One of my favorite things to photograph with the kaleidoscope filter are cactus because the spines arrange themselves nicely into elaborate mandalas.
Continue reading »Mandala from cactus photographed with a kaleidoscope filter
Blue and white mandala embroidery in progress
The photographs show work in progress on a monochromatic blue embroidery on white linen mandala. This embroidery is destined to be pressed into clay to make a relief pattern for glazes to pool and reveal the slight indentations left by the embroidered pattern. Ceramics are a new medium to both me and Marc and it
Continue reading »Paper grid in the round pattern for an embroidered mandala
In one of the early stages of embroidering a mandala I print out a paper pattern to regulate the stitches, sometimes just a plain grid-in-the-round like this one. This mandala is 34.5 cm in diameter (about 13 inches) and the grid had to be printed in pieces that here are joined with fun neon pink
Continue reading »First day in the ceramics studio of Alejandro Sanchez, Tepoztlan, Mexico
Last week we started private classes in the ceramics studio of a local artist called Alejandro Sanchez. Alejandro’s family is from nearby Cuernavaca and has for generations produced ceramics, focusing primarily on the casting method. Alejandro himself expanded his craft over decades into every different type of ceramic, including with workshops in Japan and the
Continue reading »Pastel beads and white linen landscape
This pretty, surreal landscape emerged when beads that were collected in a color palette for an embroidery project spilled out onto white linen that was stretched in another embroidery hoop. The hoop was under a strong studio light and the little beads cast dramatic shadows, creating an open landscape. The beads are collected from all
Continue reading »Cereus cactus flower and fruit in Mexico
Meet a cereus cactus species with fruit straight out of a Jim Woodring cartoon and very large white flowers that bloom for just one night.
Continue reading »An evening peek into the art studio, Tepoztlan, Mexico
An art studio work table is covered in beads and materials for the mandala project.
Continue reading »Nasty Woman Valentines email graphics or print and fold
Do you know a nasty woman who deserves a trophy? How about a Kali spirit on a war path in the name of love? Free print and fold Valentines.
Continue reading »Bright green in a Mexican courtyard
Lime green wall and a spiral staircase in a small courtyard in Huatulco, Mexico. Continue reading »
“What Does It Mean to Love Somebody?” poster in the shop
By popular demand, the image “What does it mean to love someone?” is now available as a print in our shop in an open edition. Choose a small or medium size archival print and have it delivered to your door. Standard shipping is included in the price. This drawing is part of Marc’s ongoing project
Continue reading »Heading to work in Future Parfait
Fur suit, fur helmet, and air bike ready on the terrace of a cliff residence. An early sketch from Marc in the Lodar storyline.
Continue reading »Sun Queens: Ukrainian flower crowns
According to Ukranian tradition, these headdresses were worn by young, unmarried women to show their “purity” and marital eligibility. These crowns were woven specifically for the photo shoot by Treti Pivni, to celebrate the tradition and foster social unity. The flower and plant arrangements are mesmerizing and bountiful, and oh so optimistic. This way of
Continue reading »Embroidered mandalas from kaleidoscope photography of snippets of stiches
In the studio last week we photographed an embroidered mandala with a kaleidoscope filter for a completely new arrangement of stitches.
Continue reading »Blue-green mandala photography: embroidery thread, pearls, and beads
These photos are studies for the mandala project.
Continue reading »Cuexcomate, the world’s smallest volcano, Puebla, Mexico
In a day of contrasts, we visited the world’s smallest volcano and the world’s largest pyramid all in one day. The tiny Cuexcomate volcano is in Cholula, a small town outside of Puebla city. It is primarily a geyser offshoot in the ridge that holds the much larger Popacateketl Volcano that dominates the Puebla horizon.
Continue reading »The Great Pyramid, Cholula Mexico
The Great Pyramid of Cholula, just outside the city of Puebla in Mexico, is that largest constructed pyramid in the world, with each side at the base measuring 400 meters and an overall height of 450 meters. Because the pyramid is covered in earth and vegetation, it feels like a mountain to be near it
Continue reading »Central Market in Tepoztlan, Mexico
Tepoztlan is a small town of about 24,000 people nestled in a small green valley 1.5 hours south of Mexico City. The town is one of the federally designated “Pueblos Magicos“, a status it earned for its natural beauty, it is held as the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl. On the weekends the town fills up with
Continue reading »Churches of Cholula, Puebla province, Mexico
We spent a day being tourists in the tiny town of Cholula, just outside the city of Puebla. The village is known for the largest pyramid in the world as well as the smallest volcano in the world. It has many churches, several appear in this post. Cholula is also full of restaurants, shops, galleries,
Continue reading »Metallic textile gateways photos
These photos were made in June 2016 and they are early experiments in the mandalas project. The original images are below. This is what the camera actually saw while the filter was being applied for the above images.
Continue reading »Day of the Dead home altar
Home altars are set up in Mexico for Dia de los Muertos to entice departed spirits to visit and to linger. Sweets, flowers, and food are offered. We set up our altar with existing and new objects, sugar skulls and a chocolate skull, and all on pieces of silk and linen that Magda is currently
Continue reading »Floating flower mandala
October and November in Tepoztlan is the season for flowers. As the summer rainy season ends and the dry season approaches, plants use their stores of food to burst into bloom and attract pollinating insects that are also getting a reprieve from the torrential downpour and thriving in the warmer weather.
Continue reading »Every Day I’m Pickling, Tepoztlan, Mexico, with recipe
Two years ago I attended a fermentation workshop with @surlyfarmer and have been fermenting my own pickles ever since. For a while I was probably putting up a new jar every day. Documenting the beautiful colors and patterns of the fermenting plants turned into the Every Day I’m Pickling project. Below is included a basic
Continue reading »Embroidery and beading test on blue silk
This chaotically embroidered mandala is the first test of embroidery with the help of a circular paper grid. The addition of beads was also tested. This is an experiment in the larger mandala project.
Continue reading »Wild split-leaf philodendron flowering in central Mexico
Monstera deliciosa or philodendron pertusumare is a tropical vine native to Mexico and Central America. It has large, glossy dark green leaves distinctive for their lovely pattern of oval holes and deep long cuts from the edges. They grow under the canopy in subtropical and tropical climates in both rainforests and those areas that are
Continue reading »Mandala from sarong textile
This image was created by photographing a loosely woven sarong with a kaleidoscope filter. The woven threads flow seamlessly into each other giving an overall effect that what is pictured was woven into this form. This photograph is a study for the mandala project.
Continue reading »Circular grid paper for mandala embroidery
These grids and guides were made for the mandala project.
Continue reading »Barking Up the Wrong Tree blog of science and expert backed methods of happiness
It’s September. Are you feeling the rush of fall productivity, or is the vibe more like panic, your summertime relaxation an already shockingly distant memory? Enter Eric Barker’s timely post, This Is How To Be Productive Without Being Miserable: 8 Proven Secrets. If part of your ongoing life work is a direct effort to tweak
Continue reading »Traditional beaded fiesta costumes from Morelos state, Mexico
The town of Cuernavaca in the tiny state of Morelos, Mexico, has a wonderful exhibition highlighting the folk art of the region. The standout work was this pair of elaborately beaded fiesta costumes.
Continue reading »Local history museum in the palace of Hernando Cortes in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Cortes built his palace on – you guessed it – the local temple. The palace is now a nice museum to the local history, from prehistory, through the religions and revolutions, right up to impressive murals by Diego Rivera.
Continue reading »Polka dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya
A patch of the wonderful though intrusive polka dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya, grows in a shady bit of jungle at the edge of a garden in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The plant has distinctive coloring with bright pink dots on its smooth, glossy, dark green leaves. This Happy Sleepy was a perfect match.
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