Salvador Dali on What's My Line!!! Hilarious!Especially around 6:55....

Drawing Life

Matisse. A video for the museum of modern art in Brisbon. Short and beautiful.

A Little Vintage Inspiration

The 1920's....




Highlights:

Fashion: Keep your eye out for the clips of the woman around 1:55-2:10... Talk about back in style!
Motor Car Designed for Women: 1:10
Liberation from a prison of Hair: 2:12

“He’s a Good Fellow, and ’t will all be well.”

LIX

“Listen again. One Evening at the Close

Of Ramazan, ere the better Moon arose,

In that old Potter’s Shop I stood alone

With the clay Population round in Rows.

LX

And, strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot

Some could articulate, while others not:

And suddenly one more impatient cried—

“Who *is* the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?”

LXI

Then said another—“Surely not in vain

“My Substance from the common Earth was ta’en,

“That He who subtly wrought me into Shape

“Should stamp me back to common Earth again.”

LXII

Another said—“Why, ne’er a peevish Boy,

“Would break the Bowl from which he drank in Joy;

“Shall He that *made* the Vessel in pure Love

“And Fancy, in an after Rage destroy!”

LXIII

None answer’d this; but after Silence spake

A Vessel of a more ungainly Make:

“They sneer at me for learning all awry;

“What! did the Hand then of the Potter shake?”

LXIV

Said one—“Folk of a surly Tapster tell

“And daub his Visage with the Smoke of Hell;

“They talk of some strict Testing of us—Pish!

“He’s a Good Fellow, and ’t will all be well.”

Omar Khayyam, tr. Edward Fitzgerald: “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam” (1905)

found here

Catch it by the tail

Hello 2012. This year I started a masters program. I'm still not sure if that means if I am mastering something or if I am getting mastered! The program is an MA in Arts Management. I am taking 12 graduate credits and, while time consuming, every single class is stimulating and fascinating.

As I yearn for time to create I thought maybe my work for class, my reading, writing, and discussions, could fill this desire. Well, that sure didn't work. Ideas rush through looking for the old enthusiasm and action but find a stale academic instead. While a break from making is hard, I know that the things I am learning will only spur on even better creating later on.

In the mean time I am meeting wonderful artists and art-instigators. These inspirations are pushing me to work harder and dig deeper into this subject of what it means to be an Arts Manager and how to do it well.

The following TED talk is from Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat, Pray, Love. While I didn't enjoy that book in particular, Gilbert, an artist of words and story, does an incredible job of describing the creative process and giving a better view of the artist. (Thanks to WB for alerting me to this video!)

If you are an artist, this will show you some balance...something we all need. If you are not an artist, this talk can help you understand the arts without feeling ignorant of the technicals. Enjoy!

A Christmas Surprise

This afternoon, amid wrapping and last minute gift creations, there was a knock at the door. It was the postman. I wish that he would always knock and not just leave it in the box. I loved answering the door and watch him shuffle through packages and letters, handing me ours with a smile and "Merry Christmas!"

In that bundle there was a package for me, wrapped in a familiar brown paper with a familiar U-S-A written across the front. I got a package from Spain! 

Seth, my wonderful British potter, mentor, and friend, dashed off a letter and package for me just in time for Christmas! I can't believe its been two year since I've seen him, since I lived and studied in that little stone Masia on top of a mountain, next to a dry white stoned river bed. 

He wrote on thin beautiful paper with that handwriting I know and love, telling of studio cleanings and friendly visits. He found an old pot of mine that I left behind. I left many pots behind since they all had to fit in my suitcases. A little syrup pitcher was stuffed in the package, with crawling glaze and Seth-esque blue lettering. Suddenly I had memories of sitting on my motorcycle-like wheel seat, bent over with brush in hand and cobalt oxide stain glopped in an old bowl, carefully lettering within Seth's rules. 

Oh how I miss him and his studio and that house and that bumpy road and my mountain! Merry Christmas, Seth! Merry Christmas readers! 

Pictures from my time in Spain:

Exciting happenings from my time in Spain My Surroundings in Spain

The Pottery in Spain

Photos of Everything I've Made!

Please note:

I have reorganized and replaced photographs.You can now view all of my creations conveniently using the links on the right-hand column that is always present on the blog. Look under "Sarah Coffin Artwork Photo Albums." The ReStyle albums contain, in order, photos of the projects from start to finish... the original salvaged goods to the finished product.

I will alert you to any updates.

This is the best I can do until I have my own website! Thanks and enjoy!

As always, if you see anything you love, please don't hesitate to ask. Everything is for sale. If it hasn't been sold, it can be yours! Just email me at sjcoffin@gmail.com!

Happy December and dropping temperatures!
Sarah

Pointy Finger Print courtesy of YeeHaw.etsy.com. Print of the letterpress hand available for $25 plus shipping. 

Tennis Rackets Turned Household Item!

I love the look of old tennis rackets. I've found a few in the passed weeks and fell in love with the worn leather, fine wood details, and the designs on each one.

Hanging them on the wall as is seems pretty cool but I thought it would be fun if it served a purpose... especially as I am not a tennis player!

Here are four different takes on a useful tennis racket wall hanging!


 Number One: "Melbourn"
... I love the vintage colors of this racket! The lighter wood and cream with black accents stand out nicely on a darker wall. This single hook could be used for any variety of things, keys, necklaces, something in your kitchen, your ID badge by the door... 

Number Two: "Davis"

... The two smaller hooks on this racket provide a symmetrical hanging devise perfect for a his and hers key holder! Also could be used for necklaces, ribbon, ornaments, or just as decoration. 

Number Three: "Ardmore"
... Affixed to it's traveling case, this racket is full of the old wood and worn paint vintage charm that I love. The four hooks can be used for anything from keys to jewelry. 

Number Four: "The Postman's knock"
... This racket is my favorite. I love the red details and what I turned it into! I hand painted the quote on the rim that read, "None will hear the postman's knock without a quickening of the heart" by WH Auden. I attached springs to the face and a hook to the neck. The spaces in the spring are perfect for mail and the hook is perfect for keys! Are there other uses you can think of?! 

Pull up that... DRAWER?!

A few weeks back, on a bright and cheery Monday evening, I went for a run. Around here Monday night is a lot of fun. Why? Because Tuesday is Trash Day! On my run I saw a disgusting old wooden file cabinet. The cabinet was worthless but the drawers stacked beside it? Awesome! I ran home, got my cousin and my car and headed back to the treasure. Cousin M confirmed the coolness of them and laughed as I put them in my trunk. 

The possibilities for these drawers began to pour into my head and I scrambled to sketch out ideas. One of my favorite ideas was an ottoman. Add some legs, a comfy, classy top and POOF! You've got yourself a snappy little foot rest. 

The legs on this ottoman are from an old corduroy ottoman found by my fellow picker sister, R. I tore that one apart (underneath it's ugly duckling hood, there was a great wooden frame...that will be revealed when it has had its own POOF moment) and cut wood, fabric, and my fingers. Woops, shouldn't have included the fingers but creating requires sacrifices. I only hammered them twice while applying the tiny furniture brads. 

I am so pleased with the outcome. The contrast that I am constantly looking for is definitely present here: classy, sleek, and beautiful with a warm flare from the vintage base item. 

Original varnish on the front. I added a slight sheen
to the rest of the drawer. Here you can see the small piece of
wood affixed to the top as well as the metal legs.

These are the legs attached to the underside of the drawer. They
squeeze and fold up into the bottom.

Ready for the top! See the foam and fabric on the left.

Attached the foam and then began the drama of the faux leather...

Add some silver brads to reflect the legs and POOF! I love it. 

 

This lovely piece will be available on Etsy!
www.sjcoffin.etsy.com

Sketches

Sketches are wonderful... whether as part of an exhibit in a gallery or in a friend's little blank book, sketches have a quality all their own. They tend to have a personality and freedom about them that draw me in.

I find my own sketchbooks to be a great journey through ideas. Old sketches can trigger ideas for new projects. I can also see a direction within a sketch that I want to carry through to other things... an energy, subject, or essence. I've recently purged a few old things and found myself flipping through old sketchbooks. Here are some findings from a sketchbook round about 2007-2008. I was in a very line focused phase as you will notice... 

Enjoy! 

Apples

Back Porch

Beach Flower

Lady Sunning Herself

Beach House

Buy Local

Red Cabbage

Chair

Come to Italy

Draw

Drift Wood

Farmers' Market

Determination

Flower

Gull

Hawaiian Leaves

Leaf and Flower

Man on a Plane

Mile 20

Pot with Handles

Crooked Old Spoon

Swamp

My Street

Wine Quote

That Woman