Sunday, November 06, 2011

New Red Woven Trim Bag

CLICK HERE

Saturday, November 05, 2011

New- Woven Diamond Bag

Beautiful handmade bag! Available to purchase by clicking here!

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Life Goes Fast

Friday, October 28, 2011

New Product: Hand Screen Printed Owl Scarves

I am loving how these scarves turned out! They are truly a labor of love, being that each scarf was hand screen printed multiple times to create the desired graphic look. If you know anything about screen printing, you know the feeling of holding your breath… just hoping the ink will pull through properly leaving you with a clear and centered image. Since each scarf required me printing multiple images, all it would take was one bad pull of the ink through the screen, and the entire scarf would be ruined! But that is the art of a handmade product: the artist works carefully and thoughtfully to produce a unique and special item. Luckily, these turned out just as I had hoped.

I used a lightweight natural 100% cotton linen fabric for these scarves. The “woven” print graphic is taken from a scan of some antique woven fabric I had. The owls are from an illustration out of my sketchbook. When the ink dried, I sewed the sides under for a nice finish, and added a fancy ruffled black and white trim to the ends. This scarf is a lovely addition to any free spirit’s wardrobe. I wear mine with a chambray oxford shirt and dark jeans,and it turns such a simple outfit into something much more interesting!

To purchase one of these scarves, which have been produced in a limited run, click here!

Please look very carefully at all of the photos because I want you to see that the scarves are not only beautiful, but they are celebrated by inconstant “flaws” which I see as pretty. Some have a cool faint “bleeding” pattern, and I thought it looked cool so I didn’t throw it out as a mistake. I think they are a welcome trademark of an item that is clearly not made in mass,but is made with love. I do promise however, each scarf will maintain an integrity of presentation that I feel good about as the creator! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to see larger photos before purchasing!

This outfit also features a Ninkybink bag (see here)

A video showing the screen printing process.

TV on the Radio “Tonight”

I love this song.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Red, White, & Black Tote Bag

Here is a bag I made yesterday featuring vintage red/white woven fabric. I only have a very limited amount of this fabric, as it is antique and passed down to me from my grandma’s fabric collection, so it is an exclusive original! I also used black and white woven fabric, and yet a different black and white fabric for the back pocket. The 100% genuine leather flap is revamped from a vintage bomber jacket.  The inside is lined with soft cranberry cotton fabric. My favorite thing about this bag is how the “busy” fabric patterns work together for a unique and tastefully defined look! Available to purchase by clicking here ($140). Thank you for supporting small independent labels!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Apollo the Raggamuffin Kitten

My parents got a little kitten this week!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Columbus Marathon 2011 Race Recap

Another person wearing Vibrams! What are the odds the event camera happened to catch 2 Vibram wearers together?

Finish LINE!!

My experience running the Columbus Marathon was surreal and quite enjoyable! As I mentioned in my previous post, I chose to run the race this past Tuesday on a complete whim. I was feeling spontaneous and like I wanted to take a nutty risk, so I said “ Why not DO this? I am, I’m gonna do it”.

Now, I’m not completely unreasonable in my spontaneous leap to run 26.2 miles, because leading up to running the Glass City Marathon which was in April,  I had completed six runs of 17 miles or longer before race day. So at least I have some sort of base built up. But I had not run much more than 8 miles a week (if that) ever since crossing the finish line that day. So this past Wednesday (taper week mind you) I went out and ran 10 miles to be my “long run”. Talk about doing everything WRONG! I felt good though! I felt like I could conquer the task at hand.

The night before the race I loaded up on some whole wheat Pasta from La Scola, and in the morning I showed up in my proper corral based on my estimated finish time. I wasn’t nervous, I felt funny because I hadn’t trained and was about to run 26.2 miles. It’s a very odd feeling! It’s like doing a back dive off the high dive for the first time. That’s what it reminded me of. The race started and I just started running. I didn’t have and ipod because a crook stole it from my car a few weeks ago, so I just took in my surroundings. It was awesome! There were people lining the street for the entire race! Cow bells, horns, signs like “Chuck Norris Never Ran a Marathon”, and “Your Feet Only Hurt Because You’re Kicking So Much Asphalt”. I saw a child on stilts with a sign that said “If you need someone to run with you for a half mile give me thumbs up” and I suppose one of the other people standing with him would join you in running for a little encouragement. It was just such a cool, supportive, friendly crowd! Complete strangers were calling out “Go Vibrams!“ or “Alright pigtails, lookn’ good”. It was awesome! I’m so happy I didn’t wear my headphones. I wasn’t plugged in to technology, so I experienced the marathon.

I put no pressure on myself since I wasn’t adequately trained. I just listened to my breathing and ran at a comfortable pace. The miles ticked off… mile 5…. mile 12…. mile 17… 20 (20 is half way there!! That’s my little mind trick I do on myself). I got to 23 and knew I had just a 5k race left. Mile 26! MILE 26!! And it was over! I never hit the wall this time since I wasn’t pushing it like last time. I finished in a 4:21.41 which is 15 minutes slower than last time, but I am so happy with it anyways. I didn’t walk once, and I did it! Oh and I had my period and really bad cramps, and I did it in Vibrams. I’m told I’m a badass, and today I kind of feel like one.

Proof that Vibrams cause no harm to my feet, once again! 26.2 miles of pavement and NO BLISTERS!  For the story on Vibram Marathoning Click Here

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I’m running the Columbus Marathon on Sunday, & I decided this Last Night.

After I ran the Glass City Marathon I was very enthusiastic about signing up to run yet another marathon, the Columbus Marathon to be exact. Over the summer the heat and a weird irregular heartbeat problem arose, so I never trained for it except for a 14 miler in July (which set off the irregular heartbeat problem, scaring me) and a few scattered 4 mile leisurely runs which I do simply to stay in shape.Then last night in conversation, I realized that not only is the marathon this coming Sunday, but that I have the day off, and it would be amusing to try to run it for fun. So with that a plan was made. I ran 10 miles today after work ( a new PR time by the way!), and I’m going to go do this thing and see how it goes. I might as well since I paid for it and can’t get my money back at this point. I certainly don’t recommend or take pride in my attempt here. Last time I ran a marathon I had run 6 runs of 17 miles or longer. This time, nothing to speak of. I am hoping for a good time and a memory if nothing else!

(old photo- nowadays I would never wear shoes,just Vibrams!)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

A Glimpse at Screen Printed Owl Scarves

I burned 2 screens for this project. The owls are from my own illustration, and the “woven” pattern is taken directly from a scan of antique hand woven fabric from my archive.

I very carefully screen print the images over and over, until the whole length of the scarf is covered. It can be nerve-wracking because the hope is that each hand pulled print will turn out dark enough, and lined up properly!

Here are the finished scarves! 

Available to purchase very soon! I’m still working out a few details & I will post when they are available. Thank you!