Scoutie Girl

zoomed local [ connecticut ]

9 mini landscapes by Studio155
lily/keyhole necklace by UnderGlass
letterpress coaster set by 12fifteen
photograph by Callia Photography
enamel pendant by Bonhomie Jewelry
handbag by The Itty Bitty Handbag Co.

wrapped in loop

this will be one of my last regular posts, and i wanted to go out on a personal high note by focusing on an artist...
...whose work makes my heart go pitter-pat in a big, big way;
...whose compassion & caring nature is genuine and admirable;
...who is one of the most professional, smart & insightful businesswomen i know;
...and who makes me laugh like crazy on our friday skype calls with Betz. 

Elissa Barbieri is the creative mastermind behind loop - where she "combines her hand-drawn patterns + eco-conscious materials to create modern paper goods." if you haven't seen her designs or notecards before, prepare to be transported and transfixed all at once. the teeny-tiny details in her drawings capture the nuances of nature's shapes, patterns and textures while her black, white & gray palettes provide a bold, urban vibe. it's a nice juxtaposition that marries her reverence for nature to her love of modern cityscape design. an architect by trade, you definitely get the sense that Elissa is building...ideas, messages, designs, collections, contributions...a solid & synthesized foundation of work for certain. my hat's off to you girl!

she recently added eco-lux wrapping paper to her line - printed using soy inks on FSC-certified, 100% post-consumer recyced, processed chlorine-free paper - a mouthful acknowledging loop's commitment to conservation & preservation of Mother Nature's resources. (more of this please, E....)

| |    special sale - today only ~ take 15% off your entire order    | |

where to find loop:
main site  |  blog  |  supermarket

collabo : eco eco & lucie summers

welcome to collabo - a biweekly feature about artist collaborations
. . . brought to you in collaboration with Modish . . .

you just never know who might be peeking at your designs, nor what grand ideas they might be conjuring for a project together. as evidenced by this collaboration between Alison Jackson-Bass of Eco Eco & Lucie Summers of Summersville, the risk of putting your portfolio on-line for all to see might be worth the reward of a potential business partner stumbling across it and contacting you!

read Alison's half of the story here - then click over to Modish to read what Lucie had to say to Jena about this cool collabo.

 
[all graphics by Jena Coray of Modish]

Which came first: the idea or the partnership? Who approached whom?
I stumbled across Lucie's photostream on Flickr and was knocked out by her creativity. I liked the idea of commissioning some greetings cards from her so I contacted her directly and everything went from there.

We did print a very small run of cards, but Lucie's style has developed since then and we decided that one of her designs, Totem, would be perfect for gift wrap. I suggested the idea to Lucie and she loved it. She chose the colours and suggested that we have the paper printed on both sides, which adds value and gives the purchaser more choice.

What is the nature of your collaboration? (did one of you purchase the rights to use the other’s artwork, do you both receive revenue from sales, is the artwork on-loan for a limited time or # of pieces….)
We are both very trusting and it's an informal collaboration. Lucie was given a large quantity of printed wrap to sell herself as payment. Future projects will probably work in a similar way, perhaps with an ongoing design fee payment per item/metre. I'm very concerned that Lucie doesn't feel that we're taking advantage of her, so if she ever wants to make it a more legally binding relationship then I'd be happy with that.

How did you coordinate the project work and determine who would do what?
Lucie contributes brilliant designs and I run around trying to make them into product. As a company, Eco Eco has an ethos that emphasises eco-friendly, ethically produced, organic, recycled products - not necessarily all at once! I chose a printer, Severnprint, that has won awards for its environmental policies. The wrapping paper is recycled/FSC, is printed with vegetable-based inks using renewable energy. Now we have a product that is both green and beautiful.

Is the collabo ongoing or was it a one-and-done deal?
Definitely ongoing! By the end of next week (fingers crossed) we'll have commissioned a small run of Totem printed on certified organic, fair trade cotton. If we're happy with the quality then we'll extend the printing run to other designs and colours next spring. Lucie is currently printing on recycled felt to create amazing coasters and place mats and we'll ask her to print some for us. We're also thinking about wallpaper and I have one or two other ideas that I haven't told Lucie about yet. (That'll get her going!)

What made you want to partner your art with someone else’s?
I do design myself (I'm currently working on some throws and cushions from local wool) but I thought Lucie's talents for pattern and colour were particularly strong and wanted to grab them and use them before anyone else got to her.

Do you work with other artists to create collaborative pieces?
Not in quite the same way as with Lucie. I've made some suggestions to other makers who have developed the ideas into finished items. One product was a soap dish made from local timber offcuts by a local woodworker (available on our website), and another was hand-felted hearts from local wool, naturally dyed, that we sell in our shop. I've also asked a local potter to produce some tableware to a design I've suggested.

Do you have any suggestions for other artists who are considering a collaborative project?
Go with your gut feel. If you're even slightly hesitant about the collaborative process make sure that you get things in writing, taking legal advice as necessary. A friendly relationship at the beginning could break down later and cause all sorts of problems. Lucie and I are both pretty laid back so that shouldn't happen with us. If she wants to move on by herself that's fine - good luck to her. But while she's happy to work with Eco Eco then I'm delighted to pander to her every whim.

If you could work with any other artist to create a piece together (famous and/or deceased included), who would it be and what would you make?
Crikey, that's a question! I love the work of the British artist Eric Ravilious, who died tragically early on an air/sea rescue mission whilst acting as a war artist in WWII. His works were exquisite, delicate and I love the joy of the commonplace that you see in his designs. His 'Garden Implements' printed cotton fabric is charming. I think he'd be my first choice.
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Thank you, Alison! I really enjoyed learning how this whole process worked for both you/Eco Eco and Lu! It's exactly the type of collaboration many surface designers dream about (me included)!
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One to Watch: Pixels Plus Paper

There is something about effortless, simple design that makes you (well, at least me!) take a deep breath in and say, "ahhh." I made that little sound when I saw Pixels Plus Paper! Each item has a simple, functional beauty and most are also really clever.

Look quickly and you'll miss the qualifying word at the bottom of these bookplates.

Scoutie Girl loves this book more than chocolate. (almost)

According to Pixels Plus Paper, "chic = elegant & stylish, notelet = a brief note." Her Chiclets are a combination of both! "Chiclets are chic notelets designed to be taken from formal to casual affairs with ease. Perfect for your handbag or clutch."

It should be noted that not only are the designs ridiculously chic, Pixels Plus Paper's packaging is fabulous, as well! Each listing comes ready to be gifted to yourself or a friend!

Last, but certainly not least, are these Tooth Fairy envelopes. One set for a child to place the discarded tooth. One set for the Tooth Fairy to make her payment. The child's set includes this rhyme:

In this pocket you will find a teeny tiny tooth of mine. So while I sleep where dreams are made, let's see if you can make a trade.

Ladies, let's teach our children that great design knows no age limits! Paper goodies from Pixels Plus Paper - $2.50-20.

handmade solutions #31 [outfitting your contact information]

[outfitting your contact information]

with so many ways to contact each other these days, why not have stylish cards to hand out to friends to make getting in touch with each other a little easier? 

1. set of 48 cards. avie :: $12.50
2. set of 50 cards. michellebrusegaard :: $21
3. set of 35 cards. mylittlebuffalo :: $10 
4. set of 100 cards. eightsixty :: $26 
5. set of 50 cards. lepapierstudio :: $25 
6. set of 20 cards. artisjok :: $10 
7. set of 20 cards. saratams :: $14 
8. printable cards. icingsprints :: $7 

supply side | handmade paper

these handmade papers are created from recycled sources like junk mail and egg cartons. cotton is mixed into the blend as well to attain a soft, luxurious paper that's just right for sending a sweet note or using in other crafty endeavors. the bottom image shows a set of notecards & envelopes - embellish to your heart's content. the artist put in many long, hard hours to perfect these clean-looking white notecards. your perfect pen awaits! 

$4-10 from the paper button

passion is - valentina ramos

as much as i'd like to recite poetry to these brilliant works of art by Valentina Ramos (e.g. "how do i love thee, let me count the ways..."), i think they do a much better job waxing poetic on their own. Valentina loves to work with different materials, but black ink is her favorite - she uses it to create flowing, intricate details like those in the images below. i must confess that her style intrigues me to no end b/c it feeds 2 of my obsessions: henna tattoos and mod, scandi folk art. plus, who's not game for a few words of positive inspiration?!

Valentina brings a fantastical, dreamlike quality to her artwork, which includes digital drawings, mixed media and pen & ink illustrations. colors pop, lines and circles swirl & undulate - and playful artwork made with passion is the result.

here's what Valentina had to say about passion in the handmade world:

how do you define passion in the handmade genre? how do you recognize it & know it?
Passion is the energy and urge one feels to follow a dream. It’s wanting to spend unlimited time doing what you love, and by doing so, bringing happiness into one's life. My work is full of intricate patterns with whimsical and uplifting messages. The time and dedication I spend working in a drawing reflect my caring, passion and commitment. Every time I hear, read, dream or imagine something new, I must stop whatever I’m doing and create something new out of it. I believe passion is love.

what drives your own passion and makes it irresistable?
I’m an eternal positive girl: the idea of self healing and positive energy drive my passion to create new things. My intention is to create inspiring artwork that help others to follow their dreams.

please share 3 other artists who embody passion as you define it.

1. Jessica Gonacha:  Jess's blog treasuring is one of my daily inspirations. Her use of patterns and colors in her drawings and paintings are food to my eyes and soul. I love the way she integrates her style and all the pieces she creates.
2. Aimee Dolich of artsyville:  Her doodles are one of my favorite things, and Aimee’s work is unbelievable colorful-inspiring. Her drawings are like a huge Art Journal. I love to read and see how she represents simple episodes of the normal life in her unique way.
3. Jennifer Judd-McGee of swallowfield:  I can spend hours and hours admiring the details in her collages and drawings. I want to live inside of one of her drawings

where to find valentina ramos:
main site  |  etsy site  |  blog  |  flickr
and goods for goodness sake

you can download a free print by Valentina at the Indie Fixx 'feed your soul' free art project.

heart clicks

i was clicking through my saved links the other day and was (pleasantly) surprised at how many flowery type items i had accumulated in my special folder. i didn't collect them with a plan in mind; each one caught my eye on its own merits - and i thought you might like to see where my heart clicks when it's left to its own pitter-patter wanderings.

$76 from helis
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item description || "Beautiful and delicate small blossom shoulder bag made of medium-weight linen blend. Embellished with embroidered off-white and light olive-green leaves. Big pocket on the other side with olive-green decoration piece. The strap is adjustable, use it as a messenger bag or as a shoulder bag."

$12 from jessica doyle
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item description || "Sometimes art needs to take you away to another land where flowers SPIN, the terrain is checkered moss green and ocher; where the grass grows as bamboo and is pointy at it's tip."

$45 from yogagoat
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item description || "Hand-thrown porcelain bowl with hand-carved daisy design. The design on this piece was executed in my brown and lime green handmade slips. The surface of the bowl was painted with the slips, then the design was drawn freehand through that layer. The background was then carved away."

$19.99 from tangle and fold
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item description || "Forget the florist, your new flower shop has arrived. These flowers are amazing! Each one is made from 99 pieces of paper from recycled magazines. No page is alike, therefore no petal on this flower is alike, which result in a unique flower every time. The stems are made from recycled wire hangers and are wrapped in yarn. These flowers never require water and will never wither away."

 

$4.50 from linda & harriett
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item description || "Letterpressed in Lavender and Deep Yellow"

passion is - feterie

*a special giveaway with Feterie and mi-SPA will be announced at 2pm today.

details. meticulous, charming details. that's what Cathe Huynh-Sison is all about. you see it in her hand screenprinted giftwrap, her eco-modern stationery sets and her well-designed collateral materials. she is sort of (admittedly) obsessed with positive and negative space in her designs, which plays out in her constant creation of new sketches that turn into new repetitive patterns. her smart design sensibilities with regard to color pairings and letterforms lend themselves well to elegant, less-is-more paper goods.

Cathe feels blessed to have been given opportunities that nurtured her talent and allowed her to find/do/accomplish good things in her life. in an effort to return some of that goodness to the community, she partnered with Lara Frankovitch to create goods for goodness sake - where 100% of the profits are donated to customer-selected charities. how spectacular is that?! 17 incredible designers have contributed original work to assist in her philanthropic efforts - that's passion that begets passion baby!
 

i asked Cathe my favorite 3 questions about passion, and here's what she had to say: 

how do you define passion in the handmade genre? how do you recognize it & know it?
I think passion is a state of mind. It's that urge to/dream/make, that moment when your heart races with a new idea forming, it's waking up filled with ideas, looking at a looking at something and thinking of something else that it could possibly be, it's the little voice inside that nudges you to just do it. Passion captures your spirit and you run away with it. How do I recognize passion? It's listening to the little voice in my head (not really, but it's listening to my heart's voice) that won't go away. When my heart does a little flip with a new idea just sparkling in my mind, that's when I know I should pay attention to the it.

what drives your own passion and makes it irresistable?
I'm a constant maker, doer, dreamer, problem-solver — so what drives my passion is the constant need to change something, make something, dream up something new. It's an irresistable feeling where you just feel compelled to do it and take that leap of faith. What drives my passion is knowing that at the end of a long day (bad or good) especially if I may not particularly like the day, I still love what I am do and the feeling never goes away. It may evolve or take a new direction, but the drive will never go away.

please share 3 other artists who embody passion as you define it.
There are so many other designers and artists that I have come to admire for not only their craft, but their faith in their passion. I completely understand the passion that these artists/designer exhibit and I am one of their biggest fans!

A Little Hut (a little hut) — I love and admire Patricia's work so much! When I first saw her work, my first thought was: "Wow, she has mad skills wielding that x-acto knife...and patience!" Her work speaks for themselves and I can see the passion she puts into not only the work, but in her blog and just daily life. She can sense that takes joy in making the littlest things and are happy to share it. Plus, she's humble about it! It's an all-over example of how passion can really come out and take over in such a wonderful way.

Mi-SPA (mi-SPA) — Mimie's passion took her from a corporate job to creating something that she needed and loved. That's the problem-solver passion that I see in Mimie. Seeing and knowing how tireless she works at making her craft not only look good and smell good, but work well and feels good. I'm a HUGE fan of mi-SPA's soap!

The Bright Side Project (the bright side project) — Tristan's brain never stops working (I don't think) and I'm pretty sure that Jules doesn't sleep much either. I jest, but the BSP is what I think is another example of pure passion. Together they take an idea, a spark, a dream and just ran with it — like running with wild horses. They capture the perfect embodiment of letting passion capturing your spirit, throwing caution to the wind and run with that spark.

where to find feterie:
main shop  |  etsy shop  |  blog  |  flickr  |  facebook  |  twitter
and goods for goodness sake

*see another post about feterie by lisa {milkshake} here

friday scout out: queen anne's lace

1. modern necklace, hand-cut metal on wire from jane e roberti, $65
2. cotton/linen blend fabric - an original design from cicada studio, $17
3. pink-toned archival print from mjleonard photography, $15 
4. vintage china plate from alphiebug, $6 
5. hand-embroidered wrist cuff from waterrose, $62 
6. set of 4 notecards, original illustrations from design hut, $10