Indigo Inspiration

Lately my lust for all things indigo has been off the charts and I was so thrilled to have discovered these pieces by textile artist Frank Connet. He uses natural dyes and fabrics and the Japanese Shibori process throughout his work. He's also known nationally for his abilities in textile restoration.....which of course intrigues me even more as my day job is restoring antique rugs.

Hand woven wool, Shibori resist, dyed with natural indigo and walnut.

Shibori resist on wool and linen dyed with indigo and walnut. Shaped 3-dimensionally with thread.

I'm most struck by how visually simplistic his pieces are while at the same time knowing how much knowledge, craftsmanship and untold hours went into making each one.

Coming soon!

New Duo Wrist Pods coming soon to the shop! Similar to my wrist pods but daintier....even though there are 2 "pods". I've already had some requests for a trio style that I think would be very awesome.

In the Works

Some remnant felted wool merino strip from my pillows a long while ago. I re-wet felted them and plan to use them on some wrist pod/cuffs that I'm working on. In the mean time, I like how they look all together.

Loving....

This beautiful rope necklace by designer Tanya Aguiniga. It's so delicately dyed and just simplistically gorgeous.

It's one of my "going out" pieces that I wear all the time.

Check out her online store here.

Oh Marimekko...How I Love Thee

A sampling of Marimekko that I've been drooling over lately...from Fall/Winter 09 and Spring/Summer 10.

I worked for Crate & Barrel for many years - from floor stocker, to sales to store merchandiser and I had never heard of Marimekko until I started working there. They have an exclusive thing going with Marimekko and we would hang yards and yards of banners of their fabric around the store, changing with the seasons (I don't miss climbing those ladders). I fell instantly in love and couldn't wait for the next shipments of the new fabrics to arrive. Over the years I would *ahem* "borrow" some remnants here and there and made a skirt one time, pillows another. Luckily you can buy older Marimekko fabric by the yard at the Crate & Barrel Outlet on 4th Street in Berkeley. Especially now that I can't "borrow" anymore.

Magic Carpet Ride

I saw these awesome over dyed carpets via Apartment Therapy a while ago and just loved them. I work part-time doing antique rug restoration so rugs are always on my radar, and I've never seen rugs quite as crazy-bright as the ones at ABC home!

So with rugs on the brain, it made me think of our trip last year to Eastern Europe. Charlie Bravo and I stopped in a ittybitty town called Blagaj whose claim to fame is a 16th century Dervish Monastery right next to a huge cliff AND where the Buna River starts, out from underneath said cliff. It was pretty breath taking.



We were able to walk down to the river and use a very ancient and beautifully etched metal bowl to scoop up the clear water to drink. At first I was thinking "Um...how many people have used that thing?" and Chris is all "Dammit woman this is one-time adventure!" So I drank and I didn't die.



Before being allowed up into the rickety monastery we had to remove our shoes and cover our heads. It was fun looking pretty ethnic for a while.



All the floors were covered with bright kilims and with the whiteness of the walls, the dark wood moldings and the white doilies everywhere, it was quite serene.



On the way out I had to ask the lone worker there if the kilim runners were for sale as I was so ready to leave there with three of them, but they were used exclusively by the Sufi followers who came here for retreats, praying and whirling. I asked him in disbelief, "You guys really whirl up there?" (it was so small) and indeed they do. The man was so sweet and informative, we ended up buying some incense from him and a head scarf.

Something New

I've always wanted to sell my nesting bowl sets in a simple round box that fit perfectly and that could be used over and over by the buyer. I'm happy to have these in time for the holidays!

Each box comes with a coordinating stitch of yarn on the outside that matches the nesting bowls you've purchased.

Available for the small nesting bowl set only.

Wrist Pods

I've ventured onto an out-of-the-way side road with this newer design:

I gotta say, I really love my Wrist Pods....(i know, i know, cue the dreamy background music)....but I really do!

I've worn each color out and about town and they look great dressed up or dressed down. 

A lovely combination of airy and bold, light with structure:
and a beautiful embroidered detail on each that I'm crazy about:

Available in my shop in 4 different colors.

Just Arrived

I picked up these beautiful books by Mina Perhonen a couple of weeks ago. There's a book on Textiles, Embroidery and Print.I can't stop looking at them!
You can order them through here.