1.07.2013

Cultivate Tutorial and Interview on The Works

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I am very excited to share a new pair of posts over at the Clothworks blog, The Works. I developed a quick sewing sewing tutorial for furoshiki with our Cultivate collection, and I would love to know what you think. I must say, I AM NOT A SEAMSTRESS !!! When Susie asked me to plan something for this feature, I wanted desperately to have something worthy to show her … and yet the idea of exposing the sheer absence of my knowledge of about sewing made me shake. I decided to find a super-easy to make project ( as in, really hard to mess up ! ) that related to our paper goods collection – so a fabric wrap seemed a logical and manageable choice. I hope you like it !

Coming next on this blog ( and pictured below ) is a simple pillow cover that can be used as a wrapping fabric as well – all made from the pre-cut 5” squares that Clothworks is selling of our collection.

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There is also an interview with Yours Truly, if you wanted to learn a bit more about my creative process, my work / life approach, and some of the inspiration behind Cultivate.

Here’s to Newness – a new year, new projects, new colors, new energy.

10.31.2012

a day at Quilt Market, topped with a Sandy Surprise

I have to admit, it felt a bit strange visiting Quilt Market for the first time AFTER doodlespark’s first licensed fabric collection was created… I suppose it would have been helpful for me to view other collections in person, chat with designers and scope the scene before I tried my hand at turning our Cultivate drawing into a fabric suite … But alas, this was not to be and I entered the Houston Convention Hall quite wide-eyed. A barrage of color and pattern greeted me in way that was more overwhelming than my experience at any other trade show. When I launched Loop at the National Stationery Show in 2007, I felt grounded by my small, mostly back and white booth, anchored by the product line and curious to see the reaction. This time – without a booth of my own and in mostly uncharted, trend-specific waters – I felt a bit more at sea.
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Out trip was to be a 2-day affair; I’d planned to walk the Show on Day One making notes along the way to direct me to specific collections and designers to return to. I’m not a seamstress by any stretch of the imagination ( the sewing machine on the end of my desk veritably taunts me to master it! ), so being surrounded by crafty projects + masterful quilts made me feel out of my element. And all the color! My eyes had a hard time landing on anything specific, and I felt exhausted by the end of just a few hours. Unfortunately, Sandy had us rushing home the next morning via a 4:00am shuttle to the airport.
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It was delightful seeing my contacts from Clothworks in person, and that was the real reason I wanted to attend. Their design team was so helpful via email throughout the course of this project and it was wonderful to talk in person about our work together and how our lives and our professional endeavors invariably intersect ( and often collide! ). Fat quarters of Cultivate ( above, left and my mom, above, right ) were shown on their order-writing tables and it was a true thrill to catch a glimpse of such a personal work of art in the midst of the color cloud that was the Show.
 
IMG_1322[ Summer Fusion c. 2009 by Patricia A. Montgomery ]
 
Paired with the industry-only trade show was a juried exhibit of art quilts. I’d seen many in magazine or books, but never had the chance to view these works of art in person. I simply don’t have words to describe the richness of texture, the nimble use of thread as line and shading, the creative arrangement of color and pattern, the masterful technique, all of which elevated the ensembles into a class of their own. Some resembled paintings or sculptures, built in layers to leap off the wall in a living way. I tried to take pictures, but it was hard to capture the depth of each piece.
 
IMG_1234[ detail of Papaver Somniferum by Grace Meijer ]
IMG_1316IMG_1317[ details of Serenity by Valerie White ]
IMG_1256IMG_1258IMG_1255[ details and overall of Lakeside Solace by Noriko Endo ]

Afternoon Social

I’ve just made myself a hot mug of Earl Grey ( with milk and honey ) while I put some finishing touches on three new ways to connect with doodlespark. So, it’s a bit like a virtual tea time here, dear friends, and I have a few things to show you.

I’m not sure why its taken me to so long to develop our social media; I think part of me feels funny about broadcasting too many personal details … I think the story of a company is a vital way to connect people with the product they invite into their lives, I’m just not sure I want to announce what I have for breakfast and how I’m feeling about work, weather, and other randomness throughout the day. So, I will try to edit these postings so that they are personal but relevant, reflecting my internal life in a way that informs my public life. Look out for Doodlespark inspiration, news, fabric finds + eco interests now on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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A very special parcel arrived at my doorstep the other day, and it’s a wonder I‘ve waited this long to share it with you. Samples of our Cultivate line with Clothworks veritably burst out of the box, brightening the room with color and making Philadelphia seem less in the grip of Autumn’s descent into winter and more in the throes of a burgeoning Spring. I snapped a few pictures with my iPhone, as I was readying to leave for Houston the next day to attend Quilt Market. ( more on that spectacular event later ). No time to iron or adjust the lighting, I just couldn’t help but share !

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7.11.2012

Cultivating ‘Cultivate’ with Clothworks

I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you. Clothworks has licensed me to create a line of fabric based on a Doodlespark drawing!  I don't know where to begin telling of the story of how this came to be ...  Suffice it to say that I have been working with the lovely ladies at Clothworks for many years to come up with the right collection at the right time. With production in process, I can finally say that this journey has come to fruition. Pop a bottle of champagne! Dance around the room with me! Hooray for ....

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CULTIVATE !! 

Of the many drawings my mother and I have created over the years, Cultivate has been close to my heart. As with all our drawings, we made notes on the back each time we exchanged. I wrote in August, “ … thinking of my beautiful mom just before her birthday, imagining her across the table from me; at home together as if neighbors, easily, with laughter and tea.” My mother noted in December that the drawing felt like “ ... pieces of a puzzle coming together. pieces of now becoming pieces of something later : the unknown, trusting it more as time goes by.”.

While one of the most popular of our designs, it is also one of the most complicated. My mother and I drew this completely unaware that we'd be sharing it publicly, nevertheless having to extract motifs and create color ways from the tangle of sketchy lines and overlapping tones. My Photoshop skills were tapped, drained, and re-tapped in preparing just the main pattern for reproduction. Every single instance of a given color had to be isolated and assigned a layer. It felt like a million hours passed as I teased out tones and defined edges, mapping over 2 dozen colors and then simplifying them into a refined palette, all while preserving the hand-drawn quality of the collaborative work. What a challenge you are, Lady Color! I am still getting know your shifty personality and fickle disposition.

When Clothworks asked me to transform this drawing into a fabric suite, I knew it would be a challenge, but it was an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up. I can’t thank the team at Clothworks enough for their invaluable pointers along the way.  I generated so many variations on a theme for each pattern and every time I submitted a version, the constructive criticism I received was prompt and nurturing. I grew so much as a designer during this process. I admit, I was not used to working in color, not used to designing for committee approval ( here at loop, it's Me, Myself, and I and it's not a good day when we don't all agree ... ), and not used to designing for the quilting / home dec market. Clothworks' patience with and commitment to this collection helped me bring out the best the drawing had to offer and made me rise to the occasion as a professional.

So now, all of the patterns are off to the sales reps for pre-orders. Clothworks will be presenting Cultivate strike-offs at Quilt Market in Houston in the Fall, and the collection – 5 patterns in 3 colorways - will ship before the end of the year! The fabric will the available through local retailers, a list of which will be posted on the Clothworks site.

Is this really happening?! What do you think?! I simply cannot wait to get my hands on samples - and to get some sewing skills to match my imagination. I'll keep you posted!!

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5.31.2012

Being Mom(me)

 

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Hellloooo !

I send my little voice into the white space of this page, listening to it barrel down the wires into the World Wide Web. How have you been, everyone?! What’s new?!

As many of you know, I became a mom not so long ago. I knew becoming a parent would change my life, but I have to admit I didn’t expect quite this transformation.  My day-to-day life is completely turned upside down and the shape of my space and time as an artist / business owner is completely re-made.

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A new being has entered the world and I have the lucky job of accompanying him on this early part of his journey into selfhood. From a darting-eyed baby, a little boy has emerged, curious and cacophonous about everything he encounters. At just 2 years old, he is full of laughter and lilting language, hurtling his body through space to learn its edges and peaks, testing and trying out all that nature has to offer. I am along for his ride, holding his hand when he crosses the street, helping him learn to be gentle with himself and others, showing him how to look and breathe deeply and be raucous, variously. In a way, I am living vicariously through him, rediscovering my senses, capturing slivers of the sensation that everything is new and amazing and worth noticing. In other ways, I am entirely overwhelmed by the responsibility I bear as his Guardian; I can no longer let my mind wander or be silent for long periods of time; someone else needs me to explain everything and make sure environs are safe and engaging. My free time isn’t fully my own anymore; shouldn’t I be reading about toddler development or researching schools?!

In the middle of this shift and shuffle, I have found time to work and I have some exciting new plans and developments to share with you; stay tuned for news about Loop’s partnership with a delicious business in Brooklyn, Doodlespark’s new fabric collection for Clothworks and more!

Thank you all for bearing with me as things have been a bit quiet here on the blog. I promise to find my way here more regularly.
( You can follow my pins on Pinterest, too. )

8.02.2011

ZOOEY Magazine Giveaway

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[ patterns left to right : pebble, prehistory, inari, honey + peregrine ]

Loop is so excited to share it newest note card collection with you – and what better way to do it than with a giveaway?! We partnered with ZOOEY magazine to send a little eco-love out into the world; simply visit their site and leave a comment to be entered to win ! [ contest ends August 9th ]

Our new note set features patterns from the Tela Collection, many of which are also available as textiles. Two new patterns join the group to form a suite of stationery that wraps your words with style. As always, they’re printed here in Philadelphia with soy ink on 100% post-consumer recycled FSC paper that’s produced carbon-neutral.

We haven’t added them to our our site yet, or our Supermarket store, so this giveaway is a unique opportunity to get your hands on our newest work … Good luck !

3.16.2011

Loop Giveaway on exPress-o !

 

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Good morning, Lovely Readers -

We are excited to announce a giveaway today on the exPress-o blog ! Take a little foray out of your work day and head over to Diana’s blog. Leave a comment to enter – you could win your choice of 3 journals and a set of note cards !

For additional chances to win, follow this blog, follow the exPress-o blog on Twitter or tweet about the giveaway. A random winner will be selected on Sunday night.

I would love to hear what you think of our new journals ~ you can view more images of the styles in our Supermarket shop [ we are in the process of updating our website ! ]

Thank you !

2.21.2011

Stephanie Says …

 

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an original textile, based on a gouache painting by Stephanie Says

[ if only it were organic ! ]

2.14.2011

lost !

bermuda triangle of productivity

from design student, Fuchsia Macaree

1.28.2011

do. be.

 

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1.24.2011

Feeling Far and Away

 

maeder_Far & Away IX[ Far & Away IX, by Cheryl Maeder ]

in 14 degree Philadelphia, I’m closing my eyes and imagining folds of warm sea water wrapping my sleepy body.

12.31.2010

HGTV Open Casting Call – Philadelphia

 

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Design Star, HGTV’s top-rated reality competition series, is currently casting for their sixth season and are holding an open casting call in Philadelphia on Monday, January 10, 2011. I thought I would help spread the word to my fellow Philadelphians – we have such great creative energy in this city and I’m sure one of you would be perfect for this program !  According to the casting assistant at CBS, they are looking for someone with “extensive design knowledge, a personality that pops, passion for design, lots of energy and enthusiasm and a clear and unique design perspective.”

Date: Monday, January 10, 2011

Time: 10am - 1pm

Location: Embassy Suites Hotel at 1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

12.16.2010

Holiday Party + Trunk Show

 

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Bario-Neal Jewelry Holiday Party and Trunk Show
featuring Marina Borker Stained Glass and Loop Hand-Drawn | Eco-Conscious paper

T O N I G H T  from 5.30pm to 9.30pm at the Bario-Neal Studio + Showroom[  located at 700 South 6th Street [ the corner of 6th & Bainbridge  ]

The event has been generously sponsored by the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Enjoy snacks + complimentary beer / wine while shopping local for your holiday gifts !

35% off all Bario-Neal boutique jewelry

20% off Loop wrapping paper
[ plus deals on factory seconds + OUR NEW JOURNALS ]

15% off Marina Borker Stained Glass votives and ornaments

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I’m honored to be participating in this event with two fantastic local businesses:

Bario-Neal specialize in making beautiful and unique designs that employ reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones using low-impact + environmentally conscious practices.

Marina Borker is a local artist whose unique stained glass technique calls attention to the expressive linework of the leading in between the glass to create one-of-a-kind lights + wall-hangings.

12.13.2010

Undivided Mind

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imaginary found_undivided mind detail The Imaginary Foundation recently created a pop-up exhibition called The Undivided Mind at Fifty24SF Gallery in San Francisco. They described it so poetically …

“ The artist and scientist may at first seem strange bedfellows. Of the many human disciplines, there are few that could seem more divergent. The artist employs image and metaphor; the scientist uses number and equation. Art creates illusions meant to evoke emotion, while science engages in the pursuit of empirical verification. There is, to some degree, a physiological cause for this apparent divergence: the two halves, or hemispheres, of the brain.

The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions and intuition, the left for logic and reason. Yet the notion of two brains gives rise to the function of one mind. Perhaps it is this one “undivided mind” that presents a way forward through the monumental cultural changes we now face, enabling us to surf this dynamic moment in history from a platform of balance and symmetry.

This installation endeavors to fuse the aesthetic beauty of art and science in order to create a synthesis of mind, one which is as much rational as it is fantastic. Think of this undivided mind as a prototype of human possibility—an evolutionary signal of convergence, harmony, and accelerated progress. The rest is up to us. “

While I’m not a huge fan of all their work, I do love this simple graphic and the powerful implications behind it.

Love from Lonny

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Cobbella, a pattern inspired by the beauty of cobbled streets [ in Italy or otherwise ], is featured in Lonny Magazine’s Eco-Style Gift Guide !

I was so taken by the marbled black, gold + silver Thai paper as well …