...Tomorrow 10/31/09 !
My shop will open!
(I can't really say at what time...because I still have to take photos of the Rust Slouch Cowl & post them. So whenever that is done. Hopefully @12:00 Noon)
This is a photo of me grinning like an idiot (wearing the Art Class Smock in the Paddle Plant Pink colorway), because it's finally happening!
I've been blogging for 1 year, (and 1 day). Opening a shop to celebrate my 1st blogging anniversary seemed like a good idea.
Each item in the shop is one-of-a kind. When it's gone it's gone but-
depending on how things go, I may be able to restock the shop one more time with some additional items before Christmas.
Also please note, I'm only shipping within the continental U.S. at this time, -but this will hopefully change with the Spring 2010 collection (yes, I'm already working on it!).
All orders placed prior to 11/2/09 will ship the week of 11/2/09. All orders placed after this date will ship from the date of 11/11/09. (Because I'm headed to NYC next week for Tomory's opening there).
Thanks everybody for all of your well-wishes and support over the last year. I couldn't have done it without you!
xo
-J
I have blogged about the work of Alex Dodge before. *
He just happens to be my brother in law, as well as a talented artist and designer.
This is a recently finished (bound by the artist's own hand!) edition of prints (4 topographic maps of beds plotter printed on mylar) that Alex created in conjunction with master printer Luther Davis and artist Glen Baldridge of Forth Estate.
Glen and Luther produce some truly astounding prints through Forth Estate. I had the opportunity to watch both men at work while Tomory was creating an edition for CRG, and was blown away by both their aesthetic sense and technical expertise.
* (I swear, I have married into such a talented family. Madeleine, Tomory's mother, is a great painter, and John, my other brother in law has recently been acting in films, and is writing short stories. David, Tomory's father, is a retired physician, and studies languages, the classics, history. Sometimes I feel like I'm in The Royal Tenenbaums.
Does that make me Margot? Or am I more of an Eli Cash figure? Hmmm...)
I realize I'm not breaking any new ground with this post, but I have to say, I am so excited about Anna Maria Horner's new collection of cotton voile prints and solids called Little Folks.
I get such pleasure just from looking at the colors and designs. Mixing and matching.
However, I need to stop hoarding her fabric, and actually make something with it!
Every time I visit her blog, it just makes me happy!
If you live in Los Angeles, you are likely familiar with the work of Carlee Fernandez.
The above image, Carlee's piece: Self Portrait: Portrait Of My Father, Manuel Fernandez, could be widely seen all over L.A. in 2008, in banner form, hanging from street lamps, advertising the LACMA group exhibit Phantom Sightings.
I happen to love this piece. It addresses so many things-identity, gender, time, nostalgia.
Equally complex are her altered taxidermy pieces.
Directly below is a piece, that is very similar to one that we have in our home.
Above: White Pigeon with Saffron Finch, 2004
Below: Lola Isern, 2001
Carlee is one of my favorite artists working right now. I love her experimentation, her willingness to use different media to attain her vision. Despite this wide range of media-her pieces always feel like her pieces.
...and this is in no way to minimize focus on Carlee's artistic abilities...but she also happens to be one of the most beautiful and stylish women I know. She's a lover of color and pattern like myself, so I'm always interested to see what she is wearing.
Tomorrow I'll post on one of Carlee's favorite designers (thanks, Carlee!) , the man responsible for that beautiful knit vest above (last photo- pictured: Carlee Fernandez and her son Xavier).
All photographs courtesy of Carlee Fernandez
...of what I am designing for the ERMIE Fall/Winter 09-10 Collection.
Chocolate Brown Cotton-Linen Blend Dress with Constellation/Monster print in Silver & Black Ink. Seamed, slightly gathered waist. Side seam pockets with printed contrast lining. Printed contrast binding at the neckline & sleeves.
Next week I'll be knitting (I still have a Rust Slouch Cowl to finish), heat-setting, washing, mending, blocking, weaving in ends...whew...for the shop to open on Halloween!
Outtakes above from my mini photo shoot. One of our trees helped me hold the camera. See more images here.
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of viewing the work (pictured above) of Los Angeles based artist John B. Carpenter.
You can view his piece Dandelion Clock, 2009, here.
His website states, "in this work, dandelion pappi, the little white parachutes that carry the dandelion's seeds, move about the room and rely on feedback loops and emergent systems as they float through space and interact with the viewer."
It inspired me to take these photographs below:
Once again, I didn't get my act together to (fully) participate in the Corner View.
This weeks theme was so fun, too- "My Dream."
If I'm talking literally about my dream(s) -I have really crazy dreams sometimes...involving alien invasions, zombies, tornadoes, and nuclear apocalypses!
If we are talking about other types of dreams...my current dream is to give up my day job of being a nurse, and to focus full time on designing textiles, and sewing garments with them.
(Dream on, I guess, for now).
In keeping with the theme of dreams, feel free to make a wish on these dandelion images. Maybe your dream will come true.
xo
-J
I think this is the native to California plant that Janis was talking about: Kit-kit-dizze.
