Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. I wish I had enough scarves for everyone. The random number generator picked #113 - Rebecca. Congratulations!
“Architecture is a social act and the material theater of human activity.” Spiro Kostof
Dear Friends,
It’s almost the end of the year again. That means I’ve been posting here for over 3 years. It truly doesn’t seem that long. Lately though, I have to admit this journal has felt a little stale and I’ve wondered if it has reached it’s end. I find a lot of value in writing about my process and going back over old posts to see how things evolved. I think in general there is a consistency to my work and my process is iterative. It is naturally how I work. But sometimes it’s good to do something different - to introduce a change. This is something I talk to my students about all the time.
In architecture you are never really done with a project. There just comes a point where you need to stop. For me, many ideas and ways of thinking from that project are then carried forward to the next context, with new constraints and forces acting upon it.
I have come to that point with this journal. I’m not done thinking or writing about process, but in this context it is time to stop. So this will be my last post for the year, and the last post here in this space.
To me this space has come to feel a little bit like an architectural space - a social act. I feel overwhelmed when I think of the people I’ve met, friends I’ve made, inspiration I’ve found, conversations I’ve had and opportunities that have arisen all from just writing here. Thank you isn’t really enough, but it’s all I have. So thank you.
I’m still thinking about what the next context will be, and wondering what new constraints and forces will arise. Although my process and thinking and ideas will continue just as they always do, I need to introduce a change. I will share that with you in January.
Wishing you all much happiness and peace in the new year,
Martha
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Yesterday I found out I won a giveaway sponsored by Satsuma Press. I was stunned - I never win anything, and don’t enter that many giveaways. I am quite excited about what I won -a Heath Ceramics vase, some Skinny Laminx towels, Satsuma Press cards and gift tags.
So in the spirit of passing on my good luck, I thought I would have a little giveaway of my own. Leave a comment here and I will pick a random person to win a braided neck loop from the HANDCRAFT collection. Your choice of color, either heathered grey or purple.
I will close comments on Monday, December 14th and choose a winner then.
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
low water immersion dyed wool leggings
note: I’ve added some more plum wrapped necklace/scarves to the HANDCRAFT shop.
Along with the failed armwarmers, I had planned on making wool leggings for the HANDCRAFT collection. I had these mottled legwarmers last year, which were made out of a mid-weight wool jersey. I made a pair for myself, and wear them all the time. This year I found some lighter weight jersey and wanted to make actual leggings, or tights without feet.
Low water dyeing, the process I use to get a mottled effect, is different and much trickier with wool. The process is fast; about 30 minutes as opposed to several hours for cotton. I dyed up a batch of the light wool jersey and was quite pleased with the result. I was also happy with my simple pattern for the leggings, with one seam per leg.
But then came the waistband. I didn’t want to make a casing and insert the elastic because it just seemed too bulky. What I wanted was an exposed wide elastic waistband like on store purchased tights. Sort of like lingerie elastic, but much wider. I talked to several manufacturers of elastic but they all seemed confused as to what I was talking about. I found something that seemed like it would work except that it was 4″ wide. Not sure what you would use that for….
Hence, the wool leggings didn’t make it into the collection either. I could easily have made a casing at the top and called it a day. But it wasn’t what I wanted so I let it go. I will keep looking for this elusive product and in the meantime probably put a casing in these and wear them myself.
Here are a few links to some do it yourself legwear, along with a couple splurge worthy pieces worth mentioning:
DIY tie dye tights
DIY gradient dip dye tights (I think I’ve linked to this before)
DIY shredded tights (so awesome -wish I could pull this off)
DIY embellished Doo.Ri stockings (these would be perfect for a fancy holiday party)
DIY Rodarte cut out leggings (l o v e -best w/ tights underneath I think)
The ultimate basic: Smartwool tights
Shabd Crystaline leggings (not wool, but stunning).
Hansel from Basel Gargantuan Cable tights.
Isobel & Cleo handknit grape leggings (these are sort of strange…but intriguing)
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
When I was in the planning stages for my HANDCRAFT holiday collection, I had initially wanted to make some armwarmers or fingerless gloves. This is something I wear all the time, both inside and out since I’m always cold and you can sew, type and take photos without taking them off. I offered some in wool last year and they were quite popular.
In the end, I wasn’t completely happy with how these came out so they didn’t make it into the collection. The hemp + organic cotton jersey just isn’t as stretchy as the wool jersey was, so they don’t hold their shape as well.
I still like them though, and these will become gifts for family and friends. Armwarmers are really a great gift -they are ageless and can be unisex as well. If you leave out the thumb hole, they can be used as legwarmers, which would be perfect for those hard to shop for teenage girls. And legwarmers are adorable on babies.
Here are a few free patterns I found for making your own arm and legwarmers. Most of these can be made with thrifted t-shirts or sweaters for quick and inexpensive gifts:
A pattern using knee socks.
This one uses a felted sweater.
These are made from a t-shirt.
Leg and armwarmers for babies! Made from adult socks.
A knitting pattern for armwarmers with and without a thumbhole.
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
december 1st
Hello December. I can’t believe it is almost the start of a new decade. Remember Y2K? It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago.
Just a year ago, Habit was started by two women who wanted a format to document their daily lives through photographs and a few words. Each month they invited some friends to join them and I was part of the group that posted last April. Now, a year later, they’ve invited everyone back, and all 33 of us will be posting during the month of December.
I look forward to seeing the new dynamic that is sure to occur with everyone sharing the space at once-like one big crazy holiday party.