Something new, something blue..

I made this blue bolero this Fall. After making some knitting clothes for my son, now I wanted to try to make something for myself. I haven't done this kind of things for years. Well, there is still so much to learn, but I liked it anyway.

The design is mostly from "Classic Elite Knits". But the color and stitch idea is mine.

Simple beauty

I came to that conclusion one more time - the beauty can be seen in the simple pieces of the day... like my pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving this year.

Neckband for a toddler girl

This neckband was made as a Birthday present for a little friend of my son.

Christmas Vest for a toddler

I made it for my son. It will be his Christmas outfit this year. The design is mine.

(stitch)

Birthday Present

I must apologize for not being consistent in my posting during the past few months.

Life has kept me busy for doing that.

But it doesn't mean I wasn't able to create or see the hidden art in my life.

So now I look forward to sharing with you some of my new works I was working on this Fall.

Cliffs and Sailers at Pourville.

It is again one more copy of Monet's works. I painted it for my Husband's Birthday.

(Fragment, upon a closer view)

Russian bakery

Recently I've been in the mood to make something Russian. I have to admit that even being ethnically Russian I am not good to keep Russian traditions or being a good cook. So I found some of the recipes in Internet. The result was not super, but I loved the way how they looked and tasted!

Russian mini pancakes (oladushki)

Russian pie with cabbage and mushrooms

Jan Vermeer

Working on one of my current projects, I am able to study more about Jan Vermeer. Mostly I am reading the "Vermeer" book by Arthur K. Wheelock,Jr).

As like with other two artists I mentioned already in my Blog, I have been interested in his work also for quite a while. These 3 artists are so different in many ways, but they attracted my attention to make me to learn more about them.

So, I've just recently realized that Vermeer, one of the greatest artists in world, also can be related to the Hidden art. Doesn't it surprise you? But I could see this correlation and I want to tell you a little about it. .

Vermeer was one of the few Dutch artists to appreciate the rich range of human expression possible in intimate domestic scenes: the pause of a woman as she stands before a window holding a watering can, reading a letter, tuning a lute and other. Such a moments of life when one is alone and immersed in thought.

Vermeer, however, discovered in them that he translated into images that are forever recurring.

It just struck me- He was able to see poetry in the common moments of our everyday life!

He concentrated on the theme of a single figure, alone and immersed in thought, in what must me one of the most beautiful series of images ever created.

I think maybe that is why I like more photos taken spontaneously than when people pose for them. Usually you can't really see even the hint of what people might think about at this moment.

The only thing you might see is a face expression made just for this photo.

But if you take a look at the photos made spontaneously you can see at least a glimpse of human depths, thoughts, mental work, inner peace or anything else but you can guess what it might be. So it means everyone can look artistic, besides just smiling to the camera.

Of course it doesn't mean posing is a bad thing. I just wanted to draw your attention to the beauty of the scenes of your regular life. There are much more of them than anything else..

Also there is so much to learn from his works. Even if you realize you never will be able to create such things like he did. But you can learn how to see the things and people like he did.

Looking at how he placed every object, shapes or used psychological functions of light, color, settings you can learn how all these things can affect the mood of the whole picture.

I think as the "hidden artists" we can use it in our every art- home decoration, knitting or table setting or something else. You can make joy, calm serenity, synergy of the opposite shapes and color and other things just in the place where you live and relate to.

The Quote

"My name is Marc, my emotional life is sensitive and my purse is empty, but they say I have talent."

Marc Chagall.

I found it recently when I was reading about Marc Chagall and the symbols he used in his works of Art.

I decided to share it with you. Not being ambitious but I felt like I was saying it about myself.

Solitude

The U of M set is finished

Well, I would say I finished the whole winter set for my son (hat, sweater and scarf). I am happy!

Plus, this will be a good reminder about our trip to the Adirondacks in NY this August, as I was making it while were driving there.

The U of M Pullover

For making this boy's pullover I used the pattern from Classic Ellite Knits.

But I used my creativity too.

The color, the main stitch and neck band is all my idea..

White and Green hat

I notice that from time to time I discover my "old" hidden art pieces. This hat I made for my son the last Fall.

Story about The Little Olive

For a long time I've been thinking of writing.

My dad constantly reminded about the stories I wrote when I was 14. He encourages me to continue. Even those stories were not so worthy to read for many readers. But at least it shown to my dad I had desire to write.

Recently my dad quoted dialogue of Ivan Homeless and the the Master. The idea was about if you can live without writing then don't write. If you can't live without it then you have to write.

So, I think you can apply it for everything. It is like a test to know if you really want to do something...

About 10 years ago, I had a real desire to stare writing. I felt like I had so much to say. I wanted to share what I learnt about life, God, people and myself. It was amazing that after leaving my parent home, so I discovered so many things.

And I begun to write. First it was just few articles for our church newspaper.

Then I begun to write essays about my life experience. But the sad thing I never finished any of my works. At least I have 2 works I want to finish one. I keep lots of papers with my thoughts all together and hoping that one day (year) I will take a breath continue my divining in my hear in order to express all what it has on these specific themes. I know it would a hard work and I would feel very exhausted in the end.

But it doesn't mean I couldn't try myself in other kinds of writing. There are so many:

poetry, fair tales, riddles, haiku and etc. Besides your desire to write the only one thing is needed - a piece of creativity.

Here is my piece of hidden art - the story about little Olive. (I posted the cover and some of the pages of this book. The real author's name is now shown here, as I am trying to keep my real name private).

It is in Russian, so I will give you some explanations.

I wrote it to my husband's on his Birthday 4 years ago. It is a story about him and a little about our life together.

I asked him before to start writing what kind of veggie he was identifying himself. So this is how the main character's name came from.

He also said that sometimes he feels himself like the pickle, so I was able to include it in my book too!

Dedicating to ....

Prelude

The first page shows clearly what style of writing I chosen - Veggie Tales!

Chapter 1.

Chapter 2. (a little about The Raspberry, guess who was it?)

Epilogue

Back cover of the book

Easter basket for a little boy

It was a little easter egg painting on last Easter. I was tying to do this with my little son. But of course he was too little even for this project.

I look forward to the time when my son could join me. Then we could make our masterpieces of our hidden art!

Orange or memories about the kitchen

I would also call this piece "my very first art experience" on hidden art. It was painted by gouache on paper.

"Orange", because that time I wanted to paint something very orange. I needed something warm and energetic to play with.

You would laugh at me if I tell you that I took this pattern from our wall paper at the kitchen we lived that time.

When I finished my "Orange" painting , we moved out from our apartment very soon afterwards.

So we called this paining "The memories about our kitchen". We gave such an honor to our kitchen as it was the first kitchen we used as a family.

The Art of Crossing Cultures

The name of the post came from the title of another book I've read. It was written by Craig Storti. I've started to read this book( but didn't finished though) at the time when we just came to the States.

The author tried to explain what happens (mostly inwardly) to the person who moved to a new country. It can be a very useful book especially for those who lived in a new culture for a short period of time.

Well, when we just moved to the States, I thought I knew enough about the Americans to understand them. I even didn't find this book can be any to help me that time. But I was wrong...

I am asked quiet frequently about how I was adjusted to the States. Usually it takes some time for me to think to reply.

Why? Because almost every week I can say that after adjusting to one thing, or just acknowledge it I would find out another one which now I try to understand and adjust to.

Just today I had a very good conversation with my new friend about developing the healthy identity in a new culture. Even though she is the second generation of the immigrant family, life of some ethnic groups is very close to her.

Our discussions helped me to come to the complete conclusion that living in a new country, new culture must have several phases to adjust to. I don't know how many, but I know for sure more than 1 per year.

For instance first I thought I need to have all my legal paper to be done to feel more normal than just a new comer. Then it was getting my driver's license and be able to get around and doing different kinds of things without someone's help. For sure, being part of the neighborhood and church communities were big pieces to get this feeling like I was home.

Now I see that being capable to pay bills and not struggling with my own embarrassment based on my worries if I said something improperly or incorrect (in terms of language) are still not what can make me feel and think that I am like home.

I think there is something bigger and deeper, maybe less self-centred and more outward oriented in living in the new culture. Well, I am not sure what it is exactly. I think probably it might be useful to remember how to live in your own culture..

But for now I know for sure it is all about people, my understanding and relationship with them in this new culture to me.

And I think this the core, this is the Art - trying to get to know such a diverse nation by doing it beautifully, yes, artistically like the real art.

Understanding a new culture on a deeper lever, like trying to know what it's heart is.

I don't like the expression to get " the Key to the national mentality" (Usually the language serves this role, I think). And I don't want to be too idealistic in this matter either.

Being open to observe, absorb and at the same have a critical approach to see how people communicate to each other is to start or in my case continue this journey.

By "knowing heart", I mean the understanding the core of the Spirit of the nation I live now and then become part of it.

And as a result to understand it enough in order to feel fee and more natural when I communicate to people.

Knowing well enough where the difference between us came from - either on cultural (On the National or regional), family or personal level.

So this is my idea of another kind of the hidden art ....

Curtains and Harmony?

Ok, first of all - I didn't make these curtains. I even didn't hang them, but I picked them! Well, not just me, together with my husband. I would say the direction of what to look for was inspired by me.

If you ever were standing in front of the decision what curtains you need to choose for your living and dinning areas, you would know that it is not an easy decision to make.

In our case it was hard because we already have strong colors and patterns in our living room and dinning area. So having more patterns would be too much as it could make our room look busy.

But I did want to have curtains, as I thought it would make our home more "homy" and cosy.

So I wanted something light, modern, natural color and fabric but with some texture.

So here was our choice - Linen curtains. They have all characteristics we wanted to see in our curtains.

And now we just feel more harmony in our home..

Any home is an expression of who you are. That is why they all looks so different, as it should be. (and that is why we should be very careful to criticize someone's house! It is a good chance to know people better)

Home can also help to remind you about who you are.

And if you have peace and harmony at home, it would help to restore your peace inside of you in the times you need it...

The Greatest Artist's touch

My husband gave me a bouquet of lilies for one of our family occasions. They stayed for over a week, and still were blooming and filling our home with a lovely fragrance.

So I just decided to take a picture one of the last flowers as a great example of the beauty, created by the Greatest Master..

Baby blanket

I made this blanket for my son, before he was born. Well, actually I started one when he was on his way, and finished after his arrival. The wool yarn was very thin and the needles were the small size too. So it took a while to finish it. But it was my first knitting project after many years not knitting at all!
So, it wasn't hard to make the blanket in "pattern-wise", but it was hard in timewise ;-)
I think I love knitting as I can think about many things and people I love (and mostly in a good way!) and especially about someone whom I am making this thing for.

4 seasons on the wall

I couldn't make a better job with the photos of these paintings. But still I want to share them with you. 4 seasons were my first try my the acrylic game with colors...

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

Fish in Ink

I think I mentioned before I wanted to have my son's room in the Ocean theme. With a low budget in decoration it is always hard to follow your logic ideas and persistence in the theme.

To be briefly - I wanted to paint one more fish for his room. And I decided to make it in ink. So made it. To be honest I copied it from the internet! Well, I modified it a little. I enjoyed working again with the pencil and ink pen again!

Weekend Warrior

or just Hooded Sweatshirt for Tot

I made this sweatshirt for my son this winter. I wanted something like "Vogue" and easy. So I found this pattern from Vogue Knitting "Toddler knits on the go!" The name came with the pattern..

I was able to follow all knitting instructions patiently and carefully. That wasn't easy for me. I always want to do some improvisation....

Zip & Zen in Living room

I had a desire to have something bold, red, green and zip addition to our living room... so I made these pillows.

But if my mood would turn to something more calm, then the only thing I will need to do - turn the sofa's pillows on the other side...

and here we go... Time for meditation...