Ellen’s Blog

We don't think that often about the ancestors we've never met, unless they were somehow heroic, victimized, or had a story that was captured in the news or became family lore. We just didn't know them. In my Message in a Bottle series, I'm exploring connections across people, generations, time and memories using the metaphor of what's been captured and held and shaken and stirred in that bottle of a life and a family - and what comes forth as memories, feelings and ways of being. This started after my father passed away last year and I began incorporating fragments of the thousands of letters/postcards he wrote to me, plus fragments of letters he wrote to his mother, plus those his father (whom I never met) to his mother as a soldier in WWII. This is an ongoing exploration. We'll see where it goes but already it's led to laughter, tears and a sense of connection -- even to those I never met and those who came  before them. If you're interested in exploring this idea with fragments from your own family or relationships, reach out. Let's talk about whether I might dream up something for you! Perhaps a message is waiting.

I don't mean to dismiss the hardships that are being faced. At all. I want to acknowledge them. But I also want to give a shout out to all the creatives who have kept on keeping on during this difficult season, despite the loss of venues and forums and audiences and clients and income. It's been so inspiring to hear how others rise above to continue their craft or emerge stronger or find inspiration to create and express themselves. For me, it comes down to beauty. If I can create something beautiful from the soul, then perhaps that beauty can travel to its rightful destination - the heart and soul of another human who is touched, or moved, or excited or soothed. Without our usual physical connection, art can help us still have a deep and meaningful rapport. One that binds us together through our mutual humanity. "Seeking Connection" 10" x 10" Acrylic on Canvas  

Art is physical. And so is life. I felt this so intensely this last 6 months during which I dealt with a shoulder injury, surgery and recovery. I tore my bicep tendon and the sheath that (should) holds into pace. My shoulder. My right arm. My painting, ironing, steaming, art, well...life...arm. Now that I'm coming out the other side I am so grateful for the ability of the body to heal. For the friends and family and village of support. I'm getting ready to come back out and who knows what new ideas will prosper and what paths will be followed. I do know that it's time to get back on the bus. I mean it showed up at my house, so who's to argue?

Ever think about the word 'resolution'? We tend to see it as a promise to ourselves. A commitment. An intention. But if you actually break down the word, you get 're' - 'solution' That means there's another way to do something.  That's a verb. Wow, what a breakthrough! Each year (or each day or each moment) we can pause and ask ourselves what can I do differently this time around the sun? Shall I wear my sunglasses? Or how can I use my imagination to conquer an old obstacle or re-think a tired plan or experiment with a fresh mindset? The above painting has been hanging on the wall of a healing clinic this last year, hopefully sparking that same 'I can turn the key just a little more gently and open the door" attitude in people from all walks of life. Here are two re-solutioning lessons I learned in 2017 that I'd like to take with me into the new year. Just saying YES, I'll at least TRY. You never know where it might lead you. Like my life as an artist/designer. Never in a million years... And, this last year I said yes to two mighty large new things that propelled me way out of my comfort zone. They also launched me way into the next chapter with some brand spanking new possibilities. That said, there are some small yes's which paid off too. Working independently on a budget doesn't mean not paying for the right resources. Keep learning this one over and over. Sometimes the best resources now save time and money later. A lot of it. What about you? What might you approach with a different eye or mindset?   SaveSave

The world is catching on. Collaboration may be the ticket to competitive advantage. You see it in business more and more often. It's been done for a long time in the arts - fashion designers collaborating with artists, photographers etc. It's happening in technology too. Each side leverages the strength of the other to create something greater than the whole. That's what I do when partnering -- err collaborating -- as well. For me, my textile designs offer potential partners a leg up --they get a very distinctive look and feel. I'm the only one in the world creating designs that look like...well..my designs.  You'll soon see the results of my first official collaboration with another designer. We're creating the 'Human' collection - a capsule collection of garments made by Rachel Riot from fabrics I've painted by hand. Why Human? More on that later.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? I happen to tend toward the latter, with just enough extrovert fairy dust sprinkled in for good measure when needed. So when it comes time to take the stage after a runway show, I need a deep breath along with the bow. I've decided that this combination of breath and bow is an apt metaphor. Staying humble while accepting -- and even delighting in--  how you or your work has touched others.  Why not go for it...and enjoy?