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The personal and professional portfolio of Amy L. Frazer. Amy is a full time designer and artist inspired by the natural and man made world around her. 

Getting Your Work Out There…..

Amy L. Frazer Blog

Thoughts, ideas, musings on art, illustration and design.

Getting Your Work Out There…..

Amy Frazer

Sometimes as designers or creatives, it's tough to put your work out into the world.  THE COMMENTS AND CRITICISM CAN BE DAUNTING AND DISABLING. WE ARE PUTTING A PIECE OF OURSELVES OUT THERE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. But recently I've decided to share more of my work and myself with the world. Brene' Brown talks about this idea here with chase jarvis: Daring greatly to unlock your creativity.

a few years ago I discovered UPPERCASE magazine and am totally in love with it.  "uppercase publishes books and magazines for the creative and curious: products that spark the imagination and inspire creativity. the eponymous magazine was founded in 2009 by publisher, editor and designer janine vangool who continues to wear pretty much every hat imaginable."

THE UPPERCASE WEBSITE HAS AN INTERESTING FEATURE CALLED "PARTICIPATE" WHERE THEY FEATURE DIFFERENT WAYS FOR READERS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE MAGAZINE AND COMMUNITY. IN APRIL THE CALL WENT OUT FOR READERS TO SUBMIT PERSONAL STORIES OF DOILIES AND LACE. WE WERE ASKED TO SHARE HOW LACE OR CROCHETED DOILIES OR  OTHER SUCH DELICATE HANDCRAFTS CONNECT US TO THE PERSON WHO MADE THEM ADN WHY ARE THESE CRAFTS IMPORTANT TO US.

A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHARE MY WORK AND GET IT OUT INTO THE WORLD. OR AT LEAST PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING IT OUT THERE. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT THESE SHARED STORIES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN UPPERCASE MAGAZINE, BUT IT IS FUN TO PULL IMAGES AND STORIES TOGETHER TO SUBMIT.

HERE IS WHAT I SUBMITTED.

"YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS LIVING IN NYC, I FOUND A TUTORIAL FOR CROCHETED SNOWFLAKES IN THE MARTHA STEWART LIVING MAGAZINE. KNOWING THAT MY GRANNY MADE ALL KINDS OF CROCHETED ITEMS SUCH AS DOILIES, ORNAMENTS, AFGHANS AND DOLL OUTFITS, I SENT HER THE ARTICLE AND ASKED IF SHE COULD MAKE ME A FEW OF THESE SNOWFLAKES TO HANG ON MY TINY TREE. SHE CROCHETED AND STARCHED THEM WITH SUGAR WATER, EVEN MAKING ONE THAT WAS 3 DIMENSIONAL! I HAVE CHERISHED THESE FOR MANY YEARS AND BRING THEM OUT EVERY CHRISTMAS TO DECORATE MY HOUSE.
LAST YEAR, inspired by the snowflakes, I INTERPRETED THEM INTO A COLLECTION OF WATERCOLOR CARDS. I BROUght OUT the CROCHETED SNOWFLAKES AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MY GRANNY MADE THESE WITH HER HANDS. WHEN I WAS YOUNG, SHE LIVED WITH US AND WE'D HIDE OUT IN THE BASEMENT "Studio" FOR HOURS MAKING THINGS. I THINK ABOUT THOSE TIMES OFTEN AND AM INSPIRED TO KEEP MAKING THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY. DURING THOSE YEARS NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE. SHE TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIMENTING, PLAYING AND JUST TRYING THINGS. I'D SAY, "GRAM, CAN WE MAKE (…FILL IN THE BLANK…). SHE'D RESPOND, "WELL. HONEY LET'S FIGURE IT OUT. " AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I'M STILL JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT."

thinking back, I'm so impressed by my granny in that she put her work out there. she made so many types of things- crochet, sewn, wreaths, etc. She would enter them into contests and show them around to friends and family. 

SO THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS TO UPPERCASE MAGAZINE WAS APRIL 15TH. I'LL WAIT AND SEE IF WHAT I SUBMITTED GETS INTO PRINT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT HERE.

BELOW ARE IMAGES OF THE SNOWFLAKES THAT MY GRAM CROCHETED AS WELL AS SOME OF THE WATERCOLOR CARDS THEY INSPIRED.

click images to enlarge

click images to enlarge



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tags snowflakes, crochet, watercolor, granny, gram, uppercase, uppercase magazine, cards, watercolor cards