This wonderfully tattered and incredibly fragile antique dress arrived last week. All the silk is shattered, but beautifully shattered – almost as though it’s transforming itself.
goodbye 2010
I hope 2010 was a fabulous year for you and wish you a happy 2011. I’ll end the year with photos of a few favorite treasures I discovered on deadhorse beach this year.
A tiny perfume bottle and a bit of sea green net,
a wonderfully detailed little spaceman,
and a pretty ceramic shard.
Happy New Year!!!
(and thanks for showing up)
new shape
This is one of the new things I’m working on for 2011 – a small bird with a more realistic shape. I’m planning a little flock all made from this antique bodice ( hoping to get an owl out of it too).
The fabric is really interesting, it has a tiny geometric print of metallic gold specs over a silky cotton with little squares woven in.
new owls and spiders in the shop
“He looked and smelt like Autumn’s very brother”
Giles, 2 other owls and some new spiders are in the shop now.
ballerinas and boats
I’ve just added some boats and a couple ballerinas to the shop. Owls and spiders later this week.
And a tiny white mushroom appeared in my terrarium this morning.
I think it must be a good omen.
boats
The ship and 2 sailboats above will be in the shop early next week – I’m photographing them and a lot of other things (owls, spiders, birds, ballerinas and maybe another bat) over the weekend. And I might have one more ship too – I’m working on it now. If you are on the mailing list I’ll let you know when they are available.
gentleman sailor
He is made from vintage feed sacks and ticking using my new owl pattern. I intended to use these round little owls only as passengers in paper mache ships and boats but he was such fun to make I think I might make a couple stand alone fellows.
boat work and a bat
I finally turned out another bat ( I’ve just added it to the shop). It’s made from beautiful plum kimono silk (courtesy of Stephen Szczepanek). Some of the patching and mending is mine and other stitches are from other hands a long time ago.
I’m also working on new boats (with merry wobbler passengers) and lots of other stuff too. I’m adding new things to the shop every day this week.
autumnal owl
Find the pattern to make your own dastardly owl here.
I’ve been saving the buttons for his eyes ( I only have 2) for 3 years. I started putting fabric aside for him about a year ago – bits of quilts and blankets, a tiny piece of threadbare russet velvet from a crazy quilt and linings from several garments. And just lately I found the last thing I needed, the heavy dark brown cotton his body is made from, lining an antique walking skirt. I’m hoping to finish him today.
fortuny
I visited the Fortuny showroom earlier this week to talk with Mickey Riad ( creative director) about creating some of my creatures with Fortuny fabrics. I think it ‘s a fabulous idea and I’m looking forward to experimenting. We talked about bats and spiders and owls and maybe some new things inspired by the exquisite patterns and colors as well as the history.
Like the fabrics, the new showroom in the D and D building is almost overwhelmingly beautiful. I took a couple photos but they don’t do it justice – you can see much more here and on the Fortuny blog.
I’m excited about the possibilities and I’ll share progress photos with you when I get started.
P.S. – You’ll find the green bustled spider crawling among the bolts of glorious fabric in the first photo here.
juxtapoz handmade
Cover – ana serrano – wonderful.
Juxtapoz Handmade is in stores now.
I’m flattered to be included with so many of my favorite artists :
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Souther Salazar, Saelee Oh and so many others. I love the book. Love it.
beginnings
Most things start with a pile – the two little piles above are going to be ballerinas.
And patterns usually start with a drawing.
A hopeful sort of drawing followed by lots and lots of experimenting – making and taking apart, adjusting – over and over and over again. If nothing else I am persistent. Relentless might be a better word.
My plan is to end up with a little perching owl who might like to be a passenger in a paper mache ship.
