We're All Ears July Challenge

Hi there!

Today I'm on a music-inspired design challenge from We're All Ears on the Earrings Everyday blog.  Erin Prais-Hintz has inspired us to design earrings using a visual representation of a music piece.  I chose Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue represented by Andy Fillebrown.  The piece (along with American in Paris) has been a favorite of mine since I used to listen and dance to it in my parents' living room.  I liked to do a lot of interpretive modern dance in those teenage years. 

Here's the link to the YouTube video created by Andy Fillebrown:
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFF2miSQ4Zg

I am not sure how to get a screen shot, so I hope you'll watch the video.

It is something like the opening to Star Wars as you watch the notes come toward you, stretch and disappear.  You can see all the notes being played as if by two hands as you go in toward the center of the piece, then ripple outward in the runs of the notes.  It gave me a deeper appreciation of the complexity of the piece and how it all fits together because it allowed me to see it all at once.  If I were a pianist, I'm sure I could explain it better, but I only poke at the piano using my right hand.  I've never really learned the base clef, but it was fascinating to see the chords being played out visually while listening to the music.

One can start out with one idea or impression for a design in one's head and then the design evolves and changes as you try to interpret it with the materials and skills one has.  Meaning:  I thought I had that material in that color and I can't find it anywhere in this pile!  And, oh, I forgot I had that, maybe that will work here!

So, after trying numerous materials and ideas with a few camera glitches thrown in, here is my interpretation of the visual representation of Rhapsody in Blue.

Rhapsody in Blue

After all the frustrations, I am pretty happy with these.  I think they reflect the visual representation of the music with the different levels of blue notes.  And, they are full of movement, reflecting the swinging jazzy music.

For more earrings inspired by these unique visual representations, go to the We're All Ears Reveal.

Dish Towel Apron

Hi there,

Let's face it - life can be messy.  Well, here's a quick and easy apron that helps with that problem.  I made it from a gingham dish towel.  And, I personalized it with JOY Iron-on letters.

Dish Towel Apron

These letters were white, but are easy to dye or color.  I used some pens for this project.  As you can see, I left the letters on the sheet while I colored them.  This holds them in place and makes them much easier to color.

Coloring your letters

All the kids will want their own, and you'll want one for each child.  I'll be creating four more for the rest of my granddaughters!  When they are done with watercolors or eating their peanut butter and jelly, you can just toss the apron in the wash.

For this one, I sewed the bias tape to the dish towel, but you can use fabric glue for a no-sew version.  Either way it's very quick.  And, if you need to shorten the dish towel, simply fold it up and glue or sew it down to create a pocket across the front.  You can also use the pieces you cut out for the armholes to create some patch pockets.

You can find the materials you'll need and the tutorial over on the Creating with Joy blog.

(I am a design team member for JOY SA Inc. and have been provided their product with which to create my product.  I am happy to recommend them.)