October 5, 2010

Central Park: An Inspiration Tour

So as i was saying yesterday, there is inspiration in the details...everywhere! Here are just a few of the motifs that caught my eye when i walked through Central Park last January — and the patterns i created from them. Let's take a little stroll, shall we?

The main entrance to Central Park is at Columbus Circle. It's called Merchant's Gate. There are many other ways to enter the park, but none so elaborate and dramatic as this one. There's a colossal fountain/statue called the Maine Monument that you pass by. It commemorates the sailors who died on the battleship Maine in 1898 off the coast of Cuba. Can you see all those trees just beyond the monument inside the park? Those are silver lindens that line the path and in the spring have flowers that smell like honeysuckle.
(I have to confess i didn't take that picture, but there were no leaves on the trees when i was there and it's just not the same without them!) I made a pattern to commemorate the trees. It's called, you guessed it, Linden. You'll know that one when you see it.

Let's keep walking.

Look down. Right underfoot, you'll walk across many sidewalks that look like this:
These became the pattern called, Cobblestone. This was a really tricky one to get to work as a repeat. It was almost like doing a puzzle trying to get every stone to fit just right. I can't imagine what the work crew went through when they made these beautiful sidewalks, but i certainly have a new appreciation for them!Here we are on Pine Bank Arch (which is really a pedestrian bridge). It overlooks one of the many bridle paths that meander throughout the park. I loved the shapes created by the spaces between the wrought iron on this balustrade:
I combined elements from this with a loose interpretation of the center shape from this (from another bridge):
And came up with this pattern called Carousel. Since 1871, there have been 4 carousels (including the one that's there now) built in Central Park — all in the same location.
Walking down the staircase leading to Bethesda Terrace take a look to the left. There is a different and equally amazing medallion for each step down. I loved the bold shapes and layers of this one:That became the pattern called Esplanade.

**Note: Some of you got a peek at this pattern earlier today, but i've had to go ahead and take it down for reasons that i'll explain later. Sorry! **

On this very same staircase...stop about a third of the way down and take a look to your right:
There's so much to look at in this one! Birds (one is carrying a fish in its mouth! see it?), ferns, seed pods, fruits, and a maze of leaves. I couldn't figure out what to focus on, so i decided instead to try to capture the energy of this and created the pattern North Meadow:
And last but not least, i'll leave you at the Zoo. Have fun!
But please don't feed the squirrels :)

21 comments:

  1. LOVED the tour Kate. It is so fun to see the details through your eyes and the artistic translation that followed. Central Park looks amazing!!

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  2. Thanks for the tour of the park! It must be a wonderful park--I only know it from movies (makes it seem romantic), the news (not the greatest things), etc. I love what you created from the North Meadow inspiration--it really does echo the spirit in the carvings. Maybe it's the leaves. Esplande looks like it's destined to be on my list of favorite fabrics! It's so neat to see the inspiration and the finished art. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. It's so fun to see where you draw inspiration from for your designs! It brings everything together for those of us who can't get inside that creative brain of yours! :)

    And from the sneak peaks you're showing, I cannot wait to see everything! Esplanade is a real stunner but Cobblestone is really unique!

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  4. That was fun! How great to see your inspiration come to life in beautiful fabric!

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  5. Wow, Kate, I am absolutely blown away. I can't wait to see more!

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  6. Love seeing your inspiration along side the fabric! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to get some of the fabric.

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  7. Fantastic photos. I love central park; I was there in winter last year, and Im looking forward to visiting in summer/autumn next year.

    Love your new fabrics too; my friend has already told me I have to get the purples in for her :-)

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  8. so beautiful!

    I too love seeing the background for your designs.

    and I LOVE those medallions.

    I wrote about you today... if you want to come see. :)

    http://traceyjayquilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/sneak-peek-boo.html

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  9. Oh that was so great to see how your inspiration turned into fabric! It looks beautiful from what you showed so far. Great patterns and color. Great job!!!!

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  10. oh, I loved that tour, thanks. I am coming to America from Australia for the first time in 6 weeks, and I will be visiting Central Park and now I will view it through different eyes.

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  11. Seeing your inspiration just shows how very clever you are! Beautiful fabric.

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  12. I better get my Fandango project sewn up so I can buy some Central Park. Love the designs and the colors.

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  13. Love to watch the creative process - thank you so much for walking us through yours with this yummy fabric and great pics. Can't wait to get some

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  14. Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration! It makes me love the fabric even more. Can't wait to get my hands on it. The colors, the design, the whole thing - WONDERFUL!

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  17. I love seeing where your inspiration comes from--especially as I now have 40 drop dead gorgeous fat quarters of Central Park sitting in my sewing room (yes, I do lovingly stroke them whenever I go past)!

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  18. just there at CP yesterday and remembered this promised post- came back for it and wowza! as expected, just beautiful, Kate! hope to see you sometime soon in and around. happy holidays! xoCharlotte

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  19. Thank you Kate for this wonderful tour of your inspiration. I am working on a "bake shop" quilt for January using your amazing line and I just love it!! It is so fun to get to see how you came upon your designs.

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  20. Isn't it wonderful how inspiration surrounds us. I am looking forward to January when I can see your new line in person.

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  21. Thank you for an inside look at your inspiration!
    Fabric design has always been an inspiration for my art. I adore seeing new fabric colours and patterns.

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