Brunch with Ashley G.

Janaina had brunch with Ashley G. a while ago. We are both in love with her work. Whimsical art, that lets your imagination flow, letting you come up with your own story. "Come on in" would have to be my favorite illustration of hers. What's yours? Ready to come up with you own story? Let your imagination flow... 1. Tell us a little about yourself My name is Ashley Goldberg. I'm 25 years old. I live in St. Louis, Missouri with my boyfriend and creative partner in crime, Drew, our cat, Isadora, and a ton of shipping and art supplies. When I'm not at my apartment drawing or making things I can usually be found getting coffee, dragging Drew to thrift stores, or telling myself I am going to clean my apartment (right after this one last episode of the Wire or whatever show we're currently watching on DVD). 2. What is your craft? Mostly I draw, paint, and with the assistance of Drew, create prints from my illustrations that we digitally color. That part is my job (which I love) but if I had more free time there would be more sewing, perhaps more knitting, but definitely more experimenting and learning new crafts. 3. What inspires you? I am hugely inspired by nature, the weather, and the time of year. For me, nothing is more inspiring than an overcast fall day when the leaves are changing and people are just beginning to bundle up. To me, that time of year just feels creative. I am not inspired by a hot, bright summer day. And even if nature isn't always present in my work, it inspires me to get more done. When I can have all the windows open and there is a breeze, or I can draw while I'm outside, I get about 10 times more productive. And of course magazines, vintage children's books, my own childhood memories and fantasies of animals and creatures and talking houses. Childhood camping trips and playing outside. And I love vintage photographs. I like to research images from different times in history. Lately it's been the 1930's and the dust bowl (you can thank Carnivàle). 4. Do you have any advice to give to other indie designers? I wish I had more advice to give, but what I can say: no matter what you do, make the effort to just put it out there. If I waited to feel like everything I was putting out there was perfect or exactly what I was trying to say, I would be frozen and not do anything ever. Be proactive. 5. What is your favorite thing that you have created recently? Oh, that's such a hard question to answer. I have trouble liking anything I do but I have a few limited edition prints that I've done for an upcoming show and I feel pretty good about those. 6. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? Drawing, drawing, and more drawing and then carving creatures and animals out of bars of soap. Sounds strange but it was really fun even if they never really worked out. 7. Where do you sell and when did you decide to start selling you work? I sell my work on Etsy (ashleyg.etsy.com), Velocity Art and Design (www.velocityartanddesign.com), Artstream Gallery (www.artstreamstudios.com), Shana Logic (www.shanalogic.com), and other brick and mortar shops. 8. Apart from creating things, what else do you enjoy? Ummm… thrifting, reading magazines, and poking around the internet at design, art and craft blogs. Hanging out with my best friend. I would love to travel now that I am self employed but really working and creating things takes up most of my time. 9. What three words would describe you the best? A bit neurotic :) 10. What/Who is your latest indie crush/designer? I am really love everything Christopher Silas Neal does. Guh… his work is amazing. 11. Anything else you would like to say? Thanks so much for this opportunity! You have a great website!

Brunch with...

will be on Monday (Midnight Sunday for those who have got isomia). Sorry about this guys! Stay tuned, you're in for a treat. :)

indie music

With only a few bands I like, lately I have found myself being rather bored with mainstream music. With frustration at its fullest, the other day I found another world... INDIE music! No, that does not mean teenager boys with dodgy hair and aftershave playing in their parent's garage because they just found out they can get girls that way. We're on a search for awesome bands just for you. Got one? Share! First I found Shrug who is in Columbus Oh, who have got a voice like cameral, then I found Little Red, who is an aussie group. I listened to "Waiting" 42 times today, with the last one I found myself in a daze from their coolness and starting singing "sweaty armpits I lose my calm" instead of "sweaty palms I lose my calm" - niccee. Let me know what you think of them!

brunch with mirjam

Today I had brunch with Mirjam and her gorgeous kids! She designs her own patterns and of course, creates all of her pieces. A while back I made a collection called flower girl with one of her dresses in it - I just can't get enough of them! Whether you're from the 70s or just 70s at heart, this shop is perfect for you! And we love that they are actually made out of vintage materials. 1. Tell us a little about yourself I graduated ten years ago from Fashion School as a designer in Amsterdam. I've had my own small woman’s wear label for a few years and worked freelance in fashion. I've always been interested in 3-dimensional, sculptural ways to construct clothing and experimented a lot with patterns and working with fabric right on the mannequin. My work used to be conceptual, minimalist, often asymmetrical and with details like folds and pleats, but was always quite wearable. Now I do something totally different. I'm having fun making kids clothes out of my treasured collection of vintage fabrics, making pleasantly clashing combinations of patterns and using funny appliqués. It was relieving to notice that when I could get rid of my mind when I was making things I became immensely productive and had so much more fun! It was like my brain had been in the way all the time. 2. What is your craft? Both sewing and pattern making. Now that the design and fabrics are doing most of the work, I keep the shapes and silhouettes simple. And to think I hated sewing when I just graduated! I now can see all the endless seam ripping and trying again and again did lead to something. I enjoy it immensely to be able to make all the things that appear in my head. 3. What inspires you? Right now it's the amazing fabrics I can get my hands on. I love making combinations, standing before my huge four-door closet, pulling out different pieces, and just let the ideas evolve. When I have a golden combo I make several different items in it, also because it can be hard to say goodbye to my work when it sells. And to feed my head and have fun I try to find solutions for the restrictions in shape, size or condition that my fabrics usually have. Like I did with the seventies ovenmit in the 'warm hands pants'. 4. Do you have any advice to give to other indie designers? Ha! Well I'd say, make sure you use materials that you have unlimited access to, in case you'd like to have your work produced in series. (my problem right now :() And, although these two things don't always go together well, I think and notice recycling is very hot. As it is becoming fashionable to 'buy and think green', I have a feeling it won't be long before there will be a big demand for items that help buyers express that they think and buy green! This is an area where we can still beat the bigger companies, because in our products it will be directly visible and not only on the label. Another tip: For designers that feel they get a bit stuck in their routine, as we all do sometimes: Switch off your brain when you're making things from time to time and let coincidence or unforeseen circumstances be your set of boundaries to work with, just to have fun and see what you'll come up with. It will be like entering in your own contest, where you will win if you can surprise yourself! 5. What's your recent favorite item you've made? My Swiss tea towel Cow dress. I found a super cute vintage swiss souvenir tea towel with Shepard’s bringing their cows up the hill along a winding road. It was nice and rare enough to frame. I combined it with two other fabrics and made a dress out of it. I wanted to keep it for my girl, but she preferred a variation I made of it, so I will list it in my shop soon... 6. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? I was six and I was sewing a flat fabric structure from different scraps, symmetrical, like a tiny patterned rug or quilt. I remember my mom asking me why I didn’t make anything real. I guess she meant something 3 dimensional. When she had a good look she saw what I was doing and praised me for my creativity, which made me glow with pride. 7. Where do you sell and when did you decide to start selling your work? I have my simple but sufficient website where I sell my stuff here in Holland and I sell on Etsy, which I love! My customers are so sweet and enthusiastic it always gives me energy and inspiration to make new things. 8. Apart from creating things, what else do you enjoy? Photography, relaxing with friends, vintage fabric hunting, going to Amsterdam, which I miss so much! And going on outings and picnics in the weekends with our kids in the 'bakfiets', a 'boxbike'. 9. What three words would describe you the best? Creative, feminine, impulsive. 10. What/Who is your latest indie crush/designer? Roshekie's dolls I found on Flickr, and Etsy shop too.

golden stars in the midnight collection

I've always loved mixing gold and silver together, it's such a nice contrast, but a lot of people are scared to do it, I've noticed. This outfit is a softer approach. I've started with a lovely dress from the wonderful Seed Clothing; it has got a gorgeous grey metallic finish. Accessorize with a sparkly gold vintage clutch that has a gold chain so you can swing it around (weee!), gold/brass captures the pretty pinks in the lovely hairpiece, and of course, an oxidized silver anklet with gold balls gracefully jingling on it. NOTE: anklet is actually a bracelet, but if you be a little creative, it can be used as an anklet (yay! two things in one!). So... dress ::: Seed Clothing clutch ::: Vintage Closet hairpiece ::: Be Gurple anklet/bracelet ::: Jenna Appleton

1 dot on a canvas collection

When I made this collection I immediately thought of the word "Zen" matched it perfectly! Until I looked in the dictionary - turns out it is to do with Buddhism - oops! Today we are going a bit simple, but still with amazing items. Sort of what is in the museums these days - 1 dot on a canvas. I'd probably wear this with my favorite jeans - what about you? Leave me a comment! necklace ::: ish designs shoes ::: El Diablo Shoes shirt ::: oak clothing

vanilla beans - collection

Can you tell that I like my sweets yet? Sweeeet vanilla beans and rich cream - but without the calories, as they say. I can see myself sipping a latte, with my little finger poking out, and my eyes twinkling with the jazz music in this... Shirt ::: 5 trillion Jeans ::: supre 1. earrings - es designs 2. hair pins - foundling 3. button - love gemma 4. jacket - ten little fingers 5. clutch - vintage 6. tights - sock dreams

5 things under $20

Want to make a small splurge without breaking the bank (and possibly the husband!)? Us ttt girls every week are going to share 5 fantastic things under $20, all handpicked by our lovely selves, of course! Oh, and did I mention they are all lovingly handcrafted? ;) tip ::: click image to be taken to the item. Name Chocolate chip lipbalm Price $4.45 From ivaart Name Felt ipod Sleeve Price $19.00 From Suezy Bees Name McPink Leaf Necklace Price $16.00 From Green Leaf and Owl Name Abstract Poppy Stickers Price $3.50 From Love, Gemma Name Keychain lip balm holder Price $5.95 From BeaG

workin' 9 to 5 collection

so, i've re-entered the work force. this is the reason for my recent disappearance. i am back to practicing interior design at a fabulous design boutique in old town scottsdale. i am really excited about designing again and working with wonderful people! i am dedicating this post to all those 9 to 5ers! give me a hooray for a consistent pay check!! yay! included in this collection: a. sterling silver turquoise earrings by east end walk designs b. cotton matador top from banana republic c. hunka hunka turquoise necklace by stephanie gibson jewelery d. recycled newspaper tote by my cute handbags e. martin wide leg trousers from banana republic f. candies scandius espadrilles from kohl's have a great day! tchau.

review - diana fayt

Have you been longing, dreaming for mobile art? Practical art? ART that you can have your SALAD IN? Diana Fayt is to the rescue, in style. www.dianafayt.com

strawberry picking collection

The perfect outfit for strawberry picking, just add red flippers from eldiablo shoes, or ballerinas from anthropologie, and you're set! STRAWBERRY PIN/BROOCH :: moon parade RED CROPPED SWING JACKET :: inaluxe STRAWBERRY KEYHOLDER :: bloody bunny FARMERS DAUGHTER TOP :: chesterella SUMMER SKIRT :: forever 21

sunday brunch with Hiromi

most of us take baths, showers, or occasionally a sink/sponge wash-down. the fact that it is a mostly every day event we forget to take real pleasure in it. we rush through it, scrubbing, rinsing, scrubbing and sometimes brushing our teeth all at the same time, just to get it over, to move on to the grooming, combing, glitzing, and go. Hiromi, also known to us as Soap or better Bathing in Luxury has dedicated herself to provide us with high-quality, decadent, bathing goods and a reason to slow things down a notch. slow things down enough to inhale the aromatic steam, to note the silkiness of soft skin, and to remind us that bathing isn't to be rushed, it is a time where we can pamper our over-exposed skin and our over-stressed minds. 1. Tell us a little about yourself Hi, I'm Hiromi and live close to the Pacific Ocean. I'm one of those people you'd want around if there were an emergency, especially as I can chat about almost anything to distract you from any real problems. My formal education is long and complicated and isn't directly related to crafting or art. 2. What is your craft? My passions are making high-quality bath and body products from scratch and painting in acrylics. Between the two, I manage to surround myself on a daily basis with pretty smells and colors. Sometimes, that makes all the difference. I suffer a bit from "crafting ADD" so I usually have a google of projects going simultaneously (some for years, LOL) in addition to making bath and body goodies and painting. 3. What inspires you? My brain. What ever grabs my fancy, seriously. It can be anything, a glimpse of something, a phrase (NPR provides a lot of creative fodder), a person, a place, a moment or feeling. I have an open file in my brain tagged "remember this (sometimes) useless piece of info" in which I file little blips from my life and THAT fuels my creativity. 4. Do you have any advice to give to other indie designers? Pursue your own artistic vision, but if your goal is to create a sustainable business, also try to be objectively realistic. Never take comments personally but at the same time don't take abuse from others. Realize building a clientèle base is a slow process that requires a lot of work. Be nice to everyone (there isn't a reason not to), try to be prompt in handling anything to do with sales or promotions (appropriate communication is key) and keep in mind, a person who is happy with you and your creations often refer you to their friends and family. On a more specific level, I'd say sit down and think about the image you are trying to project, come up with some sort of semi-focussed branding plan, and invest in some well-designed professional-looking business cards to hand out with your items or to other people who might be interested in your items. Try to absorb the world around you - every time you see something that appeals to you, indie designer or not, ask yourself what it is that made you notice and if you can apply a similar strategy to your own business. But never copy people. That is bad - respect other people's property and ideas. 5. What is your favorite thing that you have created recently? My Dandelion's Dinner soap. With Spring here, I've been experimenting more with green, lighter scents. I wanted a soap salad with notes of watercress, cucumber and carrots atop fresh leafy greens and a consistent visual presentation. Dandelion is a character from Watership Down, a book I loved as a kid. The name is inspired by the snarks about salads being bunny food. That's OK, the people who used to say that to me probably have cardiac issues or constipation. 6. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? I think I crocheted a scarf with my aunt's help when I was 5 or 6. I'm sure I made other things before then but that's when my crafting took hold because I remember thinking I could actually design and plan projects. My creative mind went wild from there. 7. Where do you sell and when did you decide to start selling you work? I started selling my creations online to pay for supplies when I was traveling a lot and splitting time between two countries (long story) a few years ago. It worked out perfectly - I could create to my heart's content, share with people and not accumulate "stuff" which is my tendency. Around the time I was debating whether to re-enter the "real employment" world, I realized I might be able to make a full-time living doing this and here I am now. I am selling my ever-expanding line of bath & body products at http://www.bathinginluxury.com which currently points to my etsy store (my id there is "soap"). My creations can be found in boutiques, specialty shops and at least one spa. I plan on expanding my wholesale accounts in b&m stores, especially locally where there is popular support for indie creations. 8. Apart from creating things, what else do you enjoy? I love being outdoors and doing outdoorsy things. I like plants and flowers, even though I am allergic to a lot. I'm an info-junkie and also volunteer occasionally with NPOs and local groups. 9. What three words would describe you the best? Funny. Self-entertaining. Chatty/Solitary. I oscillate between the 2. 10. What/Who is your latest indie crush/designer? I am on a perpetual search for the PERFECT BAG. I've been eying the custom messenger bags from r.e.load baggage inc (http://reloadbags.com/bags/ops.php) and have been kicking myself for not buying the squid messenger bag from this local designer and he's not taking new orders right now - http://zugsterbags.com. I hope to be checking out this local jewelry designer http://www.kmaleydesign.com/ some time soon. I also am perpetually crushed on the local artists and try to check them out at open studios which will be this week. 11. Anything else you would like to say? Thanks for letting me blab =) I love your site. Peace. **thank you so much for taking time to have brunch with us!!!

yellow/gold & blue collection

It's nearly Winter in Australia (or it at least it feels like it!) so even though it is gloomy and cold, WE can still shine with these fabulous yellow accessories, and shirt! Grey and yellow is one of my favorite colour combos, probably because I just LOVE contrasts. RING - Starry Designs LIPBALM COZIE - Bea G. BANGLE - Liana Kabel HAIR PIN - Atelier Kanawa TEE - 5 Trillion SKIRT - Supre

quiet night collection

Whether your family/house mate is away tonight, or you live alone, it's time to spoil yourself, and what better way then having a quiet night with heaven natural skin softener/moisturizer, and/or a candle of your choice, comfort in chocolate flower print bloomer undies, and oh my! Irish cream beyond belief brownies! Watch your favorite movie, or read your favorite book.

brunch with tara m.

Today I was lucky enough to have brunch with Tara M., a Canadian designer in North Korea. Her work is delicate and refined, with organic goodness in there too, and photography I probably would have up on my walls. You guys are in for a treat! 1. Tell us a little about yourself Well, I'm a fairly serious person, so beware, because this interview may be hideously boring! I grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario, Canada. I *love* nature and animals. I have a weird obsession for creating personalities for my pets and I like to make them have conversations with each other, my guests… and even me when I’m bored. Yes, I’m a little weird. I’m not afraid to admit that! Right now I’m living in South Korea, teaching English and making lovely earth-inspired baubles. 2. What is your craft? My craft… hmmm… That’s hard to pin down exactly. I started out sewing, then I switched to making jewelry, then I started doing fabric art… Currently I’m mostly working on making decadent, nature-inspired jewelry. 3. What inspires you? Nature. Sounds cheesy, but the beauty of the natural world inspires me all the time. I look outside and I can’t believe that nature produces such rich, sensuous, things. When I buy stones, I’m struck with awe at the fact that they were dug out of some cave, from deep within the belly of the earth. I just stare at them and think how lucky I am that I get to touch them and transform them into a work of art. Nature has so many beautiful things to offer us, and I try to capture that in my work. 4. Do you have any advice to give to other indie designers? 1) Go with your gut. 2) Don’t be committed to any one thing in terms of your designs or products. 3) Evolve as an artist and producer. I know so many artists who flounder after a few years of success because they never change their style or palette to match current trends. 4) Evolve as a person. Growing as a person and enriching yourself will enrich your work. Enrichment will make your work more complex and interesting. 5. What is your favorite thing that you have created recently? How recently? Well, I make a lot of beautiful jewelry. But my favorite things to make are my fibre art pieces. I have been working on a series of portraits made out of felted wool. The portraits are all of women seen nude from the waist up. I really like making these felted pieces because the women are all a reflection of my experiences. It’s always a surprise how they will turn out, what expression they will wear, how they will look, what experience sits inside them. 6. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? Oh god! I love this story. I come from a family of sewers, and so I knew how to sew from about 6 or 7 years old. I made a turtle out of an old skirt of mine. The turtle was black, with white polka dots. I sewed the turtle with the seams out. I was so embarrassed because I screwed up with the seams and I threw the turtle out. Now, I really wish I had saved it. If I had that turtle today, it would be my most prized possession. 7. Where do you sell and when did you decide to start selling you work? Right now, I am only selling my work on Etsy, because I’m halfway across the world in Korea. I would love to sell elsewhere, but it would be so hard to peddle my work from here. I decided to start selling my work on Etsy because I had a load of gorgeous jewelry piling up. I actually planned not to do any art when I came to teach in Korea. I wanted to take a break. But after six months of hiatus, I started getting the creative itch. So what started out as a hobby, has turned into a very small business, and I hope it will bloom into a sustainable business when I get back to Canada. 8. Apart from creating things, what else do you enjoy? I enjoy watching stormy weather. I enjoy eating pizza. It’s my favorite food! I love hanging out with my boyfriend. I also love staring at beads. Seriously. I’ll just sit and stare at beads. I don’t move them, I don’t touch them, I just stare at them. 9. What three words would describe you the best? Intelligent, interesting, interested. 10. What/Who is your latest indie crush/designer? The force behind the creations on www.bonspielcreation.etsy.com. I ordered some things from her, and her work inspired me to start creating again. 11. Anything else you would like to say? Everyone has been so supportive of my work and my future plans, so all I want to say is: Thank you! ----- Thank you so much Tara! The cupcakes were gorgeous as well, even though they were cyber!

wallet collection

ahh, here we have the special little somethings. the wee littles that carry our most precious cargo, our money. if you think about it, we like our money to ride in style. what is the point of a flashy credit card without a fantastic flashy credit card cozie? there isn't. so go on, get out there get your cash some flash. included in this collection: a. mei mei by the exit lens b. wallet whiquasy by johnny wallet c. recycled tie wallet by loscann d. bird on a polka dot ball by michymoo e. tightwad by tinymeat

gywan collection

This reminds me of the richest orange liquor chocolate cake made by a dear old friend of mine who taught me crochet, 4 foot, who has the whitest, silkiest hair. Gywan. [Too bright? I am sure aurris would be more than happy to make you a tan shrug] a. Vintage 1960s Yellow Flower Box Purse - bowl full of jelly b. Diamond Rib Knee Highs - sock dreams c. Indian Vine Tube Dress - free people d. Hybrid Heels - anthropologie e. Soft Slouchy Shrug - auriis f. Princess Earrings - jennifer morris beads

clutch heaven

one of the most important pieces of ones wardrobe should be the clutch. as much as i love bags, totes, and purses, i love clutches more. a clutch isn't simply something to carry your everyday goods in - no, it is a statement, an exclamation point, if you will. it is the period at the end of your terrific get-up sentence. it is the finale, the grand prize, the forth of july fireworks that you can carry the crook, the cranny, and the under belly of your arm. hail to the little purse! included in this collection: 1. bold blue by quiet doing 2. agnes quilted clutch by christina maria 3. in the woods by kookiikooky 4. elongated wonton clutch by jcasa 5. twiggy by hollyhock

flower girl collection

Have you noticed when a child is left to choose their clothes, they normally pick their favorites, the bright clothes - they all match, and they all don't? Well, that is what inspired this! A. Strawberry keyholder - bloody bunny B. Hoppity the bunny Stuffie - olilo designs C. Mini little flowers pouch - oktak D. Heart pendant - jennifer morris beads E. Vintage fabric card - rikrak F. Table cloth dress - kinchi

sun collection

The sun is shining, and the weather is sweet. You can smell apricots fresh off the tree, the caramel you just bought and left in the car (that is now melting), and the sugar cubes that are meant to be for tea, not to be eaten on their own (oops!)... 1. Sunstone cluster ring - Starry Designs 2. Harissa wristlet - Meringue Shop 3. Sunstone and amazonite earrings - Katesza Bone 4. Medallion halter - Forever 21 5. Sophie skirt - Style Scene And what about... -----style seen------- starry designs --------cserdan-------- tip: wear a plain grey or brown shirt with the style seen shorts