A Curious Work: June 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

On My Curiosity Table

I love my coffee table. Lane found it at a thrift store years ago for $20. There's probably not an inch on it that's not scratched or scraped...and it has a big crack running from one side to the other. Some day we'll refinish it...but until then... it's 4.5' x 4.5' of surface to display the things I enjoy looking at.
This month is a bit more minimalist than usual...an amazing crow sculpture and wire nest by artist Tory Brokenshire, beautiful rocks collected and tumbled by Lane's mother, an inkwell that takes me back to a calligraphy weekend shared with good friends, an antique map and books, and an old scrapbook that has poems and engravings pasted inside.
What's on your coffee table?

Sunday, June 21, 2009

On My Mantle

I try to change what's on my mantle and coffee table every few months. It lets me enjoy some of the things I've collected without getting bored of them, and prevents the living area of the house getting too cluttered.
This grouping has some antique bottles, a glass insulator, brass boxes, an old copy of Shakespeare, a mandolin, a tiny stringed instrument with bow from the former country of Yugoslavia, and some of my antiquarian books that are edged with ebru.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Inspiration Wall

I've moved my studio upstairs...

I had more room to spread out in the basement, but I found being down there depressing and avoided any activity that would prolong it.

I've been decorating the wall over my main work table with art, papers, and small treasures that I've either made, gathered, or been given over the years...things that inspire me and that I enjoy looking at. I used removable clear mounting squares (Scotch brand), and some push pins for a few of the heavier items. The wall (& room) will be a work in progress, but that's part of the fun...