The Freer Gallery and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery make up the Smithsonian’s Asian Art museum, and can provide a well-rounded look at some art often over-looked.

The Freer Gallery is location on the National Mall at Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW, and was the first Smithsonian museum dedicated to the fine arts.  In the gallery you’ll find collections of arts from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.  Also smaller displays from the Near East.  You’ll see Japanese screens, ceramics, sculpture, and manuscripts.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is named for the doctor who donated the original collection.  It is also on the National Mall, at 1050 Independence Avenue SW, and is connected to the Freer by an underground passageway that also serves as exhibition space.  This gallery is home to a beautiful collection of Chinese bronzes and jades, along with painting, lacquer ware, ceramics, metal ware, and sculpture.  There is also a significant collection of Islamic Art.

Both galleries are open daily, 10 am – 5:30 pm, with the exception of Christmas Day.  Admission is FREE.

Photo credit: Unhindered by Talent @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Visit the Smithsonian Asian Art Museums

Image: sxc,hu

They did their fabric painting using gelatin.  Beth made several pans of colorless gelatin to take with her.

Then they spread paint in various designs and even non-designs over the gelatin and pressed the fabric onto it.  These then dried.  She now has numerous circles of delightful color and design to create with.

At home, she made smaller circles and is doing the same with it, creating numerous colored small circles.

When Beth gets something posted on her blog about this project, I’ll let you know.

Have you ever done this type of fabric painting?  What did you make from it?

Post from: Blisstree

A Fabric Painting Day with Friends

Aileen’s Musings
Aileen’s created a quirky copper bird pin,,,,stop by and check it.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa revisits and reconnects with a craft from her childhood

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a sneak peek into the soon to be released book; Who’s Your Dada? Redefining The Doll Through Mixed Media, free graphics of good angel/bad angel birds with a tutorial for using them as T-shirt iron-ons, how-to’s on bleaching and cutting photos to create windows, and a mosaic chicken project. The book and bobbin winder contest continues, leave a question on any topic and you are entered to win!

Crafty Princess Diaries
You’ll find some big crochet fun in these new little books published by Leisure Arts and written by Drew, The Crochet Dude!

CraftyPod
Sister Diane’s new podcast compares two ways to publish a craft book: the traditional print and publisher method, and the ebook method. If you dream of writing a craft book, this is useful information.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta go against the grain. Find out when and share your comments about stitching against the grain.

Mixed Media Artist
Have you ever tried using heavy watercolor paper to make a peeled paper collage?

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Relax! A Toilet Paper Cozy never looked cuter then when embellished by embroidering with ribbons to make a plaid square on a recycled sweater using a tutorial from the book Ribbon Embroidery by Natalie Bellanger-Clement

The Artful Crafter
A reader asks, “What are the pros and cons of selling crafts online?” Eileen answers.

The Crochet Dude
Drew gives good advice on how to handle the non-crafty people (muggles) in your world.

The Impatient Crafter
It’s time for back to school fashions and Madge has whipped up a fab tiny Moulin Rouge inspired top hat headband project for your discerning teen…or any gal who likes a little splash of whimsy in her accessories!

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!

The prestigious art collection started off very, very small — with a small gift of eight prints and one drawing.  Since then, it has burgeoned to a collection of over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects.  There is also an impressive photography collection, with over 22,000 films and four million still photos.

The special exhibitions mingle with the permanent collection, and provide a good mix of subjects, style, mediums, and time periods.  You can choose a segment of the museum, and spend in depth time viewing and learning.  You’ll find a lot of art students doing just that.  Or, you can do as I usually prefer, to wander through getting a peek at everything, stopping to spend a little more time when something is of particular interest.

A current exhibit that intrigues me is Cezanne to Picasso, on display through August 31st, 2009 (a selection in the photo below). You can check the exhibition schedule to find out what will be on display when you visit.  I’d recommend checking the exhibits as that will help you plan your day and how to best use your time.

Weather permitting, save time to visit the sculpture garden, full of modern sculpture, reflecting pools, and plants.  A peaceful respite from a busy day in the big city.

MoMA offers great audio programming.  You can pick up a FREE portable player at the museum, giving you full access to audio programming in any sequence that you choose.  You can also connect to the FREE MoMA WiFi with your personal handheld device and listen to the programming that way.  And if you’re not in NYC, but want to learn more, there are great options as well.  Check out the full listing of MoMA audio programming and make the selection that’s best for you

MoMA is located at 11 East 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue) in Manhattan.  It can be reached easily by subway, taking the E or V to 5th/53rd Street, or the B, D, or F, to 4-50/Rockefeller Center.

Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Friday till 8 pm. During July and August, the museum stays open till 8:45 on Thursday as part of It is closed on Tuesday.

Tickets are $20/adults, $16/seniors (65+), and $12 students. Children under 16 are FREE. Tickets are available online, and will save you lots of time waiting in the ticket line.

Photo credits:  Courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art.

View from 54th street of The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi.
© 2006 Timothy Hursley

Paul Cézanne (French, 1839-1906), Still Life with Fruit Dish. 1879-80.  Oil on canvas. 18 1/4 x 21 1/2″ (46.4 x 54.6 cm). The Museum of Modern Art. Fractional gift of Mr. and Mrs. David Rockefeller.

Post from: Blisstree

Have an Artful Experience at NYC’s MoMA

This article for Threads magazine, by Lois Ericson, shares many great tips, the materials lists, step by step instructions, and photos so that you’ll know exactly what you’re doing and so you’ll take all the proper safety precautions.  Please, be careful when working with bleach!

Image: Threads/David Coffin

Post from: Blisstree

Dyeing fabric with bleach

Mixed Media Artist
Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book…or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios oh my!

Stefanie Girard’s Sweater Surgery
Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book- A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reviews the new Simplicty Rotary Cutting Maching – offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips – and he’s giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter
Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for Duncan I Love to Create!

About Family Crafts
I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!

Aileen’s Musings
Your help is needed…Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares the mentall process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside’s got a how-to’s on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day’s questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod
SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Post from: Blisstree

Artsy blogging round-up!

I’ve also found this a great way to encourage children’s fine muscle coordination.  As I’ve substituted in kindergarten this year, and followed the youngsters throughout the school year, I’ve seen a great improvement in their ability to stay within the lines, even with small pictures.

Coloring is more than simply busy work. It’s a way to develop children’s coordination, a form of rehab after accidents and strokes, keeps arthritic fingers active, and often leads to a hobby in some form of art.  With Alzheimer’s patients, it helps keep their minds and fingers active.

There’s an interesting article, Coloring Pictures Is a Lot More Than Just Fun, at Better Parenting that explains the benefits of coloring for your youngsters…for learning and for fun.  I’ve even sat down with youngsters and colored, trying out various drawing/coloring items and materials.

It can become a grand experience in artistic discovery as well as muscle development and coordination.

How have you used coloring and art in your family or at school?

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Do Your Youngsters Like to Color & Draw?

At its current location among the brownstones of Dupont Circle (1600 21st Street NW, on the corner of Q and 21st), the Phillips has two buildings full of art and a outdoor courtyard for sculpture display.  The permanent collection includes works from American and European impressionists, post-impressionist, and modern artists.  You’ll also see some of the great masters, including Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Klee, Monet, Picasso, and Matisse.

Current exhibits on display are:  Early Moderns: A Celebration of Gifts from Gifford and Joann Phillips, running March 21-September 6, 2009, and this is not that CAFÉ, running May 7-December 2009.

The Phillips Collection has be reached via Metro’s red line Dupont Circle stop.

Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm.  Thursday night offers extended evening hours, and the museum is open until 8:30 pm.  On the first Thursday of the month, Phillips after 5 offers jazz performances, food and drink, gallery talks and film, running from 5 – 8:30 pm.  Sunday concerts are also offered October – May.

Weekday admission to the permanent collection is by donation.  Weekend admission and special exhibits are $12 for adults, $10 for student and seniors (62+).  Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or at the museum.

Photo credit:   daquella manera @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

The Phillips Collection in Washington DC

Art connects me to my spiritual center, and the greater Mystery of the universe. I created Mystic Dreamer: Art for the Earth as a service project, and donate 100% of my proceeds to the World Land Trust in hopes of helping our planet survive and thrive. I hope that my art inspires others to bring their gifts of service into the world. Polymer clay is a compellingly fun and flexible medium. There is virtually no limit to the variety of effects you can achieve with it.

Dusk to Dawn Triptich (52” X 32”): Composed of 3 separate works: Sunset Symphony, Moonrise Sonata, and Sunrise Serenade, this triptych captures the feel of these primal, evocative times of day. Techniques include Mokume Gane and Skinner Blends.

Anemone Teapot (11” X 12” X 5”): This art teapot evokes the live, grace and movement of a sea anemone and touches on the natural intimacy of entwined tentacles. Techniques include Mokume Gane and Skinner Blends. This piece won 1st Place Sculptural Objects in the 2008 National Polymer Clay Guild competition and is currently on exhibit by invitation in St. Paul.

Rainbow Spirit (15” X 7” X 7”): Moving with the spiral energy of the earth and winds, this gentle spirit speaks harmony, kindness, and grace, as a blessing to the world.

Post from: Blisstree

Polymer clay artist: Ann Kruglak

Image: sxc.hu

The fabric came from feed sacks my aunt had given me.  There was enough to make a drawstring apron as well as a skirt with a casing and drawstring to gather it around my waist.  I was so proud of these and wore the skirt in the Dutchess County 4-H fashion show our club participated in.

In fact, I still have the skirt.  I must get it out of the box of memorabilia and compare the fabric to that in this photo.

Do you have memory fabrics from earlier quilts and clothing?

Post from: Blisstree

Memory Fabrics for Quilts & Clothing