a call for creations...

Recently Khristian tweeted about a super cute wristlet clutch made using Mon Sheri by Etsy seller paocollection... which got me itching to see more awesome creations made with our fabrics.

As I type this blog post, three new collections are being produced for Anthology Fabrics to be released for Fall 2011. Khristian already disclosed which collections in a blog post prior to our departure to NYC for SURTEX 2011. In case you missed the big announcement or want to relive the moment over and over again, you should get excited right here.

Now back to the point!
If you or someone you know is a maker of cute things and happens to have made something - tote, quilt, spacesuit, anything! - using Bryant Park or Theory, we want to see! For a visual reference, check out these super cute pillows [above] by Etsy seller bluecalla, made with Theory in the Seaside colorway.
Cute, right?
Right.
And what about this adorable reversible sling bag [below], made with not one but two Bryant Park prints, Rooftop Garden and Village Floral, by Etsy seller makemineblue.


If you fit the bill and want to share a little something something, shoot over one or two low resolution [72 dpi] images to me, niki [at] khristianahowell.com, and be sure to include your name, a snippet about yourself and any relevant information, such as a website or Etsy shop link.

I'm not making any promises, but we'd love to show off what you've made!
Really, really. Do it.

 

-N.

practicing gratitude...

Look at this beauty I just bought from the Vol25 Etsy shop!! It is printed on this super cool textured canvas paper.  I love everything about it - the color, the type treatment and of course the message.  Gratitude is something I am recommitting myself to practicing daily.  I mean let's be honest folks, the past few years have been exciting times for growth, as well as super trying at times.  I am grateful for every bump I have encountered in both my business and personal life because each episode is an opportunity for  me to learn and grow.  Being truly grateful for this very moment in time whether picture perfect or difficult, has a real grounding effect and makes me remember what is truly important in my life.  Happy weekend all...

find me on etsy too (and a treat to celebrate!)...

Hi all! Can you believe January is almost over already??  CRAZY!  Well after years (literally) of inner debate, I have decided to open an etsy shop.  It is small for now, and will grow organically over time.  Part of my plan for this year is to begin exploring different sides of my creative voice.  I have always loved the etsy community, and thought I would give it a try.  Pop over and check it out will you?  So...how about a sale to get things started?  Use the code NewAdventures to get 20% off thru Tuesday at midnight! My online shop here has everything available on etsy as well, AND includes my photos (easier b/c of all the different sizes).

Bokja Furniture: Ecletic Beauty

Hi all! Kristin the Intern here!

Coming back from NYC, one of my favorite memories was at ABC Carpet & Home where every floor was a new adventure. And holy moly when I saw this Bokja furniture, I was too excited for words. Every piece was an eclectic harmony of vintage and modern textiles, alike.  Beirut based designers, Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri compose pieces that not only are bursts of folklore & bright colors but highlight the longevity of sustainable fabrics. Every chair had a story  to tell from hand found materials taken from the silk road of India . This collection was every Etsy lovers dream come true!



Love the embroidered label!



clever "Head Rest" chair!



Khristian & I literally stood in this area for an hour admiring the subtle details.

artists i love - valentina ramos...

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Omg! Really.  I don't think I need to explain why I love everything about Valentina.  Her work is stunning!  Intricate inky goodness, and so much fun!  Be sure to stop by her fab etsy shop, and a giveaway happening over on spring!

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inspiration - yahgie textiles...

new obsession alert!  I quite simply love everything she does! Petergaye S. Kisielewicz designs all Yahgie textile prints, and they are all equally as fab as she seems to be.  Enjoy - I am!

these are so cool!  totally customizable - message, language, you name it!

artist interview - kristina sostarko of inaluxe...

I stumbled upon this fabulous work by Kristina Sostarko of Inaluxe and just had to know more!  She's been kind enough to chat for a bit!  Be sure to stop by her blog and fab etsy shop too!



My name's Kristina Sostarko, and I'm the artist behind inaluxe. I have a blog www.inaluxe.blogspot.com and an online store www.inaluxe.etsy.com where you can come and visit me. I live in Melbourne, Australia with my partner Jase, and our little fox-dog Kibi.

what three to five words would you use to describe your work?

Tough one to answer. I think I better draw from what others have said as well as how I see it - although I don't really think about the work in these terms, so it's a fascinating question. I guess bold, graphic, flow, whimsical, and pop are all relevant.

what inspires you?

The maddening need to change, fix, make better, improve, and explore. It's what drives me, and gets me out of bed in the morning. Primarily, this is what inspires me. On a more tangible level, architecture, music, people, textures, colour, pattern, the everyday. Everything from animals, and their behaviour, to a large old broken down shed in the country, or perhaps it's a wild 1970's velvet sofa in orange and turquoise stripes, etc.

what was your first job?  when/how did you know you wanted a career in art?

My first job was working in a young women's refuge. It was such an amazing experience, and while it did not fulfil my creative vision at the time, it did help me to learn alot about my self, and others. It gave me certain skills, and awareness about the world around me. I loved it. I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was 8 years old. I would sit and draw all day, everyday. Birds, horses, and I recall I had a huge thing for the tv show "I Dream Of Jeanie" and I would just draw her constantly.

finish this sentence.  I could eat ______ all day.

peaches.

design books/blogs you can't live without

This is a can of worms. A nice can, but nevertheless, a hard one to control, and answer without giving you a giant essay on the topic. ha!  It changes for me all the time. I don't really have one favourite blog, or book. At the moment I am working through some of my bird reference books, and learning more about particular birds, and not just painting them. It adds something to the work for me: their habitats, personalities, quirks, etc are all omnipresent and part of what inspires the pieces.

what do you do when you are not doing art?

Is there such a thing? I'm usually thinking about it, or not thinking about  it. At the moment, I am doing the art full time.

name one thing about you that would shock the outside world.

I like death metal? I don't know, but that's one thing people tend to get surprised about. I don't really know if there is something that really would shock others, and well, there probably is, but some things are better left not shared! :)

finish this sentence.  If I could time travel, I would arrive...

right here. No time like the present - as they say.

what's next?

Lots and lots of thing I hope! I'm just about to start a new range of giclee prints on canvas, and I'm working on textiles for homewares at the moment. These are the two most significant changes happening right now. See where the journey leads, and keep exploring.

artist interview - inkling prints...

SWOON!!  We have all fallen in love with etsy great Inkling Prints.  Designer Kiran was kind enough to give us the scoop on what inspires her, where she's been, and where she going...

Hi, I'm Kiran and I started Inkling Prints in July last year. I used to spend time doodling in my sketch books, not knowing what to do with my doodles. Then one day, I was browsing through Amazon and I came across a book by Lotta Jansdotter. I ordered it immediately! It arrived one beautiful spring morning. I was sat on the sofa, by the window, with the sun streaming in and I was totally inspired to create my own hand printed items. After months of researching and experimenting with different paints and fabrics, I finally opened my Etsy shop in November 2009.

what three to five words would you use to describe your work?
bold, colourful, simple

what inspires you?
I was born and lived in Singapore til 5 years ago when I moved to England. The colours, the vibrancy, the intricacy and detail that you find in almost everything there has inspired me. After moving to England, I realised I was also very much drawn to nature. I love looking at all the different flowers, plants and trees. And then waiting eagerly in winter for spring when everything is fresh, green and colourful again.
what was your first job? when/how did you know you wanted a career in art?
My first job was as a graphic/product designer at a shop designing stationary for children. We had a little office at the back of the shop and I designed all sorts of things from posters to t-shirts to trimmers to hang on walls. It was good fun as I also got to meet my young customers sometimes.
My late dad used to draw with me. He very much encouraged and supported me throughout art school, staying up late with me to finish off projects, encouraging me and believing that I could do it.

finish this sentence. I could eat___ all day.
waffles with ice-cream

design books/blogs you can't live without
Books: Lotta Jansdotter -  How to Print with Anything and Lena Corwin - Printing by Hand
Blogs: http://jezzeblog.blogspot.com/ and http://camillaengman.blogspot.com/

what do you do when you are not doing art?
I'm running around the house chasing my 2 year old daughter Jill, with my one hand pulling my hair out, the other hand trying to grab her and screaming 'Nooooo!!', all at the the same time and finally tripping over the dog and falling.

name one thing about you that would shock the outside world.
When I was young, I found a can in my dad's tools cupboard. It had a cute elephant on it. I went into the cupboard, shut the door, opened the can and found this yellow gooo in it. I sniffed it. Wow! I was caught by my parents and warned, never to sniff glue again. I was only 7. So, I wasn't punished. Maybe that's why my brain is slightly messed up now - I'm so totally disorganised! :P

finish this sentence. If I could time travel, I would arrive...
In the 1940's to meet my husband's grandmother Tirzah Ravilious, who was a brilliant artist. Her husband was a war artist and she had to cope with being a mum to 3 kids. But she also produced such beautiful art in her short lifetime. I'd like to know what inspired her.

what's next?
New designs. Prints on paper. New studio space. Hopefully, somewhere which will give me enough space to print and lots of space to store my products. In the meanwhile, I am trying to
concentrate on photographing all my work and also launching my own website.

etsy finds - kellyssima...

Kellyssima is one of my new followers on twitter, and now I am thrilled to have found her! Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil Kelly is now creating her line in Austin, TX. Her work has a sweet vintage feel with a slight modern edge. I am just falling in love. To top it off these product shots are fantastic, and your pieces will come in this delightful little package. Perfectly prepped for exquisite gift-giving! Well done Kelly!

etsy finds- stephanie corfee...

I noticed Stephanie Corfee recently over on Daisy Jane's etsy ticker. Oh my! It was an instant party for my eyes! I adore the use of all of this COLOR! Stop by her shop and check out her blog for downloadable art you can color up as you like.

all images are copyright stephanie corfee and may not be used without the artist's permission.

etsy - lucie summers...

Lucie Summers is fabulous UK artist who screens her artwork onto fabric, journals and wall art to name a few. Her designs are fresh and whimsical and are sure to delight your eye as they have mine! Be sure to pop by her etsy shop and for more Lucie, stop by her blog.

Her journals come lined or unlined at your request - love this feature!

Super soft hand screened, fair trade certified organic fabrics.

Such a great idea! Lucie has screened outlines to her alphabet for you to color, ink, and applique, etc. as you wish. It's pretty great just framed up as is too. Great addition to a kid's room.

etsy - yaelfran...

Yaelfran works out of her Buenos Aires studio creating the wonderful digital archival prints all ready for framing. I am just in love with the use of vibrant color and simple shapes. So cute! I especially love her take on the alphabet print - so fresh. Visit her shop here.

etsy finds - umbrella prints

Great hand screened fabrics in the umbrella prints shop! Also, stop by their new site.

etsy finds - avie

such a cute idea - adhesive return address labels! love!

Darling announcements and perfect pocket sized website cards.

Great prints and colors make the paper products in the shop of Avie irresistible!

etsy finds - tuesday mourning

Great glicee prints in the Tuesday Mourning shop.

Etsy find: Leen the Graphics Queen...

Wonderful wall decals from Leen the Graphics Queen. You can find a large catalog of decals and more about Leen here.