2014 Updates
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In 2012, I was fortunate to begin working with Cindy Weil, founder of Wallpaper Collective who has just launched her new company i80West in response to the demand for eco-conscious, high-design wallcoverings and textiles for both the residential and commercial/contract market.
Under Ms. Weil's direction I helped develop two of the five recently introduced designs "Tie Dye" and "Lake Tahoe." " Tie Dye 'Indigo' is pictured at right.
Started by scanning a halved cabbage; then worked out colorways at different scales. Had 7 yards each printed at Spoonflower on 100% combed cotton fabric, made from ring-spun yarn, printed with Ultra-Color technology for vibrant color and improved wash durability.
Sewed mobius pinafore-apron-smocks, tote bags and potholders. At DPI-SF the bottom left design (see above) was printed on cotton voile to make 14 in. x 72 in. scarves. Also avilable were notecards printed on Crane Museo® stock.
The past few years I have been designing silk scarves. Always on the hunt for new product ideas for our annual Swanton Artisans Holiday Sale at Swanton Berry Farms, I changed it up a bit in 2012.
Riffing on one of the notecard designs (above,) I had a few yards of fabic printed at Spoonflower. My friend Evelyn Whitburn brought her adorable baby blue sewing machine to my studio and gave me a first-rate crash course in sewing - not to mention hours of time and perseverence! We isolated 3 pattern areas in the yardage and made two 18-inch square pillows of each (see photo at right.) With the remnants, we made zilliions of sachets with the dried lavender Glenn and I brought back from Provence.
Admittedly not a terribly "crafty" person, I do like a challenge. Turns out that knitting a dozen of these mohair-silk scallop-edged scarves proved to be a pretty relaxing and satisfying past-time and helped define the color theme.