Peter Som at Anthropologie -Illustration meets fabric

Once the warm weather hits I love wearing dresses, skirts and shorts, anything for my legs to be free!  Anthropologie is currently working with Peter Som, a San Francisco native and graduate of Parsons.  I received the email announcing the collection and loved his illustrations.   So many fashion companies don't use illustrations anymore,  they feel it is such a waste of time and everything becomes about making money.  With technology, drawing your ideas and dreams have become obsolete.  I find this to be so sad.   Illustrating is a talent and to me it will never go out of style.  No one can replace an illustrator but someone can always replace computer drawn sketches.

All images from Anthropologie and Peter Som.

I love the way they transferred his images onto the fabric.  It's like a water color or oil painting of a garden.  A total success! 

Happy Weekend!

from Little Rock Pie Cycle

It's been pretty busy here, so busy I have barely sat at my computer! I currently am working on an order of aprons for a fabulous restaurant in Nantucket called Cru.   Cru is an oyster bar and restaurant located right on the water on this tiny little island.  If you have been reading my blog you may know I worked in Nantucket while in college and now visit there every summer.  I also was married there.  Once I finish the apron order I will be posting a similar apron tutorial.  In the meantime, with this gorgeous weather here in NYC and maybe because I am now 9 months preggers, I have been in a total pie eating mood.  Yes pie. And today a friend on facebook posted an article about her new business, baking pies!

photo from Arkansas Times

I met Hannah Moore at Purl Soho.  We worked together for a few months, and like many Purl employees she is an artist and creator.  She moved back to Little Rock Arkansas with her husband last fall.  I thought she would look for a teaching position while she created her art but today I find out she has been pedaling her goods.   Baked goods.  Look at those tasty pies above!  The pies are hand held single serving pies, in fruit flavors and she uses local ingredients when possible.
She posts her location on her facebook page for the upcoming Saturday on where you can find her, her bicycle and the tasty homemade pies.
If you live in Little Rock be sure to hunt her down and check out this recent article in Arkansas Times.  Good luck Hannah!

photo from Arkansas Times

Selvedge - A Publication

I wanted to share a new magazine I have discovered that I am reading cover to cover.  It is called selvedge.  My background as a designer, I mainly focused on woven fabrics.  I find myself still being drawn to wovens over knits.  Selvedge is the finished edge of a fabric, it is the part that is pinned down onto the loom while it is being woven.  Selvedge, the magazine, comes from London.  It is filled with articles of forgotten crafts, artists and designers bringing quality back to the art of design and making it local again.  Now the magazine isn't just for someone in the trade, any crafter will enjoy this mag for it's inspiration, fun how to's  (how to make a pre-tied bow tie) or special articles on different crafters (in the latest issue we learn about Lobster Pot Maker Nigel Legge from Cornwall).

Nigel the lobster man and lobster pot maker.
Picture taken from Selvedge Magazine

Although the magazine is based out of London and there are many British companies and crafters featured, they also include global crafting.  In Issue 51, March and April 2013, there is an article about Namibia, the history and the traditional patchwork dresses the Herero women wear.  The history of the Herero women dates back to an awful war with German colonial forces.  However, the Herero women have added their color, style and unique headdress to make them their own.  They are now a symbol of pride and status.

Picture from Selvedge Magazine

The last article I want to call out is "Maine Line".  It is an article about numerous communities in Maine with creative entrepreneurs.  I don't want to spoil it for you so I will just give you a little info.  It covers sea bags, linens, textiles, blankets from merino and much more. This article makes me want to move to Maine!  And the illustrations in the magazine are just simple and gorgeous!

If you have the opportunity definitely pick up a hard copy or visit their website here.

Garden Inspiration from Etsy

With the warm weather here, all us gardeners are just itching to get outside.  Now that I live in Brooklyn, I have a back yard!  I love it. I love being outdoors, working in the sun, it's quite quiet where I live which is surprising being so close to the city.  Last year was our first year here so we didn't renovate the back yard.  I planted vegetables and flowers in beds. This year we are having some landscaping help so I am not planting anything quite yet. However I still can window shop for garden inspirations.  Here are some things that I am liking on etsy these days.

Terracotta planters

Modern Ceramic Planters

Watering Can

Garden Stakes

Garden Tortoise

Buddha Dog

Garden Stool

Love the quilt like looking pattern in the above stool.  And the color of the glaze reminds me cool, refreshing water.  Perfect for holding your icy beverage or as an extra seat.


One thing missing is garden markers.  The trend on etsy seems to be using old silverware and embossing them with your veggie and herb names.  I love upcycling but just didn't like this look.  I did find these classic ceramic markers from a shop called From Artisan Hands.

Hopefully you will be inspired by the cool pool blues, the aloe shades of green and the terracotta rust colors and create something today.

Flamingo Pink and Apple Green- Lilly Pulitzer

Photo from http://www.lillypulitzer.com/

"They were accessible to most but really only wearable by the few who were so rich that they could afford to have bad taste".  I read this in the NY Times this past week regarding Lilly Pulitzer's death.  If you know the designs, depending on how you feel about them you may laugh at this statement.  I laughed.  As a designer I love the bright colors and some of the artwork.  I don't like the customer it attracts; elitist, snooty and usually bad taste.  The kind of people who buy something for the name.  The kind that like to compete with the Jones.  But enough of that, I love her story.
      Lilly came from a privileged background in NY.  While on holiday in Palm Beach she met Herbert Pulitzer Jr and eloped in 1952.  They settled among the citrus groves on the Pulitzer estate and she like most women of her time became bored.  Three kids and a nervous breakdown later, she escaped back to NY.  After a short time she did return to Palm Beach and under the advice of a doctor she found something to do, she opened up a juice stand.  Her and a friend, who was also a former editor at Harper's Bazaar complained and struggled with the constant citrus stains.  Boom, light bulb.  They made a simple shift dress that was bright and colorful with a large and loud pattern, the juice stains would blend right in.

1960's Lilly Buy this on etsy from nelsonbridge for 210.00

 What amazes me is that the dresses started selling for $22.00 each, expensive back then.  These were basic, simple and cheap construction.  Well the dresses started to be seen in magazines and Jackie Kennedy, who went to school with Lilly, was seen wearing one on vacation.  As my husband says, en fuego, they were on fire.  Everybody wanted one.

From Palm Beach Vintage

Lilly designed until 1984 and times changed, minimal looks were in and bankruptcy was sought.  The label was revived in the 90's and in 2010 Oxford Industries acquired it for $80 million.  Oxford is quite a large company with many, many labels under it's umbrella.  Lilly didn't have much of a part, she consulted occasionally.

Looking at some of the fabrics and designs, a few do remind me of the Liberty of London artwork.  How? the way the motifs blend in with another motif, such as this one.

"Sweet Corn"

      

Maybe not so much as motif upon motif, maybe it is the lsd look of the fabrics.  Maybe this is what happens when you are in the sun so much.
As a textile designer it is enjoyable to create such bright, colorful, whimsical and large prints.  These designs will put you in the mood for a life at the beach or a summer bbq.

Born out of necessity...I do wonder what happened to her juice stand partner Laura Robbins.  How come the dresses became known as Lillys?