for spring. Currently the windows hold flowers and bugs for summer, and butterflies are being added in conjunction with Relay for Life.

The idea behind the displays is to bring a little color and whimsy to downtown Lorain and hopefully encourage more community art projects, Peg said. "There is no visual arts presence in the city of Lorain," she said. So far, those artists who have participated have been friends of hers, and I'm pleased to say that she asked me to participate. She wants to get the word out so people in the community can get involved. She has no funding and suggested that we use materials that we have on hand -- wire, beads, fabric, metal -- to fashion the flowers and bugs. I also gave her some art pieces that I'd made with silk ribbons flowers.

The project may expand into other empty storefronts, if the building owners give the go-ahead, and Peg is hoping to get more artists involved in the window displays.

Trade Show visit

I went to the TNNA trade show in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. What inspiration. The TNNA show is for "people in the needlework business". I haven't gone in a few years, so it was fun just to feel a part of the industry again -- even though I don't have a "bricks and mortar" store. All of the yarn companies, button companies, needle companies, etc, were there.

I want to continue experimenting with freeform knitting and was looking for some specific small companies whose products aren't usually available in yarn stores. People doing unusual yarns (specifically handdyed silk yarns and ribbons) so that I can mix many colors and textures in my wraps.

My favorite company is Tilli Tomas. I already had a few skeins of her wonderful handdyed silks with beads that I picked up in my travels, and I was familiar with some great projects knitted using her yarns. Tilli is delightful and very helpful. I ordered some of her wonderful Dupioni silk ribbon strung with glass beads. Each color was more beautiful than the next. I also ordered some of the beaded silk yarn. Absolutely gorgeous.


I also love the Hanah handdyed silk ribbons. Stunning colors. These gorgeous ribbons are offered in a variety of widths and colors. They could be knit, used in fringe, and also used to make silk ribbon flowers. A few years ago I did a lot of embroidery using silk ribbon and also made silk ribbon flowers. These ribbons inspire me to play with the silk ribbon flowers again, both in my knitting and jewelry making. How about a beautiful cabbage rose, maybe beaded and with some delicate wire embellishments, on a velvet ribbon worn as a choker? A vintage look but with a twist. These ribbons are a real inspiration.

What fun to see all the creativity and energy of the wonderful folks in the yarn business. Makes me want to knit non-stop to get all my ideas translated into finished products!