Forest Folk III ~ 5/17/09

Some pictures from my first show of the season, Forest Folk III.

Home Decor Flashback ~ 1978

While searching my vintage cookbooks for the perfect recipe to share with you all in my ReTRo Cookbook Classics series, I stumbled upon this gem of a book that I had forgotten about. An awkward series of "how to" instructions for a number of needlework projects, published in the oh so chic year of 1978. Annette Feldman's Needlework for the Home leaves no room untouched. From the kitchen to the bathroom and even to the backyard, there is a crafty creation just right for your space. In addition to sewing, knitting and crocheting and other still popular tried and true applications, this book also explores some crafts that have lost a bit of momentum in the last 30 years, like shell working and pasta working. (can't find an example of that one!)

Here is a sampling of some of the projects found between these old pages. Enjoy.

Mirror-Framed Bright Flowers and a Matching After-Bath Sarong

Nothing says I have style more than coordinating your bath sarong with the framed art on your wall. This is a classic example of embroidered beauty that will leave you staring at your reflection thinking, "Can I be anymore fabulous?"

The Barbecue Butler, Grill Cover & Decorative Sheild for Outdoor Hors d'Oeuvres

Why hasn't the Barbecue Butler concept caught on? Seriously? All of the tools, condiments and other crocheted items can store easily in the pockets and hang directly within reach of the grill. Handmade, crocheted genius. The grill cover could double as a really cool rasta hat. And the hors d'oeuvres sheild, pretty and functional. When I was a kid, we had the standard mosquito net type.

Bedspread, A Stunning Jewel Case Made of Pasta and a Fringed Lampshade

First I must say I am very fond of the wallpaper in this room. Next I must say that I too had a canopy bed in the 70's, although it did not have a top on it. Now let's address the fine pasta working skills on that jewel case... the details can not be seen in this photo, but I can tell you that there are 5 different types of pasta on it. It is a macaroni mosaic masterpiece. The lampshade is ultra groovy. I just wonder how the yarn complies with safety regulations when heated by a light bulb.

Creepy Sailor Rabbit Thingy

His name is "Percival" and he is a "Life-Size Life-Time Friend". He stands just about 4 feet tall and also sports a "hidden pocket for storing a child's most precious things." You can't help but wonder how many children actually received this creation from the crafty relative in the family after this book came out. A very disturbing thought.






A Pasta-Beaded Macrame Curtain

"Spread thirty-three manicotti over newspaper, spray them with bright blue enamel and allow to dry...." And Annette thinks you should take this design and really make it your own, but she gives some suggestions that sound lovely. "Green yarn and white enameled pasta would be a stunning combination for a summer or tropical home, while shades of yellow, gold and orange would add a note of sunshine to any setting."

Oh Annette, thank you for adding a note of sunshine to my day with your retrotastic book.

Check Out My Brand New Shop!

Once again, Gemini Moon Mosaics is changing and rearranging. My altered art pendants have all been added to my brand new shop on 1000Markets.com. From now on, this new shop will be home to all of my wearable art collections. 1000 Markets is a community of marketplaces, each specializing in a theme, particular region, or style of art. Currently, I am a member of the Peace & Love Market where all of the pieces featured capture the feel of the 60's and 70's.

I will also be featuring some of my mosaic wall art in my new shop as well. It is my goal to keep a whole different collection of art between the two shops. Add in my 2nd Etsy shop Assorted Olives, and I am ready for the challenge to keep on creating.

Featured Artist of the Month ~ taissalada

After falling behind on my regular blog articles last month, I am very excited to get back on track and introduce you to this month's Featured Artist: Taissa Lada of Taissa Lada Designs. Old Hollywood glamour comes to mind as I browse through her shop and her work is unique, vintage inspired and beautifully crafted. Let's learn a little about Taissa and the inspiration behind her designs.


Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

A. My name is Taissa Lada but most people refer to me as "Tai' like you tie your shoes. I'm in my late 30's and I live in Minneapolis with my two cats "Pee Wee" and "Simba". I do this full time, so this is actually my job, the hat making that is. I started out with high end evening wear and sort of morphed into hat making by accident. I had always dabbled in accessories, especially hat and head wear in my early years in design school and over the years more and more people began asking for just the hats so I went with the flow and kept going with the supply and they got more and more in demand. I love making the pieces, to me it's like soft sculptures. I love when the feathers move in mid air, sometimes the shape will change over time. it's like they have a mind of their own.

As far as hobbies go I love to travel and try and make time for it when I can. A few of my favorite places are New York, London and Paris. I lived in Chicago for 13 years from 1992 -2005 but moved back to MN where I was born and raised in the spring of 2005. I needed a change so I up and left.

Q. When did you start and how did you get into your art/craft?

My hats sort of started with a "bad hair day" My hair dresser cancelled on me last minute due to "being sick" and I was in dire need to cover up my nappy roots. I started picking up flowers and feathers that were on my studio floor and pinning them in my hair. I had always dabbled in hair accessories at the time I mainly did high end evening wear but this make shift hair cover up was a major marking in my designing. I went out that night to an opening I was showing in and all my girlfriends wanted something similar and I came home with orders on the back of bar napkins. I started making more and more of them due to word of mouth, self promoting and some shops carrying my accessories and eventually my accessories stated to float the line and I began to build the hat moulds as well.

I've been a thrift store junkie since I can remember. I think it all started with a leopard fake fur coat I bought at Ragstock for 5.00 when I was 14. I was never able to shake my adoration for that particular print. I absolutely love it, especially shoes and lingerie. Most of my hats are lined with it. Sometimes I'll use old garments as well for the linings if I like them, I think that garments and accessories should be just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. It's like when you see a house from the outside and you walk inside and you're like WOW!!! I was not expecting this at all! To me that's what I want my items to be like.


Q. Where do you get the ideas and inspiration for your art/craft?

As far as the process goes, I guess I really don't have a method behind my madness. I just start working and I see where my hands and mind take me. I'm really inspired by the deep blue sea, tropical flowers,and vintage fashion. As you can see, I'm a big fan of color and I never met a feather I didn't like. I have a back ground in fashion and a BFA . I graduated from the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago were I graduated from in 1996.


Q. What is your favorite thing about making your art/craft?

I love that fashion is always changing, I always have a million ideas that branch off into different things. I really love working one on one with my clients and I love doing really over the top stuff for them. I like when someone buys something from me and totally make it their own and works in their own style. I love taking something old and giving new life to it, changing it around a bit and adding new materials. As I said before I don't really have a method, I generally have an idea of the shape and colors used but a lot of times my ideas come to me as I start working. One of the best things is seeing my creations on other people and how diverse the crowd with me is. It ranges from burlesque performers, to drag queens, ascot and horse race fans to lady's who lunch and wear my items to church. I'm still pretty shocked that this whole thing turned out the ways that it did and has evolved over the years to where it is today. All I wanted to do was cover up my roots and look presentable. Guess that bad hair day years ago was a sigh and turned in to something great!

To see more of Taissa's work, head over to her Etsy shop.

Quote of the Day

There is no way to peace; peace is the way. ~A.J. Muste (1885-1967)

Join Gemini Moon on Facebook

Are you on Facebook? Well I'd love to connect with you! Come check out the official Gemini Moon Mosaics fan page. Join us for fan only specials, and daily updates on new listings, upcoming shows, new blog posts and noteworthy news. Updates appear like magic right to your home page... (ya know, in between all your friend's quiz results and status blurbs) I am also planning some cool contests and give aways for the summer.

Just go here and click "Become a Fan" under the pretty photo on the top left of the page. See you there!

First Show of the Season

Next weekend I will be sharing my wares at the Forest Folk III Festival at Schreiber's Farm in Oxford, CT. Forest Folk is "A 4 Day Gathering where teachers, artists, performers, crafters, students, and dream weavers come together to share, learn and grow in all ways through our statement of purpose." EMBRACING UNIVERSAL SPIRITUALITY, PROMOTING PEACE & HARMONY, INSPIRING CREATIVITY, KNOWLEDGE & LOVE. And this festival is all done in the name of charity, donating all of their proceeds to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital.

I am very excited to be a part of this inspiring and meaningful event. I'll be vending all day on Saturday, the 16th. I will also be donating $1.00 of every magnet sold from now until the end of the day on the 16th to St. Jude's. This applies to all of my magnet sales in my Etsy shop, and that day at the fest.

Hope to see you there!

A Saturday in May

April was a difficult month. On the 11th, my Grandmother passed away at the age of 84 after struggling with a variety of health issues for the past few years. Even when there is illness involved, nothing can prepare you for losing a loved one.

My Grandparents in 1948.

This past Saturday was Grandma's 85th birthday. After heading to the cemetery to plant some flowers, we drove around the town I was born and lived in until I was 10. What started out to be a cloudy day with a forecast of rain, turned out to be a radiant, sunny afternoon. We walked on the beach where we spent most of our summer days. It looked different, smaller somehow... but I remembered it like it was yesterday.


Even thought the tide was low, it still looked pretty to me. Low tide never stopped us when we were kids. We would search for snails, mussels and other sea life to keep in our pails. Grandma loved the water and we would go clamming. I would dig in the dark thick sludge with a little rake, and carry the clams back to the beach in my t-shirt.


After leaving the beach, I noticed this tree in the parking lot. The color was so stunning against the blue sky. Spending time outside in nature can truly heal your soul.


Happy Birthday Grandma. I will always miss you. ♥

☀♥☂ MaY DaY Special ALL Weekend!! ☀♥☂

Shop this weekend in and receive 10% off your total order. Grab those Mother's Day gifts, Spring birthday presents and maybe a little something for yourself.

www.GeminiMoonMosaics.etsy.com

**Just type the words 'May Day' in the message to seller box at checkout. I will refund the difference via Pay Pal. OR Simply make your purchase and convo me when you are through shopping and I will send you an amended invoice.

☀ HaPPY SpRiNG!!! ☀