March 16, 2018 by Cynthia
Silk Cashmere Scarf modeled by Adina Richardson Lundquist. Photography by Rodrigo Larios.
You know me … the journey began with sunlight. It shone on the gold stenciled wall of Trinity Church in the City of Boston. The image had been digitally printed on silk before, and wonderfully so, but this time we were looking for something to be woven to enhance consistency in color and durability over time. So, through good word of mouth, we chanced upon talented fashion designer Donna McNett, noted for her love of and background in architecture. She worked with the image, teasing out certain colors and characteristics, to produce an object of great beauty. The resulting silk cashmere scarf is warm in winter and cool in summer, and is large enough to be worn as a shawl or even a sarong.
It was a treat to learn from Donna as she shared her creative process along the way. I am thankful for the different levels of collaboration that is possible in this day and age. Many thanks to Donna of DonaScarves for producing something exceptional in aesthetics, function and quality. Thanks to Adina Richardson Lundquist for braving the cold to model the scarf (and its matching cuff bracelet) and to photographer Rodrigo Larios for sharing his skills.
The scarf, retailing at $94.95, is available exclusively at the shop at Trinity Church. Its current winter hours (assuming no Noreasters!) are Wednesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm, and Sunday 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Quantities are limited. Inquiries about availability and shipping possibilities can be directed to artandarchitecture@trinitychurchboston.org.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged apparel, architecture inspired, beauty, creative collaboration, creativity, design, fashion, Inspiration, Photography, scarves, silk | Leave a Comment »
March 13, 2018 by Cynthia
This particular creative expression began as part housecleaning and part trying to entertain myself while housebound during a blizzard (a blizzard which continues, by the way). Flipping through a stack of books I haven’t read in ages, I came across a book about Japanese Noh robes, Patterns and Poetry, produced by the Rhode Island School of Design. A visually stunning book. I was motivated to pick up some colored pens and paper and see what might emerge as I lingered over each colorful page.
Nature is a predominant theme of the costume designs, and so as the world turned white around me I decided to free sketch and see what might happen. Drawing a heron is bit beyond me at this stage but I knew I could handle branches, leaves, berries and butterflies. I scratched a few lines on paper and then moved on to GIMP.
What evolved was the height of simplicity, my little nature sequence of leaves, then berries and then a butterfly in a field. Not quite Picasso but rather fun, I have to say, on a gray day in a troubled world, to produce a colorful flight of fancy. Enjoy.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged apparel, art, creativity, digital printing, drawing, fashion, funstuff, GIMP, Inspiration, mug, nature-inspired, scarf | 5 Comments »
March 12, 2018 by Cynthia
A door has to be functional but it can also be beautiful. It boggles my mind to imagine that over 140 years ago someone sat down and put pencil to paper to design this door for Trinity Church in the City of Boston and perhaps thought, hmmm, well, besides adding a snazzy brass doorknob, what else can I do to jazz up this door? 🙂 My mind works in a different way. As I watch the sun shine through this decorative glass in the upper part of the church doors I begin to wonder how might these wonderful geometrics and bright colors be translated into other forms. You might be surprised! Stay tuned to this blog and follow the Trinity Church Shop Facebook page for updates on merchandise featuring these motifs.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged design, doors, Inspiration, interior design, merchandising, Photography, stained glass | 2 Comments »
photo by DL
Kiya, named for one of the wives of Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, basks in a square of bright winter sun. A happy sight to share from guest photographer DL. Enjoy!
photo by DL
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged beauty, cats, Inspiration, kittens, Kiya, pets, Photography, sunlight | 3 Comments »
February 28, 2018 by Cynthia
What is there to say? A magic moment in the Boston Public Garden watching this little creature dig about in the dirt for nuts.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged animals, Boston Public Garden, exotic beauty, Inspiration, nature, Photography, squirrels, urban landscapes, white squirrel | 2 Comments »
February 22, 2018 by Cynthia
I glanced out the window and saw something drifting down from the sky. At first I thought them the biggest snow flakes I’d ever seen.But when I went to the window I saw that they were in fact feathers. I looked up and around, and there it was on top of a nearby utility pole, a hawk feeding on its kill.
As I tried to focus my camera around the oak tree branches … thank goodness, they are still bare … the hawk stopped feeding, spread its wings and flew away only to be immediately replaced by another hawk. A mating pair perhaps.
These were large birds but it was not a sunny day so perhaps their outstretched wings which seemed so large to me cast no shadows down below and that’s why all the people standing on the sidewalk below the pole never noticed nature at work above them.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged beauty, birds, birds of prey, hawks, Inspiration, nature, Photography, urban landscape | 7 Comments »
February 21, 2018 by Cynthia
I am indeed perplexed by this world today – the ugliness, the violence, the pettiness, and the thoughtlessness – but I do find serenity in the woods.
three birds amidst the berries
Even as I compose this post I hear birds around me in the cityscape and so …
red and gold
… I think I shall rise to go outside with my camera and see what birds in city branches I might capture on this beautiful day.
sparrow in the berries
These birds, berries and branches were photographed this past weekend in parks located in Boston, Newton and Saugus.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged beauty, birds, Branches, hope, Inspiration, nature, Photography, trees, urban landscape | 3 Comments »
February 20, 2018 by Cynthia
Here’s a new woven scarf designed by Donna McNett using a photograph of the stenciled wall inside Trinity Church. Available now in the shop. It’s meant to be worn but I do love how the light shines through.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged apparel, architecture inspired, art, cashmere, design, Inspiration, Photography, scarf, shawl, silk, textiles | 1 Comment »
February 19, 2018 by Cynthia
This winged beauty landed in the tree across the street just as we entered the Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. https://www.mass.gov/locations/breakheart-reservation
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road | Tagged animals, birds, hawks, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography | Leave a Comment »
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