Outside In
Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 4:10PM
Outside In © 2009 Cameron Blazer
{I know, I know. Enough with the ginkgos. I really think this is my last ginkgo-centric post for a while.}
I got this photo mobile for Christmas last year, and while I liked the idea in theory, in practice it just wasn't working for me. All the photos bunched up on top of each other, and none really stood out—basically a big, jumbled mess. I resorted to using it to tack up in-progress designs and fabric swatches.
A while back I had cut out a couple of these ginkgo leaves for no particular reason, and they'd been sitting on my studio table for months. One day in the midst of a rare but fierce cleaning fit, I came across them under a layer of accumulated junk. I didn't want to throw them out, but I didn't really have a plan for them either. So I clipped them to mobile to get them out of the way. And, duh!! It was suddenly so obvious. The holes in the leaves made it possible to see each leaf as a part of a layered whole.
I finally got around to cutting some more out today, and I am really happy with how this turned out. Because the paper is practically weightless, I didn't have to worry too much about balancing the sizes of each leaf pair.* And now I'm thinking the sky's the limit--it will be so easy to switch the leaves out for snowflakes at Christmas or Easter eggs in the spring or...woah! As I was writing that, I began thinking I'd better check my closet--have I become one of those holiday sweater people without even knowing it?!?** Whew. Stepping away from the craft table. For now.
*This is good, because the point at which I realized I was hopelessly unlikely to become a physicist was when we got to torque and I had to balance a mobile. Science FAIL.
**Some day I'll tell you the story of a family member who has a perpetual holiday tree. You've never lived until you've been forced to admire a fake Christmas tree decorated in valentines or shamrocks.
Reader Comments (7)
I love your ginko mobile. Years ago I vacationing on Ocracoke Island in NC fell in love with these leaf mobiles in Brownings Art Works on the OBX - http://www.moonlilymobiles.com/collection.html - they are so elegant.
Oh my, Lisa! Those mobiles are absolutely gorgeous--I might have to make a trip to the OBX just to see them!
I found some butyl in John's kit and have started just adhering things to the walls and doors. Usually after I clean and find some amazing thing in a pile. So I'm with you.
Love your Ginkgo Mobile! And love this "in the midst of a rare but fierce cleaning fit". I have these too and usually end up doing something creative with my "junk pile".
Oh, it's so loverly, Cameroonie! Has mom tried to walk off with it yet??
I absolutely love this. I am considering ordering one and doing the same so I can change the themes out as well!
What a wonderful idea, this looks really nice :) I love the holiday bit too, the snowflakes would look awesome! Hmmm, maybe you can make one for each special holiday celebration. Birthdays, Valentines, Easter... there a lot of stuff that you can make, it's perfect! This has me really inspired, maybe I can make a project out of it :) Thanks!