I don’t have a whole lot to write about in this post since I’ve been busy pulling together my 3-times-a-year newsletter, which will go out early next week. I know a lot of you subscribe to both lists, so I’d like to spare you too much overlap. If you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up here.
Meanwhile, the one newsletter I consistently read every week is “3-2-1 Thursday“, written by James Clear (author of Atomic Habits). Each issue is comprised of 3 ideas from Clear himself, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for readers to mull over. It’s short, sweet and, more often than not, hits a mark of some sort.
In January he threw out the following idea and it’s stayed in the back of my mind ever since:
“Nearly everything awesome takes longer than you think. Get started and don’t worry about the clock.”
Here’s a taste of what I’m working on – both are still in-process.
©2025 Elizabeth Fram, In-process
©2025 Elizabeth Fram, In-process I’ve been learning about knotless netting – or looping – from Lissa Hunter. She sometimes uses this technique on the baskets and vessel forms she makes. I’m exploring what will happen by using irregular tension and am thinking about incorporating it as a layer that references memory – sometimes overwhelming and, in this instance, tangled. I’m still considering how much to add to this piece.
And finally, this one from last week is now finished; title yet to be determined.
©2025 Elizabeth Fram, Watercolor and stitching on paper, 8″H x 6″W
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And now for something completely joyful:
I discovered the paintings of Carl Larsson when I was in college – and was smitten with his depictions of domestic interiors and use of line with watercolor. His inclusion of houseplants and details like the turned runner and the knitting in the painting below, enchanted me.
Carl Larsson
So I was thrilled yesterday, to come across the following article* in the NYTimes which includes many photographs of the interior of the summer home where Larsson and his wife Karin lived with their eight children. If you’re familiar with Larsson’s paintings, it’s immediately apparent how faithful his renditions were. But more impressive to me now is seeing how the Larssons bucked design trends of the time, creating a home in which every room was a personal artistic expression of themselves. The colors alone are swoon-worthy.
Try to look past the potted plant to a reproduction of Karin’s weaving “The Four Elements” behind, on display in her workroom.
An added bonus was discovering Karin’s textile work, which is evident in every room. She too was a painter at the time they met, but that discipline took a backseat once she started having children. She turned to textiles as a result – not an unfamiliar story – but her sense of color and design were impeccable. Please read more about her.
*(I’m gifting the article to you, so you shouldn’t have any problem opening the link). Hopefully you can also open this link to a video of Larsson’s great-great-great granddaughter giving a light-hearted tour of the house. If not, the video is part of the article.
Enjoy!
