Thursday, November 30th, 2006
Things are slowly coming together for the show. This is the sign I will have at my table, printed on vinyl so it is reuseable. I would have liked it printed on fabric, but the local place doesn’t do that anymore. Anyone know of an online source for printing signs on fabric?
I have been handsewing away, which is slow going for me. Luckily I have had company while I do it.
My talented friend Zoe will be at the show helping me out (last year I didn’t even get a restroom break!) and also selling some of her amazing necklaces. Aren’t they beautiful? And they feel like they fit right in with the stuff I make.
Sunday, November 26th, 2006
I think I’m *almost ready. The No Coast Craft-o-Rama is this coming Saturday, December 2nd and I’ll be participating. If you’re in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area stop by and say hi. I’ll be in section A, table 4, in the main lobby that’s across from the parking ramp.
Sadly, Eireann, who designed the great logo for the sale, won’t be participating this year. She’s off having adventures in France, but this guy will be taking her spot, and his letterpress work is equally inspiring. And my friend Zoe will be sharing my table showing her wonderfully simple, minimal necklaces - really a must see.
After No Coast, I plan to offer whatever is left for sale online. I’m still trying to decide the route to go for an online shop, so if anyone has anything they would like to share about their experiences using etsy, I would love to hear it.
*Now to go finish all those last minute things that take way too long…..
Friday, November 24th, 2006
I spend alot of time on the inside of things. Recently Carson posted about the architect Chris Bosse whose work seemed to her reminiscent of what it might look like to view freeform lace from the inside. This idea was extremely intriguing to me and also seemed right on. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, as I work away on the insides of garments and bags, all of which have form and structure and an interior that we never experience in a spatial way.
In the photographs here I’ve tried to capture that hidden interior, which is filled with texture and light and seems mysteriously inhabitable. I could live in this environment.
Friday, November 17th, 2006
is this craft?
I’ve been thinking about the question “what is craft?”. Not what is the difference between art and craft, which is a question that will always be under debate, but what exactly is craft?
The American Craft Council has two definitions on their website:
1. an occupation, trade or pursuit requiring manual dexterity or the application of artistic skill.
2. to make or produce with care, skill or ingenuity.
If we go by these definitions, craft is really about the process of making, not the thing itself. For me this is the most important definition. But I think that craft is also used to describe things. Certain things are associated with craft, and others are not. A handstitched quilt is definitely thought to be craft, a handstitched couture gown is not.
And that raises the question for me about craft and clothing in general. Clothing seems to straddle the craft/not craft line. The more embellished the garment is the closer the association to craft it has. The more minimal, the less likely it is to be considered craft.
Can anything made with care be called craft? Is what I make craft?
How do you define what things are considered to be craft?
Wednesday, November 15th, 2006
Carson has started posting images of all of her vessels on Wednesdays. Since I’m still in production mode and don’t have alot of new work to show, I thought I’d join in. I love this vase by Hella Jongerius for Ikea -it has a beautifully simple shape and the perforated pattern compliments it perfectly.
Now I’m anxiously awaiting her new fabrics for Maharam to be out -I had a little preview and they’re amazing. Layered felted wool, with cut-outs and stitching and gorgeous colors.
And if you need more pretty things to look at, go see Eireann’s pictures of the idyllic village she is currently living in in France. Storybook.
Sunday, November 12th, 2006
I think most people prefer the design process to the production process. I am no exception. I love working on a design; developing it at full scale, changing and modifying it until it feels like it’s time to move on. Choosing colors and working out details. I normally have so many new ideas when I’m working on something that I am anxious to start something new, rather than make multiples of what I just finished.
Right now I’m in production mode, getting ready for a show, and I’m actually sort of enjoying it. It feels good to know what I’m going to make, have the patterns worked out and the fabric chosen. It feels good to see visual progress at the end of a working session, rather than a wadded up wrinkled garment that has potential to be something some day.
I’m still fighting the urge to start something new though. Must resist. Maybe….
Thursday, November 9th, 2006
Fold Bag
I have a lot of stuff from all of my different lives: teaching, working, mom-ing. I need a large bag that is sturdy, can withstand alot of weight and has wide straps so that it’s comfortable. This is made from heavy linen and has a thick interfacing so that it will stand up by itself. Lined in a heavy weight mustard fabric, with interior pocket and super wide straps.
fold bag, 18″ high x 16″ wide x 4″ deep
stitch detail
Monday, November 6th, 2006
adult tunic
I have been working on this pattern for the past week. It’s an adult size version of this child’s tunic and I have to admit I have been struggling a bit. I think it’s because I find it hard to translate little clothes to big ones. I have had many people ask me to make an adult size version of this coat, or some of the little dresses I’ve made, and it really never works. What’s cute on a child ends up looking silly on an adult.
child’s tunic
I thought this tunic might be different though in that it has a very simple shape and proportion without seeming overly cute in a childlike way. The large version is very similar to the small one except that there are exposed seam darts and a wider neckline with narrower shoulder straps that sit out close to the shoulder, giving it a slightly more modern look.
Now that it’s done I don’t think it looks childlike, but I keep thinking it needs something else. I’m not sure what, or if it actually does need something. I think it might just be a case of I’ve been lookinig at it too long. Time to move on I think.
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006
Yesterday the Maharam fabric rep came to show our office some of their new fabrics. Talk about inspirational. I’ll take them all please. This one was one of my favorites. It’s called Intricate, and it really is. Gorgeous machine embroidery over a subdued shimmery upholstery fabric. Wonderfully saturated colors as well. I think I need to make a coat for myself out of this. Right Now.
Other nice things that happened yesterday (un-design related):
I got a choppy haircut
I consumed vast amounts of candy and did not get a stomach ache
The 15 year old boys that arrived w/o costume at our door at 9:30pm did not smash our pumpkins when denied candy
I also want to say Thank You to everyone who has been stopping by here and sending emails. I love to hear your comments:) And thanks also to Mav from Port2Port and Kelly from Hoping for Happy Accidents for the nice mentions on your websites. These are two of my must reads everyday. Mav is one of the most talented letterpress designers I have seen. Kelly posts about art, design, furniture and interesting places and has a knack for finding everything that I completely love. Don’t know how she does it. Go visit now if you haven’t already.
Hope you all have an inspiring day.