Bees

In addition to yesterday's Yellow: bees. On the 14th of February I attended a bee-dinner at Retort Art Space. Vegetarian dishes, in which the colour of bees as well as their role in growth was obvious. A local beekeeper had an inspiring talk about the importance of bees for our lives and the threats that face bees nowadays. And in and around Amsterdam so much honey is produced; I hadn't realised before I listened to him. 2012 is The Year of the Bees. More and more cities are joining in beekeeping: Beehives on the roof of Tate Modern & Fortnum&Mason in London, a huge amount of beehives in Paris,  Berlin, New York: apiculture is taking off to resist decline of bees by pesticides and diseases. So I was happy to read this morning in the magazine of Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam that in April bees will arrive on their new roof! Hurray for this initiative! Three beekeepers will take care of them. We need more bees; and it's easy to think where they can live: the Townhall, schools, Zuid As offices, hospitals...all the buildings in my area Java eiland & KNSM eiland......the list is endless. I hope it will continue!

images taken from bee-websites

Yellow

As Lidewij Edelkoort's Trendtablet is busy to make us believe and be part of: yellow will be the new pink. The increase of yellow in fashion is indeed truly visible. Be it the bright yellow, or the mustardy slightly brownish yellow. Yellow is also a lively colour in nature. So let's go; here are some yellows from a bee-dinner at Retort Art Space recently, from my favourite flower stand on Saturday's Nieuwmarkt organic market, from Malawi, Limburg and Scotland.

Brainstorm

I'm working on new items in my textile collection. So I've started a brainstorm. Visuals and keywords, discussions with a designer friend, new keywords, new ideas. Books, samples, photo's, my new stocking which I bought in Chile, magazines, drawings, scribbles.....
Slowly it's growing. I'm not there yet, but a few things are clear by now: it will be knitted, it will be sustainable, it will be functional and it will build on traditions. One of the most inspiring quotes (by Denis Brown) which I read recently is:
"Some think tradition means copying the past. But a living tradition must move forward".

Spring!

Oh snowdrops, I think that

You came in the night,

In only your nighties

And that's why you're white.

The world was all sleeping

With never a sound,

You wanted to see it

So came through the ground.

I think that you're smiling,

But still feel too shy

To lift your sweet faces

To smile at the sky

Melinda Kennedy

"I was here first," said the snowdrop: "look!"

"Not before me!" sang the silver brook.

"Why," cried the grass, "I've been here a week!"

"So have I, dear," sighed a violet meek.

"Well," piped a bluebird, "don't leave me out!

I saw the snow that lay round about."

"Yes," chirped a snowbird, "that may be true;

But I've seen it all the bleak winter through."

"I came betimes," sang the southwind, "I!"

"After me, love!" spake the deep blue sky.

"Who is it cares?" chimed the crickets gay:

"Now you are here, let us hope you'll stay."

Whispered the sun, "Lo! the winter's past:

What does it matter who's first or last?

Sky, brooks, and flowers, and birdies that sing,

All help to make up the beautiful spring."

George Cooper

Red

Here are some not-so-obvious reds. Ghent, Malawi, Scotland, New York, Enkhuizen, Sheringham.

White

Here are some whites. I've photographed them on Barra, on a ferry in Ireland, in Limburg, on my balcony, in a lighthouse on Mull-of-Kintyre and from my own textile collection.

Blue

Here's the bright contrast of many blues. Sparkling, soft, light, dark. In Enkhuizen, Malawi, Ireland, Scotland, New York.

Brown

Sometimes just colour can be a connecting concept. Colour is so strong, it's everywhere. This is Berlin,Morocco, Amsterdam, London, Chile and Edinburgh. The warm tones, the contrast, the atmosphere....................