Comments for The Soft Dimension http://softdimension.net/blog Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:22:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Fall for Chrysanthemums by Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=1007&cpage=1#comment-4927 Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA Sun, 04 Dec 2011 03:22:51 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=1007#comment-4927 Sara, I am so glad you took these lovely photos so I had a peek at the mum display that sadly, I had to miss. Thanks! Sara, I am so glad you took these lovely photos so I had a peek at the mum display that sadly, I had to miss. Thanks!

]]> Comment on The Bloedel Family Reserve by Sara Lawrence http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=769&cpage=1#comment-569 Sara Lawrence Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:53:55 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=769#comment-569 Kate, what a kind note, thank you. One of the things I appreciate most about the brochures you've created is that they aren't glossy at all... the soft mat really conveys the quality of the the place that isn't slick or flashy. A challenge like how to represent Bloedel must be a lot of fun! I'm really interested to hear how the volunteers describe Prentice... When Ed told Seth and I that he was hoping to explore the story of Prentice and Virginia for the public more I knew he was on the right path. While working for the Scandiuzzi's I was often moved by their way of caring for people and place that feels deeply embedded in the Reserve too. A truly incredible place, so glad to know you are helping bring it into more peoples hearts and minds! Kate, what a kind note, thank you. One of the things I appreciate most about the brochures you’ve created is that they aren’t glossy at all… the soft mat really conveys the quality of the the place that isn’t slick or flashy. A challenge like how to represent Bloedel must be a lot of fun! I’m really interested to hear how the volunteers describe Prentice… When Ed told Seth and I that he was hoping to explore the story of Prentice and Virginia for the public more I knew he was on the right path. While working for the Scandiuzzi’s I was often moved by their way of caring for people and place that feels deeply embedded in the Reserve too. A truly incredible place, so glad to know you are helping bring it into more peoples hearts and minds!

]]> Comment on The Bloedel Family Reserve by Kate Gormley http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=769&cpage=1#comment-566 Kate Gormley Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:46:59 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=769#comment-566 Thank you for this beautiful description of Bloedel Reserve. As the person tasked with writing those glossy 4x8 brochures, I struggle to convey the profound and moving effect that The Reserve has on many of our visitors. As we become a more "public" garden, we need to preserve that feeling, as we invite many more visitors to experience The Reserve in their own personal way. We have just completed a series of sessions with our staff and volunteers to explore their understanding of the man that created this space, and their feelings about The Reserve as we move forward. The words "sacred space" were often used. Thank you for sharing this. Kate Gormley Thank you for this beautiful description of Bloedel Reserve. As the person tasked with writing those glossy 4×8 brochures, I struggle to convey the profound and moving effect that The Reserve has on many of our visitors. As we become a more “public” garden, we need to preserve that feeling, as we invite many more visitors to experience The Reserve in their own personal way.
We have just completed a series of sessions with our staff and volunteers to explore their understanding of the man that created this space, and their feelings about The Reserve as we move forward. The words “sacred space” were often used.
Thank you for sharing this.
Kate Gormley

]]> Comment on Ikebana at the Conservatory by Sara Lawrence http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=772&cpage=1#comment-532 Sara Lawrence Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:55:05 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=772#comment-532 Hey Sara, The plant you were referring to is also called Phormium tennex and it's a native to New Zealand. Phormium (or flax) is known for it's striking foliage that has been encouraged through breeding to display a whole range of colors from dark chocolate, to pinks, yellows, and even variegated leaves. In the photo you'll see the flax used as a conceptual piece that's folded and helps to abstract the shape of the Chrisanthimums. A fun way to transform the feeling of a familiar flower by changin up the leaves that surround it! The colors were great weren't they, an inventive way to keep the beauty of fall fresh! Hey Sara,

The plant you were referring to is also called Phormium tennex and it’s a native to New Zealand. Phormium (or flax) is known for it’s striking foliage that has been encouraged through breeding to display a whole range of colors from dark chocolate, to pinks, yellows, and even variegated leaves. In the photo you’ll see the flax used as a conceptual piece that’s folded and helps to abstract the shape of the Chrisanthimums. A fun way to transform the feeling of a familiar flower by changin up the leaves that surround it! The colors were great weren’t they, an inventive way to keep the beauty of fall fresh!

]]> Comment on Ikebana at the Conservatory by Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=772&cpage=1#comment-520 Sara Chapman in Seattle, USA Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:06:07 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=772#comment-520 Wow, I was just at the Conservatory this week and saw the ikebana also. Pretty darned impressive! The seasonal room is my favorite space there, but I had never seen cut flower displays before. I wish I knew which was the flax you referred to, though. I especially love the way the fall foliage colors are there, without the fall foliage! Wow, I was just at the Conservatory this week and saw the ikebana also. Pretty darned impressive! The seasonal room is my favorite space there, but I had never seen cut flower displays before. I wish I knew which was the flax you referred to, though.

I especially love the way the fall foliage colors are there, without the fall foliage!

]]> Comment on More Moss, Please by Sara Lawrence http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694&cpage=1#comment-502 Sara Lawrence Tue, 05 Oct 2010 19:20:48 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694#comment-502 I've done the moss paint for a few clients and the results for those have been favorable. I could do a lil' blog about it... Maybe experiment with a couple of mediums, brick, cement, hypertuffa, etc. an' see what the moss takes to (since stone is a lil' too strait forward me thinks *can't wait*)! I’ve done the moss paint for a few clients and the results for those have been favorable. I could do a lil’ blog about it… Maybe experiment with a couple of mediums, brick, cement, hypertuffa, etc. an’ see what the moss takes to (since stone is a lil’ too strait forward me thinks *can’t wait*)!

]]> Comment on More Moss, Please by Sara Lawrence http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694&cpage=1#comment-498 Sara Lawrence Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:54:55 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694#comment-498 Farrar I wish I knew all the regions that moss grows in... a moss map... I think I've tended to imagine it as a plant of the rainshadows, which isn't how I imagined some parts of the south. Cool to imagine that you have moss memories too! I think native gardens can have the most magic to them, because in stories like yours, you go out and gather what you like yourself. There's something really life affirming to supporting and spreading little patches of what you find beautiful. Have you been sharing any of these good memories with the boys? It would be cool to see what you could grow where you are now. Farrar I wish I knew all the regions that moss grows in… a moss map… I think I’ve tended to imagine it as a plant of the rainshadows, which isn’t how I imagined some parts of the south. Cool to imagine that you have moss memories too! I think native gardens can have the most magic to them, because in stories like yours, you go out and gather what you like yourself. There’s something really life affirming to supporting and spreading little patches of what you find beautiful. Have you been sharing any of these good memories with the boys? It would be cool to see what you could grow where you are now.

]]> Comment on More Moss, Please by Farrar http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694&cpage=1#comment-481 Farrar Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:02:01 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694#comment-481 Moss is my favorite. When I was little, our whole yard was in shade. My mother used to take me out into the woods with a little wagon or a wheelbarrow and we'd dig up moss and take it back to the yard and set it down. It was always such an amenable plant and would usually take root. By the time we moved away, the yard had gone from being a rocky, weedy space to being a soft, mossy patchwork of wild mossy greens that wound around all the plantings (many of which, like our lilies of the valley, were also stolen from secret spots in the woods). Moss is my favorite. When I was little, our whole yard was in shade. My mother used to take me out into the woods with a little wagon or a wheelbarrow and we’d dig up moss and take it back to the yard and set it down. It was always such an amenable plant and would usually take root. By the time we moved away, the yard had gone from being a rocky, weedy space to being a soft, mossy patchwork of wild mossy greens that wound around all the plantings (many of which, like our lilies of the valley, were also stolen from secret spots in the woods).

]]> Comment on Architecture and the foreign heart by Sara Lawrence http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=698&cpage=1#comment-476 Sara Lawrence Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:33:46 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=698#comment-476 Thanks James, It was so good to go back there in my mind, I'm glad you felt the pull of it too. I've been wanting to capture, somehow, what the creative process is like, to inspire the young or the young at heart to make a good story for themselves from their creative endeavours. Your newest post for fall is delicious, the mossy back ground is really engaging, the larger photos, and your words, very sculptural and effective! Reading about your plant choices over time makes me wish I had a garden right now... Like I said, Delicious! Thanks James, It was so good to go back there in my mind, I’m glad you felt the pull of it too. I’ve been wanting to capture, somehow, what the creative process is like, to inspire the young or the young at heart to make a good story for themselves from their creative endeavours.

Your newest post for fall is delicious, the mossy back ground is really engaging, the larger photos, and your words, very sculptural and effective! Reading about your plant choices over time makes me wish I had a garden right now… Like I said, Delicious!

]]> Comment on More Moss, Please by megan http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694&cpage=1#comment-475 megan Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:42:12 +0000 http://softdimension.net/blog/?p=694#comment-475 Have you tried this!? (the buttermilk blender moss graffiti) I can't tell you how many daydreams have been devoted to images in moss. Man, it's an instant imagination jump start. I'd love to hear more about how it's worked, or not, for you. Have you tried this!? (the buttermilk blender moss graffiti) I can’t tell you how many daydreams have been devoted to images in moss. Man, it’s an instant imagination jump start. I’d love to hear more about how it’s worked, or not, for you.

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