Artist BlogArtist Bloghttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2012-02-07T15:55:56ZSquarespaceYellow Submarinehttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2012/2/7/yellow-submarine.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2012-02-07T15:49:17Z2012-02-07T15:49:17Z

I bought this pattern seven years ago,  when I moved into my husband's apartment. At the time he was travelling, I also picked up the last season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and figured I'd settle in for a quiet hermit-like weekend. It turned into a lesson how to read patterns.  I liked the picture, that was my sole motivation for the purchase.  But as I looked through the amount of floss needed and the pages upon pages of pattern, I realized that I might be in over my head.  Nevertheless, I'm not one to back down from a challenge, so I started the project.  A few months in, I grew tired of it and set it aside.  It was picked up periodically over the years.  Originally I thought it would make a nice gift for someone having a child.  I didn't know anyone who was even pregnant at the time, so the concept was somewhat abstract. 

Seven years later, I'm the pregnant one and finishing this project feels like a major accomplishment.  Mearing 17"x11.5" - 320x220 stitches - it wil make a nice addition to our nursery.

]]>The best of 2011http://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2012/1/6/the-best-of-2011.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2012-01-06T14:36:58Z2012-01-06T14:36:58ZIt's the start of a new year and time to reflect on the one that just passed.  In reality, what this amounts to is a mad dash to tidy up while I still have the energy.  On my desk, the semi-neatly arranged piles of items to be put away finally get addressed.  This is a bit time consuming as they've been sitting since my last spurt of cleaning, which may have occurred in the spring.

This offers the perfect opportunity to go through the albums I've acquired during the previous year.  Some of the more seasonal songs have already appeared on compilations.  But there are always the dozen or so that seem to really stand out.  Here is my collection of my favorites from 2011. 

  1. David Lynch & Karen O - Pinky's Dream
  2. Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger's Song
  3. Zola Jesus - Seekir
  4. La Vida Boheme - Radio Capital
  5. Idle Warship - The Floor
  6. Summer Camp - Losing My Mind
  7. PJ Harvey - The Last Living Rose
  8. Cass McCombs - The Same Thing
  9. Mariachi El Bronx - 48 Roses
  10. Cat's Eyes - Over You
  11. The Vaccines - All In White
  12. Dum Dum Girls - Hold Your Hand
  13. Elbow - lippy kids
  14. EMA - Marked
  15. Austra - Beat and the Pulse
  16. When Saints Go Machine - Kelly
  17. Purity Ring - Lofticries
  18. Blouse - Time Travel
  19. Bryan Ferry - You Can Dance

You can find this playlist on Spotify.

]]>Spirit Pickshttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2012/1/4/spirit-picks.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2012-01-04T14:43:36Z2012-01-04T14:43:36ZAlong with my column in the Park Slope Reader, the Winter issue of the New York Spirit includes my picks for the season.  This includes my recommendations for what's new in the world of holistic and natural living. With an emphasis on music, these are my favorites items to start the new year in the right frame of mind.  You can read the article here.

]]>Winter Wonderlandhttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2012/1/3/winter-wonderland.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2012-01-03T16:27:03Z2012-01-03T16:27:03Z

The new season brings the latest installment on my favorite things found around the Park Slope area.  With winter, I focus on the sights, sounds, activities to battle the dull-drums and the latest paw protection, as modeled by Ollie. You can read the article here. 

]]>Fa la la la lahttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/12/21/fa-la-la-la-la.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-12-21T15:16:08Z2011-12-21T15:16:08ZIt was bound to happen.  As soon as I swore off holiday music I found myself digging out the Christmas carols.  The season just never feels right until I have heard "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses. Listening to it, makes me feel all-together jolly.  So as a special treat, here's my holiday compilation for the season.

  1. Futureheads - Christmas Was Better in the 80s
  2. Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
  3. The Sleighbells - Like a kid at Christmas
  4. Yellowman - Where Is Santa Claus?
  5. Big Country - Wonderland
  6. The Knife - Reindeer
  7. Al Jourgensen - It's Always Christmas Time
  8. Vitesse - The Last Days of December
  9. Spinanes - Den Trawler
  10. Pink Martini - Congratulations - A Happy New Year
  11. Fitz and The Tantrums - Santa Stole My Lady
  12. The Specials - Holiday Fortnight
  13. The Damned - There Ain't No Sanity Claus
  14. Tralala - Everybody Christmastime
  15. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
  16. The Joseph And Mary Chain - The Twelve Days of Christmas
  17. The Klezmatics - Hanukah Tree (Hanukkah)
  18. The Fall - (We Wish You) A Protein Christmas
  19. X - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
  20. Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree's On Fire
  21. Hilo Hattie - Santa's Hula
  22. Billy Idol - Christmas Love
  23. Kings of Convenience - Deilig Er Jorden
]]>Ditmas Park_365:How A Neighborhood Sees Itselfhttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/12/20/ditmas-park_365how-a-neighborhood-sees-itself.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-12-20T14:16:00Z2011-12-20T14:16:00Z

Just in time for the holidays! Local photographer "Flatbush" Nelson Ryland has compiled a book of images from around Ditmas Park. It's no secret that I love Brooklyn.  Ditmas Park, which is just next to Kensington where I live, is one of my absolute favorite places.  The charm of the Victorian homes nestled on the wide tree-lined streets transports you to an era long forgotten.  The neighborhood bustles with several top-notch restaurants and food shops.  It's the perfect place for a stroll. 

You can learn more and see a preview of the book, Ditmas Park_365:  How A Neighborhood Sees Itself here.

]]>Winter Hymnhttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/12/7/winter-hymn.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-12-07T14:44:32Z2011-12-07T14:44:32Z

With the holidays approaching, I started making my annual Christmas compilation CD early.  This was a mistake.  For the first time ever, I grew tired of holiday music.  Perhaps it was the 70 degree weather in November; perhaps it was just too early to contemplate the season, but I just wasn't feeling it.  Instead, I found myself listening to a compilation my friend Rebecca made last year entitled Light Wintry Mix.  It includes a wonderful selections of songs with a winter theme, both soothing and uplifting.

I've been compiling songs for my friend over the past months and this proved to be the inspiration I needed in order to put them together for her.  So this month, she (along with the season) is my muse.

  1. Van Morrison - Glad Tidings
  2. St. Vincent - Jesus Saves, I Spend
  3. The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year
  4. Iron & Wine - Half Moon
  5. First Aid Kit - Winter Is All Over You
  6. Mumford & Sons - Winter Winds
  7. Wilco - When The Roses Bloom Again
  8. R.E.M. - Oh My Heart
  9. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
  10. Galaxie 500 - Listen, the Snow is Falling
  11. Seabear - Owl Waltz
  12. Bon Iver - Flume
  13. The Decemberists - January Hymn
  14. Guided By Voices - Doughnut for a Snowman
  15. The Veils - The Wishbone
  16. The War On Drugs - Best Night
  17. Noir Desir - Le Vent Nous Portera
  18. Sonya Cotton - Frozen Hands
  19. Maximilian Hecker - Cold Wind Blowing
]]>"Teammates" by Cindy Stockton Moorehttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/11/29/teammates-by-cindy-stockton-moore.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-11-29T15:46:28Z2011-11-29T15:46:28Z

This postcard-sized piece of artwork created by one of my favorite local artists.  A lot of Cindy's artwork involves water themes, which are wonderfullly depicted by her textures and strokes. 

Arriving early in the holiday season, this is one my most cherished pieces of artwork.

 

]]>Beach Tone bracelet sethttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/11/23/beach-tone-bracelet-set.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-11-23T14:54:29Z2011-11-23T14:54:29ZGlass and gemstone beads are strung together on elastic.  The combination of colors and textures reminds me of the beach at night.  Moonlight playing on the sand, the color of water as the waves hit the shore.

]]>Woodland Bracelet Sethttp://www.florencewangdesigns.com/artist_blog/2011/11/22/woodland-bracelet-set.htmlFlorence Wang Designs2011-11-22T15:06:38Z2011-11-22T15:06:38Z

Gem stone and wood beads strung on elastic creating 2 complementary bracelets.

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